A dream became reality for Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) on Sunday at the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, as the Italian crossed the line solo to claim victory at her home cross-country Olympic (XCO) race at La Thuile-Valle d'Aosta.
It was a first women's elite XCO win for the Italian champion, on the new 3.2 km high-altitude course in the mountains near the French border.
Berta crossed the line 12 seconds ahead of Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing) after holding off the unrelenting pursuit.
"I’ve dreamed about this day since last year when the calendar came out. I saw La Thuile–Valle d’Aosta on the calendar and told my coach I wanted to win here," said Berta, who lives nearby, in an event media release.
"From dreaming it to actually doing it is a long journey. It’s just amazing. I’m so grateful for all the support."
Berta had the crowd roaring, right from when she was chasing to the front to take a leading position on lap three of the seven lap race. While the chase of Blunk wasn't easy to shake the 28-year-old was just as relentless in her efforts to continue fending off her rival.
"In the final part of the race I was really suffering because Savilia was coming back. I couldn’t disappoint all the people here," said Berta.
The gap was down to just four seconds heading into the last lap but Berta upped the pace to make sure that victory was hers, with the emotion that flowed after the line making clear just how much this win meant.
After Blunk it was Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) who crossed the line fifty five seconds back to round out the elite women's podium while overall leader Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing) maintained her series top spot with fourth in the race.
In the elite men's race, series leader Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) backed up his Lenzerheide win and consolidated his shift to the top step after a run of second places earlier in the season.
The French champion had a strong start to the eight lap race, among the leading group which was pared down to three French riders – Martin, Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing) and Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing) – by the fifth lap of eight. In lap six Martin poured on the pressure and took off, quickly carving out a solid margin.
Martin claimed the win with plenty of time to celebrate, crossing the line with his front wheel in the air and a gap of 1:07 to second-placed Azzaro while Boichis was 1:20 behind.
"I’m so happy to have raced here," said Martin. "This track was a real mountain bike track with incredibly technical and dusty descents.
"When we reached around 45 minutes into the race I felt it was the right moment to attack because I was feeling really good. I live in Nice and the terrain is quite similar, with the same type of dirt and descents, so I felt very comfortable riding this course.”
Martin also took second in the short track, which was won by Boichis.
