The Honduran signs his first victory at the Appenninica MTB Stage Race, distancing with a masterful descent Periklis, Fritzsch and Classens. Redemption for Virginia Cancellieri, winner in Fanano after the difficulties of the third fraction.
Source: press release
The “Zorro del Deserto” waited for the fastest and most spectacular stage to put his signature on. Milton Ramos' show at Appenninica MTB Stage Race took place on Tuesday 15 September 2021. The Honduran biker won the fourth stage with departure and arrival from Piazza Corsini in Fanano, 48 km and 2150 meters in altitude traced by the famous trail builder Pierpaolo “Pippo” Marani. A fast and technical route that enhanced Ramos' skills, especially in the long descent towards the city center, with 15 single track sections.
In the ascent towards the Passo di Croce Arcana, four athletes remained in the lead: in addition to Milton Ramos, the best of the general classification Ilias Periklis, Felix Frtizsch, and the Dutch Bart Classens. Downhill Ramos kicked off his personal show, detaching everyone and arriving at the finish line after 2:51:57 with a 1:18 lead from Periklis. Just behind, at 1:24, Felix Fritzsch completed the podium of the day.
For Ramos this is the first victory in the stage race on the Emiliano-Romagnoli Apennines, after last year's participation and finishing in fourth position in the general. “The stage was very hard with a climb that was not easy at all, but very fast in the second part of the descent - explains Milton Ramos at the finish -. I gave everything I had and risked falling several times, but I wanted to win here at the Appenninica MTB Stage Race. I finally succeeded ”.
The situation in the general classification remains crystallized where Periklis maintains the leadership with a still not very reassuring advantage of 31 seconds over Fritzsch. Even if he was stable third of the general, Bart Classens loses further ground, now with a delay of 19:07. “The stage was very good, I managed my strength and the situation in the standings - says Periklis at the finish line -. Tomorrow a very long and difficult stage awaits us where rain is also expected, so we will need to feel good and be even more careful because the gap with Frtizsch is really thin ”.
The winner of the Giro d'Italia 2001 and 2003, Gilberto Simoni, also joined the Appenninica MTB Stage Race caravan in Fanano, competing as an off-ranking Special Guest. The climber from Trentino immediately put himself to the test in today's stage, having a lot of fun on the track designed by Pierpaolo “Pippo” Marani that he met at the start. Simoni will also face tomorrow's and Friday's stages towards Castelnovo ne 'Monti, testing the hardness of the Apennine routes.
CHANCELLORS WINS AND REOPENS THE GAMES
Balance continues to reign in the "women" category, where Virginia Cancellieri returned to victory after the initial success of Porretta Terme, immediately redeeming herself from the bad performance of the third stage. The driver of the Orbea Factoring Team showed right from the start that she was on the same day and kilometer after kilometer she extended her advantage, finishing the test in 3:36:58.
The performance of the Ligurian has reopened the speeches in the general classification, because Naima Diesner paid 9:15 on the arrival of Fanano, seeing her advantage in general diminish to 16:47 with the “Queen Stage” still to be faced. The German was held back by a technical problem, while Austrian Evelyn Sulzer definitely lost contact from her head, 22:37 late at the finish and now 39:19 in the general classification.
“Today was a really beautiful stage, I saw that it suited my characteristics a lot: long but pedalable and with technical descents - explains Virginia Cancellieri at the finish line -. My goal was to get to the top in the front and then earn on the descent, my legs turned well. Tomorrow there is a really long stage and I believe that there we can make the difference for the final classification ”.
THE QUEEN STAGE CAN SHAKE THE RANKING
With a situation still of equilibrium in the general classification, both among men and women, the “High Mountain Queen Stage” scheduled for Thursday 16 September could prove decisive. The 98 km and 3750 meters in altitude that will bring the caravan from Fanano to Cerreto Laghi risk being the watershed between the glory of victory and the final placement for those who are still in the game in the general. Weather forecasts, with the risk of rain, could make the route even more difficult and treacherous.
Immediately after the start, the athletes will immediately face a 17 km climb towards Monte Cimone, where they will enjoy the splendid view of Pian Cavallaro. A 10 km swoop towards Pievepelago will precede the ascent to Sant'Anna Pelago, and then a high-altitude ups and downs in the Monte Cusna area. A long but very smooth and extremely spectacular stage, with very wide views all to be savored for the competing athletes.
