Andorran Skiers Shine: Del Rio Leads U23 Cross-Country, Strong World Cup Shows

Andorran cross-country skier Gina del Rio strengthened her lead in the U23 World Cup standings with 195 points after top-15 finishes at Davos: 13th in Saturday's sprint and a career-best 12th in Sunday's 10km skate. Starting with bib 9 in the distance race, she set an early leading time of 27:26.5, ending 51.6 to 52.6 seconds behind Norway's Karoline Simpson-Larsen. She leads Norway's Milla Grosberghaugen Andreassen (136 points), Italy's Maria Gismondi (111), Iris de Martin Pinter (107) and France's Leonie Perry (85). Del Rio now ranks 29th overall in distance and 28th in the total standings. She and Irineu Esteve prepare for the Tour de Ski starting December 28 in Toblach, Italy, with its revamped format suiting Esteve while challenging both ahead of the Winter Olympics.

In alpine skiing, Cande Moreno collected three points with 28th in St. Moritz's World Cup super-G (1:16.94, 2.10 seconds behind New Zealand's Alice Robinson). From bib 36, she held provisional 24th before dropping back, building on her five points from Friday's downhill (26th) and 36th on Saturday. She ranks 28th in super-G and 26th in downhill, targeting Val d'Isère next.

Carla Mijares was disqualified in Courchevel's World Cup slalom first run after a fall on a heavily rutted piste. With bib 50, she reached 26th at the first split (+0.91 seconds) with fluid skiing before clipping a gate on a right turn after a triple in the flat section. "With bib 50, it's a battle, and I didn't find it that bad—the rut was fairly clean and allowed good skiing, but it's frustrating," she said. Mijares highlighted her improved attitude compared to last year, when races were harder to face, but stressed the need for greater solidity in key sections. She and Íria Medina will race Europa Cup slaloms in Ahrntal, Italy, on December 19 and 21; her next World Cup is December 28 in Semmering, Austria.

Joan Verdú did not finish Val d'Isère's World Cup giant slalom after 27th in the first run (1:03.21, +2.06 seconds off Stefan Brennsteiner), marking his second DNF this season despite a strong start. With 37 points and 23rd overall, he eyes Alta Badia next. FAE manager Carles Visa expressed full confidence despite recent disappointments, noting minor adjustments after Verdú's top-15 in Sölden and top-20 in Copper Mountain. "We're trusting his skiing—he's doing it well and can deliver at Alta Badia, Adelboden or the Olympics," Visa said. He praised the federation's depth, with Del Rio, Moreno and others in the top 30 as a source of pride for Andorra's small programme, adding strong results provide the best preparation for the Games.

In Ruka FIS slaloms, Alvar Calvo took second (1:24.33, 0.17 seconds behind Finland's Altti Pyrro), leading after run one and posting the fastest second run to drop his slalom FIS points from 41.01 to 37.94. Pirmin Estruga finished fifth, ahead of Marc Fernández in seventh and Maià Font 11th (her points now 77.24 from 79.91). Estruga later placed fourth in another Ruka FIS slalom.

Íria Medina earned fifth in Kaltenbach's second FIS giant slalom (sixth in run one from bib 44, fifth in run two), behind Austria's Sophia Waldauf (1:55.19); coach Ibon Mintegui noted solid skiing despite late mistakes.

Jordina Caminal launched her Europa Cup season with 12th in St. Moritz downhill (1:34.16, 1.07 seconds off Austria's Anna Schilcher), gaining 22 points and improving her FIS points to 35.47 from 45.78. From bib 5 on a slowing upper piste, she advanced to 12th in sector two, seventh in three and 17th in four, placing 12th in the speed general standings. After a short pre-season due to back issues and a seventh in Monday's training (1:35.20, 0.71 off Victoria Oliver), she said strong St. Moritz sessions confirmed her level, though she lost time in the final sector and aims higher with bib 2 in the next downhill.