Tomorrow, Saturday 22nd March, Argentario (GR) will host the second stage of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, the most prestigious Italian circuit of cross-country MTB.
Source: press release
After a spectacular debut in San Zeno di Montagna, the event arrives in a new location, ready to offer exciting challenges between some of the best mountain bike talents as Marco Aurelio Fontana, Italian champion and bronze medalist at the London Olympics, explains: "This course is new to Internazionali d'Italia and stands out for its fast pace. Even with a lower difference in altitude than other courses, it remains particularly challenging due to the numerous short but intense climbs, which require explosive acceleration to tackle them with the right speed. The climbs are steep and technical, while the riding is made even more demanding by rocky gardens, jumps and passages on logs as well as the need to calculate precise trajectories that make the course a technical and exciting challenge for all categories. If for the elites it promises to be a very hard-fought race, for the juniors it will be a particularly demanding test: the lower average speeds and steep climbs will test their resistance and ability to manage effort. A spectacular track, ready to give great emotions to all participants.”
The women's race will see many young athletes compete, first of all the Canadian Emilly Johnston (Scott-Sram MTB Racing Team), who will have to compete with the Czech Adela Holubova (Rouvy) and with a large group of Italians who demonstrated good condition in San Zeno, including Lucia Bramati (Trinx Factory Team) and Beatrice Fontana (Lee Cougan Banca Prealpi SanBiagio), on the under23 podium last week, and the Aosta Valley native Nicole Pesse (CS Carabinieri Cicli Olympia).
Among the junior women, Giorgia Pellizotti (Trinx Factory Team) will try to defend the Blue Jersey as leader of the general classification from the attacks of Nicole Azzetti (Team Guerrini) and Sabrina Rizzi (Team Sogno Veneto). Among the contenders for the victory are also Elisa Ferri (Team Guerrini) and the Czech Lucie Borankova (Rouvy).
In the junior men's category, the big favorite is Elia Rial (Scott Racing Team), given the absence of the two KTM Protek Elettrosystem riders who dominated the San Zeno stage. However, he will be challenged by a group of very aggressive athletes, including Pietro Cao (Trinx Factory Team), Jacopo Putaggio (FOL MTB Racing Team), and the two athletes from Team Sogno Veneto Filippo Cavezzan and Giovanni Zago.
Below is the complete program of the event which, as per tradition, will see the UCI categories competing on Saturday, while the masters and young riders will battle it out on Sunday:
Saturday March 22
10:00 – Junior Men’s Race
11:45 – Women's Open + Women's Junior Race
14pm – Men’s Open Race
Sunday March 23
09:00 – Master Race
11:00 – M1 Rookies
12:00 – M2 Rookies
13:00 – Women's Youth
14pm – M30 Students
15pm – M45 Students
Argentario is ready to transform into the perfect stage for a weekend of great mountain biking, with exciting challenges and an electrifying atmosphere. Enthusiasts and fans are expected in large numbers to experience one of the most important events in the Italian off-road calendar.
