Cortina d'Ampezzo ready to host the Italian Downhill Championship.

The Italian DownHill Championship will be held on 20 and 21 July in Cortina d'Ampezzo, cycling discipline now practiced not only by young people but also by women and men, enjoying ever-increasing success.

After hosting the Italian Cup in 2023, Cortina is once again preparing to host a prestigious competition which already promises to be a show of pure adrenaline: a dry descent, all in one breath, which will designate the Italian champion and award the coveted tricolor jersey for this competitive season.

And the descent will be from the famous "Lucifer" slope, which from Col Druscié, with a difference in altitude of almost 300 metres, winds along 1.700 meters of track, passing through woods and rocks, in full Downhill style. A very high level route, which the Municipality and Dolomiti Bike Park have been able to create with great skill and attention.

The current reigning champions, among which the Sardinian Davide Palazzari and the Trentino Veronika Widmann stand out in the top classes, they will have to contend with many other emerging athletes on the national scene, including Eleonora Farina, new winner of the last World Cup round and Davide Cappello, Italian Champion 2022.

Furthermore, this year the winner of the "Male Elite", will also have the opportunity to participate in the most spectacular Urban Downhill race in the world: the RedBull Cerro Abajo, which for the first time ever, will take place in Italy, and more precisely in Genoa. Here, the best riders in the world will compete the 20 Octoberthrough a characteristic route between creuze and alleys typical of the city of the lantern.

“We are really excited to be able to return to Cortina after the incredible experience of 2023 – comments Riccardo Tagliabue, who for years has led and coordinated the team that deals with the Italian Cup and the Italian Downhill Championships – We expect a great show on this occasion too, with over 350 riders at the start and the presence of all the best national teams that already participate in the World and European Championships. Downhill is now a successful discipline capable of creating a significant impact not only on a tourist and economic level. The enthusiasm that can be felt while walking in the streets these days is yet another confirmation of this. I thank the Municipality and the Dolomiti Bike Park, the President of the FCI Off-road Commission Massimo Ghirotto and all those who are collaborating with us to achieve this result in the name of safety and fun for everyone. For us - concludes Tagliabue – sport is synonymous not only with well-being, competitive spirit and rules but also and above all it is the value of sharing strong emotions together, always united by a single passion".

Programme:

• Saturday 20: morning compulsory tests / 14pm qualifying heat starting order on Sunday.
• Sunday 21th of: morning free practice / 13pm start of the Italian Championship in the various categories provided by the Italian Cycling Federation.