The cross country racers took over Val di Sole on Sunday for the final World Cup races of 2022. France was the nation to beat, taking both elite men’s and women’s XCO wins. The Swiss, meanwhile earned the top spots in the season standings. Sandra Walter led the Canadian effort.
Canadians in Italy
After nine races across three continents, the Canadians struggled a little in Val di Sole. Sandra Walter (Liv) put in the top Canadian elite performance, finishing 24th in the women’s race. Emily Batty led the Canyon MTB trio in 31st, with teammates Jenn Jackson and Laurie Arseneault following in 46th and 53rd.
In the men’s race, Peter Disera (Norco Factory Team) was the fastest Canuck in 46th. Gunnar Holmgren(Pivot Cycles-OTE) followed in 52nd, Tyler Orschel (Canyon Devo) 59th, Sean Fincham (Norco Factory Team) 72nd, Victor Verreault (Foresco Holdings ProCo RL) 76th, Quinton Disera (Canyon Devo) 87th, Raphael Auclair (Pivot Cycles-OTE) 96th and Felix Belhumeur 103rd. Léandre Bouchard (Foresco Holdings ProCo RL) was caught up in a crash off the start and finished 93rd.
French finesse season finale
Two French riders topped the elite podiums on Sunday, with Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (BMC) and teammate Titouan Carod (BMC) winning the elite women’s and men’s XCO races. Those victories are only the start of France’s success, though.
Loana Lecomte (Canyon Cllctv) followed Ferrand-Prevot in second in the women’s race ahead of Jolanda Neff (Trek), an ascendant Haley Batten (Specialized) and Sina Frei (Specialized).
On the men’s side, Carod was joined on the podium by fellow French riders Jordan Sarrou (Specialized) and Victor Koretzky, who placed third and fourth. Only Nino Schurter (Scott-SRAM) in second could break up the potential French sweep while Luca Braidot rounded out the podium in fifth.
Nino Schurter storms to an eighth World Cup title in Val di Sole. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool
Alessandra Keller wins her first World Cup title. Photo: Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool
The season of Swiss
Nino Schurter’s second-place finish may push his quest for 34 World Cup wins off to 2023, but it does give the new world champion the points to wrap up the season overall title. It’s Schurter’s eighth World Cup title, to add to his 10 world…
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