There is no shortage of talented off-road cyclists in Austria: Vali Höll (20) is mixing it in the Downhill World Cup Laura Stigger (21) won the top prize in October. Cape Epic overall victory and Mona Mitterwallner won the U23 World Cup after a perfect season. Gold medal at the elite marathon world championships. The fact that Mitterwallner Team Trek-Vaude after just one year had been clear for some time. It has now been announced that the 19-year-old Tyrolean will be wearing the colours of the Cannondale Factory Racing Team next season. The U23 world and European cross-country champion will be joining Henrique Avancini, Simon Andreassen and Alan Hatherly. At just 19 years of age, the 1.58 metre tall lightweight has already shown her talent on several occasions. In May she beat Stigger at the national cross country championships and in autumn she finished eleventh in the U23 class at the European Road Championships.
Quite modest in everyday life, the young Austrian set her sporting goals high right from the start. "I want to become the best female cyclist of all time," says Mitterwallner about her career goals. Following the end of Manuel Fumic's career, team manager Daniel Hespeler sees Mitterwallner as a strong gain. "I'm very happy that Mona is now part of our team and will also be riding for Cannondale at the 2024 Olympics. She has huge talent, which she has already demonstrated impressively in the past. We as a team will support Mona on her way to the top. Mona will be competing in the elite class in 2022 and we can't wait to see her on the track," says Hespeler. Like her compatriot Stigger, who is two years older, Mitterwallner will also be competing in the UCI MTB World Cup in the women's elite category in 2022, although both are actually still allowed to compete in the U23 class. As a race bike Mona Mitterwallner a Cannondale Scalpel and the new Scalpel HT drive. The contract runs until the end of 2024.
