The Wilier 7C Force athlete led the race from the early kilometers, building his success on the Forcella Mendana climb. Andrea Righettini repeated last year’s second place, third spot for Nicola Risatti. Vittoria Pietrovito dominated the women’s race
An open race was expected, and the eve’s predictions were not disappointed. On Saturday, July 30th, the 2022 edition of Valsugana Wild Ride was won by Marco Rebagliati (Wilier 7C Force), who took the lead from the beginning and went on to defend his position in the final from the comeback of Andrea Righettini (Olympia Factory Team), who did a late charge by exploiting his superior descending skills.
Among women, Vittoria Pietrovito (OMAP Cicli Andreis) dominated from start to finish, strengthening her lead in the Trentino MTB Marathon series. Second place for Camilla Marinelli, with Lorena Zocca in third.
MEN’S MARATHON: REBAGLIATI PACED TO VICTORY
Valsugana and the municipalities crossed by the route (Telve, Telve di Sopra, Torcegno and Carzano) provided the beautiful background to the MTB marathon show, showing the beauty of the landscapes and the technical trails of the 62.3 km and 2950 meters of elevation gain of marathon route in a beautiful sunny day. After the start in Telve, twelve athletes took the lead in the race.
In the second part of the ascent towards Coston di Ciste, Rebagliati’s forcing thinned out the leading group. However, the decisive attack by the Wilier 7C Force athlete came on the second climb towards Forcella Mendana where he crossed the summit with an advantage of over three minutes on Righettini and six minutes on Nicola Risatti (ASD Chero Group Team Sfrenati).
On the following downhill towards Telve, Rebagliati rode in control, while Righettini forced the pace to reduce the gap. The advantage built on the ascent towards Forcella Mendana was enough for the athlete of the Wilier 7C Force, who finished on the finish line in Piazza Maggiore in 3:16:48, only 17 seconds ahead of Andrea Righettini. Nicola Risatti took the third step of the podium, with a gap of 7:19 to the winner.
“A small group took the lead on the initial asphalt section, when the offroad began I decided to accelerate to try and drop Righettini, whose ability on descent is well known. In the end, everything worked out, and I won. It’s a beautiful race, very technical, and I was impressed by the area and the excellent organisation”, explained the winner, Marco Rebagliati.
WOMEN’S MARATHON, PIETROVITO ENJOYS SOLO FEAT
The women’s race was a closed contest already from a long way to go. After 12.5 kilometers, on the first ride to Malga Pozza, Vittoria Pietrovito already had a four-minute advantage over Lorena Zocca (SC Barbieri), then slowed down by a puncture, and over Camilla Marinelli (ASD Bike and Fun Team).
As the kilometers passed, the gap grew until the finish line in Telve, where the athlete of OMAP Cicli Andreis finished in 4:17:53 with an advantage of 37:30 over Marinelli. Third place for Lorenza Zocca at 1:14:56.
“From the first kilometers, I already felt that I was in a good position, I gained a solid gap over the rivals and managed to keep it for the entire route. There are two more stages left of the Trentino MTB Marathon Series, but I feel like I am now in the driving seat”, said Vittoria Pietrovito after the race.
Valsugana Wild Ride
SUKHOPALOVA AND BIAGI WINNERS OF THE CLASSIC RACE
On the Classic course, the odds were confirmed among the women: Mariia Sukhopalova (Carbonhubo CMQ) took a solo victory with a 2:06:35 time. On the 31.8 kilometers, with 1280 meters of elevation gain, the talented Ukrainian athlete left no chance to her opponents, who arrived at the finish line in Telve with significant gaps: Francesca Achillea (Team Spacebikes) was second at 11:31, while Francesca Ravazzolo (Stefanelli Cicli Mestrino) took the third step of the podium with a 40:41 gap.
Lorenzo Biagi (ASD Pedale Fidentino) won in the Men’s category, leading from the start and concluding his effort in 1:46:33. Second place for Daniel Vicenzi (ASD Chero Group Team Sfrenati) at 1:45 and third step of the podium for Franco Pesavento (Granciclismo) with a 2:19 gap.
The GS Lagorai Bike organizers voiced their satisfaction at the end of the day, both for the participation of about 300 athletes, and the positive feedback by the athletes in terms of technical content and appreciation for the beauty of the Valsugana landscapes and MTB courses.
“The athletes and fellow insiders have appreciated this first edition of the new Valsugana Wild Ride. This shall be the foundation to grow further and more ambitiously in the coming years”, said Enrico D’Aquilio, the President of GS Lagorai Bike.
Telve (Italy), 30 July, 2022
