Source: press release
The 25th Italian Championship took place today in Sestola Downhill. A truly exciting event that will certainly be remembered in the register of Italian DH history, where Sestola has already written his name linked to the Italian DH Championship 3 times.
The warm and sunny weather was the best we could ask for. The short and very demanding track, designed and built by Pippo Marani, made the race extremely exciting and unpredictable, while the dry and dusty ground accentuated the difficulties and tension in the drivers. The very small gaps required riders to perform a run without errors, especially in the very technical initial part, as every small mistake or uncertainty would have cost several positions in the standings.
Francesco Colombo (AB Devinci Italy) finally scores the perfect race that earned him the first position after 3 second places in each of the 3 rounds of the Gravitalia National Circuit, and he does so in the most important race of the season.
The young Ligurian is the new Italian Champion Downhill 2015 and celebrates on the overall podium together with two teammates. Gianluca Vernassa closes in second position just 33 from the first position, while Loris Revelli at only 17 years old climbs on the third step of the podium. Francesco and Gianluca also make up the podium in the Under23 category together with Mario Milani (Ancillotti Doganaccia) who finishes in third position.
Loris is also confirmed as Italian Champion of the Junior category, with a clear gap on his pursuers Tommaso Francardo (Pedroni Cycles Racing) and Lorenzo Sorrentino (Ancillotti Doganaccia).
Alan Beggin (360 Degrees) retains the title of Italian Champion in the Elite category and takes home his 13th tricolor jersey, out of 13 Italian Championships played. In second position Francesco Petrucci (Team Cingolani), while Lorenzo Suding (Exceptio Sport Commençal) closes in third position due to a fall.
Andrea Bianciotto (Korax Lapierre Dirty) confirms his period of form and becomes Italian Champion in the Junior category, with a time that earned him an excellent 10th place overall. Second position for Giacomo Masiero (Team 3Stars) and third for Enrico Faggioli (Ancillotti Doganaccia).
In the Beginners category, among the very young promises of the Italian DH, Kevin Bettinzoli (Scout NukeProof) is affirmed. Second position for Davide Tonolo (Team 3Stars), Newcomer in the first year, while the third position is for Christian Pezzetti Tonion (The NukeProof Cyclist).
After a qualifying heat that saw the 3 protagonists of the Elite Women category close with minimal gaps, today's final had a very different ending, with Alia Marcellini (GB Rifar Racing Team) out of action due to a disastrous fall. Veronika Widmann (ABC Egna Neumarkt) thus conquers her first title of Italian Champion, while Eleonora Farina (Mangusta Bike Team), also a victim of a fall, has to settle for a second position. Vera Colombi (Le Marmotte Loreto) is instead the new Italian Junior Champion.
In the women's youth categories Lelia Tasso (Le Marmotte Loreto) is the Italian Beginners Champion while Beatrice Migliorini (FRM Young Factory Team), daughter of the DH veteran Stefano Migliorini, is the Italian Student Champion.
Sara Mologni (Scout NukeProof) confirms herself as the fastest of the Amateurs Women and keeps the tricolor jersey. Second position for Denise Tremul (Gravity Project), then Gloria Salvatori (Due Ruote Forlì) and Mary Perin (Ancillotti Doganaccia).
Paolo Alleva (Scout NukeProof) conquers the absolute in the Men Amateurs category, confirming himself as Italian Master 3 Champion and thus wearing the tricolor jersey for the 11th time in his career.
In the Elite Sport category, Luca Fusani (GS ProM) conquered the Italian title, while Fabrizio Dragoni (Alessi Racing) was the new Italian Master 1 Champion. Simone Fabbri (Tartana Bike) won the Italian Master 2 title. Danilo Piergiovanni of the team Bike Center Cimone, organizer of the event, celebrates the victory of the Master 4 Italian Champion title at home, while Gian Paolo Mazzoni (Scout NukeProof), at his 24th Italian Championship Downhill, conquers the Italian jersey of the Master 5 category. Great emotion for Tommaso Lumini (Team Giletti) who is crowned Master 6 Italian Champion.
Final Categories Ranking - Italian DH Championship 2015 - Sestola
Final Absolute Ranking - Italian DH 2015 Championship - Sestola
A warm greeting to our friend Walter Belli from all over the Italian DH world. Stay Strong Walter 7!
The next appointment with the national DH is in Bormio (SO) on 26/27 September for Round # 4 of the Gravitalia National Circuit.
