She took gold in the opening vertical race of the year, while extending her lead in the individual standings, winning the second race of the season in that category too.

The six-time world champion brought her ISMF World Cup win total up to 29, and completely dominated in the vertical race.

She finished in 14min 30sec for the gold medal, finishing 23 seconds in front of Austrian Sarah Dreier.

A further eight seconds back was her French compatriot Celia Perillat-Pessey.

Giulia Murada of Italy and Alessandra Schmid completed the top five.

A French one-two was realised in the individual race, with Gachet Mollaret beating Perillat-Pessey by 30 seconds.

She topped the podium again after crossing the line in 57:54 in La Massana.

Another 23 seconds behind Perillat-Pessey was Ana Alonso Rodriguez from Spain for the bronze medal.

Italians Alba de Silvestro and Murada followed.

"The conditions were tough," said Gachet Mollaret after her 10th individual race win in a row in a sport due to make its Olympic debut at Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in 2026.

"Sometimes we didn't see the track, but it was the same for everyone. 

"I started fast and made a little distance so I could manage the race from the front - I am happy to finish it, as it was not so much fun today."

Remi Bonnet was victorious in the first men's vertical race of the year, finishing in 11:34.

He achieved similar dominance to Gachet Mollaret, with the Swiss ski mountaineer having 32 seconds on Maximilien Drion du Chapois of Belgium.

Thibault Anselmet was three seconds adrift of the Belgian to take bronze.

Anselmet's fortunes were better in the men's individual, topping the podium.

His time of 46:30 was 15 seconds ahead of Bonnet, while Drion du Chapois claimed the bronze medal in front of Italians Robert Antonioli and Matteo Eydallin.

Bonnet still leads Anselmet narrowly in the individual standings.