Val di Sole is a valley situated in the Trentino province of north eastern Italy, a region steeped in history. The area was inhabited by hunters and farmers in the Stone Age, and then conquered by the Romans in 15 BC. Close by is the Brenner Pass, which throughout history has been a coveted route for emperors, kings, generals and more recently Nazi soldiers in WWII, due to its low elevation as a route through the Alps.
Nestled in the foothills of the Brenta Dolomites adjacent to the Rhaetian Alps, the region is a lot more peaceful these days and is one of the wealthiest areas in all of Italy. In between the ancient forts, churches and hamlets, there are plenty of vineyards, farms and olive groves to be found. Higher in the mountain range, the region's forestry business is constantly busy and in the winter months the area's lift-assisted resorts are a constant draw for skiers and snowboarders due to regular heavy snowfalls.
The Val di Sole World Cup is actually hosted in the municipality of Commezzadura, which makes up several towns along the valley floor. The name roughly translates to 'land given to colonists with half the product going to the owners' and was first mentioned in records dating to 1213. The population of just under 1,000 have access to the main chairlift in the small village of Daolasa, which takes you from 850 metres to over 2000 metres in a matter of minutes.
Daolosa has its own railway station, and the train is probably the best way to get to the venue during the World Cup as Commezzadura is closed to vehicular traffic for the weekend. The nearest airport is in Verona, 160km away, or further afield, Milian (300km).
2. THE TRACK
The track at Val di Sole is infamous for being one of the most technically demanding in the world. It will be a fitting scene as riders battle it out for the final few valuable points remaining from the 2015 season. It’s also a final preparation for those outside the World Cup 'overall' bubble to train and hone their skills before the UCI World Championships in Andorra in two weekend’s time.
After a year’s break from being a World Cup venue, the resort has updated the 'Black Snake' track. The updated track was tested at last year's iXS European Cup race, and it managed to hold up despite the rain. The track is 2.2km/1.24 miles in length, and the top of the track is where the updates stand out the most. The trail crew have made the track 300 metres longer, with it now starting closer to the lift station.
Out of the gate, riders are flat-out across an open section and then have to shoot off a road gap and into the woods, where the old course used to start. The renowned technical nature of the track in the woods has also been refreshed, with a scattering of new sections added to keep things different and additional wooden features added to give riders a bit of relief before they're ping-ponged over the big roots and rocks.
Next year, Val di Sole will host the 2016 UCI World Championships from 7th to 11th September. Until then, will this legendary track - a favourite of many because there isn't much pedalling required to get up to full speed - create a wild enough atmosphere to get the peoples' favourite, Sam Hill, back on form? Val di Sole is certainly going to be an apt warm-up for the wild Vallnord track next month.
Jump on-board with Bryn Dickerson, at Val di Sole for the third round of the iXS European Cup from 2014.
3. THE WEATHER
It’s been a long, hot summer in mainland Europe and the Trentino region has had unusually high temperatures lately. As if the weather gods knew the World Cup was coming to town, the rain began to fall this week, hopefully helping the track to breathe a little.
With rain forecast for Wednesday, clearer skies and warmth returns for the rest of the week, with temperatures increasing from 24°C on Thursday, to 26°C on Saturday in town. At the mid-station, it will be a chillier 13°C on Thursday for practice, 14°C on Friday for qualifying, and 16°C for the finals on Saturday, with only be a light south-easterly wind forecast. However, and that’s a BIG however, there are threats of spot-thunderstorms in the area up until the weekend.
Currently the track is damp thanks to the rain, which is getting a few people worried.
A photo posted by Claudio Caluori (@claudiocaluori) on
4. THE VANQUISHED
Back in 2013 when the last World Cup was held in Val di Sole, GT Factory Racing's Taylor Vernon took one of the hardest slams we had seen for a while. Taylor attacked the track, but the track bit back. Vernon was back on his bike soon enough, but step forward three weeks and he was in the same situation but worse, after crashing and breaking his back in Crankworx Les 2 Alpes.
Crashing is easy in Val di Sole. The track is wild and takes no prisoners, as Vernon quickly learned. Other riders, like former Madison Saracen Factory Team rider, Harry Molloy, also learned the hard way.
