Daniele Braidot (CS Carabinieri Cicli Olympia) wins the final stage of the Internazionali d'Italia Series in Esanatoglia and, with it, the leadership of the general classification. The athlete from Friuli crosses the finish line alone, with a lead of 1'15” over Emanuele Bocchio Vega (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem). Another representative of the Carabinieri team, Emanuele Huez, completes the podium, third at 1'37”.
Source: press release
“Today went well, I started off strong, I got into my rhythm and I’m very happy with my condition. Now we have two more very important events ahead of us and I want to do well there too,” explained Daniele Braidot, stage winner and new leader of the general classification. “Winning the Internazionali d’Italia Series jersey this time is a little less pleasant than the previous one, because I’m sorry to have taken it away from Filippo (Fontana). It went like this, but he’s young and will certainly have other opportunities to make up for it.”
From the first lap, Braidot forced the pace, immediately creating a significant gap, with Bocchio Vega and Huez engaged in the chase. The situation remained stable for most of the race, despite the attempt to come back by Gioele Bertolini (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem). In the central stages, the Argentine Augustin Duran (Specialized DMT) managed to overtake Bertolini, who in the final stages was also overtaken by Peruzzo (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem) and Capoia (BCL Team).
Category U23: Peruzzo dominates and wins the stage, Betteo keeps the jersey
Among the U23s, Gabriel Borre (Beltrami TSA) and Giulio Peruzzo (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem) set the pace in the early stages of the race, while the leader of the general classification, Marco Betteo (Team Sogno Veneto), was forced to chase. As the laps went by, Peruzzo took the lead, first detaching Betteo and then Borre. In the final part, the Piedmontese consolidated his advantage, crossing the finish line with a wide margin. Betteo still managed to overtake Borre, thus securing the podium of the day and keeping the leader's jersey of the general U23 classification.
“I have to say that in these last three weeks my condition has been really great. I feel very good and this gives me hope for the Italian Championship that will take place in two weeks,” said a satisfied Giulio Peruzzo. “I started badly, I lost time at the beginning due to a problem with a pedal, but then I managed the race well. I am happy to have won among the U23s, and to also get on the open podium is a great satisfaction.”
The Esanatoglia stage, the fifth and final of one of the most important Cross Country circuits in Italy, has proven to be a reference event for both the Marche and national off-road cycling, as confirmed by Simone Mannelli, president of the Marche FCI Committee: “The Internazionali d'Italia Series stage in Esanatoglia represents the event of the year for off-road cycling, for our committee. It is one of the most important international competitions that take place in our region,” he explains. “The Marche is a small region in terms of population, but with a great capacity for hospitality and collaboration in the organization of world-class events like this. It is a truly very important event. The strength of this circuit is that it is permanent: an aspect that, in my opinion, represents the future of cycling, both off-road and on-road. Having such a well-structured facility, now further expanded and enriched by a pump track, is an added value of enormous importance, which fits perfectly with the prestige of this race.”
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