Simone Deromedis made history on Saturday. © Alice Russolo

Azure Curse Broken in Innichen

There were others at the top of the podium, but the Azzurri were still very happy. For the first time, Italy's ski crossers landed on the podium at the home World Cup in Innichen.

21 December 2024

From: sn

Two is better than one – that must have been the motto of Jole Galli and Simone Deromedis on Saturday. The duo made history at the World Cup in Innichen, because never before had an Italian ski crosser stood on the podium at the major event in the Pustertal.

Although Demoredis had to give way to Canadian Reece Howden and Swiss Alex Fiva, he was able to secure third place in the duel with Austrian Johannes Aujesky.

"Special day for me"

Demoredis' joy knew no bounds afterwards. "It was hard, I had never been able to make it onto the podium for so many years," he explained in an official interview with the FIS. "I am overjoyed to be standing on the podium today in front of my family and friends. This is a very special day for me."

The podium, from left Fiva, Howden and Deromedis. © Alice Russolo

A little later, Galli narrowly missed out on victory in the women's final. The 29-year-old clung to the German winner Daniela Maier, who also took the lead in the overall rankings with her third World Cup victory, and was subsequently unable to be pushed out of second place. The Frenchwoman Marielle Berger Sabbatel completed the podium.

The Azzurri's last victory on Italian soil was achieved by Karl Heinz Molling in January 2004 in Pozza di Fassa. A year later, at the same venue, he secured the last azure podium in the boot-shaped country - Galli and Deromedis have now ended this dry spell.