VERMIGLIO (VAL DI SOLE – TRENTINO), 27 AUGUST 2016 – The countdown for 2016 UCI Mtb Val di Sole has started. The Trials World Champs titles will be awarded in Vermiglio and the rainbow jerseys of the new Cross Country Masters champions handed out. The two events will be held at the Nordic skiing Centre in Vermiglio, a new location chosen by the O.C. headed by Aldo Bordati involved in preparing the official opening in view of the first races. For this occasion the organization had to split in two, since DHI and 4X races will be held in Daolasa on the following week-end (9-11 September). The Black Snake has been surveyed for the Masters downhill that will take place on Sunday on a slightly different course compared to that of the Elite. Designer Pippo Marani removed some technical difficulties making it more flowing and less treacherous.
Back to Vermiglio and Trials, the course is a new one designed using the difficulties found in the environment and the track will remain available in the future, creating a small mtb centre similar to that of the 4X course in Daolasa. The Cross Country Masters course follows the historical trail of the Internazionali d’Italia with additional sections across the fields. Also in this case the course will be available for mtb lovers, thus enhancing the offer of competitive trails in Val di Sole. 1,500 athletes are expected to compete, from 50 nations, but the overall estimated number of people involved in the World Championships is about 6,000. The debut in Italy of the Masters event has already attracted the interest of about 50 Italian and foreign journalists which add to the 100 journalists who have already accredited for the UCI Mtb Elite World Championships.
On Tuesday 30 August the competitions will start with Trials team races. Then on Wednesday afternoon the World Masters will start with the men’s races with different age groups (each group is awarded a title): 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65-69+ yrs. On Wednesday 1 September the ladies will race divided into 5 age groups (30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and 50-59) followed by the last two men’s races 30-34 and 35-39 years old. Then on Friday and Saturday the Trials will be back with the individual, men’s, women’s and juniors events.
It’s the fourth time that the Uci Mtb World Championships are organized in Italy with the double fixture in Val di Sole (2008 and 2016) after il Ciocco (1991) and Livigno (2005). But it’s the first time for the World Masters event open also to novices. And it is not by chance that the Val di Sole and Trentino plays host to this event, since sport is a must for everybody, locals and tourists. Mtb athletes such as Ivan Degasperi and Silvano Janes clinched the world title at this venue. The hope is they will repeat their deeds. On the start line Italy’s team manager Hubert Pallhuber will be racing after Rio’s Olympic Games.
The World Champs will kick off tomorrow 28 August with the Val di Sole Marathon - start and finish lines in Malè - a sort of test event for 2017 Italian competition. Over 700 competitors have already signed up. On 4 September Vermiglio will play host to the Coppa Italia youth. Over 400 possible future champions will battle it out on the World Champs course.
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
