The Italian National Champion is motivated in view of Internazionali d’Italia Series’ opening stage, Andora Race Cup, to be held on Saturday March 2nd. “In Liguria it’s going to be the first day at school. I want to start well, and hopefully run for the overall win”.
We are just three weeks away from the opening of the 2019 Internazionali d’Italia Series, with the absolute debut of the Andora Bike Race on Saturday March 2nd, and the riders are champing at the bit in view of the first seasonal event of the circuit.
Italian National Champion Gerhard Kerschbaumer is one of the most expected riders in Andora (Liguria, Northern Italy). Last year, the Italian biker won two Internazionali d’Italia Series stages, in Pineto (Abruzzo, Central Italy) and Chies d’Alpago (Veneto, Northern Italy). Alpago’s race turned out to be a springboard for Gerhard ahead of his triumphal World Cup weekend in Andorra-Vallnord.
“Something clicked at Internazionali d’Italia Series last year – Kerschbaumer explained. – You usually get to see my best version in summer, due to my pollen allergy, but the races in Pineto and Chies d’Alpago gave me confidence to go toe-to-toe with the best bikers in the World”.
In Andora, Kerschbaumer will look to start on the right foot at Internazionali d’Italia Series, after the difficult start of the last edition. “I’m working hard. As usual, I skied in the winter season, before starting the Mountain Bike training in January with a camp in the Canary Islands. I’m fine, but early season is sometimes tough on me. I hope to get off better than last season, so to be in the run for the final success.”
Overall third in the 2018 edition, behind winner Gioele Bertolini and Estonian Martin Loo, the Team Torpado-Ursus’ athlete knows the location hosting Internazionali d’Italia Series’ stage 1. “I expect a beautiful course, because the Ligurian hills are ideal for the Mountain Bike. Previously, I trained in Liguria and I am always eager to go back there”.
After racing in Andora, Internazionali d’Italia Series’ athletes will face the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race (HC) on Sunday April 14th, one of the most important seasonal goals for Kerschbaumer. “It’s my home race and I want to be ready. Now, I’m focused on Andora Bike Race though. It’ll be a bit like the first day of school: that’s why it’s so hard to predict”.
Andora Race Cup’s programme will be run on two days. On Saturday, March 2nd the event will start with the Internazionali d’Italia Series racing categories – Elite, U23 and Junior – followed by the Amateur and the Youth competitions on Sunday, March 3rd.
Verona (Italy), February 16th, 2019
