Source: press release
International podium in the eighth edition of the Val di Fassa Bike-Volvo Cup. The Colombian Leonardo Paez and the Austrian Christina Kollmann literally dominated the Marathon race of the mountain bike granfondo staged today in Moena on a completely renewed and very technical route. .
From the very first kilometers, the top rider of the Bianchi I. Idro team set a high pace for the race, immediately putting the record straight: he was the man to beat. The only ones who attempted to resist his impressive climb to Alpe di Lusia were team mate Tony Longo and Italian Champion Samuele Porro (Silmax X-Bionic). Then, when both pursuers had to slow down due to a puncture, Paez was left alone until the finish line. “I am very happy, my season ends in the best way: thanks to everyone. A great victory in a great race and on a much harder path than the one I had won 10 years ago. Too bad for Samuele and Tony who punctured, ”said Paez.
Great enthusiasm also in the words of Longo, second classified. “There were three of us immediately, but after Samuele I too had a puncture at the bottom of Lusia and despite the great effort to get back on the second climb there was nothing to do: Leonardo was the strongest today. Anyway, I'm happy for him, we managed to score a good team double in an important race which we were particularly keen on ”.
Third place Porro. “Big applause to the organizers who have brought the route to luster. I am happy with my race, I am going through a good period of form, unfortunately I punctured at the beginning of the ascent of Lusia. I knew the race was compromised but I tried to recover anyway. I played third position well and that's okay. "
Martino Fruet, standard bearer of the Carraro Trentino Team, won both in the Classic route, thus repeating the success of last year, and on the timed trial of about 2,5 km from Col de la Chiusa to Malga Roncac, an absolute novelty of this edition of the Val di Fassa Bike-Volvo Cup. A sort of race in the race to allow participants to test themselves on a technical and fast stretch. “This was the longest race of my season, two and a half hours. I only started with the idea of not going into crisis because I knew that the last climb was unforgiving, then seeing my enduro soul I tried to push on the timed single track ”said the athlete.
Christina Kollmann (Fill Proforma) was also in the unrivaled women's Marathon race ahead of the blue Elena Gaddoni (Scapin Soudal) and Valentina Frasisti (Ghost Italia). Excellent victory for Margit Zulian (Fassa Bike) on the Classic: “For me today the satisfaction is double, I was racing at home and I had the cheering on my side. I liked the route very much, the organizers were able to exploit the potential of this territory well. "
“It was a perfect day, from every point of view. The weather conditions allowed the athletes to run their race calmly and I heard many positive comments on the route ”commented the President of Fassa Events ASD Riccardo Franceschetti. “The novelties we have proposed this year have given the race greater quality, making it complete even downhill. A great satisfaction also for the many volunteers who are always busy and who I take the opportunity to thank ".
