Jolanda Neff ambitious ahead of the first stage of the Internazionali d’Italia Series: “Winning helps to win, Andora will be my first top-level test of the season”. Trek Factory Racing will also line up the defending champion of the Men’s Elite race, Stephane Tempier
With less than a month to go to Andora Race Cup, everything indicated that the 2021 Internazionali d’Italia Series opener will be the first major clash among the World’s top riders of this MTB season. On Sunday, March 7th, the Trek Factory Racing Team will feature big by the Ligurian Riviera travelling to Andora (Northern Italy) with its three top riders.
The 2017 XCO World Champion, Swiss Jolanda Neff, and Brit Evie Richards will be among the favorites of Women’s Elite competition. “I’m happy to restart after a difficult season – explains Jolanda Neff. – and I feel grateful to the local committee of Andora Race Cup for their organizational effort. I want to find my best shape early on, there is no better way to do that than facing the best athletes in the World. I believe Evie (Richards) is getting stronger season after season, and I hope we will form a very successful pair during this season.”
The key goals of Neff’s season will be the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, where she already won once and claimed a second place in the 2019 UCI MTB World Cup after a head-to-head with Pauline Ferrand Prèvot. “The OG race is my first seasonal goal, but I love to race in Italy and look to be fast from the very first test. My motto is ‘winning helps to win’.”
In addition to Neff and Richards, the Trek Factory Racing Team will line up the defending champion of Andora Race Cup, Frenchman Stephane Tempier. “I have a good feeling with Andora and Italy – said the athlete from Gap. – I really like the course, it’s demanding and technical. I know the microclimate of the Ligurian Riviera: it’s a perfect area to train and race in March. I went through a tough 2020 season and I haven’t been able to win with the Trek Factory Team jersey yet: I want to seize that feeling as soon as possible”.
ANDORA RACE CUP: YOUTH COMPETITIONS POSTPONED
Following the decision of the event’s organizing committee to postpone to September 26th the youth races for safety reasons, Andora Race Cup will take place on only one day, Sunday March 7th, with the races of all the Internazionali d’Italia Series categories: Elite, U23 and Juniors, both Men and Women.
Verona (Italy), February 12th, 2021
