Regardless of the conditions, the Val di Sole course never ceases to thrill. The steep, slippery terrain guarantees exhilarating racing, filled with crashes, dramatic saves, and emotional victories. This is World Cup racing at its finest.
Eliana Hulsebosch pushed her limits, narrowly avoiding several near misses, to finish with an impressive ten-second lead over the fast-approaching Sacha Earnest. Hulsebosch dominated the junior women's division from the second split, also setting the fastest women's time of the day, edging out Tahnee Seagrave by 0.083 seconds. Erice Van Leuven trailed Earnest, highlighting a strong day for New Zealand riders. The future of racing looks promising.
Fresh off a victory in Leogang, Max Alran made winning consecutive World Cups seem effortless. He skillfully maneuvered through the treacherous rocks and roots, beating Asa Vermette by just over two seconds. Despite missing the top spot, Vermette's spectacular save in the upper turns was unforgettable, as he regained control of his bike to secure 2nd place, ahead of Mylann Falquet.
In a remarkable comeback, Tahnee Seagrave reclaimed the top podium spot, gaining at least 1.8 seconds on every competitor in the first two splits. She dominated the upper course, establishing a lead that the elite women's field couldn't overcome, despite their best efforts. Marine Cabirou finished 0.32 seconds behind in 2nd place, with Monika Hrastnik taking third, 0.941 seconds off the lead.
The day concluded with another classic run by Amaury Pierron, who delivered an all-or-nothing performance to shatter the top men's race time by 4.893 seconds over Dakotah Norton. Norton's run seemed unbeatable until Pierron's masterful ride demonstrated why he has so many historic victories. Finn Iles continued his strong 2024 season with another top-three finish.
After the intense action at Val di Sole, riders now get a short break before heading to Les Gets for the first of the final three downhill races of the 2024 season.
15 июн 2024
