TeamGB’s Bankes Wins (Again) In China

Great Britain’s Double Crystal Globe champion Charlotte Bankes found top form in the second FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup of the 2025/26 season in Dongbeiya, China.

Charlotte Bankes and World Cup competitions in China – they make quite the combination. After a double victory in Beidahu last year, Bankes kept her run in the nation going with a dominant day in Dongbeiya.

The Double Crystal Globe winner crossed in a best time of 0:37.60 in Friday’s qualifier and didn’t hesitate to take that same form into Saturday. The Brit found a safe route into the Big Final despite a tough semifinal against the French duo of Chloe Trespeuch and Julia Nirani-Pereira, as well as Australia’s Mia Clift.

The knockout stages were full of high drama, not least in a dramatic quarterfinal that saw Crystal Globe winner Lea Casta (FRA) crash out after a review. Casta – who started the 2025/26 season with victory in Cervinia – was unable to stay within the course in the aftermath of a crash, one that ultimately saw second qualifier Eva Adamczykova (CZE) also miss out.

The Big Final pitched Bankes against Trespeuch, Josie Baff (AUS) and World champion Michela Moioli (ITA), with Bankes making no mistake as she recovered from a ninth placed overall finish in Cervinia to run the show on Saturday ahead of Baff and Trespeuch.

Update Sunday 18 January.

In the second FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup of the weekend at Dongbeiya, China, Bankes led early on in the decider, but it was France’s Nirani-Pereira who found the speed to get out in front and held her lead under pressure in the final seconds to record a huge World Cup win. It was a France 1-2 with Trespeuch recording back-to-back podiums, Bankes in third after a photo finish with Clift.

That third spot moves Bankes into position as tour leader with 189 points to Baff’s 185.

There’s now a break to the World Cup action as all eyes now head towards the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.

Image credit @FIS/Miha Matavz

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