Eleonora Farina has never made a secret of it: for the 31-year-old from Trentino of Team Mondraker, winning in Val di Sole would be the culmination of a career lived at the highest levels. Matter of prestige, given that the Black Snake is now a monument of Downhill world championship, but also from the heart, for an athlete who dreams of experiencing the most beautiful day right in her home region of Trentino.
Source: press release
In the Grand Final of the Mountain Bike World Cup in Val di Sole, in Daolasa di Commezzadura, (2-4 September), Saturday 3 September is the day circled in red on Eleonora Farina's calendar, that of the last act of the World Cup of Downhill. The thirty-year-old currently occupies the fourth place overall in the general classification thanks to excellent consistency and three third places in the stage, gained in Leogang (Austria), Lenzerheide (Switzerland) and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Canada).
The 2017 European Champion proved to be very regular even in her appearances on the Black Snake, although not always lucky: on the occasion of the last World Championships, a knee bruise caused in a trial fall had affected her effectiveness, in spite of a excellent condition.
“I am satisfied with my performance this season. It would be fantastic to close it with an acute ”, declared Eleonora Farina. - “I expect a great result, I don't deny it. Getting it in Val di Sole and on the Black Snake would represent the crowning of a dream ”.
“I worked hard to get to this level”. She - she went on in her thirties. - “The secret is all in the feeling with the materials. We have done numerous tests to find the ideal compromise and compete at the highest levels. I allowed myself a little break but now I'm ready for the Les Gets World Championships and to face the Black Snake, a technical, physical track where I breathe the air of home ".
The blue also focused on the characteristics of the Solandra track. “In Val di Sole, whoever makes less mistakes does not win - she explained - because the slope allows you to recover after a small burr. On the other hand, it is essential to find the right flow from start to finish. To win it is necessary not to attack the track too much but at the same time not to get carried away by the bicycle ”.
Eleonora Farina
Only three athletes had a higher performance than the athlete from Pietramurata in the 2022 World Cup season, the Swiss Camille Balanche, the Austrian Valentina Höll and the reigning World Champion (title won in 2021 in Val di Sole), the French Myriam Nicole, registered by right to the role of favorite. If the Swiss has recovered from a broken collarbone in Mont Sainte-Anne, and still in doubt for the last seasonal tests, the other two are entitled to enroll in the lot of favorites, to which the Italian athlete also belongs.
“I am among the favorites, I do not hide, together with Vali Höll who is going very strong lately and Myriam Nicole who has a particular feeling with the Black Snake. This time I do not set limits, I will be fully satisfied only in case of victory. Among the men, however, there is greater balance, my favorites are Greg Minnaar and Troy Brosnan ”.
THE PROGRAM OF THE WORLD CUP GRAND FINAL
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
