Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) wins the fourth stage of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, ahead of his teammate Juri Zanotti and Andreas Emanuele Vittone (Beltrami TSA).
Source: press release
“At the beginning the race was quite tactical, we were a nice group, then I tried to attack, Juri followed me and we played it out in the final. The course was very demanding and was made even harder by the heat, I'm happy to have won today” commented Simone Avondetto.
The race opened with a first tactical and very controlled lap, with about ten athletes in the lead. At the start of the second lap the situation became more lively, and the selection began: Daniele Braidot (CS Carabinieri Cicli Olympia) suffered a mechanical failure and Emanuele Bocchio Vega (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem) lost contact, while from behind Gioele Bertolini (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem) began to recover. The decisive moment came during the fourth lap, when the Wilier-Vittoria riders increased the pace. Avondetto and Zanotti were therefore left alone in the lead, while Vittone and Bertolini managed to get back on Luca Braidot. In the penultimate lap, Avondetto forced the pace even further, leaving Zanotti behind and flying towards victory. Behind, Vittone managed to detach Bertolini, conquering the third step of the podium.
Filippo Fontana (CS Carabinieri Cicli Olympia), despite being stopped due to injury, maintained the lead in the general classification.
Category U23
Giulio Peruzzo (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem) won at the finish line in Lamosano di Chies d'Alpago, preceding Gabriel Borre (Beltrami TSA) by 37 seconds and Matteo Siffredi (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem) by over a minute.
The race was also lively in the Under 23 category, with a balanced start and a first phase characterised by a four-way fight between Fabio Bassignana (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem), Giulio Peruzzo (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem), Marco Betteo (Team Sogno Veneto) and Matteo Siffredi (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem).
In the second lap it was Bassignana who broke the deadlock, followed by Peruzzo's counterattack in the next lap, who managed to create a gap. Siffredi tried to catch up with his teammate but in the final he paid for his effort and was caught by Borre. Peruzzo managed the advantage he had accumulated until the finish, winning the race.
Marco Betteo (Team Sogno Veneto), fourth at the finish line, defended the leader's jersey.
“My race went very well. Last week I finished school and this allowed me to face the race with more serenity,” explained Peruzzo. “I have always managed to maintain my pace and for me today it is important that I managed to get the victory, especially because it is my first year in the category. The course is very tough and it suits my characteristics, last year I managed to win among the juniors, but repeating myself among the under 23s is much more valuable.”
Internazionali d'Italia Series returns for its final event on Saturday 5 July in Esanatoglia (MC).
MEN'S ELITE RANKING
| 1 | AVONDETTO Simone | WILIER-VITTORIA FACTORY TEAM | 1:19:02 | 60 |
| 2 | ZANOTTI Yuri | WILIER-VITTORIA FACTORY TEAM | 1:19:16 | 40 |
| 3 | VITTONE Andreas Emanuele | BELTRAMI TSA | 1:20:11 | 30 |
| 4 | BERTOLINI Joel | KTM PROTEK ELECTROSYSTEM | 1:21:22 | 25 |
| 5 | BRAIDOT Daniel | CS CARABINIERI – OLYMPIA CYCLES | 1:22:00 | 20 |
| 6 | BRAIDOT Luke | WILIER-VITTORIA FACTORY TEAM | 1:22:23 | 18 |
| 7 | MOUTH VEGA Emanuele | KTM PROTEK ELECTROSYSTEM | 1:22:49 | 16 |
| 8 | PERUZZO Giulio | KTM PROTEK ELECTROSYSTEM | 1:23:21 | 14 |
| 9 | SYNTSOV Anton | 1:23:36 | 12 | |
| 10 | WADS Gabriel | BELTRAMI TSA | 1:23:59 | 10 |
