Lausanneeeeeeee!
After a highly limited 2020 season, in-line downhill action went back to where it started, more than 20 years ago, the mighty 1 km course in the heart of Lausanne, La Vallée de la Jeunesse (The Valley of Youth). Being a car-free public park, it has always been a heaven for inline (but also longboard, Streetluge, Quad skates etc) downhill riders and adrenaline addicted.
Even though for today’s standards the course is not extremely challenging, the enthusiasm of the riders and the city made a great event. 1990s superstar, Lausanne native, and now in charge of downhill in Switzerland Nicolas Gachoud perfectly chaired the organizing committee and run the event in smooth and effective way.
Despite the heavy rain that fell during the whole competition, the race has been top level and funny for the riders, who came from all over Europe.
2018 World Champion Renato Pennuti of Italy won the race, in front of one of the upcoming stars of the discipline, 22 years old Moldovan Adrian Gumanita, Spain’s Carlos Flores Arranz came third with a good number of solid runs.
Among women, we had the chance to see one of the fastest girls since the times of Gabi Leuenberger, Séverine Christ-Thomas and Marjorie Phlippoteau.
Swiss Flavia Romane, in fact, not only won the women’s race with a huge margin on Laura Vincent and Karine Pittier, but set the 4th time overall! We’ll have to keep an eye on this girl, especially as far as the WorldSkate ™ world championship is concerned. We remind it will take place in Bettola, Italy next September 17-19.
It was also important to see French-Iranian Sébastien Rastegar back to racing after his injury, he even finished good 5th overall and old-school top rider Romain Guignet, after many years.
Looking forward to the next race in Rogno, in Northern Italy, at the end of July.
Lausanne, SWI, July 3-4, 2021 International Downhill Race La Vallée de La Jeunesse Time Trial men
| Rank | Cognome | Nome | Naz | Best |
| 1 | Pennuti | Renato | Ita | 54”35 |
| 2 | Gumanita | Adrian | Mol | 55”54 |
| 3 | Flores Arranz | Carlos | Spa | 55”62 |
| 4 | Bataille | Valentin | Fra | 56”62 |
| 5 | Rastegar | Sebastien | Fra | 57”00 |
| 6 | Bonet | Jordi | Spa | 57”24 |
| 7 | D’Orlando | Valerio | Ita | 58”17 |
| 8 | Guignet | Romain | Swi | 59”80 |
| 9 | Ubaldi | Ubaldo | Ita | 1’01”47 |
| 10 | Varin | Nicolas | Fra | 1’02”39 |
| 11 | Baali Pena | Angel | Spa | 1’03”03 |
| 12 | Tacchini | Davide | Ita | 1’04”35 |
| 13 | Maillard | Adel | Swi | 1’06”68 |
Lausanne, SWI, July 3-4, 2021 International Downhill Race La Vallée de La Jeunesse Time Trial Women
| Rank | Cognome | Nome | Naz | Best |
| 1 | Favia | Romane | Swi | 56”55 |
| 2 | Vincent | Laura | Fra | 1’00”06 |
| 3 | Pittier | Karine | Swi | 1’02”44 |
| 4 | Carli | Michela | Ita | 1’02”53 |