Source: press release
The Italian signs the Bianchi Countervail double with Stephane Tempier and returns as leader of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, the Norwegian brings her successes to six at the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race.
A course with the characteristics of that of the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race always divides the opinions of the athletes. There are those who love it, and get excited on the hairpin bends of the Nightingale climb, and those who know they have to face it in defense, and hope to get excited about the roots of the technical descent towards Nalles. On one thing, however, they all agree: in Nalles you don't win by chance. It takes strength, fund, great condition, and also a good dose of head and tactics.
All things that Marco Aurelio Fontana (Bianchi Countervail) and Gunn-Rita Dahle (Team Merida Gunn-Rita) did not miss, who wrote their names in the 17th edition of the international race in Nalles, the spectacular fourth round of Internazionali d'Italia Series. And it is not the first time, for both: Fontana already imposed itself in 2012, the Norwegian even on five other occasions. It is therefore the most anticipated champions who deserve the ovation of the many fans who arrived in South Tyrol to enjoy the great show of Mountain Bike, on a wonderful day also from a meteorological point of view.
The balance of the day is all in the satisfied smile of Florian Pallweber, president of Sunshine Racers ASV Nals: a successful event in the best possible way, and a party atmosphere felt by the over 750 athletes who took off in the various categories.
FONTANA + TEMPIER: CELESTIAL PARTY
They were announced among the favorites on the eve, and finished in parade at the finish line of the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race. Marco Aurelio Fontana and Stephane Tempier make Team Bianchi Countervail of Team Manager Massimo Ghirotto rejoice, giving themselves a double in style in Nalles. But do not deceive the result: the race was anything but a celestial monologue, and only in the last corners did Tempier manage to win the resistance of Florian Vogel (Focus XC), who had to settle for third place after another race of the highest level.
Very fast start and with many athletes vying for the top positions: at the passage of the second lap ten athletes are enclosed in just over half a minute, with Mirko Tabacchi (CS Carabinieri) and Andrea Tiberi (NOB Selle Italia) alternating in command. Halfway through the race comes the extension of the duo Fontana - Vogel, while behind them a surprising Andrea Righettini (KTM - Protek - Dama) stands out, for a long time in third position in a few seconds. However, Fontana manages to take advantage of the more technical sections to open a small gap on Vogel, while behind the leaders Stephane Tempier and Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Torpado - Gabogas) recover from arrogance after a slow start.
On the last lap Fontana manages to control the pursuit of Vogel, while Tempier completes his comeback by overtaking Vogel, and reaching his teammate just in view of the final banner. Fourth place of value for Righettini, in front of the enfant du pays Kerschbaumer (Torpado-Gabogas), who sends encouraging signals to the delight of the home fans. Completing the top-10 are Daniele Braidot (CS Carabinieri), Andrea Tiberi, Mirko Tabacchi, Marcel Guerrini (Focus XC) and Maximilian Foidl (Bike Team Kirchberg). Just out of 10 Nadir Colledani (Torpado-Gabogas), eleventh but still leader of the general among the Under 23s.
Marco Aurelio Fontana takes back the leader's jersey of the Men's Open classification: he has 113 points, 13 more than Tempier, 35 on Marotte and 36 on Vogel. Courmayeur's double score leaves the games open, but the blue jersey of the Internazionali d'Italia Series seems like a bargain among the men in light blue.
OPEN WOMEN, IT'S ALWAYS GUNN-RITA
There are six. Despite advancing age, Nalles remains the realm of the eternal Gunn-Rita Dahle (Team Merida Gunn-Rita). The Norwegian manages to win at the end of five wonderful laps, and a close fight with Linda Indergand (Focus XC), who after the domination of Montichiari offered another performance to be framed.
The Dahle takes off immediately after the start, and it is immediately clear that it will be a duel between two. In fact, only the Indergand manages to contain the delay in the order of thirty seconds, while the other contenders quickly parade over two minutes. The duel takes place in the two most characteristic sections of the Nalles circuit: the Norwegian takes advantage of her cross-country skills on the ascent, while the Swiss shows great brilliance on the descent. In the last lap, the Indergand goes up again, taking just 20 seconds to the top of the Nightingale climb: a descent to the limit, however, allows the Norwegian to keep the margin and establish herself in the place she loves (reciprocated).
