The two leaders got the second win at Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023. The Dutch rider of Buff-Megamo Team sprinted over Tiago Ferreira, while things are getting spicy for the bronze medal, with four riders battling for the third position. In the women’s field, the Italian of Team Cingolani-Specialized padded her GC lead with another success in Fiumalbo over Ilina. Tomorrow, September 7th, the peloton heads to Fanano
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, yet Hans Becking and Tiago Ferreira keep holding the top 2 positions at Appenninica MTB Stage Race 2023. In the third stage held today, September 6th, with 79 km and 2350 m of elevation gain starting and finishing in Fiumalbo, crossing the border with Tuscany for the very first time, the Dutch athlete of Buff-Megamo Team his mark for the second time in this edition, closely chased by the Portuguese of DMT Racing Team.
The pace of the leading duo was once again too high for all other riders, as the race followed a similar pattern to that of the previous days. After a group start with the leading duo, Bart Classens, Lukas Kaufmann and Tim Smeenge, Becking and Ferreira dropped the opponents after the Abetone area, on the Ducale della Foce climb, and arrived together in 3:46:52.
Behind them, the fight for bronze is getting spicy. Bart Classens took today’s third place with a 4:00 gap, followed by Lukas Kaufmann (4th) and Tim Smeenge (5th). In the GC, Becking leads with 2:19 on Ferreira, while there are three riders dreaming of the last step on the podium. Dutch National MTB Marathon champion Smeenge currently sits in third place (25:44): fellow Dutchman Bart Classens is only 4” behind, while Lukas Kaufmann trails by less than 5 minutes.
“The race is hard and very technical, but I’m in the position I was hoping to be halfway through the week. We are both there on the same level, it will be a matter of details, and a lot can still happen before things are done and dusted. I can’t tell what the decisive moment will be, we might even get to the last stage with this gap and then see in the last kilometers”, argued Becking at the finish line.
DEBORA PIANA TAKES OFF IN THE WOMEN’S CATEGORY
Second consecutive win for Debora Piana of Team Cingolani-Specialized. The Italian brought home both stages with finish line in Fiumalbo on September 5th and 6th, first taking the leader jersey and then securing it with a solid 36:32 gap on the first chaser, Russian Kristina Ilina.
In the third stage, Piana showed great shape and immediately got a little advantage on Ilina since the start, but the DMT Racing Team rider got back and took the lead at about the first Feed Zone (km 29). However, the Italian athlete rode her way back in the leading position and didn’t look back, finishing in 4:38:56. Ilina arrived second with 10:22 gap, while Swiss athlete Nina Brenn, third place in each stage and in the GC, ended her day 26:30 behind Piana.
“It’s great to have confirmed yesterday’s win in the Queen Stage with another strong performance. I probably could have earned even more time on the second place, but I’m still really happy with my day. I’m looking forward to having more fun in the upcoming days”, said Piana at the end.
FROM FIUMALBO TO FANANO: IT’S TIME FOR THE CIMONE CHALLENGE
Stage 4 on September 7th will take the peloton from Fiumalbo to Fanano through 62 km and 2350 m of elevation gain. The “Cimone Challenge” will take place almost entirely in the Mount Cimone Ski area, with a first ascent towards Pian Cavallaro, before the one leading to Sestola and Serre Pass. The finish line is in the heart of Fanano, right after the Fellicarolo climb.
Fiumalbo (Italy), September 6th, 2023
