A tricolor jersey among the junior women and four other athletes able of carrying the Trinx Factory Team colors on the Italian championship podium. This is the summary of the day in Valle di Casies, where the six Italian titles in the international categories were awarded.
Great performances by the juniors directed by Luca Bramati Valentina Corvi and Fabio Bassignana.
Valentina (in Alessio Pederiva’s photo) dominated the race, taking the lead during the second lap and reaching the finish line with a great advantage over the runner-up. For her, the second seasonal tricolor jersey after the one in short track. Moreover she won also the Internazionali d’Italia Series, the Italy Bike Cup and, at the European Championships, the silver medal in the team relay and fourth place in the individual race.
«The Italian was the goal of the season and I'm glad I made it. Now focus on the World Championship: be there and do a good performance would be the best way to thank the team, the staff and the sponsors for the support given to me throughout the season».
Exciting dual between Fabio Bassignana and Marco Betteo. The Trinx Factory Team’s athlete was stronger on the climbs, but his rival was able to come back in the descent sector, storming to victory ahead Fabio for a couple of seconds.
«It was a good race, although it was difficult compete on the wet track. When I saw that I would have fought for the victory with Marco, I gave everything uphill, because I knew that in the technical sectors he is super-strong. Unfortunately I didn't make it, but I am satisfied».
Two bronze medals came from the Under 23 category, thanks to two athletes born in 2003: Noemi Plankensteiner and Filippo Agostinacchio.
Filippo, understanding he wasn’t able to compete for the jersey, managed the race with the gold to win the bronze medal. In the final lap, Filippo attacked his rival Emanuele Huez, cracking him on the last climb (in Alessio Pederiva’s picture).
«My shape was good enough to go on the podium, that could have been another important result after the victory in Xce Italian championship. Although I didn't drive very well, in the last lap I didn’t make mistake so I could storm to the third position».
Among the U23s, 18th place for Andrea Colombo.
Mission achieved by Noemi Plankensteiner too, who ended in third position (in the photo by Alessio Pederiva, with Eva Lechner on the finish line) behind Giada Specia and Sara Cortinovis.
A good result, considering the flu that forced her into the box a couple of weeks ago.
«Everything went fine, on a track I know by heart. Today the legs were good and I found myself comfortable both uphill and downhill. After the flu, it was easy to get caught up in the heat to go back to training, instead we tried to recover as much energy as possible. A choice that turned out to be right».
Complicated races for the Elites. Among the women, Giorgia Marchet and Eva Lechner finished in third and fourth place. Eva, not yet in her best shape after the flu, gave Naomi a precious help in the final kilometres of the race; while Giorgia Marchet was the author of a good comeback after a first part in which she fought against the pitfalls of the track.
«The rain fallen this morning have changed the track, a lot. So we decided to change the type of the tire, but maybe I made a mistake with the pressure. So, in the middle of the race, I decided to stop in the box to fix this problem.Only from that moment I started a new race, with good feeling on the roots and make up positions. Of course I wouldn't have signed for this result on the eve, but that's how the races are».
As expected, Gioele Bertolini paid for the stop due to flu after the training camp in Livigno. The biker from Valtellina was only able to find his pace without forcing too much, closing the race in eighth position.
