Boí Taüll – The penultimate day of the WÜRTH MODYF ISMF World Championships 2023 was about the queen discipline – Individual race. The weather was sunny, the track was prepared on an elite level by the local committee, so it was a perfect set-up for the classic race.
The first to start was the Senior Men category at 9:10, followed by the Senior Women at 9:45. After the senior categories, the youth were the next to go. In total, six races on a technical course with perfect scenery.
Bonnet accomplished his goal
The main protagonist of the men’s race was Rémi Bonnet, a Swiss athlete who had already won Vertical World Title with a dream to become the double World Champion. He took the race into his own hands from the first metre. After the first climb, he already had a 40-second lead.
He increased his lead in the next part of the race and reached the finish line almost two minutes before Matteo Eydallin, who was second.
“It’s my best season ever. In summer I won everything, and also this winter. So I have to enjoy it,” said Bonnet, who won six races out of even starts in the ISMF circuit this season.
“The track was nice, technical, the landscape is amazing here. I like to race in Spain, the people are nice, and the races are always good and technical. So I think I’ll come back for a holiday,” added the new World Champion.
Silver and bronze went to Italy thanks to Matteo Eydallin and Robert Antonioli. Nadir Maguet of Italy finished just outside the podium, while the French legend William Bon Mardion closed the Top 5.
Gachet-Mollaret continues writing history
In the women’s race, it’s a battle for second place in the Individual this season. Axelle Gachet-Mollaret was once again the strongest, waiting more than three minutes for second place Alba de Silvestro at the finish line.
Gachet-Mollaret, who won three titles in the last four days, said: “It was an excellent race. I made a gap from the beginning, so it was quite easy to maintain my position for the rest of the race. The track and mountains were really nice. I’m happy that I successfully accomplished the biggest goal of the season.”
Italy came in second and third place also in the Senior Women category. Alba De Silvestro finished on the silver spot, while her compatriot Giulia Murada crossed the line 42 seconds back. Fourth Johanna Hiemer of Austria achieved a career-best result, as did fifth-placed Giulia Compagnoni.
U23 Men
Anselme Damevin became the U23 world champion while also fitting into the Top 10 among the elite. Thomas Bussard of Switzerland finished second in the category, with Paul Verbnjak of Austria just 27 seconds behind him.
U23 Women
The U23 sprint gold winner Caroline Ulrich also dominated this category in the Individual race. The Swiss finished eighth overall and confirmed she is one of the greatest talents. Like in the Senior Men and Women categories, Italy took silver and bronze in the U23 Women, thanks to Katia Mascherona and Samantha Bertolina.
U20 Men
Austria’s successful championship continues. Nils Oberauer won the gold after withstanding pressure from second-placed Romanian Georg Jinga, who secured a historic medal for his country. The last spot on the podium and the bronze medal went to Davide Sambrizzi of Italy.
U20 Women
In the U20 Women’s category, we saw a great battle for gold between three girls – Louise Trincaz (France), Noemi Junod (Italy), and Thibe Deseyn (Switzerland). Trincaz made the difference in the penultimate climb, and she won the title in her first year as U20 Woman.
Noemi Junod finished second, while the Vertical Champion Thibe Deseyn closed the podium.
U18 Men
Griffin Briley of the United States of America won the U18 Men’s race in a Rémi Bonnet style – from start to finish. The young American completed the collection of medals after bronze from Sprint and silver from Vertical. Austrian athlete Silvano Wolf was just three seconds faster than Erik Canovi. These two had a nice battle throughout the race, with the last transition as decisive.
U18 Women
Chinese athlete Yuzhen Cidan scored a dominant victory. The Asian country’s hope is already a two-time U18 Women’s World Champion. Laia Sellés Sánchez of Spain crossed the finish line second, securing the host country’s only medal of the day. Melissa Bertolina of Italy finished third and won her second bronze medal from three starts.
ISMF World Championships www.ismf-ski.org
