The electrifying atmosphere of the 2023 WES UCI E-MTB XC World Cup season took over Monghidoro to witness the Bologna Montana Round presented by Raspini.
With a nail-biting Qualirace in the morning, the stage was set for an action-packed race day with Justine Tonso and Jérôme Gilloux (Lapierre Overvolt) as the Raspini Pole Position Winners.
As the race commenced under the cloudy skies, the track were further aggravated, presenting a daunting challenge but the conditions worsened, so the race direction decided to reduce the number of laps from 5 to 4.
In the Women’s field, Nicole Göldi (Trek-Bosch) showcased her exceptional skills as she blazed through the path securing the Holeshot Powered by Fassi, however Nathalie Schneitter (Trek-Bosch), a fearless rider, emerged victorious in the race as the rain relentlessly deteriorated the track with each passing lap, but she was able to display incredible perseverance.
Justine Tonso finished second after her tenacity was put to test when she fell-off from her Lapierre Overvolt e-bike during the last lap, serving as a statement for her spirit and indomitable passion. Sofia Wiedenroth (Specialized) claimed third place making for podium finish while the Swiss Reigning World Champ was fourth.
In the Men’s race, Frenchman Théo Charmes (Team AOTL), with his unwavering determination seized his first-ever Holeshot Powered by Fassi, after an intense battle with Robert Williams (Haibike), local favourite Martino Fruet (Lapierre Trentino) and “The Specialist” Gilloux, who manoeuvred his e-bike through the challenging wet track, overtaking and winning on Day 1.
The Italian Champ managed to finish third while the Brit ended second, stepping on the World Cup podium for the first time ever.
Better Conditions on Day 2
In the second race of the Bologna Montana Round presented by Raspini, the circuit layout underwent modifications due to the tricky track conditions, and the number of laps was reduced to 4 by the race direction.
The heavy rainfall on Saturday in the 2023 WES UCI E-MTB XC World Cup Round 2 had taken the route, necessitating these changes. However, the weather played in favour on Sunday action, with a sunny Day 2 providing the perfect atmosphere for an e-bike racing event in Monghidoro.
With impressive performance during the morning’s Qualirace session, Nicole Göldi (Trek-Bosch) and Joris Ryf (Specialized) secured the Raspini Pole Position as top starting places.
The race kicked off with a minor incident at the bottom of the grid, causing two riders to fall off into the muddy grass. However, this setback only intensified the competitive spirit among them. In the meantime, at the top of the action Théo Charmes (Team AOTL), and Sofia Wiedenroth (Specialized) push into their limits to secure the Holeshot Powered by Fassi.
In an electrifying race, Women Reigning World Champ Nicole Göldi (Trek-Bosch) momentarily lost her first-place position, but with determination in her eyes, she swiftly regained her composure and powered through the racecourse to reclaim her well-deserved victory.
Swiss Nathalie Schneitter (Trek-Bosch) secured second place with a commendable performance, while Anna Spielmann (Haibike) showcased her tenacity, earning a respectable third place after 4 laps scheduled to add another award to her podium list in her rookie season.
In a fierce battle on track, Jérôme Gilloux (Lapierre Overvolt), Théo Charmes and Joris Ryf fought for the top three. Lap after lap, they competed with a great sporting rivalry between these riders, but in the end, the current French Champ cross the finish line first, after a shining unforgettable spectacle.
Also, despite enduring noticeable discomfort from a fall during Saturday’s race, Justine Tonso (Lapierre Overvolt) showed tremendous resilience and determination as she took to the track on Sunday finishing sixth.
The second Magneti Marelli Checkstar Power Lap Award of the season went to Göldi and Gilloux. Now, the next event is to take place once again in Italy, in San Paolo d’Argon, Bergamo Round 3 on 15-16 July.
