Nino Schurter led a Maxxis cross country sweep of the top three positions at the Val di Sole World Cup, while Maxxis’ sponsored riders took eight spots in the top ten in downhill. The Val di Sole World Cup was held July 7-8 in Italy.
SCOTT-SRAM’s Schurter took the lead in the first lap of the men’s XC race, with Canyon Bikes’ Mathieu Van der Poel close behind. Although a group overtook them during the second lap, Schurter attacked and regained his lead, with Van der Poel and Gerhard Kerschbaumer of Torpado Gabogas among the chase group. Schurter held his lead, and Kerschbaumer broke away from the chase group to challenge him. Van der Poel rode away from the chase group as well to hold third place through the finish. Schurter’s victory was his third straight World Cup win of the year. Legendary Maxxis-sponsored rider Gunn Rita Dahle-Flesjå of Merida Bikes – fresh off a win at the Norwegian national championships – took fifth place in the women’s XC race, while SCOTT’s Petter Fagerhaug grabbed the U23 Men’s victory.
The story was just as positive for Maxxis in downhill. Laurie Greenland of the MS Mondraker Team “took all the risks on his run, nearly going over the bars at the start,” according to redbull.com to earn second place, and Danny Hart of Madison Saracen Factory Team took third. Santa Cruz Syndicate’s Luca Shaw was fourth, while Thomas Estaque of Commencal/100% made his first World Cup podium appearance in fifth place. Canyon Factory Downhill Team’s Mark Wallace was sixth; Estaque’s teammate Reece Wilson was seventh; MS Mondraker’s Brook MacDonald was ninth; and Mark Wallace’s teammate Troy Brosnan rounded out the top ten. Two Maxxis-sponsored riders, Veronika Widmann of FS FUNN and Pivot Factory Racing’s Emilie Siegenthaler, took top-ten spots in women’s DH, earning fifth and seventh place.
Valentina Höll won the Junior Women’s downhill race, and MS Mondraker’s Patrick Butler made the Junior Men’s podium in third place.
Maxxis’ downhill teams are back to racing next weekend in Andorra while the next cross country UCI World Cup is scheduled for August 11-12 in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. Maxxis congratulates Nino Schurter on his latest victory and thanks all of these riders for their remarkable performances.
