The long-awaited Downhill Qualifying Round for the Elite and Junior categories took place on Friday, June 14, in Val di Sole, followed by the semi-final round scheduled only for the male and female athletes of the top category. This set the stage for the late afternoon Short Track races.
Frenchman Amaury Pierron (Commencal Muc-Off), winner in Val di Sole in 2018, and New Zealand’s Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory Racing), third last year, were the fastest in the Elite categories’ semi-finals.
Pierron interpreted the central section and the lower part of the Black Snake to perfection, finishing in 3:44.312, ahead of Canadian Finn Iles (Specialized Gravity), 3:45.313, who showed great shape in the upper part. Third place went to Troy Brosnan (Canyon Factory Team): the Australian closed his run with a time of 3:45.659.
Another Frenchman, Loris Vergier, also made a great impression during the semi-final, finishing fourth, unlike his fellow countryman Loic Bruni, the fastest in the Qualifying Round, who was slowed by a mistake in the semi-final. However, his chances of breaking the spell with the Black Snake tomorrow remain intact.
In the Women Elite’s semi-final, the best of the day was New Zealand’s Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory Racing), who after a great run stopped the clock at 4:36.837. Behind her was Myriam Nicole (Commencal Muc-Off), the French rider who already tamed the Black Snake in three different seasons: in 2011 and 2022 in the World Cup, and in 2021, during the latest World Championship hosted by Val di Sole Bikeland. Third place went to the reigning champion, the Austrian Valentina Höll (YT Mob). Höll completed her Black Snake run in 4:39.662, finishing ahead of France's Marine Cabirou (Scott Downhill), winner in Val di Sole in 2019.
Frenchman Max Alran (Commencal Muc-Off) and New Zealander Eliana Hulsebosch (Union-Forged) were the fastest in the Qualifying Round among the Juniors. Seventh place went to the home talent and Val di Sole Bikeland’s athlete Chris Hauser (Union-Forged), who made a few too many mistakes. “I messed up a bit but tomorrow is the day that counts,” Hauser commented.
Tomorrow, Saturday June 15, the finals program will open with the Women Junior race at 11:30, followed by the Men Junior at 12:00. The Women Elite final will be at 13:15, and the Men Elite final will close a great Downhill day at 14:00. Both races will be aired live on TV all over the world thanks to Warner Bros Discovery’s distribution.
4X PRO TOUR FINALS IN THE EVENING
Today’s program will end at 21:00 with the final round of the 4X Pro Tour, Four-Cross’ most important circuit in the world. Italian Stefano Dolfin promises to be one of the main opponents of the multi-titled Tomas Slavik. Among the women, there will be a three-rider challenge between American Abigail Hogie and Great Britain’s Louise-Anna Ferguson and Morgan Haslam.
