Snowboard cross: Charlotte Bankes wins fifth World Cup race in Georgia to stay top of standings

Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes consolidated her position at the top of the snowboard cross World Cup standings with her fifth win of the season.

Bankes won the second race of a double-header in Gudauri, Georgia after she came from the back of the field in the final to beat French duo Julia Pereira de Sousa and Lea Casta

The 29-year-old’s victory came after the disappointment of a shock qualification-stage exit in the first event on Friday.

“It’s an amazing win,” Bankes said.

“Friday was tough but my coach Jerome [Choupin] found the words to refocus me for today and we put a massive team effort out there to pull it off so I’m really happy.”

Bankes is 57 points above second-placed Casta in the standings with three World Cup races remaining.

She is attempting to win a third Crystal Globe – as the best overall competitor in the snowboard cross World Cup series – after also claiming the title in 2022 and 2023.