The 31-year-old Aussie, DH World Cup leader, goes for her first win in Val di Sole. “It’s a challenging course, I can’t wait to attack come race day”
The trophy of Val di Sole’s Black Snake is one of the most coveted by the Downhill top riders. Even more so if such trophy has proved elusive in recent years.
A consistent presence at the top of World Downhill in recent years, Tracey Hannah will face the Italian appointment of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, scheduled in Val di Sole (Trentino), with the role of the race’s favourite, after winning two World Cup stages in this season, in Leogang (Austria) and Le Gets (France).
The 31-year-old Aussie just grazed the Blake Snake crown in the previous editions: on Saturday August 3rd, Tracey will have a great chance to claim an important success, getting closer to the World Cup overall win. “I am so excited – said Tracey Hannah. - I have always wanted to win in Val di Sole. The route is very challenging, but I can’t wait to attack come race day. I hope to win, because I dream to conquer the Blake Snake trophy”.
“I really like the fact that it’s such a challenging course – continues the Aussie rider. - It makes the riders really have to focus on their skills and be the best rider they can. You have to be on your game and 100% to perform on the Black Snake”.
Third in 2017 and fourth in 2018, Tracey Hannah knows the insidious passages characterizing the race and the wonderful environmental context, among the most appreciated in the World Cup circus. “It’s a beautiful place and an awesome venue, I just love the crowd and the atmosphere and riding the course is always a great challenge”.
World Cup leader with 1040 points, Tracey Hannah will face in Val di Sole her direct rivals for the overall win, such as French Marine Cabirou (runner-up with 840 points), German Nina Hoffmann and the Italian athletes, Veronika Widmann and Eleonora Farina.
“Veronika and Eleonora are riding extremely fast this year and they have the chance to do a great result, i really hope they can do their best race and that we can have an awesome competition this race”, concluded the Team Polygon UR athlete.
The Downhill programme of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole starts with the Free Practice on Thursday August 1st, followed by the Qualifying Round on Friday August 2nd (12.15 Women JR, 12.30 Men JR, 13.30 Women Elite e 14.00 Men Elite CET) and the finals, to be held on Saturday August 3rd (09.45 Women JR, 10.15 Men JR, 12.30 Women Elite e 13.30 Men Elite CET).
On Thursday August 1st, the Four-Cross World Championships programme will start with the Qualifying Round, whilst Friday August 2nd is scheduled the finals (9.15 pm). On Sunday August 4th, Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup's weekend will close with the Cross Countrycompetitions (8.30 Women U23, 10.15 Men U23, 12.20 Women Elite, 15.05 Men Elite).
The Downhill Finals will be aired by Red Bull TV, on Saturday August 3rd at 12.25 am CET. On Sunday August 4th, Red Bull TV will be broadcasted the Elite Cross Country competitions(12.15 am CET. Women race, 3.00 pm CET, Men race).
Malé (Italy), July 30th, 2019
