(Sportcom) – Eliot Grondin was visibly unhappy after winning the gold medal at the Snowboard Cross World Cup in Gudauri on Saturday. The athlete from Sainte-Marie did it again on Sunday and climbed to the top of the podium again in Georgia.
The Quebecer won the first three elimination races on Sunday and qualified for the grand finale.
• Also read: Long distance speed skating: Valérie Maltais wins her first medal in the 3000 m
• Also read: “I know I deserve better” – Mikaël Kingsbury
Grondin didn't slow down on the final descent and crossed the finish line first, ahead of Australian Cameron Bolton, Italian Omar Visintin and fellow Nova Scotian Liam Moffatt.
“I'm proud of what I achieved this weekend! It's incredible. Yesterday (Saturday) I took the time to analyze my race to find out what I could improve to be better today, because the second race is always the hardest. When I woke up this morning I was super calm,” Grondin said via video conference.
Bolton had taken the lead after the first intermediate section, but Grondin had not yet said his last word and was able to quickly catch up with his rival to take the lead of the race before the final section. The 22-year-old snowboarder maintained his lead until the finish line.
“I missed the start a little bit and I think that was a good thing. I took advantage of the slipstream, I picked up the pace behind Bolton and he left me the right side wide open after turn #3, so I took my chance and managed to hold on until the descent. “The course was long, I knew I had time to catch up,” explained the day’s winner.
This is Grondin's fourth gold medal this season in five appearances. He also took third place at the Cervinia stage in Italy in December.
Eliot Grondin is at the top of the provisional overall standings for the snowboard cross season with 460 points. The Austrian Alessandro Hämmerle follows in second place (272 points). With his silver medal of the day, Cameron Bolton climbs to third place overall with 237 points.
“It is an achievement to be in the grand finale of every race since the beginning of the season. Last year I wasn't as consistent when my worst race was a third place. I’m very proud of that,” concluded the Quebecer.
The next Snowboard Cross World Cup will take place February 2-4 in Sierra Nevada, Spain.