(Sportcom) – Eliot Grondin blamed himself at the end of the snowboard cross World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo when a mistake in his quarter-final race cost him a place in the next round.
However, the athlete from Sainte-Marie got off to a good start in one of the strongest waves, especially with the presence of Dutchman Glenn de Blois. As usual, Grondin came out of the gate quickly and took second place, just behind his rival from the Netherlands.
The two snowboarders then put up a good fight and stayed neck and neck until the end of the course. Grondin was then slowed down by contact with his rival during a jump, opening the door for American Senna Leith. He used the gap to overtake Grondin at the finish a few moments later and head for the next stage.
“It’s always difficult to compete against Glenn (from Blois) and I was screwed today. We had a small mid-air collision and I lost a lot of speed. On a circuit like this with a 30-second sprint, mistakes always hurt a lot and I wasn’t able to catch up in time,” Grondin analyzed at the end of his race.
The Quebecer then stayed at the edge of the track to watch the final laps of the day. He also watched as de Blois finished fourth in the grand final behind a trio led by France’s Merlin Surget. American Jake Vedder and Léo Le Blé Jacques of France finished second and third in order.
“It’s hard to take because I had a lot of speed at the end of the week and I know a podium is possible,” continued Grondin. I had big ambitions, but it’s just a postponement. It’s part of the ‘game’ and we’ll recover, that’s for sure.
Tristan Bell, also on duty in Italy, was stopped in the qualifier presented earlier in the day. The Gatineau resident finished 36th in the session, 0.44 seconds away from 32nd and last place, which allowed access to the elimination rounds.
space for the worlds
The Snowboard Cross World Cup Circuit will be on hiatus for just over a month to make way for the World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia. For Grondin, this is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the top-3 after a more difficult middle of the calendar.
“After my bronze medal in France at the start of the season, I didn’t manage to live up to my expectations,” he confided. Too bad, but there are still positives. I feel like I’m very fast, the equipment is right and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before everything works out, hopefully at the World Championships.”
The snowboard cross activities will take place from March 2nd to 4th, while an individual event and another team event are planned. Until then, Grondin will rest at home before returning to the Old Continent for a preparatory camp in mid-February.
“We will hit the ‘reset’ button during the holiday and prepare ourselves for the future. The rest of the season will be very busy and I will manage to be ready,” concluded the two-time Beijing Olympics medalist.