The fight for third place is also exciting: the expert Lisi Osl (Ghost Factory Racing) has the best of a few seconds on a splendid Chiara Teocchi (Bianchi Countervail) before Under 23 and increasingly at ease in comparison with the greats. Only fifth Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools), who had won in Nalles in the past, ahead of Serena Calvetti (Damil-GT Trevisan), who thus manages to keep the top of the general classification for only three lengths on Chiara Teocchi, who however recovers the symbol of primacy among the Under 23s.
ZANOTTI AND TOVO ARE CONFIRMED AMONG THE JUNIORS
After Montichiari, Juri Zanotti (Velo Club Monte Tamaro) was the protagonist in Nalles of a new winning ride in the Junior Men category. Starting with the red jersey as leader of the general classification of the category, Zanotti passed in first position at all the passes over the finish line, with only Filippo Fontana (Gottardo Giochi Caneva) able to hold his own until the end of the first lap, and Nicola Taffarel (Damil-GT Trevisan), author of a regular race, in third position. The advantage of the red jersey increased lap after lap, but when the positions seemed consolidated, an unfortunate puncture deprived Fontana of a well-deserved podium: place of honor therefore for Taffarel, and third place for Alberto Brancati.
Consolidated lead in the standings for Zanotti, as well as for Marika Tovo (Rudy Project-XCR), who dominates the rivals for all three laps scheduled for the Junior Women category. Her advantage at the finish line over the first pursuer is 1.51, Giada Specia (Team Velociraptor), while the third place goes to Francesca Baroni (Melavì Focus Bike) with a delay of 2.33. Tovo rises to 100 points in the standings, and boasts an important advantage of 23 points over Baroni: the double score of Courmayeur can, however, still mix the cards in view of the final success.
The day opened with the competitions of the Beginners and Students categories, with the successes of Ivan Franzini (Beginners Men 1st Year), Filippo Agostinacchio (Beginners Men 2nd Year), Sophie Auer (Beginners Women 1st Year), Sara Marenghi (2nd Year Women Beginners), Luke Moir (1st Year Men Students), Andreas Emanuele Vittone (2nd Year Men Students), Sylvie Truc (1st Year Women Students) and Letizia Motalli (2nd Year Women Students). Of particular note is the success of Luke Moir, a fourteen year old who even came from South Africa: it is the first victory of an African athlete at the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race.
COMMENTS
Marco Aurelio Fontana (Bianchi Countervail): “Finally I am back to win in Nalles: after a couple of races affected by problems, this time everything went really well. The pairing with Stephane shows that we are going strong, and that we are among the strongest teams - as the result of Chiara Teocchi also shows. Today I won on my legs, because nothing is invented on this track, but also on my head: I started checking, I managed on the long climb, less suited to my characteristics, and instead I took the lunge on the technical part and downhill . We have also regained the leader's jersey: we want to keep it at Bianchi Countervail again this year. "
Stephane Tempier (Bianchi Countervail): “It was a good race, made very tough even by the heat. I went on a crescendo: I started slow, I don't know why, then with the passing of the laps I got better, and I regained positions until the arrival in the parade with Marco. The condition continues to improve, I hope that we can continue to take away satisfaction in the next rounds. "
Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Torpado-Gabogas): “I'm happy with my race and how my legs are turning. At the start I was conditioned by a fall in front of me, I found myself around 30th position and I had to recover to get back in front. It was a great race, made special also by a wonderful audience. When will the home win? I don't know, but sooner or later it comes ... "
Gunn-Rita Dahle (Team Merida Gunn-Rita): “Winning here is always great, and always very hard. It was a really demanding race, and in which I had to give my best to keep up with Linda, who showed excellent condition last week. I arrived here more prepared than in Montichiari, having spent the last few days here in Nalles, but I had to push myself beyond my limit in the last descent to be able to contain the: downhill the Swiss is certainly stronger than me, and in the last dive I had to go a little beyond my limit to be able to bring this success home. "
Linda Indergand (Focus XC): “It was a great race, on a fascinating track even if less suitable for me than Montichiari. At the start I tried to keep up with Gunn-Rita, but I couldn't. Later I found my rhythm and I was able to get closer. The second place today is a good result. "
Elisabeth Osl (Ghost Factory Racing): “Today was very tough, also because of the heat, but I like this track precisely because it pushes you to the limit, maybe even a little further. I started at a controlled pace to try to come out at a distance, and I managed to bring home a good result. "
