Title: Sacha Earnest Reflects on Winning Val di Sole in Her First World Cup Finals Run
In her first attempt at a World Cup finals run, Sacha Earnest, the newest rider for Trek Factory Racing DH, achieved an unexpected victory in Val di Sole. Speaking about the exhilarating moment, Earnest shared, “Not at all. I remember for qualis at least, I’d won that one also, five seconds up, and I was just like, ‘No way that just happened.’ Lost for words, really.” The proud New Zealand rider expressed her disbelief and gratitude for the overwhelming support from her home country. Earnest revealed, “I was like, ‘I’ve got to do something big tomorrow as well,’” highlighting the pressure she felt to continue her success.
Reflecting on her emotions before the race, Earnest confessed, “At the top, I reckon I was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life. I didn’t have a trainer. I didn’t have a spin bike. I was up there with my friend Kalani doing warm-up stretches for a good 45 minutes, and then onto the track.” Despite the nerve-wracking experience, Earnest described the race as a blur, where she knew it was a good run but couldn’t recall much of it. She vividly remembered “I sprinted my ass off, and [fellow New Zealand rider] Erice [van Leuven] was already there waiting to hug me.” Embracing Leuven, Earnest instantly recognized the significance of her achievement. Overwhelmed by her 12-second lead, Earnest expressed, “I didn’t know what else to say. I was like, ‘This is the best start to a career that could have ever happened.’” Sacha Earnest’s remarkable success serves as an inspiration and marks the beginning of an extraordinary career in the world of downhill racing.
