The peculiarities of cyclocross on snow, highlighted by the Italian stage of World Cup in Val di Sole, put the driving style of many athletes to the test. In the last two years the hopes of some contenders for victory have in fact sunk in the snow of the now iconic route of the San Leonardo lakes di Vermilion.
Source: press release
Other runners, however, see their qualities exalted on the snowy surface and, when they see white, they give their best. This is certainly the case Michael Vanthourenhout, Belgian from the Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal team: in 2021 came second behind wout van aert and in front of tom pidcock and in 2022 he climbed to the top step of the podium after a race in which the Dutchman struggled a lot Mathieu van der Poel, big favorite on the eve and eighth at the finish line.
Vanthourenhout, who Sunday December 10 he will be one of the favorites of the race Elite men, in fact, proved to be one of the most gifted runners, from both a technical and tactical point of view, on the snowy Vermiglio route. A year ago, on a treacherous surface, he prevailed thanks to clean, precise and effective riding. On that occasion the Belgian got the better of his opponents thanks to a progression on the third lap, after two rounds of studying his opponents and the dangers of the circuit.
Given the precedents, Vanthourenhout is very happy to return to Vermiglio. “I have excellent memories of Val Di Sole: the snow makes it a special race. In both of my experiences I always had difficulties during the tests, but then during the race I fell in love with this route. The race in Val Di Sole is truly unique: then finding ten centimeters of fresh snow as well as ice, as happened a year ago. With those conditions, the weather can really be decisive."
For Vanthourenhout, what is special is not only the race, but also the context: “I love those mountains, even if the cold isn't always easy to handle.”
In addition to the landscapes and the excellent memories, the Belgian cross-country skier appreciates the World Cup stage in Val di Sole also for the crowd: “Compared to Belgium, the atmosphere is very different: in Belgian races people come to support a specific runner; in Vermiglio everyone is rooting for everyone, from first to last". However, there are those who, among the many athletes competing, have a predilection for Vanthourenhout: “I often train in Livigno, and therefore there are people who know me and are always present with signs and banners to cheer me on. A beautiful thing."
This year, in Val di Sole, Vanthourenhout will present himself to lift a season, so far, full of ups and downs. Apart from his victory in the European Championship in November, the Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal team rider has been hampered by health problems followed by a setback with a shoulder problem.
However, in Vermiglio, on his thirtieth birthday, he aims to return at 100 percent, and he already has clear ideas on how to behave on the snow: “In Val di Sole, the one who manages to ride the bicycle best wins. Releasing so many watts is not possible, because you lose control of the vehicle; therefore, you need to focus on control and avoiding falls.”
Among the most accredited rivals, one will race with the same jersey as him: he is his compatriot and teammate Eli Iserbyt, fresh winner of the Flamanville stage, in France, and so far dominator of the World Cup.
The program of the Italian stage of the cyclocross World Cup will open Saturday December 9 a Vermilion and with a free practice session from 14pm to 00pm, which can be accessed for free. Sunday December 10 instead the competitions will be staged, with the Elite women protagonists from 13:10, followed by Elite Men at 14pm. The Tickets for Sunday they are available, exclusively online, at www.valdisolebikeland.com.
