After having conquered the inaugural stage of Andora twelve months ago, and having imposed himself in two other stages of Internazionali d'Italia Series in the past years, Lars Forster (Scott-SRAM) could only play the favorite in the debut of Sperane XCO pine forest a San Zeno di Montagna, Sunday 6 March.
Source: press release
The Swiss fully respected the predictions, leading the race continuously from the second lap (out of seven) on the Monte Baldo track, particularly appreciated by all the athletes competing. To give him a hard time, especially in the first rounds, was a brilliant Maxime Marotte (SantaCruz-FSA), the only one able to keep up with the Swiss until a puncture that forced him to lose a minute, and which nevertheless did not prevent him from authoritatively climbing up to third place (+ 0.53).
"I love opening the season in Italy, and I have to say that competing in the Internazionali d'Italia Series is good for me, since it's already my fourth success," commented Forster. "Here in San Zeno we found a beautiful and challenging track, too bad for Max's puncture, who was going really fast: it would have been a good battle." For the Swiss also the satisfaction of the leader's jersey of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, in view of the departure for South Africa where he will take part in the ABSA Cape Epic paired with Nino Schurter.
Another athlete from the SantaCruz-FSA Team entered second place on the podium of San Zeno, Luke Braidot (+ 0.46), clearly the strongest of the Italians in this debut of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, and finally accompanied by the good luck that has often been alien to him in Italian races.
"I'm very happy with this result, I think I did my best because holding up to Forster today was really tough," the words of Luca Braidot. “In the Italian races I was often stopped by technical or physical problems, which is also why today I rode with particular attention to bring home a valuable result. I want to congratulate the organizers of this new race for designing a track from cross country real, challenging and fun to drive: it will be a pleasure to come back here in the next few years.”
Also noteworthy is the beautiful fourth place of Adrien Boichis (Trinity Racing Team), reigning world champion among the Juniors and at the first head-to-head outings with the greats, and the surprise of the British Cameron Orr in fifth place.
Italy is still among the top 10 with Philip Fontana (Carabinieri), sixth, Daniel Braidot (Carabinieri), eighth, e Joel Bertolini (Trinx Factory Racing), tenth. On the other hand, the proof of is opaque Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Team Specialized), only seventeenth and never competing for the positions that matter.
ORDER OF ARRIVAL
- Lars Forster (Scott Sram MTB Racing)
- Luca Braidot (Santa Cruz FSA)
- Maxime Marotte (Santa Cruz FSA)
- Adrien Boichis (Trinity Racing, 1st U23)
- Cameron Orr (Great Britain)
