Bankes and Visintin take victory in Bakuriani

British world champion Charlotte Bankes and Omar Visintin of Italy took the women's and men's titles respectively at the second of back-to-back FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup races in Bakuriani, Georgia, on Friday, reported Xinhua.

25-year-old Bankes fell to fourth and last position soon after the start of the final, but managed to rally back before the final jump. The Briton then successfully maintained her leading position before crossing the line in style.

Former world silver medalist Chloe Trespeuch of France finished second, followed by Faye Gulini from the United States. Olympic champion Michela Moioli of Italy took fourth position once again, after having also narrowly missed the podium in Thursday's race.

In the men's category, Visintin managed to take the lead after the last jump before wrapping up a tight victory. Kalle Koblet claimed his maiden podium as the 23-year-old Swiss finished second. World Cup leader Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria finished third ahead of Italy's Lorenzo Sommariva.

After the races in Bakuriani, the top two athletes in the women's standings, Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic, who took victory on Thursday, and Moioli, have both earned 350 points.

On the men's side, Haemmerle extended his lead to 62 points for a total of 330. Thursday's winner Eliot Grondin of Canada currently sits second.

The World Cup finals will be held in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, on March 20.