Pictures DHI Masters here
Credits: Pierre Tyssot
COMMEZZADURA (VAL DI SOLE – TRENTINO), 4 SEPTEMBER 2016 – Czech Rotislav Stencel clinched the symbolic title for the fastest rider in the downhill race held. On the Black Snake in Daolasa, that officially ended 2016 UCI Masters Mtb World Champs Val di Sole, hosted for one week in this beautiful corner of Trentino, located between the Brenta Dolomites, Tonale Pass and Ortles - Cevedale and crossed by the river Noce.
Stencel finished in 3:57.27 , 24 hundredths ahead of French Oliver Nicole and 2.86 of British David Wardell. Italian Corrado Herin came in fourth, 3.65 behind. He did the same time as Saturday, the best in the official practice runs, but it was not enough. “I did not feel the pressure of my rivals - confessed Italian winner of the World Cup overall in 1997 and bronze medallist in the Elite World Champs in Vail 1994 - I raced according to the times set during the practice runs and I thought it was enough. Anyway I had a six seconds advantage on my rivals and I wanted to run in less than 4 minutes, sure of the result. I could have run faster. I have a sweet-bitter taste, that of rhubarb ”. Italian athlete won the title in his category 50-54 years, 29”30 ahead of the other Italian athlete Gian Paolo Mazzoni and 30”69 ahead of British Steven Jones. French Jean Pierre Bruni, father of Elite World Champion Loic did not finish the race. He is the outgoing Masters World Champion.
Great protagonist of the women's race was Italian Giovanna Bonazzi, with two World titles (Ciocco 1991 and Métabief 1993) and two bronze medals (Vail 1994 and Kirchzarten 1995). She accepted the challenge to race in the World Champs in Val di Sole for the competitive spirit which characterizes her life. She came in fourth women overall and won in the category 50-54 in 5:51.63 while silver went to Ivana Sparano. “It was an extraordinary feeling to run down the Black Snake after 17 years. I came here because Pippo Marani, the course designer, insisted, and I am happy to be here. The steepness of this slope is impressive compared to the courses I was used to”. On her jersey she has a heart with the writing Princy4Ever. " it is the memory of Claudio Princivalle, my master and Mtb pioneer in Verona with his Princycles. It was 1985”.
Back to the men's, Czech Rostislav clinched the World title in category 35-39 where silver went to Werdell (+2.86) and bronze to New Zealand's Nathan Rankin (+5.42). Fifth Italian Manuel dal Pozzo 18.18 behind. “I am very happy, it was a very nice race - commented the Czech athlete -. I did not expect to set the best time. It's a wonderful surprise on a wonderful course”.
French Oliver Nicole dreamt of being the fastest man in the race. He wins in cat. 30-34 ahead of Portuguese Daniel Pombo Pereira (at 10.71) and Canadian Adam Mantle (at 11.66). Tenth is Italian Federico Giubilato (at 17.38). “Honestly I expected more - confessed the French athlete - I thought that the time for the gold was 4 minutes. The course was wet at the start and being beat by 24 seconds is not the top. But I am happy of the result and the many French fans ”.
In cat. 40-44 gold went to Italian Paola Alleva, from Vercelli. He finished in 4:12.58 ahead of French Orre Raymond (+4.26) and Irish Michael Cowan (+8.71). “It was a hard race - said the Italian - the course was dusty and I had to change lines but it went well”. He won 11 Masters titles, two European and a World bronze in 2015.
Spaniard Ramon Figueras Bernandes clinched the title in cat. 45-49 in 4:25.02 ahead of the French Stephane Routin (+2.83) and Nicolas Vaxelaire (+3.32). Ninth Italian Stephane Fia (+18.60). In 55-59 on the podium went Swiss Beinot Fellay (4:46.85), French Eric Delsouiller (+15.46) e and Austria's Max Schuster (+25.13).
Ernesto Pedroni is World Champion in 60-64enni (5:50.14) ahead of Italian Riccardo Vignetti (+14.34) and Spaniard Juan Vincente Blazquez (+37.19). “I did not train enough poco – he explains – but it doesn't matter, it's a very tough track, if you do it three times you haven't got any breath left ”. Among +65 gold went to Canadian John Rideout in 7.27:89.
French Claire Blondeau (5:19.90) was the fastest athlete, gold in cat. 35-39 ahead of Spain's Ruth Castro Sola (+1:15.03) and Swiss Yvonne Birker (1.35.43). Second fastest was Austrian Birgit Braumann (5:22.96) who dominated category 40-44 ahead of Italian Giuliana Gollini (+1:41.45). The symbolic bronze of speed among the women was Swiss Alice Kuhne with a time of 5:38.58, time that enabled her to clinch gold in the youngest category 30-34 with an advantage of only three seconds and eight hundredths on the Italian Federica Amelio. Bronze to the Czech Dominika Durkatova. The last World title went to French Marilyne Bisson (10:05.43) who beat USA's Lillian Pfluke (+1:41.59) in category 55+.
With the downhill race the Masters World Championships come to an end, the first event organized in Italy and have been a great success with great results from the Italian team.
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
