In the past few hours, the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team has landed in Brazil where, in the upcoming days, the 2024 UCI MTB World Series will begin with its first two events. It will start in Mariporã, featuring XCO races scheduled from April 12th to 14th, followed by a move to the mountainous region of Minas Gerais in Araxá, with races from April 19th to 21st.
Mariporã, situated an hour north of São Paulo, although having hosted international races in the past, is making its debut on the World Cup calendar, making it a first-time experience for many athletes on this terrain. The course is designed to allow for overtaking and head-to-head competition, with the organizers aiming to create as much uncertainty as possible to enhance the excitement. Brazil is launching the World Series just as it did in 2022, starting from Petropolís.
The Wilier-Vittoria team has brought all its specialists to Brazil: Simone Avondetto, Cameron Orr, Sofie Heby Pedersen, and Giada Specia will compete in the elite category, while Gustav Pedersen, Elian Paccagnella, and Ginia Lara Caluori will race in the U23 events.
"When the World Cup begins, there's always a bit of excitement," admits Marco Trentin, the team's General Manager. "Both in Mariporã and in Araxá, we'll encounter new, fast tracks, promising tightly contested races. Naturally, we'll strive to be in the spotlight and achieve the best possible results. Caluori finished fifth overall in the U23 World Cup standings last year, so we anticipate that with another year of experience, she'll be contending for the top spots in her category.”
For the very first time in Brazil, the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team will race with the new fork FOX GripSL / 34 Step-Cast, sporting a special gold color.
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