download photos here
credits: Pierre Teyssot
COMMEZZADURA (VAL DI SOLE – TRENTINO), 7 SEPTEMBER 2016 – The Black Snake track needs no introduction. The descent in Val di Sole, reaching Daolasa resort, starting from the intermediate gondola station, is among the most beloved and appreciated in the world. It has recently been included in the UCI MTB World Cup calendar, and is now playing host to the 2016 UCI Mountain bike & Trials World Championships in Val di Sole.
It is no exaggeration to say that it is a piece of artwork in downhill, the most spectacular and thrilling mountain biking speciality. The team headed by Pippo Marani, has upgraded and renovated the course in Val di Sole over the years, creating a perfect mix between speed, spectacle and technical sections. The last important upgrading was carried out in 2015, when about 300m were added, totalling 2,200 m in length with a drop of 540 m and an average gradient of 24.5%.
“My work never ends - commented Pippo Marani, the Black Snake track designer – I have redesigned a section that the riders discovered during the training sessions, located just before the Roman Road. This is just the most recent adjustment, after the upgrading of the legendary wall of rocks. The course is a summary of the best of what I have done up to now, among which some memorable sections of the first edition – continues Marani – including the one after the bridge, it is the first wall built in 1998!”.
Pippo Marani’s words express the love and the hard work done to reach this excellent result. “The hardest part of the work is pulling the rocks out, something you can do only by hand, inside the forest, looking for the right balance between technical and flowy sections. Riders have to attack the course otherwise they suffer it- continues Marani – because it’s a physical and technical track but if a rider has good skills, it flows. The riders enhance the course, it’s not the other way round and this is really satisfying. I’m really proud of my creature, especially when I see athletes race down and then hear them say they really liked it”.
After the recent adjustments, the Black Snake is still among the most challenging and thrilling courses in the world, as well as the most beloved. “The comment that I like most is that of a rider who defined it crazy and wild. I want it to be the hardest, not the nicest, the best Old School style track. It has been adapted over the years to the evolution of bikes and riding styles - adds Marani – but the average steepness is always high. I have constantly followed riders’ advices and suggestions, among which those from Italian athletes and defending world champion Loic Bruni”.
This year the course is even harder and more technical because there is a lot of sand: “Lines disappear and the route has to be re-interpreted. Everyone says it’s really tough!” But the Black Snake hides an interesting anecdote: “Who does the track walking last, wins or stands on the podium. I‘ve realized it after many years!”
Another curiosity: the name Black Snake comes form the roots in the forest. When they are wet they look like a tangle of black snakes. They are not dangerous for their bite but for the crashes they can cause to riders.
Info
Friday 9 September: 9.00-11.30 Junior Men and Women, Elite Women official training;
12.00-14.30 Elite Men official training
Saturday 10 September: 8.00-9.15 Junior Men and Women, Elite Women official training; 9.30-10.45 Elite Men official training; 11.30-15.00 Juniors seeding run and official timed session
Sunday 11 September: 8.00-9.00 Junior Men and Women, Elite Women official training; 9.30-10.30 Elite Men official training; 11.00 Junior Women and Men finals; 12.45 Elite Women final; 14.00 Elite Men final.
Alberto Penasa - Azienda Turismo Val di Sole
Viale Marconi, 7 - 3827 - Malè - (TN)
Tel. +39.0463.900863 - Fax +39.0463.901563
www.valdisole.net - penasa.a@valdisole.net
