The Swiss of BMC Team beats the favorites at Trofeo Delcar, Internazionali d’Italia Series’ stage 3. Marotte is second, Fontana third after a puncture. Linda Indergand dominates among women, about 10.000 fans on the course
The sixth edition of Trofeo Delcar in Montichiari, third stage of Internazionali d’Italia Series, will certainly be a long memory for the MTB fans, either Italian or not: a starting field worthy of a World Cup stage, a beautiful atmosphere with about 10.000 spectators on the streets of Montichiari and on the uphill to the Bonoris Castle. The local fans had hoped for an Italian triumph, with Marco Aurelio Fontana leading in the early on before a puncture, and a spectacular comeback to earn a podium spot.
Taking home the crown of the race organized by Novagli Team Bike was not the Bianchi Countervail’s Italian, nor Julien Absalon (BMC), nor Maxime Marotte (Cannondale Factory Racing), or even Florian Vogel (Focus XC), to mention some of the most popular predictions. Starting with race number 30, Swiss Lars Forster surprised everyone with a perfect race, taking one of the greatest wins in his young career.
Switzerland on top also among women, where Linda Indergand (Focus XC) litelally dominated the competition, finishing with over 3 minutes on the closest rivals.
A PROMISE TO FULFILL
With twelve of the World’s top-20 ranked riders at the start, the Open Men race lived up to the expectations, with an exciting battle among the greatest names from the beginning. The first important move was made by Marco Aurelio Fontana, as the Team Bianchi Countervail crossed the finish for the first line with a few seconds on Mathias Fluckiger (Radon Factory XC) and Florian Vogel, and ten more riders at short distance.
The Prorider held on in the lead also during the second lap, but he was later slowed by a puncture in the technical section, and gave up the lead to Lars Forster (BMC), who emerged on the way to the Castle with the move that eventually proved decisive. Behind him, Marotte was coming out at the distance after a slow start, while Fontana started a determined comeback after changing wheels, remaining in the run for third place along with David Valero (MMR Factory Racing) and Fluckiger.
In the final two laps, Fortster held back Marotte to claim the win with 16 seconds on the Frenchman and 41 seconds on Fontana, who completed his comeback to step on the third podium spot and celebrates with his trademark wheelie. Spaniard Valero remains just out of the podium, ahead of Jordan Sarrou (BH-SRSunTour), Stephane Tempier (Bianchi Countervail), Anton Sintsov (JBG-2), Titouan Carod (BMC), Fluckiger and Vogel.
The circuit leader’s jersey changes owners: Marotte and Fontana are tied, but the latest placement’s rule gives the jersey to the Frenchman. Nadir Colledani (NOB Selle Italia), was 31st on the day, but kept on the lead in the Under 23 category.
23-year-old Forster took his first seasonal win, and one of the most important in his career. After winning two World Cup stages among Under 23, and providing some strong performances in the Elite World Cup too, an injury has arrested his rise in the second part of the 2016 season. Montichiari will be an important step on the way to the full realization of this Swiss MTB promise.
INDERGAND DOMINATES AMONG WOMEN
With a starting list like today’s at Trofeo Delcar, it was easy to predict a very tight race among Open Women. Instead, Linda Indergand (Focus XC) managed to smash the competition with the easiest of tactics: push hard from the beginning and never look back.
The 23-year-old Swiss, coming off one week of training on the Lake Garda with the Swiss National Team, made the best of her knowledge of the track and her very strong condition, inflicting heavy gaps to her rivals from the first laps. And they weren’t just any opponents: Maja Wloszczowska (Kross Racing Team), Gunn-Rita Dahle (Team Merida) and Alessandra Keller (Radon Factory XC) have tried to contain the distance, that still rose over a minute in the second lap.
A crash put Milan’s winner out of contention (a bad blow to her shoulders, but no fractures), but nothing could hold back Indergand, whose final advantage was 3.16 on Alessandra Keller, while Gunn-Rita Dahle had to settle for third after two straight wins in Montichiari.
