Sandra Naeslund continues ski cross dominance with home victory

Racing at Idre Fjall, Naeslund showed just why she is the reigning world champion as she streaked to victory ahead of Switzerland's Fanny Smith, with Germany's Heidi Zacher coming home third.

Canada's Georgia Simmerling was the sole skier in the big final to not make the podium, while compatriot Kelsey Serwa took the small final to finish fifth.

The victory means Naeslund has 620 points out of a possible 700 in the ski cross World Cup, with Zacher her closest rival on 474 and Smith behind her on 353.

Naeslund also leads the overall freestyle World Cup on 88.57, with America's Jaelin Kauf hot on her heels with an even 70.

In the men's event France's Jean Frederic Chapuis bounced back from third place on Saturday to win Sunday's race, with Swiss Alex Fiva claiming second and fellow Frenchman Jonas Devouassoux claiming the final step on the podium.

Sergey Ridzik missed out on the podium, while Francois Place took the small final as World Cup leader Marc Bischofberger could only manage 16th.

That means Chapuis closed the gap on him in the standings, the Frenchman now just 88 points behind the leader's tally of 397, with Fiva third on 288.

Sportsbeat 2018