Pene (NZL) and Widmann (ITA) win the Italian stage of iXS European Downhill Cup in Pila (AO).
Source: press release
The iXS European Downhill Cup offered another highlight of the season with the second heat last weekend in Pila (Aosta).
Tuhoto-Ariki Pene and Veronika Widmann are the winners of the elite classes.
It's mid-July, summer seems pretty normal so far in most European countries, even the iXS European Downhill Cup takes place normally. The second race was able to attract a first-rate group of participants to Pila in Italy: almost 300 athletes from 27 different nations eager to challenge each other on this fantastic track and therefore first-class competition was guaranteed.
As always, the organizers of the race did not spare themselves and prepared an event suitable for the occasion. The former World Cup track alone is always a certainty for a show downhill. And last but not least - the icing on the cake - the incredible breathtaking panorama that offers a unique view of the 4.000m peaks: from Monterosa to the Matterhorn up to Mont Blanc.
TRACK
But back to the race track again. The course boasts a length of 2.700 meters and 460 meters in altitude. Many high-speed sections alternate with root and stone passages, then there is a very steep section in the middle for which Pila is well known to riders. In the past, the legend of the track was responsible for building the track downhill Corrado Herin (unfortunately died in an accident), but we can safely say that his successors are also maintaining the high quality standards. There was also a new section for this year's race, which was perfectly integrated with the characteristics of the former World Cup track and thus once again met exactly the taste of the participants.
As usual, on Friday the track was available to be viewed on foot and for official training. After walking through it and making the first decisions about the choice of the route, the runners had six hours to check the practicality of the selected lines and, if necessary, readjust them at one point or another. Thanks to the best summer conditions, the athletes carried out their training runs and were therefore well prepared for the following days of competition.
FINAL
Sunday started again with optimal weather conditions. However, one of the most frequently asked questions was whether the weather would hold up, as rain and possibly even thunderstorms were expected. Races usually start with the Pro Masters: Benjamin Herold (GER - TNT Racing) took first place ahead of Paolo Alleva (ITA - Scoutbike.com) and Luis Ribeiro (POR - Justbikes).
Afterwards, the youngest participants of the U17 class took to the track. After the winner of the first series Mike Huter (SUI - Gamux Factory Racing) was unfortunately unable to continue the race due to an injury, Henri Kiefer (GER) started as the favorite. In qualifying he managed to dominate the field, but unfortunately he did not win the final and was eliminated. The winner of the race is Christian Hauser (ITA - 3stars-Alessibici), who with this and after the fifth place in Brandnertal managed to put himself in a good position for the series classification. Samu Kauppinen (FIN - Pyorahuolto.com) took second place, seven seconds behind and closely followed by Rudi Eichhorn (GBR - Canyon Collective FMD).
In the women's Pro U19 ranking the result of the previous day was confirmed: Siel van der Velden (BEL - commencal nobl) preceded Delia da Mocogno (SUI - Bikewelt Factory Racing) and Giulia Sandrin (ITA - Trieste Gravity Team).
ELITE WOMAN
It was then the turn of the Elite Women, which with 27 participants was well organized both in terms of quantity and quality. A rather unknown cyclist managed to draw attention to herself the previous day: Rae Morrison (NZL - Liv Racing) - Enduro World Series participant - who held the best time in qualifying for a long time and demonstrated impressively be a serious contender for the podium. However, in the final heat she finished third from last on the course and lined up only behind Alia Marcellini (ITA - ASD Camping Arizona).
Then Izabela Yankova crossed the line, not beating the time of the previous day, but still being ten seconds faster than the woman with the hot seat. Now only Veronika Widmann was missing, who in the meantime had at least five seconds ahead. So now all she had to do was get to the finish line to end her weekend dominance with a win. And the South Tyrolean won the victory with a time of 4: 02.420 minutes and an impressive nine seconds gap. The race ended with the following podium: Widmann ahead of Yankova and Marcellini.
JUNIORS
It's time for the U19 category, with still optimal weather conditions (incidentally). The best time during qualifying was also present in the top 5 of the elite men, which underlines the impressive level of performance in this junior category. Nearly 50 competitors competed for the win of the day. Especially for this age group, the race represents the ideal springboard for a career in downhill sports. After all, you have to assert yourself during the international competition on courses of the World Cup level, only in this way create the necessary self-confidence, which should never be lacking when climbing into the elite categories. The final podium saw Luis Kiefer (GER) win with a time of 3: 53.635 minutes and a very slight advantage over Davide Cappello (ITA - ASD After Skull), the fastest the day before. Last step of the podium for Lachlan Stevens-McNab (NZL), while the good weather gave way to the rain that slowly wet the track.
SUPER FINAL ELITE MEN
Now it's time for the Super Final Elite Man. The race gets a bit more demanding due to the initial rain and the previous day's times are just a good memory. First of all, Yannick Baechler (SUI - Baechler Brothers) set a time of 3: 51.901 minutes which thus ensured him a good advantage by establishing himself as a top rider. But after only eight heats, Luke Meier-Smith (AUS - Propain Factory Racing) beats him. Following, Davide Palazzari (ITA - Rogue Racing After Skull) and Noel Niederberger (SUI - Privateer Powered by Bike Tech), failed to do better, so only Onni Rainio (FIN - Saracen SportSource), Tuhoto-Ariki Pene remained and Matt Walker. Meanwhile, the leaderboard sees little advantage from one position to another, but with Pene and Walker they may even be able to pull off an edge. The Finn Rainio placed four tenths behind Maier-Smith. It was then the turn of Pene, who by flying on the final jump gained a three-second advantage. Walker is missing and his eyes are all on him.
The fastest in qualifying crossed the line just under four seconds behind and then the New Zealander Tuhoto-Ariki Pene won the race in his second elite year with a time of 3: 45,072 minutes. The former New Zealand junior champion takes home another good memory of Italy, having won the World Cup in Val di Sole as a junior in 2019. Matt Walker finishes second, followed by Meier-Smith, while the podium at five it was completed by Rainio and Baechler.
Pila proves to be once again a worthy stage of the iXS European Downhill. In addition to the runway of downhill, there are numerous other mountain bike offers and it is always a pleasure to see the dedication with which the events are organised.
The next appointment of the iXS European Downhill it is the third heat in Maribor, Slovenia, used by many also as preparation for the European Championship and the following World Championship which will take place immediately after. Some of the greats of the world's elite are already on the entry list.
