The newly crowned World Champion has still to realize her rainbow achievement, but already has another goal ahead on Saturday, when she will try to win the Downhill World Cup in Val di Sole. “Whatever happens, I will celebrate big – something I couldn’t quite do in Les Gets…”
When meeting Valentina Höll in the paddocks in Val di Sole, ahead of this weekend’s UCI World Cup Grand Finale (September 2nd-4th), you can tell she’s having the time of her life. The Austrian was crowned Elite Downhill World Champion just a few days ago, and she clearly still feels the adrenaline rush of the highest point of her career so far.
“Actually, I am still finding it hard to believe what happened on last Sunday. Four days as World Champion and I don’t feel any difference,” laughs the Austrian. “But I guess that’s fine, it helps me stay cool. I guess I will come to terms with this when the season is done.”
Before that moment, Höll still has a goal left for her season: the UCI World Cup overall that will finally be awarded in Val di Sole on Saturday, September 2nd. The final outcome is still wide open: Swiss Camille Balanche leads the GC with 1335 points, in spite of her nasty crash and broken collarbone in Mont Sainte-Anne, ahead of Höll with 1216 and France’s Myriam Nicole with 1155. It’s all but sure that the three of them will be on the final World Cup podium on Saturday: the order is still to be determined.
Like her rivals, Höll went on the iconic Black Snake course on Wednesday morning for the track walk. “The course is very rough, last year at the World’s it was way smoother. That’s definitely a hard one and could become even tougher if it rains – and that could be the case this weekend. I have never raced on wet here in Val di Sole, so it could be a hard one to predict, too.”
Anyway, the World title has certainly eased her lead up to the World Cup Grand Finale, at least in terms of pressure. “Honestly, whatever happens on Saturday, I will be delighted with the season’s finale. It wasn’t the easiest one for me, with the issues I had, the injuries. Now I am here, as World Champion, and with a chance to add the World Cup crown to the tally, and I will be on the final podium in any case: how would I not be happy?”
“Camille has had an incredible season, and a similarly incredible comeback after her injury: finishing fourth at the Worlds after her injury was really something. Should she win the World Cup, she would certainly deserve it in full: whoever wins it all on Saturday, I will celebrate.”
Indeed, celebrating was the very piece Vali Höll missed in the Les Gets apotheosis last week: “In the evening in Les Gets I didn’t feel quite right, hence the day didn’t quite end the way I had hoped. With or without the World Cup crown, I am looking forward to finally celebrating the World title and a memorable Grand Finale here in Val di Sole.”
