Deseyn, Oberauer, Cidan and Canovi triumphant on the Vertical race

February 12, 2023
3:08 pm

Thibe Deseyn, Yuzhen Cidan and Erik Canovi won the gold on both days.

Crevacol, 12 February 2023 – Crevacol in the Gran San Bernard Valley (Italy) saw today the second and last competition of the first-ever ISMF Youth World Cup round. More than 115 racers from 10 countries lined up for the Vertical race on another magnificent day in the mountains. Four different countries claimed a gold medal in today’s race, as Austrian athlete Nils Oberauer and Swiss prodigy Thibe Deseyn won the race in the U20 category. In the younger class, U18, Yuzhen Cidan of China and Erik Canovi of Italy both dominated the race and took the second gold of the weekend.

U20 Categories
Nils Oberauer of Austria won the U20 Men’s race from start to finish. The 19-year-old Austrian is the reigning World Champion in the Vertical race at the previous ISMF World Championships 2021 in Andorra. Second in the finish line today was Davide Sambrizzi, Italian U20 men’s champion in the Vertical race. Andorra’s Oriol Olm Rouppert claimed the bronze medal with a powerful finish.

Yesterday’s winner Jon Kistler (Switzerland), finished just off the podium in fourth place, while Hermann Debertolis of Italy closed the Top 5.

“I felt so good today. I was able to take the lead right after the start. The crowd cheered me up the track. It was a fantastic atmosphere, the route was perfect, and the scenery was just amazing. I think that was one of my best races, and it feels really good to win the first vertical in the first Youth World Cup,” said Nils Oberauer.

Swiss promising star Thibe Deseyn also dominated the Vertical race. She went for the glory from the start, and at the finish, she was 64 seconds faster than the second athlete, Louise Trincaz (France). China’s Quzhen Souland took the bronze medal, another massive success for the Asian country.

“Today was very hot, and the course was very steep. The legs were still tired from yesterday, but after 200 vertical metres, I started feeling good again,” said Thibe Deseyn, who has the upcoming World Championships in Spain as the season’s main goal.

Local hero Noemi Junod (Italy) finished 4th, while Jingxuan Yu of China closed the U20 Women’s Top 5.

U18 categories
The U18 women’s race was again clearly led by Yuzhen Cidan of China. She started quietly, then immediately went to the front and set her pace:

“I am so happy with this weekend. I didn’t expect those results. I’m still U18, and we look forward to the future,” said Yuzhen Cidan, winner of both races in Crevacol.

Camille Maupoix took another second place today, while home athlete Melissa Bertolina won bronze. Amandine Perrier (France) and Alexia Blajiu (Romania) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

The U18 men’s race saw the same podium as in the Individual race. One of the main stars of EYOF 2023, Erik Canovi, won ahead of Silvano Wolf (Austria) and his compatriot Marcello Scarinzi. Canovi continues in perfect shape and is one to watch at the coming World Championships in Spain.

David Jost of Germany crossed the finish line fourth, Théo Voutaz (Switzerland) just two seconds behind him in fifth.

The younger athletes of the ISMF, U20 and U18, will now move to the World Championships in Boi Taull (Spain), to then compete at the second stage of the Youth World Cup in Villars sur Olon (Switzerland) and finally in Val Louron (France).

Press photo gallery HERE.
For the results, click HERE.