Years, editions, and accumulated experiences are not enough to transform an event into a great classic: something more is needed. And when that something is there, you can feel it: on Sunday 22nd June, the roar, the roar of the audience of Val di Sole, collected at Daolasa for the show of Cross Country with WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, has explained better than anything else why this Trentino valley has become one of the world capitals of off-roading, loved and celebrated by all the greatest protagonists in almost 20 years of history at the highest levels.
Source: press release
Two days after the victory in the short track, Puck Pieterse he also dominated the Olympic discipline of Mountain Bike.
The World Champion forced the pace from the first lap, chased by the Swede Jenny Rissveds, which however after just one passage on the circuit of Val di Sole Bikeland she had to raise the white flag: the pace of the Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck was too fast for the Rio Olympic Champion.
Puck Pieterse's action continued without giving up until the finish, while behind him the surprise of the season recovered after a controlled start, Samara Maxwell.
The New Zealander from Decathlon Ford made a formidable comeback, overtaking all her competitors one after the other, up to the final second position, 26” behind the winner. Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory) instead won the third position, at the end of a great challenge with Rissveds (Canyon CLLCTV), fourth, and the Swiss Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory), fifth.
Seventh place for the Tokyo Olympic Champion Yolanda Neff (Cannondale), behind the Canadian jennifer jackson (Orbea Fox). Little glory for Italy: the most awaited athlete, the Aosta Valley native Martina Bertha, has been fighting for a long time for a top-10, but had to give way in the last laps, finishing in 13th position. The other Italian in the top-20 is Clare Teocchi, eighteenth at the finish line; twenty-fourth place for the South Tyrolean Greta Seiwald.
“I already understood in the Short Track that Jenny Rissveds would be a tough nut to crack, she started off very strong, but in some parts of the course I understood that I could go even faster”, Puck Pieterse said. – "So I tried to take advantage of the situation and I managed to break away from her. I have never pedaled in total tranquility because the advantage has always been in the order of 30-40 seconds, I also made a small mistake but I'm fine, I'm in condition and all this is fantastic."
Half satisfied Martina Bertha: “I knew I had to try to get out of the launch lap well today, but it turned out to be a very long and tough race. I’m quite happy with the performance, even though I was hoping for something more in terms of the result. The crowd and the atmosphere in Val di Sole are always incredible, it’s without a doubt one of the best races of the year: I can’t wait for 2026 to experience another world championship here.”
Samara Maxwell maintains her lead in the World Cup with 1253 points, ahead of Nicole Koller (912) and Puck Pieterse (850).
FEMALE ELITE RANKING
| 1. |  | PIETERSE Puck (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) | 1:29:08 |
| 2. |  | MAXWELL Samara (DECATHLON FORD RACING TEAM) | 1:29:34 +26 |
| 3. |  | STIGGER Laura (SPECIALIZED FACTORY RACING) | 1:29:52 +44 |
| 4. |  | Risveds Jenny (CANYON CLLCTV XCO) | 1:29:55 +47 |
| 5. |  | KOLLER Nicole (GHOST FACTORY RACING) | 1:30:11 + 1: 03 |
| 6. |  | JACKSONJennifer (ORBEA FOX FACTORY TEAM) | 1:30:39 + 1: 31 |
| 7. | | NEFF Jolanda (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) | 1:31:47 + 2: 39 |
| 8. |  | BLUNK Savilia (DECATHLON FORD RACING TEAM) | 1:31:47 + 2: 39 |
| 9. |  | GRAPH Nina (LAPIERRE RACING UNITY) | 1:32:09 + 3: 01 |
| 10. | | URBAN Kelsey (KMC RIDLEY MTB RACING TEAM) | 1:32:20 + 3: 12 |
GENERAL WORLD CUP
Val di Sole archives one of the most beautiful editions in recent memory, rewarded by the compliments of the professionals and the enthusiasm of the 22.000 enthusiasts who attended the show during the three days of competition. The best way to start a new world championship adventure: the path towards the World Championships Val di Sole 2026 (26-30 August) starts tomorrow.
