On Saturday, December 9, the standout contenders of the only Italian event in the Cyclocross World Cup calendar have familiarized themselves with the challenging features of the San Leonardo Lakes course, now even more technical, with the added unpredictability of the surface: mud and sand tires appear to be the most popular choices
A day away from the Cyclocross World Cup's most unique stage, set for tomorrow, Sunday, December 10, on the snow of Vermiglio, Val di Sole (Trentino, Italy), the athletes have seized the opportunity of revisiting what makes this Trentino challenge unique.
The snow covering the 2.9 km circuit, with a rise of 60 meters, is not merely picturesque but a variable that could pivotally shift the dynamics and tactics of the race—a lesson learned from 2022, when a dramatic temperature drop overnight transformed the conditions of the course from one day to the next.
This year, Saturday’s conditions should be more similar to the ones for Sunday’s race, with expected clear skies and temperatures ranging from 0 to 5 degrees Celsius. All the athletes made the most of the free practice session to gauge the snow's depth on the track, chart the best trajectories, and determine where they can afford to take calculated risks during the race. Currently, mud and sand tires are the popular choices among the top competitors, but as those riders with previous experience of Vermiglio know well, tactical decisions can shift until the very last moment.
This season, Val di Sole ups the ante with additional technical elements, thanks to a course designed with tighter angles to benefit the most skillful and tactful riders. Such feature was masterfully exploited by Michael Vanthourenhout in 2022, who dominated the men's race and seeks to celebrate his thirtieth birthday with another victory in Italy.
Hot on his trail is the World Cup leader Eli Iserbyt from Belgium, who has yet to find fortune in Val di Sole. With the competition close at hand, the study of his rival's trajectories has already commenced. Alongside them, Dutch riders Nieuwenhuis and Kamp, World Cup holder Laurens Sweeck, and Swiss Kevin Kuhn - who clinched third in Vermiglio last year—are poised to vie for the top spots.
Puck Pieterse, the remarkable Dutchwoman with a winning streak in Val di Sole, is also familiarizing herself with the track once more. Following her 2022 Cyclocross World Cup victory, Pieterse went on to win the Cross-Country MTB event at Daolasa in the summer of 2023, with no intentions of slowing her momentum. She gears up to challenge Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado, the current World Cup frontrunner, while Canada’s Maghalie Rochette and Italy's Sara Casasola are also determined to make their mark.
Coverage and Broadcasting
The Italian stage of the Cyclocross World Cup will be broadcast live globally, with extensive television coverage. In Europe, Eurosport will air the event on its channels and streaming platform, in addition to GCN and national channels such as Italy's Raisport, Belgium's Proximus and Play Sports, the Czech Republic's CT Sport, Denmark's TV2, France's L'Equipe TV, the Netherlands' NOS, and Norway's TV2. Beyond Europe, audiences in Canada and the USA (Flosport), Japan (JSport), and South Africa (SuperSport) can tune in. Countries without TV coverage can watch the event on the UCI’s YouTube channel.
Schedule and tickets
On race day athletes will have one final official practice session before the elite races. The Elite Women will take the stage at 13:10, with the Elite Men following at 14:40. Setting the mood before the races, from 11:00 to 13:00, will be the live music of the All Aboard Band.
Tickets for the event in Vermiglio are still available for €15, with complimentary admission for children under 12 upon pre-registration. Tickets can be purchased exclusively online at www.valdisolebikeland.com; no on-site ticket sales will be available.
