Lausanne – Taking advantage of some slopes that have been closed to the skiers in order to ensure the safe passage of athletes and thanks to some snow strips that have not disappeared following the heat of the recent days, the local organising committee of Boí Taüll, assisted by the ISMF technical staff, has set up a ring track to be covered twice by each competitor of every heat. Steep ascents, two parts on foot with the skis in the backpack and precipitous descents put the athletes’ legs and sports abilities to the test.
The Senior Men athletes had to face a difference in altitude of 1632 m, while the Senior Women and the U20 Men of 1302 m. The U20 Women and the U18 Men had to cope with a difference in height of 890 m and the U18 Women of 742 m.
At the finish line, Axelle Gachet-Mollaret of France finished first ahead of Tove Alexandersson of Sweden and Alba De Silvestro of Italy, in second and third position respectively. The Senior Men race was much more fought and uncertain, with the final head-to-head between the current World Champion of the Individual discipline Matteo Eydallin (ITA) and the 2019 Team Champion Werner Marti (SUI). As expected, the Swiss competitor triumphed over the two Italian teammates Matteo Eydallin (2° place) and Michele Boscacci (3° place).
The new European U23 Champions are Lisa Moreschini (ITA) and Aurélien Gay (SUI). The relative podiums were completed by Samantha Bertolina (ITA) and Katia Mascherona (ITA) for Women and by Paul Verbnjak (AUT) and Matteo Sostizzo (ITA) for Men.
In the U20 competition, Caroline Ulrich of Switzerland took gold, followed by Manuela Pedrana (ITA) and Antonia Niedermaier (GER) taking silver and bronze respectively. Among Men of the same category, the success was for Anselme Damevin (FRA) over the Swiss brothers Thomas and Robin Bussard, finished second and third in order.
The last category to start today’s Individual race was the U18. Ida Waldal (NOR) took the win, ahead of the two French competitors Louise Trincaz and Loanne Roussillon, while the male podium was completed by Carlos Torres Espigares (ESP), Mirko Lupo Olcelli (ITA) and Jules Raybaud (FRA).
Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the grand finale with the Relay race, which for the first time will be staged in the Olympic “mixed” format, namely with teams consisting of a man and a woman of the same nationality, both for Senior and Youth categories.
