Andorran Skiers Shine with Top-40 Finishes at Tour de Ski and Copa Creand Wins

Andorran cross-country skiers Gina del Rio and Irineu Esteve recorded top-40 finishes in the demanding 10km classic individual race at the Tour de Ski in Toblach-Dobbiaco, Italy. Del Rio placed 37th with a time of 27:24.0, 1:50.3 behind winner Astrid Øyre Slind of Norway. She stayed consistent between 32nd and 38th throughout, finishing just 16 seconds off 30th place in her second World Cup event at this distance. Both skier and technical staff viewed the result positively given the challenging course and experienced field.

In the men's race, Esteve ended 39th in 23:38.1, 1:27.1 off victor Mattis Stenshagen of Norway. Starting from bib 23, he advanced steadily—from 87th at the first checkpoint to 43rd mid-race—ending 12 seconds shy of the top 30. Esteve praised his skis' performance amid a season hampered by inconsistency and physical issues, while Del Rio noted the race's toughness but called it a solid effort. The Tour takes a rest day before resuming with a 5km freestyle heat race.

Meanwhile, at Grandvalira's Soldeu sector, the Estadi Creand Eslàlom hosted the opening slalom of the Copa Creand FIS, organised by Esquí Club Arinsal Pal. Xavier Cornella won the men's event in 1:41.30, ahead of Bartumeu Gabriel (+0.28) and Àlex Rius (+0.62), improving his FIS points to 23.00 after leading the first run.

Íria Medina claimed the women's title in 1:50.21, overtaking early leader Etna Pou in the second run to beat her by 1.32 and Noa Dones by 11.35, refining her FIS points to 33.08. Her coach Ibon Mintegui highlighted her aggressive skiing on the watered, technical piste despite errors.

The stadium, inaugurated last January and sponsored by Creand Crèdit Andorrà, features a 556m Eslàlom chairlift with 230m drop and 11 low-pressure snow cannons, aiding high-level slalom and giant slalom training for the Andorran Ski Federation.

The next day's second slalom saw Bartumeu Gabriel win men's in 1:37.15, edging Cornella by 0.29 and Aingeru Garay by 0.39 for 23 FIS points. Carla Mijares took women's honours in 1:41.43 ahead of June Garitano and Nur Torres, fresh from an 18th in a World Cup downhill. The Copa Creand resumes 23 January with descents at El Tarter.