"This circuit has a special place in my heart": Nino Schurter wants to win again and has this World Cup marked in red

From June 20 to 22, Val di Sole will once again host the XCO World Cup, and some eyes are already pointing to the G.O.A.T of this sport, Nino Schurter. The Swiss lands in Daolasa di Commezzadura with the goal in mind of achieving a new victory in the World Cup and his tenth triumph in this iconic Italian venue.

Nino Schurter pursues his historic tenth victory in Val di Sole: "This circuit has a special place in my heart"

Schurter and Val di Sole form one of the most enduring and successful love stories in modern MTB. Since winning the U23 World Championship here in 2008, the SCOTT-SRAM Racing Team rider has accumulated a total of nine victories in twelve participations between World Cup events and World Championships. A unique relationship with a circuit he knows like the back of his hand and where he has experienced some of the most memorable moments of his career.

"Val di Sole has a special place in my heart. I love racing here, the circuit suits my characteristics perfectly, the atmosphere is incredible, and having won so many times gives me a lot of confidence. I would love to fight for victory again this year", Schurter declared.

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One of those unforgettable victories came in 2021, when he put on the rainbow jersey of elite world champion with a spectacular overtaking in the last corner over Mathias Flückiger. "That World Championship was very emotional, not only because of how it ended, but because my daughter was waiting for me at the finish line. The overtaking was pure intuition. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't... that day it did."

At 39 years old, Nino Schurter's ambition and motivation seem intact, despite having surpassed entire generations of rivals, from Julien Absalon to current riders like Mathieu van der Poel or Tom Pidcock: "When I line up at the start line, I don't think about who can beat me. I focus on my performance. That's what matters if you want to fight for victory."

Regarding whether we will see him competing in the MTB World Championship that Val di Sole will host in 2026, Nino replied: "When the season ends, I will decide what comes next."