The leader of the general classification won the third round of the circuit ahead of Filippo Fontana and Daniele Braidot.
Gioele Bertolini shines in the mud. The KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem rider won the queen’s race of the third stage of the Internazionali d’Italia series today, Saturday 4th May, in Nervesa della Battaglia (TV). Bertolini – leader of the general classification – put on a strong performance on the Podere Rive degli Angeli circuit, beating off competition from the likes of Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team XCO), Luca Braidot (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team), Daniele Braidot and Filippo Fontana (CS Carabinieri Cicli Olympia) and Esanatoglia stage winner Cameron Orr (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team Xco).
“I’m very happy with this victory,” said Bertolini shortly after the finish, “first of all I want to thank the team that was close to me during some difficult moments. I feel very good at the moment, so maybe today’s difficult conditions have helped me, the important thing is to maintain this form for the next races, which I will approach with greater confidence after this victory”.
The open men’s race – the highlight of the three-day Internazionali d’Italia in Nervesa della Battaglia – started at 14:45 and was immediately made very difficult by the heavy ground the riders had to deal with. It was no coincidence that the riders accustomed to the muddy tracks of cyclocross soon emerged: already after the first lap a pair was formed with Filippo Fontana (Cs Carabinieri Cicli Olympia) and Gioele Bertolini (Ktm – Protek – Elettrosystem). On the third lap Bertolini managed to break away from his companion and began his solo ride to victory. Behind him, Fontana resisted the comeback of his team-mate Daniele Braidot, who was ahead of his brother Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto, the new Italian Short Track champion and one of the big favourites again today.
Filippo Fontana: “I was quite good, but Gioele is really strong these days and there was nothing I could do. Maybe the only one who could follow him was Daniele (Braidot, ed.), but unfortunately he had problems at the start. I feel comfortable in the mud, so it was a fun race, but it was really tough and it will definitely stay in my legs.
Daniele Braidot “Today went well, I felt I had a good leg. I struggled a little in the first part of the race because I started a little behind, but thanks to the good condition I was able to finish really strong, which gives me confidence for the next appointments”.
With this victory, Bertolini has also managed to increase his lead in the overall standings, which he now leads by 10 points over Filippo Fontana and 35 points over Daniele Braidot.
Everything will be decided in the final race at Chies d’Alpago on 29th June.
Fabio Bassignana (KTM – Protek – Elettrosystem) won the U23 classification ahead of Tommaso Ferri (Zhiraf Pagliaccia) and Martino Zavan (Team Sogno Veneto). The U23 leader’s jersey remains on the shoulders of Matteo Siffredi (Scott Racing Team).
1 BERTOLINI GIOELE M EL 1 KTM – PROTEK – ELETTROSYSTEM ITA 10007946102 01:25:25
2 FONTANA FILIPPO M EL 2 CS CARABINIERI CICLI OLYMPIA ITA 10016518878 01:26:35 00:01:10 7
3 BRAIDOT DANIELE M EL 3 CS CARABINIERI CICLI OLYMPIA ITA 10006444723 01:26:36 00:01:11 7
4 BRAIDOT LUCA M EL SANTA CRUZ ROCKSHOX PRO TEAM ITA 10006120074 01:27:53 00:02:28 7
5 AVONDETTO SIMONE M EL WILIER-VITTORIA FACTORY TEAM XCO ITA 10029925086 01:28:49 00:03:24
