Carter Woods doubles up at Val di Sole World Cup

Carter Woods soared to his second World Cup win this weekend, taking top honours in Sunday’s under-23 men’s XCO World Cup in Val di Sole.

Sunday’s win adds to his short track (XCC) victory that opened proceedings in Val di Sole, giving Giant Factory Off-Road Team’s Canadian his first perfect World Cup weekend.

Carter Woods perfect weekend

Val di Sole World Cup’s extended weekend started with the under-23 short track cross country racing. The format is a new addition to the World Cup calendar and one that Woods has quickly taken to. The Canadian u23 XCC national champion already had a podium in the event this year. On Thursday, he earned his first win.

After two days off of racing while Canada’s downhill stars stormed to their own victories and podiums, the cross country racers were back in action for the full, 90-minute Olympic-distance cross country race (XCO).

Woods was a handful of seconds back after opening start loop, a half-lap designed to spread out the field, but quickly started working his way back. France’s Luca Martin (Orbea Factory) built up a solid lead over the next four laps before falling off the pace on the final lap with a catastrophic double flat, losing air in the front and rear tires.

That left Woods, riding in a chase duo with France’s Adrien Boichis (Trinity Racing) perfectly placed to take advantage. The Canadian put 31 seconds into Boichis on the final lap, crossing the line alone for his second World Cup win of the Canada Day long weekend

Adrien Boichis held on for second with the U.S.A.’s Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing).

Carter Woods first XCO World Cup win of 2023 moves him up the overall standings, too. He now sits third with 425 points to Boichis’ total of 486. Dario Lillo of Switzerland floats between those two with 470 points of his own.

Noah Ramsay was the only other Canadian in the u23 men’s race and finished 43rd.

The full replay of the under-23 men’s World Cup XCO is below the women’s report.

Under-23 women

In the under-23 women’s XCO World Cup, it was once again Emilly Johnston (Trek Future Racing) leading the charge. The Comox Valley racer placed 15th in Val di Sole on Sunday. Juliette Larose Gingras, the only other Canadian in the race, placed 56th. With the Val di Sole race weekend floating somewhat isolated in the middle of the World Cup race calendar and world championships coming up, many Canadians opted to return to North America for domestic racing and qualification races for the upcoming combined cycling world championships in Glasgow, Scotland in August.

Sofie Heby Pedersen (Willier Pirelli) extended her u-23 women’s XCO win streak to a fourth-straight victory. The Danish phenom is undefeated in the XCO format at the World Cup this season and now has a commanding lead in the overall points race.

Samara Maxwell of New Zealand finished second, 38 seconds behind the Dane. Ronja Blochlinger (Liv Factory Racing), winner of Thursday’s XCC, rounded out the podium in third place.

Replay: 2023 Under-23 Men’s XCO World Cup – Val di Sole, Italy