pictures here
Credits: Pierre Tyessot
COMMEZZADURA (VAL DI SOLE – TRENTINO), 3 SEPTEMBER 2016 – it is going to be a fight between 4 downhillers from Italy, France, Great Britain and Czech Republic to conquer the title of the fastest rider in the Downhill race that will take place tomorrow morning on the Black Snake in Daolasa, the event will officially end 2016 UCI Mbt Masters World Championships in Val di Sole. In today’s timed practice runs the best time was clocked by Corrado Herin (Black Arrows – Mtb Herin School), one of the Italian downhill icons. He won the specialty World Cup in 1997 and the bronze medal in 1994 World Championships Vail. Despite his age (50 years old), he finished in 4:00.58 and did better than his young rivals, starting with French Olivier Nicole (category 30-34) whofinished in 4:06.45, followed by cat. 35-39 British David Wardell who finished in 4:07.33, Czech Rostislaw Stencel in 4:07.40 and Italy’s Fabrizio Dragoni (Alessibici) in 4:07.48.
Among the women there are Italian Giovanna Bonazzi (cat 50-54) with a time of 6:07.07, fifth overall, with a prize record featuring two World Champs titles (Ciocco 1991 and Métabief 1993) and two bronze medals (Vail 1994 and Kirchzarten 1995). The best time was set by French Claire Blondeau (5:22.74) racing in category 35-39. Then come Italian Federica Amelio (Alessibici) cat 30-34 who finished in 5:31.14 and Austria’s Birgit Brauman (40-44) who crossed the finish line in 5:32.47. Fourth (5:51.24) is Swiss Alice Kuhne, who races in the same category of the French and followed by Czech Dominika Durcakova.
Some of the competitors’ names are the same as those of current downhill champions, starting from Jean Pierre Bruni, father of world champion Loic, today third in the World cup in Vallnord and on Sunday eagerly awaited protagonist of the World Championships.
Of course we are only talking about practice runs and, as it happens in Alpine skiing, there can be tactics or simply a different interpretation of the course in order to test some important passages on the Black Snake in view of tomorrow’s race, more than trying to make a good time. Undoubtedly, the practice runs of the two great Italian champions of the past show how their class and riding style are still the same despite the great technical evolution of bikes over the last years. It is also the indirect confirmation of what course designer Pippo Marani means when he said that “the Black Snake is a course where you have to ride with an Old School style. It does not put competitors into the spotlight, but rather it’s the athletes that put the course into the spotlight. With this course I help competitors to show off their skills”.
This revival race will be followed next Saturday by the DH Legends event that will gather in Daolasa some of the great protagonists of the Italian World Downhill history starting from the memorable 1991 World Champs, held at Il Ciocco in Tuscany. In the list of people invited there are Paolo Caramellino, famous athlete in cycling and motorcycling , Olympic athlete Paola Pezzo (gold at the Games in Cross-country 1996 and 2000) and Paolo Rosola (today Tv commentator). But also Bruno Zanchi, stagy commentator Red Bull Rob Warner (former world downhiller and the first british to win a round in 1996 World Cup) and his adventure fellow Claudio Caluori (author of the highly appreciated video preview of World Cup DH courses), UCI delegate David Vasquez Lopez and His Majesty Steve “Peaty” Peat, who on Sunday will be the forerunner of the downhill that will end 2016 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships Val di Sole.
Alberto Penasa - Azienda Turismo Val di Sole
Viale Marconi, 7 - 3827 - Malè - (TN)
Tel. +39.0463.900863 - Fax +39.0463.901563
www.valdisole.net - penasa.a@valdisole.net
