It's that time of year again, when the World Cup comes to Italy, in Val di Sole, Trentino, for its fourth round. For the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team, it's inevitably one of the season’s highlights, as racing in front of the home crowd always gives an extra boost.
Scheduled from June 14 to 16, this year’s Italian stop on the UCI MTB World Series has long earned its status as a major fixture in the global circuit. This year, there are some changes to the course: the main climb on the new XCO track (3500 meters long with 160 meters of positive elevation gain) has been shortened by a few meters, and the “drop” at the top has been moved lower down.
Then, riders will enter the Four-cross course, which has been modified to provide a new, high-intensity section for the Cross Country competitors. The track reconnects with the finish area, introducing a new climb before tackling a downhill trail that will be completely revamped technically. The finish will be more spectacular and TV-friendly, offering a longer and more challenging final sprint compared to previous years.
In Val di Sole, the entire XCO team will be present: European champion Simone Avondetto, Cameron Orr, who last weekend won the fourth round of the British XC Series in Cornwall, Giada Specia, and Sofie Heby Pedersen, while among the U23s, Gustav Heby Pedersen, Elian Paccagnella, and Ginia Lara Caluori will be fierce competitors.
“It’s always exciting to race the World Cup in Italy,” said Marco Trentin, general manager of Wilier-Vittoria. “The event is one of the most attended, and the crowd’s warmth is always felt. The guys are super motivated when racing here. As usual, the competition will be top-notch.”
About 150 km away, in Selva di Val Gardena, the Marathon riders will also take the stage, competing in the HERO Südtirol Dolomites on Saturday, June 15. After a strong start to the season, Fabian Rabensteiner, Samuele Porro, and Daniel Geismayr will once again aim for a good result.
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