Source: press release
Thanks to the last points at stake in the final stage of Montichiari (BS), Chiara Teocchi and Stephane Tempier have graduated champions of the Internazionali d'Italia Series giving a double joy to Bianchi Countervail.
«This was my goal for the season, I'm happy to have achieved it for me and the team. I dedicate this shirt in particular to my mother, who in recent days had to undergo an operation. Fortunately, nothing serious, but the thought of her is for her »says the 19-year-old from Bergamo, now fifth.
«I couldn't resist Marotte and Fontana is faster than me in the sprint, but I'm happy to have defended the jersey I was wearing. It is an honor for our team to have won both Open titles »echoes her teammate Tempier, who had to be satisfied with the third step of the podium in today's test.
The fourth stage of the Italian circuit on the first day saw Gunn Rita Dhale Flesja and Maxime Marotte, queen and king of the 5th Delcar Trophy, excel.
The women's race, as predicted, recorded the solo of the Norwegian champion of the Multivan Merida Biking Team, already winner of the past edition, who completed the 5 laps of the track 1'16 "before the Polish Maja Wloszczowska (Kross Racing Team) and 2'17 ”before Ukrainian Yana Belomoina (CST Superior Brentjens MTB).
«Like a year ago it was nice to compete with Maja, I forced myself in the first two laps and then continued at my pace. Winning is always nice, I'm happy to have succeeded again on this spectacular course. My next goal is the European Championship which will be held in Huskvarna next month» comments the Olympic champion of Athens 2004, who in her career, in addition to the five hoops, has been able to conquer eight world titles among cross country and marathons.
Great spectacle reserved the race for men, with the three-way challenge between the Brianza-based Marco Aurelio Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) and the French Stephane Tempier (Bianchi Countervail) and Maxime Marotte (BH Srsuntour KMC). On the track drawn on the Colle di San Pancrazio, the leading trio made the difference compared to the rest of the competition. In the last round of six scheduled, Marotte at the last refueling managed to lengthen and anticipate Fontana by 6 "and Tempier by 8".
«It was a high level competition, I attacked on several occasions as my opponents did, until everything was decided in the last kilometers. I am happy to have won here, in front of a really warm audience. Now the World Cup awaits me, especially important for us French. I want to win a pass for Rio »declares the new king of Montichiari after crossing the finish line with his arms raised.
To conclude this rich day, tonight the garden of the Bonoris Castle will host the awarding of the winners and the delivery of the top ten juniors' backbones. Tomorrow the two-wheeled party organized by the Novagli Team Bike continues with the youth challenges, which will reach their climax with the UCI Junior Series stage, which will see champions from all over the world compete and will assign the jerseys to the best and best junior of the International 'Italy Series 2016.
