Andorran Skier Cande Moreno Claims Historic Europa Cup Super-G Podium

Andorran skier Cande Moreno secured third place in a Europa Cup super-G at Sarntal, Italy, on Monday, achieving the country's best-ever result in a continental speed event and her first podium on the circuit.

Starting with bib 7 among 88 competitors, Moreno clocked 1:15.31, 1.06 seconds behind winner Nadine Fest of Austria (1:14.25). Fellow Austrian Emily Schoepf took second in 1:14.47. Moreno ranked fourth after the first split, third after the second, and held third at the finish despite a strong field featuring World Cup regulars like Italy's Sara Allemand in eighth and Austria's Lisa Grill in fifth. The performance earned her 60 FIS points in super-G, lifting her four spots to fourth overall with 156 points. Teammate Jordina Caminal placed 61st in 1:18.58 and ranks 50th in the standings.

The result surpasses Caminal's previous best of fourth in a St. Moritz downhill on December 18 and marks the first Europa Cup speed podium for an Andorran woman. It tops prior national highlights in technical disciplines, such as Vicky Grau's 1999 slalom win in Kiruna and Mireia Gutiérrez's podiums in 2015 and 2017.

"I'm very happy with today's podium, my first in Europa Cup," Moreno said. "I know I'm skiing at a high level in super-G, and this confirms it. It's perfect for building confidence ahead of the Olympics, which start in three days."

This followed her DNF in the World Cup super-G finale at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Saturday, where she missed gates near the finish after holding 11th at the first split.

A planned second super-G at Sarntal on Tuesday was cancelled due to heavy snow, allowing Moreno and Caminal to focus on the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The pair, Andorra's top FAE speed racers and Olympic debutants, begin downhill training Thursday, continue Friday during the opening ceremony, and run a third session Saturday ahead of Sunday's race on February 8. Super-G follows on February 12, with one joining Carla Mijares in the mixed team event on February 10.

Cross-country skier Irineu Esteve will compete despite earlier doubts tied to a tough season start, during which he said he would race only if capable of a top-30 finish. The FAE confirmed his participation. Moreno, Joan Verdú, and Esteve will act as flag-bearers in the decentralised opening ceremony across Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo sites.

In other results, Xavier Cornella took third in a Far East Cup slalom in South Korea, finishing in 1:40.91 for 24.30 FIS points behind winner Donghyun Jung. Bartumeu Gabriel placed 11th. Cornella had been eighth in the event opener. Locally, Jan Visa earned second in a FIS slalom at Pas de la Casa on Friday, with Eric Mitjana 11th, Salvador Cornella eighth, and Marc Fernández ninth.