Stevenà di Caneva was filled with colours, the athletes' shirts and the smiles of the spectators together with the Italia Bike Cup Chaoyang circus created a chromatic shield which contrasted the menacing clouds above the Friulian town. The fifth round of the Italia Bike Cup Chaoyang, the Caneva Trophy, brought the action to the city centre, to the streets and squares of Stevenà di Caneva, to the front door of the most curious spectators.
Today on the modern course of the Caneva Trophy all the races of the competitive categories got underway with the best national interpreters, the leaders of the classifications and some of the riders in the best shape of the moment.
The first race to start was that of the junior category, attended by the ruler of Albenga and Nalles, Gabriel Borre, of the KTM Protek Elettrosystem, who is having a moment of great form, it was him, with his shining jersey blue of leader, the man to control, the most dangerous.
It was up to him to take the reins of the race, but his was not a solo ride, because Matteo Ceschin (Lee Cougan MTB), strengthened by a skilful management of the beginning of the race, got ahead of Borre, who unfortunately suffered a mechanical problem, with him also Luca Fregata (Four Es) and Diego Milan (ASD Rock Bike), another boy in splendid shape. the four athletes made the hole, but Ceschin played for real this time and once in the lead he accumulated a lead of 1'29”, a lead which guaranteed him the final victory over Luca Fregata and Diego Milan. Not a great day for Gabriel Borre who is used to leading the pack until the finish, but today's 4th place earned him enough points to keep the leader's jersey.
Two departures for the female categories, with the open categories anticipating the junior departure, Giorgia Marchet (Trinx Factory Team), took over the race by exploiting her great experience and even without the presence of very great rivals, even the leader was absent of the elite category Chiara Teocchi (KTM Protek Elettrosystem), decided to test her engine capacity after the camp just concluded with the Italian national team.
His was a crushing victory over the opponents who finished more than 6 minutes behind. Astrid Miola (El Coridor Team) finished second, while Marta Zanga, first under 23 (KTM Protek Elettrosystem) finished in third overall position. The white-orange team also saw its jersey on the top step of the podium in the junior race, with Elisa Lanfranchi ahead of Giada Martinoli (JU Green ASD Gorla Minore) by 19", while Lanfranchi's teammate Arianna Bianchi was third .
The grand finale of the Caneva Trophy brought the best Italian interpreters to compete at a very high pace, the race was preceded by a dutiful minute of silence in honor of one of the legends of international mountain biking, Dario Acquaroli, who suddenly passed away last week, a pillar of the discipline that today these guys interpret in a modern key.
The main event confirmed all expectations, a spectacular race from the very first meters, with high-profile duels that enlivened the 6 laps of the race. The snake of open athletes, initially led by Mirko Tabacchi (RDR Leynicese) soon crumbled, put to the whip by the same rider from Pieve di Cadore, chased by Andreas Vittone (KTM Protek Elettrosystem) and Filippo Fontana (CS Carabinieri Olympia Vittoria).
Of the three, Gioele Bertolini (Trinx Factory Team) tried to return throughout the race, but once the balance was broken by Filippo Fontana, the race became one-way. The CS Carabinieri driver accelerated very vehemently during the third lap, with the intention of remaining alone in the lead from which to control his opponents from a distance.
Behind him the chase flared up, Gioele Bertolini managed to get back on Andreas Vittone and after a succession of overtakings, Vittone conquered a well-deserved second place confirming a rapidly growing form, for him also the satisfaction of winning the competition dedicated to the under 23s. Third Gioele Bertolini.
The organizers of the Caneva Trophy were also satisfied, with the comment of the President of La Roccia Team, Stefano Armenti: «It was a beautiful day, we received a lot of appreciation from the boys, they had fun on a course that dried out beautifully after the rains of the past few days. For us it is a great satisfaction, La Roccia Team is there and looks forward to the 2024 edition, which promises to be full of novelties".
The situation changes leader jerseys of the Italia Bike Cup Chaoyang designed by Alè, the fifth round of Caneva reserved some surprises with Emanuele Huez who among the under riders overtook Mario Bair, while Elisa Lanfranchi among the juniors ensured with today's victory, the category leader's orange jersey. The situation of the leader jerseys after the Caneva Trophy test: Gabriel Borre, junior male (KTM Protek Elettrosystem); Elisa Lanfranchi (KTM Protek Electrosystem); Tamara Wiedmann, Under23 women (Trek Future Racing); Emanuele Huez, men's Under23 (CS Carabinieri Olympia Vittoria); Chiara Teocchi, Female Elite (KTM Protek Elettrosystem); Filippo Fontana, Elite Male (CS Carabinieri Olympia Vittoria).
For the competitive categories, the appointment will be with the final round in Courmayeur on May 27th with doubled scores.
The Caneva Trophy, on the other hand, will see the youth categories on stage tomorrow, for the third round of the Italia Bike Cup Youth Circuit.
Standings: trevisomtb.it
Programme: larocciateam.it
Information: Italy Bike Cup Chaoyang