World Champion Annika Langvad (Specialized) was fourth, ahead of Barbara Benkò (Focus XC), then Sina Frei (JB Brunex Felt), Yana Belomoina (CST), Jolanda Neff (Kross Racing Team) – once again not in her best day – and a solid Chiara Teocchi (Bianchi Countervail), the best Italian to the finish. Swiss Corina Gantenbein (Mobel Marki) rounded out the top-10: five Swiss riders in the top-10 shows they actually benefitted of the Lake Garda atmosphere. Serena Calvetti (Damil-GT Trevisan) was thirteenth, and held on the GC leader’s jersey, whilst Alessandra Keller took over the jersey among Under 23.
JUNIOR: STAGE AND GC LEAD FOR JURI ZANOTTI AND MARIKA TOVO
Juri Zanotti and Marika Tovo brought good news for Italy in the Junior ranks.
Zanotti (Velo Club Monte Tamaro) took the first seasonal joy by leading with authority from the beginning, and keeping behind Edoardo Xillo (Oasi Zegna) and French Gabriel Jorin (JB Brunex Felt), who had tried to come back deep in the race. Thanks to the win, Zanotti took over the jersey from Zaccaria Toccoli.
The lead changed also among women, after the late scratch of Laura Stigger – winner in Verona and Milan. Marika Tovo (Rudy Project XCR) deserved the stage and the overall lead thanks to a smart and controlled race, prevailing by 20 seconds on Francesca Baroni (Melavì Focus Bike) and 47 on Sara Casasola (DP66).
THE QUOTES
Lars Forster (BMC MTB Team): “Maybe some people weren’t expecting this kind of performance from me, but I knew I was feeling very well, and I was confident of taking an important result. I didn’t like the track that much yesterday, but today I had differrent feelings. It was important to come to the fore from behind, starting with number 30: I had to rider to the limit, particularly in the first lap, to join the leaders’ group. Last year an injury hampered my World Cup ambitions, but now I am restarting from here.”
Maxime Marotte (Cannondale Factory Racing): “I am very satisfied with my second place, after battling with the flu through the week. I think this route isn’t that suited to my characteristics, but clearly I manage to do well here. I didn’t start that good, I had to come back several positions to be in Lars’ wake, but I couldn’t close on him. Today he was really strong, we know he is a good rider and carries a very good condition: I think he will be competitive in the World Cup too.”
Marco Aurelio Fontana (Bianchi Countervail): “Dopo aver visionato il percorso ieri, ho scelto una gomma leggera per sfruttare al meglio le caratteristiche del tracciato: è stato un piccolo rischio, e purtroppo è arrivata questa foratura. I meccanici sono stati rapidissimi nel sostituire la ruota, ma inizialmente non ero sicuro di poter risalire abbastanza per centrare il terzo posto. Sono contento, le gambe girano bene: a Nalles punto a riprendermi la maglia. E vedere questo spettacolo di pubblico e questi protagonisti in una gara italiana è veramente una gioia per il cuore.”
Linda Indergand (Focus XC): “I wasn’t expecting to make such a difference today, but I had something clear in mind: I wanted to race in the lead and make my own rhythm, because I know this is crucial in this race: it turned out well! The week of preparation in the area certainly did good: we had reviewed the route during the week, and we certainly worked very well.”
Alessandra Keller (Radon Factory XC): “The level today was very high, with all the strongest European racers in the game, and it was certainly a hard race. It’s still early in the season, I know I still have potential to improve my condition, but I feel motivated and encouraged by the feedback I am having from these early races, particularly against more experienced riders.”
Gunn-Rita Dahle (Team Merida): “Congrats to Linda, who was flying today. I was hoping to take the third win in a row here, but you can’t win all the times, and I am sincerely happy of my performance, with so many strong riders in the race. Taking part in this kind of events gives me important feedbacks on where to focus to improve, and racing in Italy is always great, with this kind of public and atmosphere.”
NEXT UP: NALS, MARLENE SUDTIROL SUNSHINE RACE
In a week, the Internazionali d’Italia Series return with the fourth stage in Nalles, Sudtirol, where the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race will take part on Sunday April 9th. The event organized by Sunshine Racers Nals will be presented tomorrow, Monday April 3rd, at 10.30 in Bozen at the ParkHotel Laurin (Via Laurin, 4). In addition to organizers and authorities, Gerhard Kerschbaumer of Torpado Gabogas team will also attend the presentation.
Montichiari (Italy) , April 2nd, 2017
