Organizers of Great Events Val di Sole have made some changes to the circuit that will host the tenth stage of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Val di Sole on Saturday, December 17. Technical Director Battistini: "The course is even more challenging: legs, breath and lots of power will be needed."
Last year, Val di Sole offered the great premiere of a brand new Cyclocross format, but the snow remains a surface still to be fully explored by the Cyclocross World Cup circus. The second chapter of the story between cyclocross and snow is scheduled for Saturday, December 17, on the snow of Vermiglio, Val di Sole (Trentino), for the 10th round of the World's top circuit.
The man knowing every secret of the course in Vermiglio’s San Leonardo Lakes area is named Sergio Battistini, the Technical Director of Grandi Eventi Val di Sole. In these days, Battistini is coordinating the works to set up the route along with the Flanders Classic team, fine tuning the battlefield of the Italian Cyclocross World Cup stage in the snow, 1300 meters above sea level.
After the waiting in the early part of autumn, snowfalls and lowering temperatures have finally arrived in Vermiglio over the past few days, creating the right conditions to work on the trail, whose construction began last weekend.
“The snow is there, and now the cold too. At this stage, it is crucial to manage the snowpack to ensure that athletes can ride smoothly and with ideal conditions. Especially the downhill sections will have to be well groomed to make the snow hard, reducing the surface layer on the curves and flat sections”, explains Sergio Battistini.
Last year’s experience helped the organizers in identify some slight changes, set to make the show more exciting and enjoyable for the fans.
"Compared to last year, we have created two snow hills that the athletes will have to ride over. In addition, the loop will ride closer to the forest, but the elevation gain is pretty much unchanged. The result is an even more challenging route, one for the specialists”, Battistini said.
Changes also involve the public and accessibility to the race site.
“It will be easier for the public to move along the route, with more crossing points", Battistini added.
After the successes of Wout Van Aert and Fem Van Empel in last year's edition, Vermiglio again awaits the champions of the speciality, led by Dutch champion Mathieu Van der Poel, as well as the two main actors of the Women’s World Cup so far, Van Empel and Puck Pieterse.
“To tame this course, you need legs, breath, and lots of power. When it’s hard, the snow is smooth, but where it gets softer it is like riding on sand, and it poses a much steeper challenge to the athletes. We are working to deliver a great show, and we hope that the warmth of the public will provide the perfect frame for a great sporting event”, explains Battistini.
Snow, champions, and lots of fun: the cyclocross World Cup stage in Val di Sole organizing committee has set up a program of side events. During the free practice session on Saturday, Dec. 17 (11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.) the Mystic Owls and their Irish music will take the stage starting at 11:30 a.m. After the two races (Elite Women at 1 p.m. and Elite Men at 2:30 p.m.), the riders' party inside the heated tent with lots of Turbo Folk & Roll music will get off at 4 p.m.
