There was little doubt, as Samuele Porro and Fabian Rabensteiner have clearly been Italy's top Marathon athletes all year, but receiving an official call-up from the Italian National Team is always exciting. And when that call is for the UCI XCM World Championships, scheduled for September 21st in Snowshoe, USA, the satisfaction is even greater.
Coach Mirko Celestino has chosen to rely on the experienced duo from the Wilier-Vittoria MTB Factory Team to aim for a strong result at the American event. The course in Snowshoe, West Virginia, spans 100 km, winding around Cheat Mountain Mauler and then plunging into the Monongahela National Forest.
Porro is heading into the event in peak form, having recently won both the Südtirol Superbike and the Mythos, showing his determination to put last year's unfortunate Scottish experience behind him. The rider from Como’s best World Championship result to date is a bronze medal earned in Switzerland in 2019.
"Well, getting called up for the World Championship is always a great feeling," said Porro. "I think we're heading to the USA with a strong, tight-knit team that can aim high. We already know the course from last year's World Cup; it’s got a bit of everything, and it finishes uphill... I like that! Let’s just hope the weather is kinder this time around compared to 12 months ago. I'm feeling good and ready to fight."
For Italian champion Rabensteiner, the past few weeks have been more challenging: "Wearing the Italian jersey is always an honor," said Fabian, whose best World Championship finish is the 8th place he achieved last year. "We've been working hard to be ready for this race, and I hope I can perform well. Between physical issues and Covid, the lead-up hasn’t been ideal. I like the course, I remember it well from last year. So, what can I say?… Let's go have some fun!"
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