Just before the start of the first test of the internationals of Italy and a great show was expected. The youth competitions of the Juniors will also be very interesting with many foreigners at the start.
In the men's open competition there are many names that can excel, considering that in this period many athletes are not in full shape.
With the number 1 we find Lars Forster, reigning European champion under Team Scott: in Italy he has already won at the Internazionali (how can we forget Montichiari 2017 or San Marino in 2019) and is the man that bookmakers would give as a favorite.
Another expert athlete who will surely be battling in the top positions is Maxime Marotte, French national champion under the Santa Cruz team. Maxime has shown that he is already in good shape with a 4th place in the XCO Chelva and in the technical track of San Zeno could give the paw. Staying in the Santa Cruz house we find Luca Braidot, who has last week took a 6th place in Spain, a race that featured a World Cup start list. Name to watch is Stephane Tempier: Will we see a Rockrider win? The Frenchman has plenty of experience and new mental energies having joined the new UCI Rockrider project.
Among the Italians, present all our best athletes such as Nadir Colledani, growing in shape but not yet at the top, Simone Avondetto, winner last week in Verona MTB International, Daniele Braidot and Gerhard Kerschbaumer, who we hope will be the architect of a great race even if I don't see him ready to excel.
The outsiders for a good finish, even if in the cross country never say never, could be Mirko Tabacchi, Andri Frischknecht, Emanuele Vittone, Adrien Boichis, world champion 2021 Juniores and Gioele Bertolini.
The strangers you don't expect
In the startlist we find 2 interesting names that respond to the name of Leandre Bouchard and Martin Blums: the first Canadian while the second comes from Latvia. Bouchard is multiple XCO national champion and has the top 20 in the world cup, she could be the surprise of the day. Martin Blums won the U2017 World Cup in 23 and in 2021 he finished 22nd at the XCO World Championships in Val di Sole. To keep an eye on.
ELITE OPEN WOMEN
Among the women, with number 1 we find Estonian Janika Loiv, 32-year-old multiple national champion with top 20 in the world cup, but she is not the woman to beat, even if you have to be careful.
Our Italians this year are proving to be super on the ball, hoping for their growth during the season: we are talking about the Santa Cruz duo Martina Berta and Greta Seiwald, able to do well and fight for the victory in theXCO Chelva International and in HC of the Supercup Massi. Also to be included Giada Specia, 2nd last week at Verona MTB International wrestling with the talented Austrian Laura Stigger.
But how can we not forget Eva Lechner? The South Tyrolean is also at the start with the number 3, then Yana Belomoyna, perhaps my favorite N1 for the win, Lotte Koopmans and Emeline Detilleux. We are waiting for Chiara Teocchi, returning from an injury, and the very young Sara Cortinovis, in her 1st year between the Open.
Appointment tomorrow for the reports of the various races.
For all information on race times and the program, see vi we refer to the official website.
STARTLIST FILE
Open Men Download
Men Juniors Download
Open Women Download
Women Juniors Download
