Val Louron, 25 March 2023 – The last stage of the ISMF Youth World 2022/23 had on the menu some challenges both for athletes and organisers alike. With warm temperatures striking all the Pyrenees and the snow melting rapidly, the ISMF and the organisers decided to host the Individual race on Saturday on a time-trial version and all U20, U18 and U16 athletes doing two laps on a technical and icy course.

The first men taking the start were the U20, with the first 15 men by ranking starting in reverse order. And it was actually Finn Hasch (GER) the one opening the race, wearing bib number 15, and with one of the most impressive performances of the day, to finish in third place, stopping the clock in 28.42.04. He was just one second behind Austrian athlete Nils Oberauer, who grabbed second place, while the winner of the vertical race, Loic Dubois (SUI), was the fastest of the day.

“The course was special today, and tricky, with us racing against the clock, which is not the usual for us. It was a race similar to the vertical one two days ago, and I felt like I had the same legs so I just went for it, and it paid off”, said Dubois. His victory today was enough to put him in the first place of the overall of the Youth World Cup Individual ranking, with his teammate Jon Kistler (SUI) finishing in the second place overall, and Oriol Olm (AND) in third place.

On the U20 women’s race, the victory was for Thibe Deseyn (SUI), the winner also on the Vertical race this Thursday and, with 300 points, winner of the Overall Individual rankings as well. The second place was for Louise Trincaz (FRA), while the bronze medal of the day was for Italy’s Noemi Junod, the three of them in the same order as they finished the overall rankings for the speciality. “It was fun to do a time-trial, I had never tried this format before, and it was fun, I really enjoyed even though the snow conditions were not great and the course was a bit icy”, explained Deseyn.

On the U18 category, the victory was for David Jost (GER), who had a lower bib number and had a clearer course ahead of him, while the second on the day, USA’s Griffin Briley, had to pass lots of athletes on his way to the podium. The bronze medal was for Italy’s Erik Canovi, adding another medal to his already extensive haul. On the overall rankings of the Vertical Youth World Cup, first place was for Canovi, followed by Jost and Italian Mirko Luppo Orcelli. “I really want to thank all the organisers and the ISMF for the great effort so that we could race today, what they have done with these conditions was incredible, and the race was great”, said Briley.

On the girls race for the U18 category, it was Melissa Bertolina the fastest on the day, crossing the finish line in first place, enough to put her in the third place of the overall ranking of the Individual Youth World Cup. Silver in Val Louron was Helena Euringer (GER), just seven seconds behind Bertolina, while another Italian grabbed the bronze today, Martina Scola. Scola was also second on the overall Individual ranking, while the top place on the rankings was for Camille Maupoix (FRA). “The race was unusual, but we managed to be able to race today, which was great. I felt really good all day and I managed to prove that I can also perform well in these races”, said Bertolina.

The youngest on the day, U16 category, also tried the time-trial format, which proved to be a good one for Silas Walter (GER) and Corinne Higgins (USA), both of them winning on their first international individual race. On the boys side, Kilian Rettensteiner (AUT) and Celien Lattion (SUI) completed the podium, while for the girls, second place was for Sienna Pettersen (USA) and bronze for Elena Beatrice Boboc (ROU).

For the results of the day, click HERE.
Results of the overall rankings of the Youth World Cup HERE