Nino Schurter, on Luca Braidot's exploits, comments: "Behind his victories there is a lot of work"
Source: press release / Vitesse
Two memories are enough to understand what it means to compete in Val di Sole for Nino Schurter. The first dates back to 2008, and is the Under 23 World title that launched him among the mountain bike giants at only 22 years old, two months from Beijing Olympic Games where he was able to conquer an unexpected bronze. The second is history of the past year, the world champion laurel of 2021, grabbed when his career seemed to be heading towards a slow decline.
In between, five other affirmations for a total of seven, won between the World Cup and the World Championships: Val di Sole has become a real fiefdom of the Swiss champion. The 36-year-old born in Tersnaus, a small mountain village in the Canton of Grisons, will try to reaffirm his superiority in Trentino also from 2 to 4 September, on the occasion of the Grand Finale of the World Cup scheduled in Daolasa di Commezzadura, a few days from his tenth triumph at the World Championships (title won in Les Gets).
Schurter will take part in both the Short Track on Friday 2 and at Cross Country on Sunday 4 September, looking for the last few points towards another overall World Cup crown.
“The one won last year is not just a world title, but something more,” he began Nino Schurter. - “After Covid and the opaque performance of Tokyo 2020, the victory at the World Cup represented a liberation. In Val di Sole I regained my confidence and I realized that I was back to myself. That victory also had a positive effect on this season ”.
The World Champion's 2022 kicked off in the best possible way with a splendid statement in the first round of the World Cup in Petropolis, Brazil, where he equaled Julian Absalon's record of 33 stage wins.
"I try to win every race I participate in, I usually don't look too much at the records even if this is a great motivation to keep fighting for World Cup victories," admitted Schurter. - “After having conquered the stage in Brazil, I have come close to winning on other occasions. I hope to be able to beat the record in Val di Sole, otherwise I'll try next year ”.
The record of stage successes is not the only motivation for Nino: Val di Sole will also be giving away the general classification of the World Cup, won by Schurter on seven other occasions. Again, a record shared with his old rival Absalon. “I am very optimistic if I will be able to reach the finish line without accidents or mechanical problems. I love racing in Italy and I love the Val di Sole track with its climbs and technical passages. Since the beginning of my career, I am happy on this path ”.
On the way to his eighth success in the World Cup, the Rio 2016 Olympic Champion will also find a highly motivated home athlete, the world bronze medalist from Les Gets Luca Braidot, this year's World Cup winner in Lenzerheide and Andorra and in full swing for final victory. “Luca's results are not the result of fortunate circumstances. He worked hard to close the gap that separated him from the best in the world. In his summer everything went well and he managed to hit a positive streak. I hope that his trend can continue positively also in the season finale ”.
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
• 10.15: Cross Country Men U23
• 12.20: Cross Country Elite women
• 14.50: Cross Country Elite men
