Saturday's victory was the second at the Villabassa MTB Marathon for the Lombardy biker, who also triumphed in 2022. At his first experience in Villabassa, the Italian champion and European MTB Marathon vice-champion Andrea Siffredi won thanks to a beautiful final sprint.
Source: press release
More than 2500 bikers from 38 countries gathered in the center of Villabassa early Saturday morning and took on the three routes of the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike. Thanks to a day with perfect outdoor conditions for cycling, after the start, the bikers put on a 30-minute ride.a epic edition in the 3 Zinnen Dolomites region, perfectly in line with the event motto “Explore the legend”.
Starting in the Italian national jersey he won last Sunday in Borno, in the province of Brescia, Siffredi won the men's elite race (4:43:06:2) by just one-tenth of a second. In a stunning sprint finish, the 26-year-old beat compatriot Diego Rosa, his first opponent in the entire 123-kilometer long course. The two were protagonists of a race that they rode in the leading group from start to finish.
After the start, Rosa and Siffredi set off with 16 other bikers. Over the subsequent kilometers uphill toward Croda Rossa, the lead group gradually thinned out. Thus, on the stretch between Monte Baranci and Carbonin, there were seven cyclists in the lead group: in addition to Siffredi and Rosa, the group also included Davide Foccoli, Alessio Agostinelli, Nicola Taffarel, Stefano Goria, and Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo. The climb to Prato Piazza, however, made the difference. Siffredi and Rosa broke away from the rest of the group and reached the finish line with a nearly 52-second lead over third-place Stefano Goria. Colombian Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo finished fourth, with Nicola Taffarel fifth.
Claudia Peretti wins a very hard-fought race
An hour earlier, the finish line in Piazza Von Kurz in Villabassa had declared Claudia Peretti the winner of the women's elite race. The final kilometers proved decisive for the 27-year-old from Lombardy's triumph, her second in Villabassa after the one she achieved in the 27th edition. Up to Prato Piazza (kilometer 67), the winner rode alongside Chiara Gualandi from Emilia. On the subsequent descent, Peretti, who already finished third at the 2022 and 2 MTB Marathon European Championships, gained precious seconds and crossed the finish line first (2024:3:48). Gualandi finished 43 seconds later and took second place.
From the outset, the two bikers had taken the lead, along with Giorgia Marchet of Feltre, closely followed by Agnes Tschurtschenthaler of Pustertal and Greta Recchia of Lazio. Between Dobbiaco and Carbonin, Tschurtschenthaler and Recchia closed in on the leading trio, but were unable to keep pace with Peretti and Gualandi, who also overtook Marchet. The Venetian held off her closest pursuers and crossed the finish line 1:40 behind the winner. Recchia, however, emerged victorious in the battle for fourth place, while Tschurtschenthaler of Alto Adige finished fifth.
Allodi has no rivals in the medium course race
The victory in the men's 85-kilometer race went to Lorenzo Allodi. In the early stages of the race, the Parma-born rider rode with the leading group of the 123-kilometer race. When the routes split, he opted for the medium route, where he had no rivals. The 2001-born Emilian crossed the finish line in 3:012:10, ten minutes ahead of second-place Davide Mancin Majoni. The third finisher was Austrian Daniel Webhofer.
In the race on the classic route (60km/1570 m D) of the Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike, however, the fastest were the South Tyroleans Armin Dalvai (Anterivo/2h18'24”0), Italian and European master champion, and Lena Kahn (Dobbiaco/3h01”27”4).
Südtirol Dolomiti Superbike Results, July 12, 7
Men's Elite (123 km)
1. Andrea Siffredi ITA/Scott Racing 4h43'06”2
2. Diego Rosa ITA/ FOL MTB Racing Team 4h43'06”3
3. Stefano Goria ITA/Scott Racing Team 4h43'57”9
4. Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo COL/ Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team 4h45'32”7
5. Nicola Taffarel ITA/Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team 4h47'17”1
Women's Elite (85 km)
1. Claudia Peretti ITA/Olympia Factory Team 3h48'43”
2. Chiara Gualandi ITA/Soudal Leecougan International Team 3h49'26”0
3. Giorgia Marchet ITA/KTM Protek Elettrosystem 3h50'23”6
4. Greta Recchia ITA/Piraz Coaching MTB Academy 3h54'18”7
5. Agnes Tschurtschenthaler ITA/Team Cingolani-Specialized 3h54'22”5
The full results: https://www.datasport.com/live/ranking/?racenr=27301
