Carter Woods wins Val di Sole U23 XCC World Cup

Canada’s Carter Woods kicked off the Val di Sole World Cup Weekend with a big win in the under-23 short track cross country (XCC) race on Thursday. The Giant Factory Off-Road Team racer crossed the line first and alone, holding off a trio of chasers in the final sprint to the finish line.

It’s Woods’ first XCC World Cup win this year. The Canuck already has a pair of World Cup podiums, both in Lenzerheide World Cup. One in the 20-minute XCC and another in the longer XCO distance.

Woods is joined on the u23 men’s XCC podium by France’s Luca Martin (Orbea) and Adrien Boichis (Trinity MTB). The U.S.A.’s Riley Amos (Trek Factory) was fourth. Woods was the only Canadian in the 40-rider field on Thursday.

Emilly Johnston (Trek Future Racing) was the only Canadian in the under-23 women’s XCC World Cup. The Vancouver Island racer finished 18th.

Ronja Blochlinger (Liv Factory Racing) crossed the line first for the win six seconds ahead of Denmark’s Sofie Pedersen (Willier Pirelli). Noemie Garnier (Scott Creuse Oxygene Gueret) added a third French podium finish in third place.

Val di Sole World Cup downhill and cross country racing continues throughout the weekend. On the skinnier tire side, elite XCC racing takes place Friday and both under-23 and elite Olympic distance racing closes out the weekend on Sunday. Here’s how you can watch World Cup racing all year.

Full Under-23 XCC men’s and women’s World Cup results from Val di Sole, Italy.