In today's qualifying rounds at the foot of the Matterhorn Moioli, who had won in Montafon, was almost two seconds faster than runner up Charlotte Bankes, of France.

The 22-year-old left the start gate in second position behind Nelly Moenne Loccoz, of France, but gradually hunted her down and when both racers entered the first left turn on the 800 metre course, it was Moioli who showed her skills.

She passed Moenne Loccoz and broke away in dominant fashion to land her seventh career victory.

“It's an amazing day for me and the whole Italian team”, she said. 

“I have no words. 

"It was an easy course but difficult to go through the right way.

"I felt strong and focused in the big final. 

"When I finally was in the lead I said to myself "Come on Michi, keep it, keep it."

"When I came down in the finish I saw the whole team, my family, my dog. It's just an amazing day.”

While Moenne Loccoz defended her second place from teammate Julia Pereira de Sousa Mabileau, of France, who earned her first career podium in third in a photo-finish from Bankes.

The men's event also provided a photo finish in a race that Pierre Vaultier, also of France,  dominated in the early stages.

The 2014 Olympic Champion quickly gained a lead on his pursuers and looked likely to land a fifth victory in 12 snowboard cross races this season.

But Omar Visintin, sitting in third after the start, sparked into life and constantly reduced the gap before catching Vaultier on the finish line to celebrate his third career victory and ending a wait of almost four years.

“You couldn't have asked for anything better than Italy taking a double win at the first ever Snowboard Cross World Cup in Cervinia," a disappointed Visintin said.

"It was a great race.

"I had a very good start in the final, but Omar then came outside of me in the last turn and was faster than me.

"I couldn't do anything against it anymore. 

"He deserved the win."

Alex Pullin, of Austria, rounded off the podium in third ahead of Alex Deibold, of the US,  and  therefore extending his World Cup lead with 3,026 points.

Lindsey Jacobellis, of the US, who finished eighth after sitting out the small final due to a crash in the semis, is still leading the women's World Cup ranking with 3,380 points ahead of Trespeuch, on  3,300 points and Moioli with 3,230.

The FIS SBX World Cup will now take a Christmas break with the next races set to take place in Erzurum, Turkey, on January 19 to 21.