The fourth day of competition (the third in which medals are awarded) of the European MTB Championships in Cheile Grădiștei in Romania greets another Italian on the podium. Junior Giada Martinoli, already a protagonist in Team Realy yesterday, came third in the race dominated by Slovenian Serkezi and put her second personal medal around her neck.
Source: Federciclismo press release
The 18 year old from Cittiglio, already on the podium several times in international competitions this season, succumbed to a wild Marusa Sekezi and her usual opponent, the Swiss Lara Liehner. However, she did well not to become a victim of the Swiss squadron, capable of ranking two other girls behind her in the order of arrival, more than 20 seconds behind her.
The morning's race, marked by good weather and a smoother route, saw the Slovenian Serkezi practically in a race of her own. Liehner was the only one who tried to contain the gap, launching herself in solitary pursuit. Behind her, our Martinoli pedaled with the other Swiss Furrer until the second lap, and then left her to her fate and flew undisturbed towards the podium. At the end of the third lap Serkezi went on to get her second gold medal of these European Championships after the one in the short track. Liehner arrived at 1'36, Martinoli at 2'06”. The placing of the Italians is completed by Giulia Rinaldoni, 12th and Mirtò Mangiaterra, 24th.
Before the girls, the European junior championship was celebrated, with the success of the Dane Nikolaj Hougs, ahead of the Czech Krystof Bazant and the Swede Nils Johansson. Tommaso Bosio is the first of the Italians, eighth. Elia Rial is 15th and Mattia Stenico 16th.
In the afternoon the U23 race was won by the Swiss Finn Treuler ahead of his compatriot Luke Wiedmann and the Frenchman Luca Martin. First of the Italians Elian Paccagnella, ninth at 3'01. Matteo Siffredi came 21st.
JUNIOR RANKING W EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
| 1 | ŠERKEZI Maruša Tereza |  | 1:05:45 | |
| 2 | LIEHNER Lara |  | THÖMUS AKROS – YOUNGSTARS | 1:07:16 |
| 3 | MARTINOLI Jade |  | SCOTT RACING TEAM | 1:07:50 |
| 4 | STÄDLER Sirin | | THÖMUS AKROS – YOUNGSTARS | 1:08:13 |
| 5 | FURRER Muriel | | BIXS PERFORMANCE RACE TEAM | 1:08:53 |
| 6 | TSCHUMI Chloe | | BIKE TEAM SOLOTHURN | 1:09:37 |
| 7 | BRUCHNER Queen |  | 1:09:48 | |
| 8 | GRET Noémie | | 1:09:58 | |
| 9 | HUBER Lina |  | 1:10:15 | |
| 10 | GOTTWALDOVÁ Amálie |  | 1:10:20 |
