After losing the Blue-Barbieri PNK Jersey yesterday, Vincenzo Saitta takes the stage win and returns to the top of the overall standings. Bad luck for Chiarini, whose chain dropped twice in the finale when victory was within his grasp. Among the women, Steinburg pulls further clear of Bakker and tightens her grip on the race
The script for Stage 3 of the Appenninica MTB Stage Race was already written: short, explosive and full of plot twists. That is exactly what unfolded across the 38 km and 1,500 metres of elevation of the Monte Cimone Challenge, a loop around Riolunato held on Wednesday, June 24. Particularly in the men’s race, a succession of dramatic twists completely reshuffled the overall standings.
It seemed everything was set for Riccardo Chiarini, but two chain drops in the final kilometres snatched the victory away from him. The winner was Vincenzo Saitta, as fortune gave back what it had taken away the day before. The Sicilian rider claimed the stage and got back the Barbieri PNK leader’s jersey and extended his advantage over his rivals.
Among the women, Greete Steinburg made her move. Having pulled on the leader’s jersey yesterday, the Estonian took her first stage win of this edition, increasing her margin over Lola Bakker. Mara Parisi remains in contention, sitting third in the overall standings.
Short as it was, Stage 3 shuffled the pack. At the midpoint of race week the race remains wide open, but the feeling is that tomorrow’s Mountain Queen Stage, Thursday, could be the true watershed moment for the final victory.
BAD LUCK STOPS CHIARINI, SAITTA TAKES STAGE AND JERSEY
The defining figure of Stage 3 was Riccardo Chiarini. The experienced Italian biker attacked solo after just 5 km, in the village of Pievepelago, leaving everyone behind. At the first feed zone at km 15, his advantage had already grown to a minute and a half over Marek Sülzle and Vincenzo Saitta, with Emanuele Spica, Hans Becking and Luca Cacchi a little further back.
On the subsequent climb to 1,840 metres above sea level at Monte Cimone, the gap shrank to nothing – but a relentless Chiarini launched himself into the descent and again managed to shake off his pursuers.
Behind him, just before the second feed zone at km 25, Spica and Becking both suffered punctures. The Italian found support from his team car to change the wheel; the Dutchman had to rely on neutral service, managing only to limit the damage. Meanwhile, Saitta and Sülzle continued their chase of Chiarini.
On the treacherous descent back into Riolunato, Sülzle lost ground to Saitta, who caught and passed Chiarini – struck by two chain drops in the final kilometres. Victory slipped away from him in the worst possible fashion, forced to finish 39 seconds behind Saitta, who crossed the line in 1:47:08. Marek Sülzle was third at 2:07.
Emanuele Spica came in 4:49 back, crossing the line alongside Luca Cacchi. Hans Becking’s deficit was far heavier: 10:02, a gap that effectively rules him out of the fight for overall victory.
“I feel for Riccardo – I even waited for him at the end because he deserved this stage win,” said Saitta straight after the finish. “The final descent was treacherous; I came close to losing control of the bike several times and preferred to be a little more cautious. With ten kilometres to go I caught Chiarini, and in the finale his mechanical problems allowed me to win the stage.”
Thanks to today’s win, Saitta returns to the top of the general classification, though the positions behind him have changed significantly. Teammate Spica moves into second at 2:47, while Sülzle jumps to third at 8:51. Becking follows at 9:41 and Cacchi at 11:25.
“We came to Appenninica to race as a team: whether I wear the jersey or Emanuele does makes little difference tactically,” reflected Saitta.
Among the Masters, Oscar Pujol took the stage win in 2:02:23, though Juul Van Loon remains firmly in control of the overall standings. Jon Roberts claimed his third consecutive stage win in the Grand Master category in 2:09:36, while Bernd Büdenbender once again proved unbeatable among the Great Grand Masters.
STEINBURG WINS AND PULLS CLEAR
On the women’s side, overall leader Greete Steinburg claimed her first stage win of the race. The Barbieri PNK Pink Jersey triumphed in comeback fashion over Lola Bakker. The Dutch rider had pushed hard early to put pressure on her rival, but the Estonian responded with an unstoppable surge, clawing back time kilometre after kilometre.
On the descent into Riolunato, Steinburg kept things under control without taking risks – indeed managing to extend her margin even further. She finished in 2:50:56, with Bakker at 1:39. Mara Parisi was a consistent third at 3:06, a rejuvenated Syd Schulz fourth at 9:02, and Luiza De Souza fifth at 13:22.
“A beautiful stage – fortunately with plenty of descending,” said the Estonian at the finish. “The heat wasn’t excessive, which worked in my favour. We’re past the halfway point and I’m in control: I couldn’t ask for more. I tried not to repeat yesterday’s mistake, when I descended too cautiously in the finale.”
Steinburg extends her overall lead, bringing her advantage over Bakker to 3:22. Mara Parisi remains 7:45 back and still very much in the race. Schulz and De Souza are further adrift.
STAGE 4: RIOLUNATO – CASTELNOVO NE’ MONTI
Tomorrow’s fourth stage, Thursday June 25, is the one circled in red. The Mountain Queen Stage – 88 km and 3,000 metres of elevation – is the most feared of this edition and the one with the greatest potential to turn the overall standings upside down.
The route runs at altitude for long stretches, crossing Passo Radici, Passo Giovarello and Lama Lite along forest roads and Apennine trails. In the finale, before reaching Castelnovo ne’ Monti, riders will pass beneath the striking rock formation of Bismantova Rock. The possibility of rain could make for an even harder day for the athletes.