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Who of course, can ever forget Sam Hill's monumental skin-suited run from the 2008 World Champs? He had the finish line in sight, and after being rapidly fast through the woods, he wiped out on the big left-handed corner in front of the massed ranks of spectators and media. For those who may have been living under a rock, or for those new to the sport, Hill managed to pick up his bike and still crossed the line in third place.
As for those who survived to make it to the bottom, it was so close but yet so far for Danny Hart back in 2011, when he almost took the win. Try as he might, he was unable to set the pace that would secure him the top step. His efforts were undone by the wizard of downhill, Aaron Gwin, who crossed the line 1.232 seconds up from the Redcar Rocket. Hart's run is still worth watching though, not only to remind ourselves how wild the track is but also how wild Rob Warner's commentary used to be!
Gee Atherton and Aaron Gwin have been the dominant forces at the track, but the rider with the most victories is Rachel Atherton. With three Val di Sole wins under her belt in 2008, 2012 and 2013, and given her current form and with the 2015 overall win already in the bag, could we see yet another victory?
Val di Sole is so special to me, not only because I've won here before - though 2008 World Champs with Gee will always be in my racing highlights - it's more than that. It's awesome to be returning this year with the overall already decided. 2013's race was one of the most intense of my life so winning back then, especially joint with Gee again just made me fall in love with the place even more. It's almost like I have some kind of spiritual connection with the place. Between racing, I like to take time off away from the pits and just ride by streams and lie in the wild-flower meadows - it's such a contrast with the absolute gnarly track! - Rachel Atheron, GT Factory Racing
Josh Bryceland won his first ever World Championship here in 2008 as a Junior, so will certainly have some fond memories from Val di Sole. Ratboy's time that year would have placed him 10th in Elite Men...not bad for a kid who six weeks earlier had been laid up in a Slovenian hospital after doctors had said his season was over.
Keeping with the young-gun theme, Troy Brosnan, only one year into signing his deal with Specialized Racing, was a Junior racer back in 2011. He was out to make his mark against his elder competitors and stormed down the track to finish in fourth place. The crowd went wild...and so did Rob Warner.
Aaron Gwin's win in 2012 showed his peers who was boss. With a winning margin of just under eight seconds, the crowd went crazy as he crossed the line. This year, everything is down to the wire, with Greg Minnaar and Löic Bruni hot on his heels for any points they can muster to climb above Gwin's points tally. It's sure going to be a thrilling series finale come Saturday. In the meantime, here's Gwin's winning run from three years ago.
Note: The Junior Men and Junior Women categories received wider recognition from the UCI in 2013. More information here.
Stay tuned to Pinkbike for all the news from Val di Sole this weekend, and don’t forget to keep up to date with the live timing from qualifications and finals on the site from the following times:
FRIDAY - QUALIFICATIONS 12:30 CEST - Junior Men 13:30 CEST - Elite Women 14:00 CEST - Elite Men
SATURDAY - FINALS 12:30 CEST - Junior Men 13:15 CEST - Elite Women 14:00 CEST - Elite Men
Agreed, i just rewatched the legendary danny hart 2011 winning run and forgot how amazing that commentary was, they were literally yelling into the mic the whole run, pretty sure they both lost their voices after that.
But that run of Sam's in 08 was LEGENDARY. And Rob Warner (and his job) are only here today because he "cleaned it up" to make the televised sport more appropriate for all ages. And if you use that as a gauge, it's worked. Compare the coverage of the races in 2015 compared to 2008.
@HundyWZM Wow, there is no way that is getting played on prime time.... "GI Joe... GI JOE!!!! He has the arms of a man with sitting in front of his computer with no friends and a good highspeed internet connection..." HAHAHAH I mean who comes up with this stuff???? I'm crying from laughing so hard....
Last year from Meribel "He's going to wake up feeling like his neck took a Viagra". Two of my all time favorites though, "He wants this more than an out of work rapist" and "That'll be about as popular as a drag queen at a tractor pull"
All time favorite Warner-ism, "He's on the rampage, like a dog with two dicks, here this afternoon!" I believe it was on Sam Hill's 2009 winning run at Schladming.
This is what the commentary box from Danny Hart's run looks like! And thanks to everyone for posting all these Warnerisms. Too funny to see them all in one place. Maybe I'll try and do a compilation vid.....
