The Wilier Vittoria MTB Factory Team had plenty to celebrate after the latest UCI MTB World Series round at Lake Placid, Mount Van Hoevenberg, in the U.S.. Fabian Rabensteiner was crowned the overall Marathon World Cup champion for the second consecutive year (550 points across 3 rounds), following a perfectly executed race from the very first kilometer.
In the 100 km race, Rabensteiner, wearing the leader’s jersey, focused on controlling attacks from his closest rival, Colombian Hector Paez, while still making his own attempts to win the final stage. In the end, the race proved less selective than expected, with 9 riders crossing the finish line together. Germany’s Simon Schneller took the win, and Rabensteiner secured 3rd place, locking in his overall victory. Samuele Porro finished 11th, 4th overall (410 points), just 5 points shy of the podium claimed by Schneller.
“Winning the World Cup for the second year in a row is an incredible feeling,” Rabensteiner shared. “Last week’s World Championship in the U.S. didn’t go well due to some physical issues, but today, I finally felt my legs were back. I tried to win the stage, but things got a bit chaotic in the end. Still, 3rd place is more than enough to secure the overall title.”
Meanwhile, the XCO races also saw strong performances from the Wilier-Vittoria team. Ginia Lara Caluori delivered a standout result, finishing 3rd in the U23 XCO race and 6th in the XCC, moving her to 6th overall in the standings. Gustav Heby Pedersen earned his first World Cup Top 10 with a 10th place in the U23 XCO, while Giada Specia’s Top 20 finish provided a morale boost.
“I was really motivated and pushed hard until the end,” Caluori said. “What happened to Muriel Furrer in Zurich was heartbreaking, and I wanted to honor her memory with a strong performance. I aimed to win, but I’m proud to take the podium today.”
For the XCO squad, the journey isn't over yet. They now head to Canada, to Mont-Sainte-Anne, where the final World Cup race will take place from October 4-6. This iconic course, a staple of the MTB World Cup since 1998, promises another thrilling challenge.
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