Source: press release (Antonio Ungaro)
After the excellent results at the European Championships and in the World Cup, the Azzurri of Celestino and Vernassa are preparing for the most important appointment of the season with the aim of repeating themselves. Luca Braidot, Colledani, Zanotti, Berta and Lechner the quintet for Team Relay.
The 6 MTB World Championships will officially start on 2017 September in Cairns, Australia, and will begin, as usual, with the relay or, to put it in international jargon, Team Realy, a specialty that has often seen us on the podium.
The group directed by Mirko Celestino has already reached Kewarra's Paradise Palm a few days ago to complete, in a relaxed assembly, the final preparations before the start.
After his debut in an official XCO competition at the European Championships as a National Team technician, Mirko Celestino looks at this race with moderate optimism: “At the European Championships we are back on the podium with a race that in the end could have given us something more. Now we have the task of repeating ourselves. It won't be easy, but we know this is our race…. I do not hide it, I have a weakness for this test, which has always seen us protagonists. But, as always, we need a bit of luck ”. Chosen by the coach, in his first world championship as coach, the relay members Luca Braidot (Elite), Nadir Colledani (Under23), Jury Zanotti (Junior), Martina Berta (Donna U23) and Eva Lechner (Donna Elite), reconvened in the team national team after the absence of Darfo Boario Terme at the European Championship.
The Italy of Celestino and Vernassa (XCO and DH) therefore has the task of continuing the splendid streak of positive results that are characterizing this 2017. After the junior track world championships it will not be easy to maintain the pace of successes and world titles at which the cycling enthusiasts have become accustomed to it, but the Italian off-road has always proved to be a sector capable of giving at least one medal.
Last year, in Nove Mesto, Marina Berta's bronze arrived in the juniors test, after the same Martina the previous year, in Andorra, had even won gold. Also this year the athlete of the Army Sports Center will be present at the World Championships, but the change of category does not authorize great hopes, even if she has always proved to be among the strongest in the category, at least in Italy. Precisely on the U23 category, men and women, the Azzurri are betting part of their podium chances: “Chiara, Martina, Gioele and Nadir have shown, in the World Cup and at the European Championships, that they have what it takes to compete .. ”Confirms the blue CT.
Recall that Nadir Colledani, not even a week ago, won the World Cup in Valdisole, while Gioele Bertolini graduated, in July, European Champion, right in front of Colledani. In short, we are in the presence of a beautiful pair of aces that authorizes more than one hope. The same goes for Chiara Teocchi (reigning Italian champion) and the aforementioned Martina Berta, two girls who manage to give their best on the occasions that matter.
As for the juniors, Mirko Celestino presents them like this: "They are all in excellent condition and motivated ... they could give us a nice surprise!"
The goal for the Italian coach is to repeat, if not improve, the good things he showed at the 2017 European Championships (we remember him, concluded with 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze). Among the elites, the Azzurri group is certainly experienced and talented: Marco Aurelio Fontana remains our point of reference for charisma and results. For him a season in chiaroscuro, with excellent tests at the beginning and then a few missteps also due to health problems. The world championship will be the right opportunity to give a sign (positive or negative) to his 2017. A different speech for Gherard Kerschbaumer, surprise winner of the Italian title but who did not repeat himself at the European Championships, despite returning home with his neck the bronze of the relay. Gherard is predestined; he has already won the world title among juniors and U23s. A great biker resume. Usually those who come from afar then also take home the rainbow jersey in the higher category ... in the case of the South Tyrolean one only has to ask "when". This could be the right opportunity: starting without the favors of the prediction is an element that calms the standard bearer of Torpado Gabogas. Also keep an eye on Luca Braidot, the best blue in the World Cup in Valdisole, who is enjoying an excellent period of form; to his brother Daniele and Andrea Tiberi. Among women, I forecast a little less open, at least for us, with Eva Lechner and Serena Calvetti.
Here is how the blue technician presents the match: “Great competition as always in the Elite match. Among the women it will be difficult to aim for the podium but we hope for good placings. Among men we certainly have more than one athlete who could do well, hopefully also very well. "
As regards the downhill, we start again from the world title conquered last year by Alessia Missiaggia among the juniors. “Alessia hasn't found continuity this year – said Roberto Vernassa -, something that Beatrice Migliorini, who will be competing among the juniors, has managed instead. Eleonora Farina, among the elite, this season has twice finished in 5th place in the World Cup: winning will be difficult, but the podium is within our reach".
GARE PROGRAM
(in brackets the time in Italy -8 compared to Cairns time)
6 September
15pm (00am): Team Relay
17:00 (9:00): Opening ceremony
September 7th
13:00 (5:00): Women Juniors XCO - Marika Tovo e Giada Specia
15:00 (7:00): XCO Juniores - Edoardo Xillo, Juri Zanotti and Nicola Taffarel
September 8th
14:30 (6:30): Under 23 XCO - Gioele Bertolini and Nadir Colledani
September 9th
10:00 (2:00): Women U23 XCO - Chiara Teocchi and Martina Berta
12:00 (4:00): Elite XCO Women - Eva Lechner and Serena Calvetti
14:00 (6:00): Elite XCO - Daniele Braidot, Luca Braidot, Marco Aurelio Fontana, Andrea Tiberi, Gerhard Kerschbaumer.
September 10th
9:30 (1:30): Women Juniors DH - Beatrice Migliorini
10:00 (2:00): Juniors DH
13:00 (5:00): Elite DH women - Eleonora Farina and Alia Marcellini
14:00 (6:00): Elite DH - Francesco Colombo and Loris Revelli
THE BLUES
XCO / XCR
Berta Martina - Army Sports Center
Bertolini Gioele - Army Sports Center
Braidot Daniele - CS Carabinieri
Braidot Luca - CS Carabinieri
Calvetti Serena - Team Damil - Gt Trevisan
Colledani Nadir - Torpado Gabogas
Marco Aurelio Fountain - Bianchi Countervail
Kerschbaumer Gerhard - Torpado Gabogas
Lechner Eva - Army Sports Center
Specia Giada - ASD Team Velociraptors
Taffarel Nicola - Damil Team - Gt Trevisan
Teocchi Chiara - Bianchi Countervail
Tiberi Andrea - Team Nob Selle Italia
Tovo Marika - Team Rudy Project - Xcr
Xillo Edoardo - National School Assoc. Mtb Oasi Zegna
Zanotti Juri - Velo Club Monte Tamaro
DH
Colombo Francesco - Argentina Bike
Eleonora flour - Gb Rifar Mondraker Asd
Marcellini Alia - Team Cingolani
Migliorini Beatrice - Ms Mondraker Team
Revelli Loris - Argentina Bike
