Mattia Casse to podium on the Stelvio
Mattia Casse, results
The four-day high-speed event on the Stelvio in Bormio opens in the sign of Cyprien Sarrazin. The 29-year-old Frenchman set the best time in the first of the two timed tests ahead of the downhill on Thursday, December 28: 1’52″77 the reference detached by the transalpine on a track as usual very demanding despite the mild temperatures of these days.
Behind Sarrazin, detached by 0″41, the second time of the day was set by the American Ryan Cochran-Siegle, followed by a convincing Mattia Casse (+0″49), who appeared immediately at ease on the Stelvio.
“This’year that I have found greater technical stability I would like to take a few steps forward compared to the past – è was the hot comment of Casse, ninth a year ago – The Stelvio remains a demanding slope, to ski, even with temperatures a bit’ higher than usual. Perhaps this year è a little more’ human”.
The’other U.S. rider Jared Goldbert (+0″97), Canadian Alexander Cameron (+1″04) and German Simon Jocher (+1″36) round out the top6 in the first time trial and precede Stelvio king Dominik Paris, seventh at 1″37. “It’s always nice to come back to Bormio – says the six-time winner of the Stelvio downhill, as well as a superG – this year I’m better than twelve months ago, even more so. As always, the first run on the Stelvio è an’unknown, the slope è a bit’ moved but remains fun”.
In the wake of Paris, with higher bibs, then fit the other two Azzurri Nicolò Molteni (eighth at 1″40) and Pietro Zazzi (ninth at 1″48), who thus send very good signals in view of the two Valtellina races, leaving behind the two big names Marco Odermatt (tenth at 1″49) and Aleksander Åmodt Kilde (eleventh at 1″51. Also very positive was the performance of Giovanni Franzoni, author of the 13th time of the day at 1″72 from Sarrazin.
As for the other Italians, this first timed run saw Christof Innerhofer take 20th time at 2″09, Florian Schieder 28th at 2″51, Giovanni Borsotti 34th at 2″99 just ahead of Guglielmo Bosca, 35th at 3″12; then 54th time for Benjamin Jacques Alliod, detached by 4″48.
Wednesday, Dec. 27 is scheduled for the second time trial starting at 11:30 a.m., the same time currently scheduled for the two-day race, with the downhill scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 28 followed by the super-G on Friday, Dec. 29.
