The 32nd Due Giorni della Valsugana, held in the stunning Val di Sella from May 18-19, 2024, and serving as the 3rd and 4th round of the Coppa Italia, saw Park World Tour athletes shine among the approximately 1,000 competitors from all over Italy and abroad.

The races took place on the hilly and wooded terrain of Val di Sella, with challenging climbs and descents and varied vegetation that put the technical skills and endurance of the competitors to the test. The courses, carefully designed by the Panda Orienteering Valsugana team, offered interesting challenges for all categories, from beginners to the most experienced.

Among the protagonists of the weekend were undoubtedly the Park World Tour athletes, who conquered podiums and prestigious placings in various categories. One above all was Sebastian Inderst, with his 4th place in the middle distance, just 3″ from the podium, and an extraordinary victory in the long distance.

Sebastian, how did you prepare for this challenging race?

Let’s say that this weekend of races was still part of my base preparation, so I’m not in top form yet. However, I prepared for this weekend with particular attention, given that the two races were also valid as selections for the upcoming European Championships.

What were your feelings during the race?

I started very early, so I was definitely at a bit of a disadvantage as I had no tracks of the previous competitors and no reference to an opponent that I could catch up to or who could catch up to me. I tried to set a good pace from the start and always have a plan for the section I was facing. When I reached the halfway point at the butterfly, I immediately realized that there were some more treacherous points, where I slowed down a bit to play it safe, and it was worth it, as some other competitors made big mistakes there. At the end I made a sub-optimal choice that cost me some time, but I still felt very good physically and in the end it was enough. I’m very happy!

What are your next goals?

The Jukola, the legendary 7-person relay in Finland, is coming up soon, and I will be participating with my Swedish team, Göteborg-Majorna OK (GMOK). After that, the main goal of this season will be the European Championships in Hungary in mid-August, for which I hope to be selected. I have already attended a training camp on that terrain at Easter, and I have another one planned for the end of July. It’s terrain where I can do very well!

Thank you very much Sebastian and good luck for your next events!