On Thursday 1st September in Val di Sole, during the trials of the Mountain Bike World Cup Finals (2-4 September) on the Black Snake slope, the athletes will pay an emotional tribute to the unfortunate trialist and downhiller, disappeared at the beginning of 2022.
Source: press release
For just over six months, Walter Belli he is no longer there, but his memory is always alive in the hearts of mountain bike enthusiasts, like his example, his tenacity, his will to live.
Thursday 1st September, during the tests for the Mountain Bike World Cup finals, which will be held in Daolasa of Commezzadura from 2 to 4 September, starting from 11.15, the Val di Sole and riders from all over the world will remember the trialist e downhiller with the Walter7 Tribute, a tribute descent on his favorite track, the Black Snake.
The initiative was organized by the Belli family together with friends of Walter with the collaboration of APT Val di Sole e Great Val di Sole Events. The participation of the colleagues of the rider who died last February at the age of 41 is also expected, including the multiple champions of Downhill Alan Beggin e Bruno Zanchi.
THE STORY OF WALTER
Walter Belli's is a life story always conducted at maximum speed, first riding a bicycle, conquering numerous titles and affirmations up to the accident of 12 October 2014, and then with a fierce battle for life, which lasted over 7 years. .
Due to a very bad fall, Walter Belli was forced to a long hospital stay and to lead a life as a quadriplegic patient, expressing a hope, that of finding a cure for spinal injuries.
In the 7 years following the accident, Belli became Ambassador of the Wings For Life World Run, the worldwide charity race that has been raising money for years to support scientific research to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, and has worked on a documentary titled 'The Perfect Speed', to tell the difficulties that people in his condition and those who assist them have to face every day, previewed in Val di Sole on the occasion of the UCI 2021 World Championships.
Athletes participating in the Walter7 Tribute will wear the tribute jersey before launching from the gate of the Black Snake.
"In recent years we have closely followed the trajectory of Walter, a friend whose love for Val di Sole has never changed, before and after the accident,”Said the President of APT Val di Sole and Grandi Eventi Val di Sole Luciano Rizzi. - "Walter was an example for all of us, an inspiration for many people who live in the same difficult conditions. This tribute will be a sincere, intense and emotional moment."
THE PROGRAM
Friday September 2st
• 17.30: Short Track Women
• 18.15: Short Track Men
• 20.45pm: 4X Pro Tour
Saturday 3rd September
• 09.45: Downhill JR men
• 10.30: Downhill Jr women
• 12.30: Downhill Elite women
• 13.30: Downhill Elite men
• 17.15pm: Giant Mini World Cup
• 20.45pm: 4X Pro Tour
Sunday September 4th
• 08.30: Cross Country Women U23
• 10.15am: Cross Country Men U23
• 12.20: Elite Women's Cross Country
• 14.50pm: Cross Country Men Elite
