Bad weather affected once again the Italian cycling race
Maccanti and Bandini won the long distance race (135 km) through Italy’s Fiemme and Fassa valleys
Janes and Moschen won the short one (80 km)
Last Sunday Italy’s Marcialonga Cycling crowned its new die-hard race cyclists, who not only went through the alpine Lavazè, San Pellegrino and Valles passes, but also fought against strong wind, heavy rain and low temperatures.
The race kicked off at 7.30am beside the ski jumping stadium outside the village of Predazzo, with 1.400 passionate cyclists from all over the continent, ready to enjoy the competition.
The first who fell victim to rain rules was last year’s winner on the short distance race Alexander Zelger, who couldn’t keep the balance downhill and fell on the ground. 55 years old Silvano Janes could then finish first, followed by Antonio Corradini, who due to the rain decided to cycle the short course – in 2009 he won the long race.
On the long distance course (135 km - 3.279 meters total climb with 19,2% maximum gradient) the toughest was Michele Maccanti who climbed the San Pellegrino and Valles passes all alone and reached the finish line 8 minutes before Jarno Varesco, who arrived second.
Among women Italy’s Monica Bandini and Roberta Moschen ‘took gold’ in the long and short distance races respectively.
This year’s Marcialonga Cycling also welcomed a few well-known XC skiers, namely Sweden’s Jerry Ahrlin – who slipped after 5 chilometers and withdrew – and Daniel Tynell, who placed 12th on the long distance race. ‘Wow, it’s been fantastic – the Swede said at the end of its race and added – I definitely couldn’t expect such a hard and …wet race. I’ll be back for sure next year. I enjoyed it very much.’ Italy’s Bruno Debertolis also took part in the race and was the tenth to cross the finish line in Predazzo.
The Marcialonga OC and all its fans, look forward now to the ‘Running’ event on September 5th and the XC ski marathon scheduled on January 30th 2011. The number of entries for the winter race already reached 2.000 participants.
Info: www.marcialonga.it
Standings
Short Distance Race – 80 km
Men
1) Janes Silvano (Bergner Brau) 2.21.44; 2) Corradini Antonio (Viner Factory) 2.21.45.3; 3) Mich Roberto (Bike Club Egna) 2.21.45.4; 4) Raffeiner Philipp (Sportler) 2.22.32; 5) Segata Claudio Bren Team) 2.23.15.
Women
1) Moschen Roberta (Turbozeta MG K Vis) 2.39.23; 2) Carloni Raffaella (Deca Faentina) 2.42.28; 3) Vegmann Claudia (S.Genesio) 2.46.43; 4) Brachtendorf Kerstin (Fiat Rotwild) 2.47.12; 5) Girardi Laura (A:C: Merano) 2.48.55.
Long Distance Race – 135 km
Men
1) Maccanti Michele (Phonix Sintesi) 4.15.24; 2) Varesco Jarno (L’Arcobaleno) 4.23.28; 3) Griot Roberto (MTB Orlandi) 4.34.49; 4) Pecchiari Massimiliano (Bren Team) 4.36.04; 5) Corsi Gabriele (Pianeta Bici) 4.36.18.
Women
1) Bandini Monica (Turbozeta MG K Vis) 5.11.51; 2) Piancastelli Patrizia (Turbozeta MG K Vis) 5.26.30; 3) Fenil Anna (Brember Valley) 5.56.26; 4) Mazzel Arianna (Marcialonga) 5.57.12; 5) Lihl Anita (Marcialonga) 6.24.31.
Marcialonga