After his success in Romania, the Italian rider will compete in his home WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series event. He will take part in the Short Track on June 14th and the Cross-Country race on June 16th. "I feel that I can reach the top of the discipline: I want to confirm this in Val di Sole"
In sports, winning begets more winning. For 24-year-old Italian Simone Avondetto, the taste of victory is becoming familiar in his second season in the Elite category.
After securing the U23 World title in 2022, Avondetto clinched the Elite European cross-country title two weeks ago in Romania. This unexpected triumph came with a strong performance on a day marked by bad weather.
On Sunday, June 16th, in Val di Sole (Trentino, Northern Italy), Avondetto will proudly wear his new European jersey in front of his home crowd. This moment will occur during the cross-country race of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, starting at 14.00 CET.
“My early season was good, including the first World Series stages in Brazil, but after the European Championships, I feel I can go head-to-head with the top riders. I hope I’ve earned the opportunity to participate in the Olympic race. If I get the nod, I will develop a dedicated program in preparation for Paris 2024 with my staff,” said Avondetto.
“Val di Sole is a key event in my schedule; for us, it’s the home race. Achieving a good result here would be fantastic. I love the Val di Sole track; it’s beautiful, natural, and demanding, with any section potentially deciding the race.”
Simone Avondetto and Luca Braidot will carry the hopes of the Italian fans in the Men’s Cross Country in Val di Sole. "It's not a burden for me, rather an additional motivation to do well. Daolasa is special: the fans are incredible. Every year is a wonderful experience. It’s a bit early to set specific goals, but a top-10 placement is within my sight. My long-term goal is to continue on this path."
The Wilier-Vittoria rider will also compete in the Short Track race on Friday, June 14th, at 17.50 CET, his first chance to clash with the top riders in Val di Sole. "The top competitors are the usual suspects: Andreassen, the French and Swiss riders. Nino (Schurter) and Matthias (Flückiger) haven’t started their season at full throttle, but I bet they will be in the run for victory in Val di Sole. Nino has a special connection with this race. Because Val di Sole is technical and natural, those who can ride the bike well can save energy, and use it to make a difference in the final laps."
