Of course, Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) stands out above all others, winning the gold medal in the top category of the entire event, the men's XCO Elite. The Piedmontese had already won the European and world titles in 2022 as an U23, but this achievement can absolutely be considered his definitive consecration in the world elite.
Source: Internazionali d'Italia Series press release
Avondetto won the Italian Short Track Championship in the last stage of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, in Nervesa della Battaglia, while in the Cross Country event he had obtained a cautious 5th place. The Montello races were both muddy and technical, with conditions not too different from those found at the European Championships: did this help him to be immediately ready in Romania?
Avondetto won ahead of Simon Andreassen (Cannondale Factory Racing), who came in 2nd after a last-gasp sprint at the Internazionali d'Italia in Esanatoglia. In Romania, the Dane won the Short Track, while Italy won its first bronze medal with Luca Braidot (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team). The Italian XCO champion, after winning the debut race of the Internazionali in San Zeno di Montagna, was also present in Nervesa della Battaglia where he took 4th place in the Cross Country race.
Women
Among the Elite women, the best of the Italians was Greta Seiwald (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), with an excellent 5th place despite a fall and a mechanical problem, demonstrating character and extraordinary form. Form which in Nervesa della Battaglia allowed her to secure the 2nd step of the podium behind Martina Berta (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team), who instead chose not to be present in Romania to prepare for the next events. 12th place for Giada Specia (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team), who became Italian champion in the Short Track in Nervesa, while Chiara Teocchi (Orbea Factory Team) came 18th at the end of a race made truly difficult by the extreme conditions of rain, cold and mud.
JUNIOR
Italy also won the 2024 European title in the Team Relay ahead of France and Switzerland, with a team made up of Simone Avondetto, Matteo Siffredi, Chiara Teocchi, Giada Martinoli, Valentina Corvi and Mattia Stenico. Mattia Stenico (Team Giorgi AS) himself – winner among the juniors of the last stage of the Internazionali in Nervesa della Battaglia – was the protagonist of an excellent last stage in which he held off the French Elite Titouan Carod, thus guaranteeing the first medal of gold to the Italian representative. The individual race for the athlete from Trentino was less fortunate due to a mechanical problem that penalized him, while he probably could have fought for a place on the podium. The first of the Italians in the junior category was Tommaso Bosio who came 8th and 2nd in Nervesa della Battaglia right behind Stenico.
All that remains is to follow the athletes during the next Cup races waiting to find them - schedules permitting - on the starting line of the last event of the season with Internazionali d'Italia in Chies d'Alpago.
