Now that the dust has settled, the time has come to take stockAnd today we're talking about our standard-bearers: Martina Bertha, once again synonymous with solidity, and Luke Braidot, finally back to its usual levels. But let's proceed in order.
Martina Berta on the show: a sensational double for the Aosta Valley native.
Martina Berta and Luca Braidot faced the last two American stages of World Cup coming from the XC World Championship in Val di Sole, but with two championships behind him decidedly different seasonal balancesAfter a steady and impressive growth, Martina has reached the consecration: first the victories in the World Cup, then the conquest of the silver medal at the World Championships. Luca, on the contrary, was looking for the redemption after having bet everything on the rainbow jersey without managing to conquer itIn the United States, however, both presented themselves with the same goal: to win, convince and give confirmation.
The response of the Aosta Valley was an authentic one Berta show in AmericaThe Italian won the test XCC, to then repeat itself immediately in theXCOM and complete a sensational doubleWhat is the best term to describe your race? AuthorityThis is the first sensation that her performance conveys. The standard-bearer of theOrigin Racing Division has remained constantly in the leading positions, ready to respond to every attack and to tackle the most difficult sections specifications always in the top positions. In short, we have found a Berta brilliant, almost as if it were still the beginning of the season and not the end of a long and expensive year. fatigue it didn't seem to affect her in the least. Indeed, her "leg” it looked even better than the one shown in Val di Sole, where she had won the world silver medal just two weeks ago. With conditions like this, another victory in the final stage of the season is practically inevitable.
Braidot: Super comeback and fourth place
If in the men's race it was martin vidaurre to find the winning shot in theXCOM, gaining victory, the most beautiful emotions for the Italian colors came from number 444.
Luca Braidot is one of those runners who, as is often said, when the last lap arrives he leaves nothing to his opponents. After a race in which the athletes Wilier Vittoria had struggled to find the pace needed to break into the top 10, the decisive flashIn the final lap of a very close race - and the particularly large group could be misleading - Luke Braidot He managed to emerge from the fray, quickly and consistently gaining positions. And so, after an hour and a quarter of racing during which he had almost always remained out of the spotlight, here he is suddenly fighting for the podium of the stage World Cup di Soldier Hollow. Incredible.
His was one super comeback as unexpected as it was spectacular, arriving on a track that on paper didn't seem particularly favourable to our team, and which allowed him to narrowly win a splendid fourth. That the leg was the right one, after all, he had already made it clear on the eve of the World Championship in Val di Sole. On that occasion the result had not reflected expectations, but the great preparatory work carried forward in the following weeks has found full confirmation in the American results. The appointment with his "Show” had only been postponed.
MEN'S ELITE RANKING
| 1. |  | VIDAURRE KOSSMANN Martin(SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:28:55 |
| 2. |  | PUNCHARD Cole(CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) | 1:29:00 +5 |
| 3. |  | GUAY Mathis(KTM FACTORY MTB TEAM) | 1:29:02 +7 |
| 4. |  | BRAIDOT Luke(WILIER-VITTORIA FACTORY TEAM) | 1:29:07 + 12 |
| 5. | | AZZARO Mathis(ORIGINE RACING DIVISION) | 1:29:10 + 15 |
| 6. |  | RILEY Bjorn(SCOTT-SRAM MTB RACING TEAM) | 1:29:10 + 15 |
| 7. | | MARTIN Luke(CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) | 1:29:10 + 15 |
| 8. | | AMOS Riley(TREK – UNBROKEN XC) | 1:29:17 + 22 |
| 9. | | SARROU Jordan(BMC FACTORY RACING) | 1:29:28 + 33 |
| 10. |  | GAZE Samuel(ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH) | 1:29:30 + 35 |
GENERAL WORLD CUP
FEMALE ELITE RANKING
| 1. | | BERTHA Martina(ORIGINE RACING DIVISION) | 1:15:51 |
| 2. | | GIBSON Gwendalyn(TREK – UNBROKEN XC) | 1:16:04 + 13 |
| 3. |  | FREI Sina(SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:16:39 + 48 |
| 4. | | BLUNK Savilia(DECATHLON FORD RACING TEAM) | 1:16:39 + 48 |
| 5. | | KELLER Alexandra(THOMUS MAXON) | 1:16:51 + 1: 00 |
| 6. | | BATTEN Haley(SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:17:08 + 1: 17 |
| 7. |  | RICHARDS Evie(TREK – UNBROKEN XC) | 1:17:27 + 1: 36 |
| 8. |  | Risveds Jenny(CANYON XC RACING) | 1:17:28 + 1: 37 |
| 9. | | JACKSONJennifer(ORBEA FOX FACTORY TEAM) | 1:17:43 + 1: 52 |
| 10. |  | STIGGER Laura(SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:17:47 + 1: 56 |
GENERAL WORLD CUP
