Last night's snow shuffled the cards during the first laps on the Val di Sole course for the UCI Cyclocross World Cup stars. Mathieu Van der Poel made an impression during practice but warned, "Watch out for Vanthourenhout." Among the women, Fem Vam Empel is the favourite. Tickets on sale at www.valdisolebikeland.com
Snow, champions, showstopper – in a word: snowcross. The wait is coming to an end in Vermiglio, where today, Friday, Dec. 16, the first free practice session of the Italian Cyclocross World Cup event was held in advance of the tenth round of the series organized by Flanders Classics, and the only one to be held on a snow-covered surface.
The night dropped another 30 centimeters of fresh snow to the Laghetti di San Leonardo – already in winter dress. The mist that dampened a sunny afternoon will be followed by a day in which sunshine and pleasant temperatures will peep out – ideal for the fans and athletes who have come to Vermiglio following the world cup event in Dublin and finishing a week of rest that’s useful for recharging their batteries.
Tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 17, will be the deciding day – the elite women will start at 13:00, followed by the elite men at 14:30 – but athletes have already started building up to tomorrow's performance in today’s free practice session, where they went looking for the fastest line, ideal breakaway points, and the most suitable materials to face this unique event.
The most eagerly awaited racer is the flying Dutchman, Mathieu Van der Poel, the four-time elite cyclocross world champion who’s making his snowcross debut in Val di Sole. However, he’s already won two remarkable world cup mountain bike victories in Daolasa di Commezzadura in 2019.
"I feel good, but this is a particular race, different from all the others, on a surface we're not used to," said a smiling Mathieu Van der Poel after the session, in which he was one of the only athletes to ride the most laps, and who was particularly impressive by riding some of the course’s most demanding sections.
"I found a fantastic location and a technical course that’s very demanding and treacherous, especially in today's wet snow conditions, I think the surface improves as the athletes pass over it, but the terrain is constantly changing. Among the opponents, an eye should be kept on Michael Vanthourenhout, an athlete who rides well and is very well suited to this type of race."
It's precisely the European champion who will be one of the most dangerous rivals for the Dutch star on the 3,000-meter course with 50 meters of climbing designed by the Grandi Val di Sole and Flanders Classics staff. From Belgium, Gianni Vermeersch, gravel world champion and Van der Poel's teammate, Eli Iserbyt, and world cup series leader, Laurens Sweeck, are also expected at the start line.
"The sleet softened the snow, which is why it was really difficult to adapt to the terrain," Sweeck commented. "Lap after lap we found different terrain, but the course will be worked on again ahead of tomorrow. This is my first time here, so I expect an interesting race."
Gioele Bertolini is top ranked for the Italian men, along with the younger racer, Jakob Dorigoni, and the talented Lorenzo Masciarelli.
In the women's field, the odds favor the Dutch racers. The most eagerly awaited is without a shadow of a doubt Fem van Empel, last year's winner in Vermiglio and dominator of the world cup season with six victories out of nine races so far.
She will be challenged by her compatriots Puck Pieterse and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Canada's Maghalie Rochette, Hungary's multi-talented Kata Blanka Vas, Italy's Silvia Persico, a bronze medalist in ‘cross at the last world championships in the United States, and her more experienced compatriot, Eva Lechner.
"Upon contact with the course I thought I would have preferred a harder surface, but I’ve actually changed my mind. I like the course, I enjoyed it," said Silvia Persico. - "Last year I started with dry tires, this time I certainly will not make the same mistake."
SHOWING ON MONDOVISION
The world cup event in Trentino will be broadcast live around the world thanks to the broadcast by the International Cycling Union through its web channels and strong television coverage. Eurosport will guarantee the broadcast throughout Europe, but there will also be powerful media coverage from Belgium to the Netherlands, from France to the United States.
THE PROGRAM
The program for the Italian cyclocross world cup event will continue tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 17, with two free practice sessions (10:45 to 11:15, and 12:15 to 12:45). Between the two practice sessions the Mystic Owls will take the stage with their Irish music starting at 11:30.
After the two world cup races (elite women at 13:00 and elite men at 14:30 p.m.) and the award ceremonies, the program will continue at 16:00 with another side event: the riders' party inside the heated tent with lots of Turbo Folk & Roll music.
TICKETS ON SALE AT WWW.VALDISOLEBIKELAND.COM
Tickets for Saturday, Dec. 17, are on sale exclusively online for €15 at www.valdisolebikeland.com, with free admission for fans under 12 years of age.
