The Italian rider looks to close in style her best UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season to date in Val di Sole’s final round (September 2-4). “Winning here would be a dream coming true”
Eleonora Farina has never made it a secret: winning in Val di Sole would be the highest achievement for the Italian rider, for two reasons. First, the prestige of a monument event of international Downhill like the Black Snake track, and second, the dream of living the best day of her career in Trentino, just a few kilometers from home.
In the Grand Finale of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, to be held in Daolasa di Commezzadura (Val di Sole, Northern Italy) from September 2nd to 4th, Saturday, September 3rd will be the most important day for Eleonora Farina: on that day is scheduled the final round of the Downhill World Cup. The Mondraker Team rider occupies the fourth overall place thanks to her solid season, characterized by three third places claimed in Leogang (Austria), Lenzerheide (Switzerland) and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada).
The 2017 European Champion showed her consistency also in the Val di Sole races, though bad luck often affected her chances. Latest in time, at the 2021 World Championships, a hard crash in the free practice session gave Farina a knee hematoma, hampering her performance in the decisive run.
“I’m satisfied with my performances this season. Now, I want to win”, said Eleonora Farina. – “I expect a great result. To achieve it on the Black Snake would be the fulfillment of a dream for me”.
“I have worked hard to reach this level”, continued the athlete from Pietramurata (Trentino). – “The feeling with the bike is one of the secrets of my performances. We made many tests to reach the ideal compromise and be able to compete at a high level. I took a break before the World Champs in Les Gets and the Val di Sole Finals. The Black Snake is a physical and technical track, and it smells like home”.
The Italian rider also analyzed the characteristics of the Val di Sole track: “Compared to other courses, the steeper gradient of the Black Snake allows a small mistake without losing too much speed. However, it’s key to find the perfect flow and balance from the start to the finish line: being too aggressive won’t be of any help, now will being too passive on the bike”.
Three riders precede Eleonora Farina in the World Cup overall standings: Swiss Camille Balanche, Austrian Valentina Höll and World Champion Myriam Nicole (who conquered the title in Val di Sole, in August 2021). The Swiss is recovering from a collarbone fracture after Mont-Sainte-Anne's crash, whilst Höll and Nicole are to be regarded as the main favorites for the grand finale, along with the Italian rider.
“I’m there with the strongest for the World Cup final round, together with Vali Höll and Myriam Nicole, who has a good feeling with the Black Snake, but I won’t settle for anything less than the win. I think the Men’s race will be harder to predict, but my picks are Greg Minnaar and Troy Brosnan”.
