Racing World

Val di Sole U23 XCO – Pedersen (Wilier Pirelli) wins! Sara Cortinovis is eighth

Sofie Pedersen (Wilier Pirelli) dominates the U23 round once again. No way for Samara Maxwell and Ronja Blochlinger. Top 10 for Sara Cortinovis (Santa Cruz Rockshox).

Written by

David Finetto

July 2 2023

Sofie Pedersen engaged in one of the most technical sections of the Val di Sole slope (Credits: Daniele Molineris)

After Nove Mesto, Lenzerheide and Leogang, Sofie Pedersen also celebrates in the Cross Country of Val di Sole. On Sunday 2nd July in Trentino, the young Danish rider from Wilier-Pirelli left the New Zealander behind in the Under 23 Cross Country race Sarah Maxwell, second at 38”, and Switzerland Ronja Blöchlinger (Liv Factory), third at 2'02”.

Source: Vitesse press release

RACE REPLAY

Blöchlinger set an aggressive tactic in the first part of the race, with Sofie Pedersen punctually glued to her wheel, while the New Zealander Maxwell preferred not to respond to the blistering accelerations of the leading duo. In the third lap, the Swiss crashed, allowing the Danish to fly away.

In the last lap, Maxwell reached and detached Blöchlinger, to then also try to hook up with Sofie Pedersen. However, the Dane controlled the situation, managing to cross the finish line alone. Eighth place at 3'01" for the first Italian, Sara Cortinovis (Santa Cruz-Rockshox). Pedersen extended the overall standings with 610 points. Followed by Ronja Blöchlinger (448) and Ginia Caluori (387)

Podium U23 woman val di sole 2023 — Sofie Pedersen engaged in one of the most technical sections of the Val di Sole slope (Credits: Daniele Molineris)

"In the end I was very tired, I had run out of energy" – declared the winner. – “I resisted more with my head than with my legs. With Ronja we started at full speed and then in the final Samara came up very strong. I really don't know where she found the energy to hang on to the end."

WOMEN'S UNDER23 RANKING

1.	PEDERSEN Heby Sofie (WILIER - PIRELLI FACTORY TEAM XCO)	1:07:09
2.	MAXWELL Samara	1:07:47 +38
3.	BLÖCHLINGER Ronja (LIV FACTORY RACING)	1:09:11 + 2: 02
4.	GARNIER Noemie (SCOTT CREUSE OXYGENE GUERET)	1:09:30 + 2: 21
5.	VAN THIEL Sin (LEXWARE MOUNTAINBIKE TEAM)	1:09:46 + 2: 37
6.	MACLEAN-HOWELL She	1:09:50 + 2: 41
7.	BURI Noëlle (BIXS PERFORMANCE RACE TEAM)	1:10:06 + 2: 57
8.	CORTINOVIS Sara (SANTA CRUZ ROCKSHOX PRO TEAM)	1:10:10 + 3: 01
9.	HEATS Ginia (THÖMUS AKROS – YOUNGSTARS)	1:10:37 + 3: 28
10.	WIEDMANN Tamara (TREK FUTURE RACING)	1:11:04 + 3: 55

COMPLETE RANKING
GENERAL WORLD CUP

In this article:Cross Country World Cup, Racing World, World Cross Country Racing, Ronja Blochlinger, Samara Maxwell, Sofie Pedersen, Val Di Sole

Written by David Finetto

[email protected] I am a fan of everything that has 2 wheels: at a young age I practiced road and track cycling (Italian Allievi champion). At the age of 18 I passed into the cross country competing at national/international level as an Under23. Past Elite, I made the choice to take things more lightly from a training point of view, and my love for gravity disciplines was born, training me as an FCI MTB instructor and guide. Now I have made passion my profession by managing 2 MTB centers on the island of Elba (Bike Center Elba and Elba MTB), creating the FANTAmtb and telling in an ironic but professional way everything that revolves around MTB thanks to 365mountainbike and 365TV (YouTube'PULITI dentro BIKER fuori').