[ o ] BUCHHOLZ/FIS

LES CONTAMINES, FRANCE, 12 JAN 2013 – After a heavy snowfall that delayed Friday's scheduled training and tireless work by organizers and volunteers to clear the course of snow and prepare it for racing, the Audi FIS Freestyle ski cross World Cup in Les Contamines, France, was treated to a long day of some spectacular racing.

It was a difficult course, featuring big jumps, swinging back-and-forth banked corners, and a couple of treacherous negative turns, and athletes were challenged from start to finish.

In the men's category, an unbelievable final saw Alex Fiva (SUI) triumph over Filip Flisar (SLO) in a thrilling race, despite the seemingly unbeatable form the moustachioed Slovenian star appeared to be in throughout the day. It was Fiva's second consecutive win and his third podium of the season. Veteran Tomas Kraus (CZE) showed the patience and savvy of his deep World Cup experience to negotiate several crashes and place himself in 3^rd. Hometown hero Jonathan Midol (FRA), while held off the podium, was still able to delight local fans with some impressive skiing to reach the finals and place 4^th, for the best result of his career.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Filip Flisar (SLO) and Alex Fiva (SUI) – after qualifying 1^st and 3^rd, respectively – both won all their heats on the way to the final. In the final the two battled head-to-head for position throughout the race in a thrilling matchup, with Fiva managing to hold Flisar off and emerge victorious.

• Alex Fiva has now won two races in a row, with three podiums in the 2012-13 season

• The Swiss team has now won four of five men's races, and seven of 10 overall.

• Veteran Tomas Kraus placed 3^rd, for the 25^th podium of his career.

• Top French finish Jonothan Midol placed 4^th for the best result of his young career.

• With his win, Fiva takes the red bib for World Cup ski cross overall leader from his countryman Armin Niederer, who finished 2^nd in the small final and 6^th overall

VIDEO OF THE RACE CAN BE FOUND HERE

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