Race Report - World Cup #5: La Thuile, Italy
La Thuile, Italy. Our first time racing here, and right from the first track walk, you could tell this place wasn’t messing about. Nestled in the rugged Aosta Valley, surrounded by jagged alpine peaks and thick pine forests, this new addition to the UCI World Cup circuit brought with it some proper big mountain energy.
The track? Brutal—in the best kind of way. Steep, raw, and technical with off-camber sniper roots, jagged rocks, and high-speed sections that could just as easily reward you with a second as they could chuck you over the bars. A real rider’s track, and a proper test of confidence, setup, and fitness. It’s one of those courses that doesn’t let you relax for a second. Miss a line by a hair, and you’re playing catch-up for the rest of the run.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—this weekend tested our team.
From the outset, the vibe was electric. A fresh venue always brings fresh energy, and the Italian crowd didn’t disappoint. They packed the hill, cheered every rider, and made it feel like we’d been coming here for years. Sadly, the mountain wasn’t quite as welcoming to everyone.
Joe Breeden was looking strong in practice and absolutely flying in qualifying—until a crash put an end to his weekend. A nasty knee injury left him sidelined and heading home early for further assessment. No one ever wants to exit that way, especially when the pace was coming together. Joe’s a fighter, and while Andorra is off the cards for him, we’re hopeful he’ll bounce back soon.
Lou Ferguson had a week of wrestling with setup, form, and that elusive race-day feel. The speed was there, but something just wasn’t clicking. Whether it was the bike, the lines, or the rhythm—it remained just out of reach. Still, she fought through to 6th in qualifying (Q2) and is taking a big bag of motivation into Andorra. As Lou put it herself, “Always learning. Excited for what’s next.”
With Joe out and Lou regrouping, the pressure was on Mille Johnset and Juanfer Muñoz to step up for finals—and step up they did.
For Mille, it was her first time on this track, and she approached it with zero expectations—just stoke and curiosity. From run one, she was locked in, figuring out the terrain, learning how the ground felt under her tires, and finding confidence in the chaos. She pushed through a full week of nerves and newness to take a 10th-place finish in the finals, calling it “a huge step in the right direction.” Mille’s been building steadily all season, and this weekend felt like another layer added to her foundation. The excitement, the process, the belief—it’s all starting to click.
And then there’s Juanfer. Quiet, methodical, and laser-focused. He kept it clean all weekend—no crashes, no drama—just consistent progression and total commitment. With one less mechanic on hand due to illness, the weekend could’ve easily unraveled, but Juanfer stayed dialed. His P11 result in finals speaks volumes. He called it his best weekend of the season and made it clear: he wants his first big win to be with this team. And based on how he’s riding, it’s not far off.
Oscar Griffiths returned to racing after a frustrating few weeks off the bike, nursing an elbow injury. La Thuile isn’t exactly a gentle reintroduction—it’s more like being tossed into the deep end with weights on—but he gave it everything and pushed through for 58th in qualifying. For Oscar, this weekend was about progress, not perfection, and he made big strides.
Despite the setbacks, the team pulled together and walked away with an 11th-place team finish—a result we’re proud of given the circumstances. The energy, the effort, and the grit were all there, and that’s something we can carry forward.
There’s no downtime in the World Cup season, and we’re already rolling toward Round 6 in Andorra. New dirt, new challenges, and another chance to push the limits.
La Thuile reminded us that racing isn’t just about the podiums—it’s about perseverance, support, and showing up even when things don’t go to plan. It’s about riders digging deep, teams adapting on the fly, and the entire crew rallying behind each other when it counts.
We’re just getting warmed up. See you in Andorra.
