Kistler, Deseyn, Canovi and Bertolina master the Sprint race in Villars

Lausanne, 17 March 2023

They might be young, but the career of Jon Kistler (SUI, U20), Thibe Deseyn (SUI, U20), Erik Canovi (ITA, U18) and Melissa Bertolina (ITA, U18) is already impressive. The four of them know what it takes to be in the podium of a Sprint race at the maximum level; all of them grabbed a medal at the Sprint World Championships last month in Boi Taull; and the four of them claimed victory today in Villars Sur Olon (Switzerland), in the second stage of the ISMF Youth World Cup.

The first category to compete at the Swiss resort that has hosted previously World Championships and the 2020 Youth Olympic Games was the male U20, with 35 young athletes ready to face a fast and tough course. And Jon Kistler was just un-beatable, clocking the best time in the qualification, quarter final, semi final and final. The silver medal was for Jeremy Anselmet (FRA), while another Swiss, Loïc Dubois, finished in the third place, grabbing the bronze medal just a couple of seconds ahead of Oriol Olm (AND).

In the women U20 category, the victory was for the absolute queen of the category, local athlete Thibe Deseyn, who at only 19 has a massive collection of medals of all types and colors under her belt. Silver in Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games, 4x medallist at the 2023 World Championships, winner of both races at the Crevacol Youth World Cup, the young Swiss was impossible to beat today, crossing the finish line six seconds ahead of Noemi Junod (ITA), in second place, and Erika Sanelli (ITA) in third, while Spaniard Maria Ordoñez finished in the bitter-sweet fourth place.

Another dominant performance from Erik Canovi (ITA) was enough to add another medal to his already great collection. The young Italian showed impressive skills once again in the Men U18 category, crossing the finish line in first place stopping the clock in 2.36.57, enough to get him in the final of the older category if they had competed together. Silver medal was for another Swiss star, Mathieu Pharisa, while the bronze medal was for David Jost (GER), first medal for Germany in the Youth World Cup circuit.

In the women U18 category, the first one to cross the finish line was Melissa Bertolina (ITA), followed by Lynn Pollinger (SUI) and Camille Maupoix (FRA).

The race for the youngsters of the ski mountaineering family will continue this Sunday in Villars, with the individual race. The Youth World Cup Series will finish in 10 days in Val Louron (France), where the youngsters will close their season with Sprint, Vertical and Individual races.

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