The German and the Austrian secure their respective second seasonal XCC wins in the rain in Daolasa di Commezzadura. Tomorrow the most iconic track in Downhill awaits the World’s top performers
After Thursday’s Under 23 Short tracks, on Friday June 30th it was time for the top riders to get in the action in a very intense UCI Mountain Bike World Cup day in Daolasa di Commezzadura, Val di Sole (Trentino, Italy).
Despite the ominous weather forecast, with showers eventually falling during the Elite Cross Country Short Track (XCC) races, the enthusiasm of the Italian crowd remained unscathed as they gathered at Daolasa in the late afternoon to witness the show.
Previously, the Junior Downhill finals had taken place on the Black Snake track, with local sensation Chris Hauser forced out of contention by a crash when he was in the lead, disrupting the hopes of the local fans to hear the Italian national anthem on the podium. All smiles, instead, for Canadian Bodhi Kuhn and New Zealander Sacha Earnest, who emerged on top.
Taking the Elite Short Track races were two specialists in the format, German Luca Schwarzbauer and Austrian Laura Stigger. As the sun set, the Four Cross Pro Tour took the spotlight, offering an evening filled with adrenaline, music, and entertainment at Daolasa di Commezzadura.
XCC specialist Schwarzbauer does it again
According to many, tough and intense XCC course in Daolasa di Commezzadura, made more treacherous by the rain, was one that could play in the hands of Luca Schwarzbauer (Canyon CLLCTV), arguably the best specialist in the short-distance format these days. The German did not disappoint, claiming his second seasonal World Cup win and further cementing his lead in the overall standings of this discipline.
Following closely behind the 26-year-old German was South African Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory), also showcasing his prowess in the format, with French sensation Joshua Dubau (Rockrider) on the third spot on the podium.
Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) ended in 10th place after battling in the top positions for most of the race. Anyway, everything suggests he will be among the men to beat for Sunday's Cross Country race.
The men's XCC race was a gripping battle, with Schwarzbauer and Schurter alternating at the front of a compact group of fifteen riders throughout the eight demanding laps. It was during the final lap that Schwarzbauer's explosive power emerged, leaving Hatherly and Dubau in his wake. After forcing on the way up, Schwarzbauer left his competitors behind on descent, maintaining control until he triumphantly crossed the finish line.
“I was pretty surprised to be so strong,” Schwarzbauer said afterwards. “I am in good shape, but also pretty tired. I did the Europeans last week, and it was a big travel, I was hoping I could preserve myself one more time. Tactically, I think I was perfect, thanks Nino for giving me a good leadout, but I think in the end I was the strongest. This course suits me with this very hard kick, but also some flat sections: I am just happy to have claimed my third World Cup win.”
Schwarzbauer's success in the Short Track race further solidifies his position at the top of the overall Short Track World Cup standings with 860 points. Frenchman Jordan Sarrou (Team BMC), who finished seventh today, trails behind with 680 points, closely followed by compatriot Dubau with 488 points.
STIGGER CLAIMS ANOTHER XCC WIN IN VAL DI SOLE
Laura Stigger secured her second seasonal XCC World Cup win in Val di Sole (Trentino). Winner of stage 1 in Lenzerheide, the Austrian of Team Specialized on the finish line Dutch Puck Pieterse (Alpecin Deuceninck) at the end of an exciting duel in the final lap.
French Pauline Ferrand-Prèvot (INEOS Grenadiers) got to the line in third position, 6 seconds behind the winner, preceding 2022 World Cup winner Alessandra Keller (Thomus-Maxon) and Swede Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 IBIS).
After a fast and frantic start, a group of six riders emerged in the lead of the race, including Pieterse, Stigger, Ferrand-Prèvot, Keller, Rissveds and Henderson (Primaflor-Mondraker), with another few riders led by Swiss Jolanda Neff (Trek Factory) chasing just behind.
Keller made a strong push on the uphill rock garden in the penultimate lap, but the decisive move happened right a lap later, courtesy of Laura Stigger.
Only Pieterse could make it back to the wheel of the Austrian, eventually overtaking her to set up a head sprint, but Stigger still had something left in the tank and managed to come from behind and secure an exciting sprint win by short measure.
After the race, Laura Stigger went over the move that proved decisive in the final lap: “I had a pretty good line in the rock garden, then I had so much power on the climb and I just went all out, trying to move past Puck and recover on the downhill. Puck overtook me back on the grass, and I know she’s really good at sprinting: I believe she’s one of the fastest girls here, so coming on top with this win is just amazing.”
Ferrand-Prèvot maintained the World Cup overall lead with 720 points, ahead of Stigger (706) and Pieterse (670).
TOMORROW THE ELITE DH: WILLIAMS AND BALANCHE THE FASTEST ON FRIDAY
Tomorrow, on Saturday, July 1st, Black Snake will take center stage again with the Downhill Elite semifinals and finals (both live on Eurosport/GCN/Discovery). The women will be at the starting gate at 10.45 AM for the semifinal and at 1.00 PM for the final, whilst the Men’s category will face the Val di Sole track at 11.20 AM (semifinal) and 2.00 PM (final).
Brit Jordan Williams (Team Specialized), set the best time in the qualifying round in 3:36.164. Behind the winner of the Lenzerheide round (on his debut in the Elite World Cup) was 2019 Val di Sole Winner Laurie Greenland (Santa Cruz Syndacate), second at 1.856, ahead of his teammate, Canadian Jackson Goldstone, at 2.212. Among the top names, European Champion Andreas Kolb (Continental Atherton) was seventh, Val di Sole’s defending champion Loris Vergier (Trek Factory Racing) placed ninth, whilst the World Champion Loic Bruni (Specialized Gravity) clocked the 16th time.
Camille Balanche smashed the competition in the women’s qualifying round, setting a 4:11.331 time. The Swiss preceded World Champion Valentina Höll (Rockshox) at 2.560. Balanche vs. Höll will be the head-to-head for tomorrow’s final, with New Zealand’s Jess Blewitt (GT-Continental), third today at 2.869, hoping to disrupt the plans of the two top favorites.
THE FOUR CROSS PRO SERIES TO CLINCH A LONG FRIDAY
The schedule for Friday, June 30th, will be closed with the 4X Pro Tour Finals at 9.00 PM. The riders of the top international Four-Cross series will compete under the spotlights in Daolasa di Commezzadura.
The four-cross icon, Czech Tomas Slavik, will try to add another win to his outstanding tally, but Pole Gustaw Dadela and Italian Stefano Dolfin won’t stand looking and will aim for glory on the World’s most famous 4X battlefield. Brit Louise-Anna Ferguson and Swiss Ramona Kupferschmied and Jolanda Kiener will ride for the win in the women’s category.
THE PROGRAM
Thursday, June 29th
• 17.30: Short Track - U23 Men
• 18.15: Short Track - U23 Women
Friday, June 30th
• 12.45: Downhill - JR Women
• 13.15: Downhill - JR Men
• 17.45: Short Track - Elite Women
• 18.30: Short Track - Elite Men
• 21.00: 4X Pro Tour Event
Saturday, June 1st
• 13.00: Downhill - Elite Women
• 14.00: Downhill - Elite Men
• 17.00: GIANT Mini World Cup
Sunday, July 2nd
• 08.30: Cross Country - U23 Women
• 10.30: Cross Country - U23 Men
• 13.00: Cross Country - Elite Women
• 15.00: Cross Country - Elite Men
Daolasa di Commezzadura (Italy), June 30th, 2023
