Rothfuss completes hat-trick of Europa Cup wins in Matrei

Germany’s Andrea Rothfuss completed a hat-trick of wins on Sunday (18 January), the final day of the IPC Europa Cup in Matrei, Austria, with victory in the giant slalom.

The 25-year-old Paralympic slalom champion, who will be hoping to break Marie Bochet of France’s dominance in the women’s standing class at February’s World Championships in Panorama, Canada, has been in superb form in Martei, also winning Friday’s super combined and Saturday’s slalom events.

On Sunday she was fastest in both runs (2:04.85) and easily took the top podium position ahead of Russia’s Inga Medvedeva (2:10.58) and Slovakia’s Petra Smarzova (2:11.08).

Austria’s Claudia Loesch was also hoping to claim a hat-trick of wins on Sunday in the women’s sitting. The 26-year-old failed to finish her second run however, opening the door for Japan’s Momoka Muraoka (2:15.85) to take the win. Germany’s Ruth Hagspiel (2:19.78) was second and the Netherlands’ Linda van Impelen (2:22.23) third.

The USA’s Tyler Walker (1:56.43) secured his first Europa Cup win of the season in the men’s sitting. After finishing second in his first run, the 28-year-old was fastest in his second to claim the win ahead of Germany’s Georg Kreiter (1:57.59). Japan’s Taiki Morii (1:58.66), the winner of Friday’s super combined, was third.

Also topping the Europa Cup podium for the first time this season on Sunday was Slovakia’s Martin France (1:54.31) in the men’s standing. A strong first run put him in pole position, and despite finishing third fastest in his second run, he edged Austria’s Thomas Grochar (1:54.96) into second. Russia’s Alexey Bugaev (1:55.06) was third.

Russia’s Valerii Redkozubov and guide Evgeny Geroev (1:55.85) secured their sixth win in seven Europa Cup races this season leading home the field in the men’s visually impaired.

Slovakia’s Jakub Krako and guide Martin Motyka (1:56.19) were second ahead of teammates Miroslav Haraus (1:58.02) and guide Maros Hudik.

Belgium’s Eleonor Sana, guided by Chlose Sana, (2:21.50) won the women’s visually impaired.

Many of the skiers who took part in Martei will now head to Tignes, France for the second IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup of the season which takes place between 26-30 January.

Full results are available here.

Panorama 2015 runs from 28 February - 1 March. Media accreditation is available here.