One of the most beautiful races of the European series was staged last weekend in Pila.

The cup’s penultimate race attracted 320 riders from 15 countries. Apart from a demanding and perfectly primed course, the event boasted a perfect organization and racing on a top level.

The organizer’s class showed in an attention for detail and the great presentation that resembled races on a world cup level without neglecting the specific Italian flavour. Camera teams of RAI television were broadcasting the entire event, and thousands of fans kept on celebrating the riders. Some of them were not competing but added some glamour due to their reputation in the sport of downhilling. The likes of Nicolas Vouilloz and Corrado Herin rode the course out-of-competition and set first indicative times.

A couple of riders already had shown their ambitions for a podium finish in the seeding run: The reigning Italian champion Lorenzo Suding (MTB Herin School) put five seconds between himself and the competition, securing himself the right to start last on Sunday. Still the list of participants had a lot more big names to offer, like New Zealand’s champion Wyn Masters (Kenda Playbike), twelvefold German national champion Marcus Klausmann (Ghost ATG) or Shaun O’Connor (Kenda Playbike), second-place finisher at the Australian national championships.

For the race’s final heat however, the course got even trickier as the grippy surface had turned into fine dust after Friday’s rainfalls, getting extremely slippery. Junior racer Ronan Taylor (GBR – High line Racing) fared well in these conditions, being the first rider on course in the elite category. He made himself comfortable in the Red Bull Hot Seat, and his time stood for more than 120 riders to finally put him in 14th position.

When the seeding run’s ten fastest riders went on course, a true thriller developed as O’Connor finished with a new fastest time only to be bested by the winner of the series’ previous race in Špičák, Marcel Beer (SUI – GT/iXS). Next up was Marco Milivinti (ITA – Team Cingolani) who placed himself right between these two before Julien Camellini (FRA – Chain Reaction) put himself on the leader board with a new fastest time. The last rider to start was Suding, but he could not repeat his ride from the seeding run and had to settle for fifth. Thus Camellini won the race with a time of 4:09 minutes and two seconds advantage on Beer and Milivinti. The overall standings are still being led by Thomas Braithwaite (GBR – Hope Technology).

In the women’s race, overall leader Miriam Ruchti (SUI – iXS/Commencal) did not waste an opportunity, winning both the seeding run and the race. After a strong second place in the seeding run, Sandra Rübesam (GER – Giant Germany) only finished in 7th. Italian champion Elisa Canepa (ITA – Eli-Ca RRide asd) finished in second, with Sidonie Jolidon (SUI – Neubike Bex) in third.

Wilfred van de Haterd (NED – NOX Cycles) further extended his lead in the overall, getting the maximum amount of points. Second on the day was Heinz Hostettler (SUI – BanditBike.ch), with Henrik Karppinen (FIN) in third.

The extremely competitive under17 category was won by Carlo Caire (ITA – Argentina Bike). By finishing in second, Riku Laensioe (FIN – DaKine-Oakley) successfully defended his overall lead, as Francesco Colombo (ITA – Team AXO) finished in third. The girls’ under17 category was contested by four riders, and the win went to Tahnee Seagrave (GBR – Intense Cycles).

As a conclusion, the return of Pila on the international racing calendar after 2005’s world cup race was long overdue. Venues that boast such an atmosphere are a definite asset for downhill racing.

Please find all additional information and the complete results of the race on ixsdownhillcup.com. And of course an official video edit of the race is going to be available in days to come on various web-based platforms. The last race of this year’s iXS European Downhill Cup will be held on 11th/12th September in Châtel/France.

© Photos: Thomas Dietze