Wilier-Vittoria: Avondetto, MacPhee, and S. Pedersen, a Weekend of Victories in France and Denmark

Rested and recharged after the summer break, the riders of the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team returned to racing with full determination. On Saturday, they delivered three standout wins — the perfect boost heading into the decisive part of the season.

At the French Cup in Les Menuires – La Croisette, Simone Avondetto claimed victory in the elite men’s race, powering away solo in a display that confirmed the excellent work done over the past few weeks.

“I’m really happy — I found the answers I was looking for,” said the former European champion. “It was a demanding race, with two very long climbs that tested us all. I tried to make a move halfway through, and only the Spaniard Cullell Estape followed. In the finale, I pushed again and managed to go clear. I’m satisfied with the win, but above all with how I felt — it gives me confidence for the rest of the World Cup season.”

Just behind him, Juri Zanotti continued his steady progression with a strong 3rd place, while Luca Braidot, returning to competition, finished 9th.

Meanwhile in Denmark, the Pedersen siblings stayed a few days longer to contest the national championships in Vejle — and they left their mark. Sofie Heby Pedersen took both titles, winning the XCO and the short track, which means she’ll wear the distinctive red-and-white Danish champion’s jersey throughout the 2025 season. Gustav Heby Pedersen finished 2nd in the U23 XCO and 4th in the elite XCC.

“I was curious to see how my body would respond after two weeks of altitude training, and the answers were really positive — I felt strong,” Sofie said. “There weren’t many of us on the start line, but the level was high. The XCO was a real battle, and I managed to make the difference in the end, while in the XCC I won in a sprint. Wearing the Danish champion’s jersey is always a huge honor.”

The focus now shifts to the seventh round of the UCI MTB World Series, taking place next weekend (August 28–31) in Haute-Savoie, France — a venue that never fails to deliver spectacular racing.