Women Open in Esanatoglia: Sofie Pedersen wins the duel with Martina Berta

The duel between the Dane of Team Wilier-Pirelli and the Aosta Valley of Team Santa Cruz was resolved in the last lap thanks to the powerful action of the young Scandinavian, able to interpret the Esanatoglia track in the best possible way. With the second place conquered, 38” from the winner, Martina Berta consolidated her leadership in the General Classification in view of the home appointment in La Thuile. Pedersen is confirmed as the best of the U23s.

Source: press release

Third place in Esanatoglia for another Wilier-Pirelli athlete, Giada Specia (+2.08), ahead of the very young Sara Cortinovis (Santa Cruz), fourth at 2'33”, and the more experienced Chiara Teocchi (KTM Protek), fifth at 5'46”.

Pedersen started with high gears right from the first lap, when she created a small group with four athletes with Berta, Sara Cortinovis and Giada Specia and tried another tear at the beginning of the second pass. Shortly thereafter, the Dane pulled away from all her rivals, with only Berta able to contain the gap within 10 seconds. The absolute leader of Internazionali d'Italia Series came back on the following lap and tried a jab uphill, but Pedersen confirmed her solid athlete, going on to win solo thanks to a draw at the top of the first climb of the route.

“I'm super happy, I felt good and I found a good feeling with the course. I extended on the second lap, then launched the decisive attack on the last lap, at the end of the first climb. I knew I could fight for an important placement, but it's never easy to achieve absolute success" commented Pedersen.

“It wasn't my best day – Berta said – from the first lap I didn't have good sensations. Once back on Sofie, I also tried to attack uphill, but when I saw that I risked making a mistake on the downhill due to lack of clarity, I preferred to finish the race at my own pace".

STANDINGS

LANFRANCHI THE STRONGEST AMONG THE JUNIORS

In the Junior women's race, Elisa Lanfranchi (KTM-Protek) took her first victory at the Internazionali d'Italia Series, reinforcing her leadership in the General Classification. The athlete from Bergamo, silver among the Allieve at the 2022 European Championships, began her forcing from the first lap, overcoming the tenacious resistance of Giada Martinoli (Ju Green Asd Gorla Minore), who finished just 17 seconds behind. She completed the top-3 Giulia Rinaldoni (Scott-Libarna) 2'08” behind the winner.

“I am happy to have won, on a very beautiful, hard, demanding but at the same time fun course,” said Elisa Lanfranchi. – “Together with Giada (Martinoli) we started a good duel. I am very satisfied to have managed to bring home this beautiful race”.

STANDINGS