Why? I think it's better when the series is as close as possible. Boring when 1 person leads the whole time. Even if he does win, I want it to be close and nerve racking.
I don't want that again sorry. I mean sure, if he made a brilliant run it would be a pleasure! He's a top guy and a cool lad. But winning by a monstruous gap every weekend isn"t quite as exciting as a tough and tight race!
As long as the guy who's up 8 seconds goes within the last 2-3 riders, a big gap has no ill effect on the excitement of a race, to me. Hart's Champery run, Gwin's chainless run, this 2012 VdS run, this year's Windham run were all the antithesis of boring. These are runs people will look up on YouTube or whatever for years to come...
@Aksel31 - In reality, Gwin's massive victories only progressed the sport further. In my opinion, even at the most elite level, all of these riders can benefit by being shown in the flesh that the tracks CAN be ridden faster.
Sure, sometimes guys are just "on" for that day, but a near 8 second gap was a real eye opener for top and junior riders alike. There are very few sports where margins like this continue for long as once the pack sees it done they up their game beyond where they perceived previous limits.
I understand your point and i agree. But that was the only time of the season, so that was clearly a WTF just happened moment... And that's why it was so exciting and incredible. It's just that it reminds me the 2012 season that was not clearly boring, but after three wins with a tremendous margin, the suspense was quite killed for the rest of the season... But this season is totally different and is soo rad! until Windham there was 3 contenders with the same chances! today is a bit different but until the last man down on the finals, we can't tell the end of the story. As the french farmers said: "C'est à la fin de la foire que l'on compte les bouzes!!"
Yeah i totally agree on that point! he shows so much perspective of progression of the sport!! It was like an electroshock! He smashed everyone and i think many of the top riders have thought that they were quite like humiliated by that performance! Gwin is the embassador of "everything is possible, even without a chain"
I'm coming for qualis, if anyone wants to punch my face or preferably give me a bike for a blind run down the track to make troll champs, see ya on friday
I hope Loic finally wins! I mean it's been miss after miss for him :/ On the other side this new kid that finished third last WC will sure be on fire! I hope he does well, anyway just like the rest of you guys I'm hoping for a tight race! Can't wait!
It used to be fun to listen to Rob Warner commentate. Now Robot Warner just goes through the paces. Red Bull has clipped his wings along with Claudio. Bring back old Rob!!!!
If you go looking around on the internet, there's an interview with Warner talking about why his commentary has changed, & why he thinks it's for the better.
It's likely down to the broadcaster wanting more professionalism. Honestly, I preferred the passion. But being a "better" commentator also likely leads to other gigs as well.
I've been avidly watching when he actually tries to qualify, seems like he's still getting his DH legs back. I think this season was a get back into racing season. He bit pretty hard at MSA in practice, but in the team video said his shoulder was feeling good even after crashing. I'm hoping he's back to 90% next year because 90% SH is nucking futs.
How does the math work for the overall for 1st, eg, does Gwin lock it up with a first in qualis, or lock Luic out with a 1st? how far back does he need to be to give Greg & Luic a chance for first in the overall for the race?
IIRC, they said at Windham that in order for Greg to win, he will have to win both qualifying and final & Gwin will have to place worse than 6th in the final. Not sure on Loic... Definitely going to be a tight race!
Absolutely. They tried to make spine protectors mandatory, but half the pro's started f*cking about using bits of cardboard and stuff. Idiots. There is really no excuse for this "no armour" fashion. Yes a full on hard shell space suit will limit your movement and make you slower. A spine protector won't. People care far too much about fashion in this sport.
Agreed, it's like, make it rule. Check at the start gate, they'll stop whining once it's the norm. On the topic, they should make freestyle skiers wear them too. I've worn the POC version and it's pretty comfy, and not restricting. It's not like they'll have to wear a whole pressure suit, just back and neck. For the kids!
