Ciao Pinzolo! Telemark World Cup Round 1

The inaugural Telemark World Cup event of the season took place in Pinzolo - Madonna Di Campiglio, Italy, on 16th and 17th December 2023, with two Sprint races. Renowned as a hub for Alpine World Cups, Pinzolo showcased its potential as a new Telemark racing Mecca, supported by a strong local organizing team and the Telemark team Poeti Del Monti. The event featured a captivating blend of Italian culture, joy, and competitive spirit, creating a unique atmosphere.

« It was fantastic to be part of the World Cup kick-off in my home region. On the first day, I landed in fourth place, which marked a satisfying start to my season. » said Mahlknecht.

WOMEN SPRINTS: TAYLOR CLAIMS LEADER'S JERSEY IN HISTORIC DOUBLE WIN

In a historic moment for Telemark history, the "God Save The King" anthem resonated twice thanks to the double-victory of Taylor (GBR), now wearing the leader's jersey for the first time in her career. "I’m really pleased with the first two races of the season. For the first time in my career, I wore the leader bib for the second day of racing, and this brings a new feeling and challenge. It’s looking to be a great season ahead, with tough competition and close fights all winter long," said the British Telemark skier.

The French duo Chaucheprat and Bourbon secured 2nd and 3rd places in the first Sprint, while Bourbon (FRA) and Strom Eriksen (NOR) completed the podium in the second race. It was the first time for Chaucheprat to reach the podium outside of France, showcasing an expanding comfort zone and the payoff of mental work. "I was very happy to meet up with all the World Cup team in the wonderful mountains of the Dolomites. The first few days of training on the racing course reassured me. Then followed two dream days, with my first World Cup podium on Saturday and a second place on Sunday. A magical start to the new season," said Bourbon.

Tan-Bouquet (FRA) delivered a solid performance in the giant and skating sections, finishing 4th and 6th after returning from a knee injury sustained at the World Championships in March. Facing challenges with penalties at the jump in each race, she aims to regain confidence for future podiums. Poland made its Telemark skiing debut, with the young Stachowska (17 years old) finishing 13th and 15th. "My first start in a World Cup race was a great experience - challenging settings, kind of thrill but a lot of support from other competitors. The atmosphere of the World Cup is something unique, and I love to be a part of that. Now I'm back to training again, focusing on the next race," said the new World Cup racer.

MEN SPRINTS: MICHEL AND THE OLD WOLVES' EXPERIENCE, ONE KNEE DOWN BUT NEVER BOTH FOR NABOT OR MAHLKNECHT

Following the retirements of Swiss legends Wenger-Reymond and Dayer, and Loeken’s (NOR) withdrawal due to surgery, it seemed the cards were in favor of the French for men's victory. But Nabot (FRA) faced unexpected challenges, finishing 7th and 11th. "It's hard to find the words after this first weekend of the World Cup, which I totally missed... Frustration, anger, sadness, despondency, a bit of all of that, I think! It's not the way I'd hoped to start the season, so unfortunately, I've already blown two wildcards. It's been so long since I've been through that I'd forgotten how much it hurts! It's hard to digest now, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to give up. I intend to be back in January with the knife between my teeth to play a leading role in this season, which is still a long one...One knee down but never both!" confided the French leader.

Nabot aims to make a comeback in January, supported by a talented French Team with Claye (2nd and 3rd) and Page (3rd and 2nd) ready to compete for top positions throughout the season.

For the early December first stage, the Swiss clock was on time and running smoothly with former French team coach Annequin as the new Swiss wise man coach since last summer. Another old wolf, Michel (SUI), was the fastest metronome all weekend long. Settled as the oldest racer within the Swiss squad (28 years old) after Dayer’s retirement, Michel faced some stress in the start gate due to the absence of Dayer as his Swiss time reference, according to his coach. However, Swiss time remained true when it came to winning.

Annequin could continue to maintain Switzerland's position as the dominant men's Telemark nation, with Michel and Beney (11th and 6th) in the leaders’ positions. But it may be too early to make predictions, as the skiing level appears high in December. Even with the absence of Loeken, Norway was well represented, with Alveberg finishing 4th in the second Sprint race. A similar scenario played out for Germany, with Sautter finishing 5th at the end of the second day.

« In pinzolo, it was the perfect World Cup season start, with two victories out of two races. It was quite a surprise because I wasn’t expecting to be that fast […]. During the autumn training, it was difficult to know how fast I was because of Bastien's retirement. I didn't have any point of comparison to know my form. It was a completely new situation for me, and I had to adapt. Luckily our new coach Julien, who I had already known for years, was there to push me and guide me through the autumn preparation. We have a nice complicity, and we can't wait to continue this season on the same wave as it started. » said Michel.

Mahlknecht (ITA) was also under scrutiny. The local Italian Dolomites racer has been strengthening since his first World Cup podium last season in Aal (NOR) and put pressure on the winning trio. Ending 4th in the first Sprint, he held the 3rd provisional position after the first run on the second day. Unfortunately, he fell just after the start. "I'm still satisfied with my performance over the weekend, and it confirms that I am ready for the upcoming races. Most importantly, I'm very happy as I am now free from knee pain. Three weeks before the race, I suffered a minor meniscus injury, but I'm back to skiing pain-free. Additionally, I want to extend a big commendation to the World Cup organizers for putting together an excellent race. Everyone really felt the love for the sport. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, and the conditions were fantastic," expressed Mahlknecht. His teammate, Bormolini (ITA), finished 7th and 9th.

Overall, athletes and coaches thoroughly enjoyed the Italian vibes. The organizers and volunteers showed real dedication that was key for the success of this early stage of the Telemark World Cup season. Pinzolo might appear on next season’s calendar, maybe with a Classic race on the program.

« Our inaugural participation in the Telemark World Cup organization proved to be a highly positive experience. While encountering some anticipated challenges, the collaborative efforts of all involved ultimately yielded a positive outcome. We were thrilled to learn that Pinzolo proved to be a wonderful discovery for the teams, a location previously unfamiliar to the participants. The positive feedback received from the participating teams serves as strong encouragement for us to intensify our efforts, ensuring the success of the event in the upcoming year. » said Daniele Anselmo (Chief of race/ OC).

Grazie mille Pinzolo! Ci vediamo il prossimo inverno.

The next stop of the Telemark World Cup 2023-24, scheduled from 9th to 11th January 2024 in Les Houches (FRA) is unfortunately cancelled due to a lack of snow. The Telemark World Cup athletes will then meet again in Carezza Dolomites (ITA) from 17th to 18th January for two Sprint races.