After Capoliveri it will still be a great challenge at the Internazionali d'Italia Series between the Brazilian and the Olympic Champion, but on Saturday at the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race there are also the World Champion Sarrou and the home idol Kerschbaumer.
Source: press release
A record-breaking edition of the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race will take place in Nalles on Saturday, April 10. The top 10 in the UCI men's world ranking are expected to take part, along with a host of continental, world and Olympic titles that would rival the world's biggest cross-country stages.
Up for grabs is the twentieth edition of the decana of the Italian MTB classics, valid as the third stage of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, and many UCI points, as the South Tyrolean event organized by the ASD Sunshine Racers Nals has confirmed its status as an HC event.
Less than a week from the duel in the gun cotton of Capoliveri Legend XCO, Henrique Avancini (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Nino Schurter (SCOTT-SRAM) will return to face each other also in Nalles. The Swiss Olympic Champion is not the type for second places: together with teammates Lars Forster (winner in Andora) and Andri Frischknecht he will try to return to the top step of the podium for what would be the first success of the season. For his part, Avancini will be accompanied this time by the other Cannondale riders Simon Andreassen, Alan Hatherly and Manuel Fumic. "I started the season in the best possible way in Capoliveri, but in Nalles it will be even more difficult: the level is even higher". Avancini knows exactly what awaits him in South Tyrol.
In Capoliveri behind the duelists came Maxime Marotte (Santa Cruz-FSA) who in South Tyrol will wear the jersey of the leaders of the Internazionali d'Italia Series; with him there will also be the Italian Champion Luca Braidot, who last time in Nalles finished in third place.
After taking part in the Andora Race Cup, the World Champion Jordan Sarrou and the local idol Gerhard Kerschbaumer will return to the competition fields of the Internazionali d'Italia Series. Both Team Specialized riders are looking for the first important signs of a season that is now in full swing. For Kerschbaumer there will also be an additional motivation: to win the first victory among the Elite in the home race. “Winning in Nalles would be special: this year there won't be my people on the track but I hope to give South Tyrol and the whole of Italy great satisfaction in this difficult moment”.
The European silver Titouan Carod (Absolute Absalon), the young Vlad Dascalu (Trek-Pirelli) and the insidious trio of Team KMC Orbea led by the transalpine Victor Koretzky, second to Andora, but who can also count on Milan Vader, also promise sparks. and Thomas Litscher. The winners of the 2018 and 2019 editions, respectively Mathias Flückiger (Thömus RN Team) and Stephane Tempier (Trek Factory), do not seem in a position to be able to fight for a new affirmation, but it would be a mistake to underestimate their qualities of resistance to effort, exalted from the hardness of the path of Nalles as usual characterized by the Ascent of the Nightingale.
Program divided over two days of competitions for the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race. The Internazionali d'Italia Series competitions are scheduled for Saturday 10 April (the men's UCI Junior Series competition at 9.00 am, the UCI Junior Series and Open women's competitions at 11.00 am and the Men's Open competition at 13.00 pm). Sunday 11 April will be the turn of the youth competitions (Women Beginners and Students at 9.00, Men Beginners 1st year at 10.00, Men Beginners 2nd year at 11.00, Men Students 1st year at 12.00 and Students 2nd year at 13.00).
