Verdú Retires After Failing to Finish Final World Cup Giant Slalom Race

Joan Verdú had clocked the best time in the first sector among the racers who had already started, clearly indicating his intent to fight for a prominent position. However, a departure from the course thwarted his progress and prevented him from completing the race. The Andorran was unable to finish the final giant slalom of the World Cup, held on Sunday, December 7 in Beaver Creek (USA), despite the excellent sensations he showed in the initial stages of the second run, where he displayed speed, determination, and aggressive skiing that pointed to clear progression before the error.

In the first run, Verdú had delivered a solid and competitive descent. He initially clocked the 14th best time and, after the faster racers passed, he closed the round in 20th position. A spot that opened the door to a second run with room to attack, especially benefiting from the inverted start order, which offered him favorable conditions to attempt a comeback.

And he demonstrated this from the very first moment. With bib number 11 in the second run, Verdú was determined to climb positions. He set the best time in the first sector among the skiers who had already completed the course, a result that reinforced the good sensations accumulated throughout the weekend and placed him on an upward trajectory.

However, as he approached the second sector, a technical error at one of the gates caused him to lose his line and abandon the descent. The mistake took him out of the race and cut short a performance that was poised to place him among the day's top names once again.

Verdú arrived in Beaver Creek backed by two consistent results at the start of the season: a 12th place in Sölden and a 16th in Copper Mountain, performances that confirmed his good form and consistency in the discipline. After the DNF in Colorado, the Andorran remains with 37 points in the giant slalom standings, a figure that keeps him in direct contention for a top 15 spot on the circuit.

Despite the outcome, the fast splits he recorded on Birds of Prey—especially the brilliant first sector of the second run—reinforce the idea that Verdú is in an upward swing. His speed, his demonstrated stability in the initial races, and his ability to adapt to demanding courses suggest that he has room for further growth and to consolidate himself among the discipline's prominent names for the remainder of the season.