Here it is, the final round of the 2015 World Cup and we are in one of the most storied venues of them all. Val Di Sole. Known for hosting one of the most rowdy and technical downhill tracks on the planet, Val Di Sole is easily one of the best places to sort the final standings in this year's World Cup battle.
We arrive here with the Women's and Junior titles already decided, but second and third spots are still up for grabs in both categories. While in the Men's race, Aaron Gwin has pulled a strong lead on Greg Minnaar and Loic Bruni. Though mathematically all three have a shot at the title, crashes, injuries, and mechanicals could easily factor in on these treacherous slopes to leave the door wide open for the competition to capitalize. Gwin has all the momentum coming off a win in Windham and has been on the top step in Val Di Sole two times before, while Loic is fired up to take his long overdue first WC win, and Greg who has never won here could spoil the show for both. And while well down in the points, Gee has won twice here as well and is looking to grab his first win and some confidence going into World Champs. In the women's race, Rachel is the odds on favorite with Emmeline Ragot out with injury, but a strong and motivated Myriam Nicole wants nothing more than to repeat her victory on these same slopes from 2011.
As for the track it's as legendary as ever.
The start has been moved up the hill a bit and riders hit a few fast bermed corners before dropping into the steep woods. Gone is the gnarly opening chute of years past that had become more rock than dirt and entirely too dangerous. In its place is a less steep but more tech and twisty opening that joins the old track about a third of the way down. From there it is the classic steep and gnarly woods that Val Di Sole is famous for. Not one section is straight forward, and often the good line dropping into a section ends in roots and rocks, and the clean exit requires a setup on a less obvious and more difficult line. Adding to the difficulty are the endless rocks and roots of a track almost entirely in the woods that makes memorizing each section extremely difficult. Fatigue and arm pump will surely be a factor, and only the strongest riders will be able to stay fast and smooth while pushing all the way to the bottom.
Another factor will surely be the weather this week as the Sole seems to have gone on holiday from the Val Di Sole and the forecast calls for clouds and chance of rain almost every day. With the gnarliest track of the year mixed with ever changing weather and all to play for, it is guaranteed to be a World Cup finale for the record books.
About the PhotographersDave Trumpore • Age: 35 • Years Shooting: 4 Dave spent the bulk of the past 17 years racing professionally before realizing that despite qualifying for the random World Cup final here and there, the next generation was just way too fast and way more talented. Upon hanging up his racing boots in 2010, it would be a few years until Dave picked up a camera and started shooting the odd race here and there as a way to stay in touch with all the friends he had made over the years, and the rest as they say is history. In just a few years time his photos have graced the pages of just about every MTB magazine and major media outlet, while his commercial client list includes a who's who of the cycling industry, and he is lucky enough to shoot regularly with some of the best riders on the planet. Currently at Pinkbike, Dave shoots the Downhill WC and the Enduro World Series as well as contributing to the occasional editorial story. 
The weather moves in and out at a rapid pace here in the Italian mountains.
Member since Feb 26, 2008
www.redbull.com/en/bike/stories/1331742391305/claudio-caluori-val-di-sole-dh-uci-course-video
Also, Peaty's back - FTW!!!!!!
I believe you meant barren? Unless the Baron of Val Di Sole is racing hehe.
In Italy, barone was the lowest rank of feudal nobility except for that of signore or vassallo (lord of the manor). The title of baron was most generally introduced into southern Italy (including Sicily) by the Normans during the 11th century. Whereas originally a barony might consist of two or more manors, by 1700 we see what were formerly single manors erected into baronies, counties or even marquisates. Since the early 1800s, when feudalism was abolished in the various Italian states, it has often been granted as a simple hereditary title without any territorial designation or predicato. The untitled younger son of a baron is a nobile dei baroni and in informal usage might be called a baron, while certain baronies devolve to heirs male general. Since 1948 titles of nobility have not been recognised by the Italian state. In the absence of a nobiliary or heraldic authority in Italy there are, in fact, numerous persons who claim to be barons or counts without any basis for such claims. Baron and noble (nobile) are hereditary titles and, as such, could only be created or recognised by the kings of Italy or (before 1860) the pre-unitary Italian states such as the Two Sicilies, Tuscany, Parma or Modena, or by the Holy See (Vatican) or the Republic of San Marino. Beginning around 1800, a number of signori (lords of the manor) began to style themselves barone but in many cases this was not sanctioned legally by decree, while there was even less justification in the holder of any large (non-feudal) landed estate calling himself a baron. Nevertheless, both were common practices. In most of peninsular Italy the widespread medieval introduction of the title was Longobardic, while in Sicily and Sardinia it was coeval with Norman rule some centuries later, and one referred to the baronage when speaking of landed nobles generally. The heraldic coronet of an Italian baron is a jewelled rim of gold surmounted by seven visible pearls, set upon the rim directly or upon stems; alternately, the French style coronet (entwined in a string of small pearls, with or without four bigger visible pearls set upon the rim) is used.
You're in the same age bracket as me (according to your profile) and you're calling me the sad grown man...........I'm sure we could talk about this more over a cold beer. I hope you response doesn't resemble your previous two as defensive as they were. Keep calm and ride on.
And like Keyser Soze, I'm gone.
"Perhaps you would like to volunteer to edit their captions at 2am after they finish editing and uploading their media following a long, physical day on the hill?"
Maybe they shouldn't be so quick to post their articles without double, triple, even quadruple checking their writing. The pressures they are under are immense no doubt, especially at PB, where the "gotta be first" attitude is quite prevalent.
Measure twice, cut once.
at the end of the day, all the titles have effectively been wrapped up already; this isn't Minnaar's track and Gwin is on fire
still been a great season though, for the chainless run and Minnaar's semi-comeback if nothing else!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqYgAX6D43Q
Come on Danny!
Mind that boulder.
Gwins face is in Semenuk mode.
DH season over in 48 hours, please can we have more races ????
Like where the GOAT*(AG) needs to finish in order to secure the championship, and where AG needs to finish for the other possibles to win the C-ship if they win the race..?
*I don't care who has the most wins, the MAN solidified being the G.O.A.T by beating the best in the freaking world, with NO MOTOR!