Rigid back protectors are mandatory at this World Cup round as it follows the host (Italian) national regulations. Here it's mandatory to wear back, elbow, and knee protectors, full finger gloves and a long-sleeved shirt for training, qualifications and finals.
it also smashes it to the ground. and back protector come with a waist band that helps dissipate both impacts and sudden compressions...believe me, i talk by personal experience
Neck braces are designed to put all the pressure on the collar bone and not the back/spine. Sometimes it results in breaking your collar bone but that way better that breaking your back. It should be enforced that riders where better protection
while I won't say "finally a proper dh track" I will say "finally, a scary as shit full on death track". Even with some of the insane tech bits from old track gone, this track is still steeper and gnarlier than anything else being raced on this year, with the possible exception of Andorra but even then VDS most likely takes the cake for being gnarlier.
well from linate it's about 290 km, from malpensa 320 so...almost the same. but if you land in Orio al Serio it's much closer...190 km with the state road SS42, that is slower than the highway but WAAAAAAAAAAY more spectacular
Indeed you are correct in that there are two airports in Milano, but for the sake of brevity, I just referenced them in general terms. I believe Malpensa airport is 335 km from Male (in Commezzadura), and Linate airport is 299km away.
Roads closed at the venue? I hope not as I'm driving up from Torbole at Lake Garda for it. Maybe parking at a train station and train from there? Anyone know for sure? Cheers
According to the organisers, you can leave your car in designated parking areas in Dimaro or Mezzana, and then catch a local train or ride your bike to Daolosa. You might want to call up the tourist office just to be sure.
Thanks for that. Lets see what happens. In 2010 I stayed at a hotel right at the bottom of the track and had no problems parking but I seem to remember the other side of the main road was closed off to traffic. Planning on getting there pretty sharp on Saturday morning.
Sorry, but gotta call out Bryn Dickerson in the IXS European Cup Course Preview vid. Dude, 2 meter wide wooden boardwalks placed flat on the ground have NOTHING in common with anything on the North Shore, and are certainly not "North Shore Style." LOL. Try moving it up in the air a meter or two, narrowing it up to a foot or less in width, twisting it around a bit side to side and up and down. You may call that North Shore Style. The stuff you are describing are just "flat wooden bits in the way."
I hear what you're saying, but also acknowledge that in many parts of the world, any woodwork in the woods is called 'North Shore' regardless of its penalty factor or technical challenge. While I appreciate how inaccurate the title is for the swoopy banked woodwork on this course, it is also fun to see how even the term North Shore has become synonymous with wooden features in the woods. The provenance is right even if the challenging nature is lacking (of course I am confident I wouldn't be able to traverse these at nearly the speed Bryn demonstrated).
Looking forward to Claudio's course preview! Highlight of any WC DH week.
why is the track less rough than before ??? It's never as fast and rooty than back in 2008, I really have he impression that they are not going as fast. It's a bit sad too to see that nobody is taking that inside line at the end anymore ..
Check out the commentary on this haha.
hahahaha hes getting some wooo!!
"he's letting it all hang out like a fat bird in a bikini"
"he felt harder then the American Economy"
"Im sweating like a whore in church"
"He's off like a jewish foreskin"
"Uglier than ET with skin cancer"
(from www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=75527)
"Messier than cooking a microwave burger in a trouser press"
"More dangerous than a Spanish cucumber"
"He's had more time off than Father Christmas over the last two years"
"The biggest comeback since Nazareth"
"Conditions out there damper than Prince Phillip’s underpants"
"Should call him Ban-ki-Moon the way he negotiated that"
"That would have opened his arsehole up like a vintage golf bag"
"Hes dropping chocolate hostages!"
Somebody's run from MSA as they almost ate shit over the last rock garden before the final drop.
I believe it was on Sam Hill's 2009 winning run at Schladming.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KZV7zfMGTg
Got to go watch that video again.
Sure, sometimes guys are just "on" for that day, but a near 8 second gap was a real eye opener for top and junior riders alike. There are very few sports where margins like this continue for long as once the pack sees it done they up their game beyond where they perceived previous limits.
LONG LIVE DH!!!!
On the other side this new kid that finished third last WC will sure be on fire! I hope he does well, anyway just like the rest of you guys I'm hoping for a tight race! Can't wait!
Idiots.
There is really no excuse for this "no armour" fashion. Yes a full on hard shell space suit will limit your movement and make you slower. A spine protector won't. People care far too much about fashion in this sport.
Funny how there is always some chopper in practice that doesn't know what the whistle means!!!
Looking forward to Claudio's course preview! Highlight of any WC DH week.