The 2022 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season stopped in the Americas last week (Snowshoe) and now it's the turn of Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec (Canada).
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The last time the circus made a stop in Canada for the world cup was now way back in 2018 (in 2019, the Quebec hosted the World Cup). In that edition of the Cup, Fluckiger won in front of Kerschbaumer while among the women Jolanda Neff excelled on Annika Langvad.
American appointment with the World Cup and a lot of Italy as protagonist: in the Elite field we have our point of view Luke Braidot, in a period of grace, with Nadir Colledani and Juri Zanotti ready for a good placing. Gerhard Kerschbaumer is unknown: will he be ready for the race of his life or will he settle for a placing? In the women's field, Martina Berta had scored 2 very important top 10s in the last cup trials but in Snowshoe she had some health problems. Let's hope she has recovered 100%. Among the U23 women, Sara Cortinovis will keep the Italian colors high.
IMPORTANT ABSENCES
In the U23 it is a pity that Filippo Fontana will not be at the start Simone Avondetto, 2 athletes who could have done well. Avondetto's teammate, too, Giada Specia, will not be at the start.
Among the Elite, Mathias Fluckiger and Loana Lecomte will not be at the start due to health problems prior to the American trip. Problems that led them to aim straight, as a preparation, at Gets World Championship later this month.
The show will start on Friday 5 August at 17.30 pm (23 pm Italian time) with the adrenalinic short track, to continue on Saturday 30 August with the female descent from 6 (12.30:18 Italian time) and male from 30 (13.30:19 Italian time ). Sunday appointment with the XCO women at 30 (12.20:18 Italian time), the live reserved for men begins at 20 (14.50:20 Italian time).
DOWNHILL
In downhill we find a ruler this year: it is about Amaury Pierron (Commencal Muc-Off). The Frenchman is not missing a shot and is dominating the 2022 world cup. Loic Bruni (Specialized), growing, will certainly be an opponent to keep an eye on, along with his partner Finn Iles, as long as he doesn't make mistakes given his “full gas” style. Let's not forget Loris Vergies (Trek), winner in Andorra, but there are still many names that could make the perfect run. Outsiders could be the Americans of Intense Aaron Gwin and Dakotah Norton. For the Italian colors I cheer for Loris Revelli (Canyon Pirelli) and Davide Palazzari (Rogue Racing Team), with the new Italian champion Davide Cappello in the Juniores.
Among women, main favorite Camille Blanche (Dorval Commencal) who has proven to be the strongest in this 2022. Behind her, ready to steal his victory, Valentina Holl (Rockshox Trek) e Myriam Nicole (Commencal Muc-Off, hoping that Eleonora Farina can make a perfect run and take home her first, and well-deserved, victory in the World Cup. The new Italian champion Veronica Widmann is also waiting for a good test.
CROSS COUNTRY
Nino Schurter will be very aggressive after the fall of Snowshoe and the unfortunate episode of Lenzerheide. Outsiders, so to speak, could be Vlad Dascalu (Trek Factory, he deserves a win) and Christopher Blevins (Specialized), the latter reborn on the American continent. David Valero (BH) is expected to be confirmed: always in the first places in the last rounds of the Cup, Snowshoe managed to give the winning push.
In the women's field, the races are always very open: the Swedish Jenny Rissveds (Team 31 Ibis) has shown that she is always ready to battle but the opponents are many, starting with Anne Terpstra (Ghost Factory) and Alessandra Keller (Thomus Maxon). Watch out for the Americans who, as true lovers of their homeland, excel on the continent: Blunk, Batten, Gibson and Courtney were all able to enter the top 10 at Snowshoe.
OPENING HOURS
Friday August 5
17:30 (23:30 UTC + 2) - Short Track Women (live)
18:15 (00:15 UTC + 2) - Short Track Men (live)
Saturday 6 August (CET + 2 Italian times)
9:45 (15:45 UTC+2) – Downhill Men's juniors
10:30 (16:30 UTC+2) – Downhill Female juniors
12:30 (18:30 UTC+2) – Downhill Female elite (live)
13:30 (19:30 UTC+2) – Downhill Male elite (live)
Sunday August 7 (CET + 2 Italian times)
8:30 (14:30 UTC + 2) - XCO U23 Women
10:15 (16:15 UTC + 2) - XCO U23 Men
12:20 (18:20 UTC + 2) - XCO Elite Women (live)
14:50 (20:50 UTC + 2) - XCO Elite Men (live)
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