Filippo Fontana retains the leader’s jersey in the general classification
Argentario (GR), March 22, 2025 – Arms raised in victory, Andri Frischknecht (Scott-Sram) crossed the finish line as the winner of the second stage of the Internazionali d’Italia Series. The Swiss rider took control of the race in the middle section, finishing solo. Joining him on the podium were Filippo Fontana (CS Carabinieri Cicli Olympia) in second place and Tobias Steinhart (Team Dowe Simplon) in third.
Andri Frischknecht: “The race went well. In the early laps, I struggled a bit with mud sticking to my gears and wheels, but once the rain started, conditions improved, and I was able to increase my pace,” said Frischknecht. “I’m really happy with this victory. Winning is always great! I knew I had done solid work over the winter, and this result gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming races.”
Open Category
Filippo Fontana (CS Carabinieri Cicli Olympia) took the lead from the very first lap with a strong start. However, a puncture on the third lap allowed Frischknecht to overtake him. Once in the lead, the Swiss rider steadily widened the gap, finishing more than three minutes ahead of Fontana and over five minutes ahead of Steinhart. With his second-place finish, Fontana strengthened his hold on the overall leader’s jersey.
“I started well in the first two laps, but then I had some mechanical issues,” explained Filippo Fontana. “After the puncture, I didn’t feel as good, so I decided to manage my race and defend second place. These things happen, but the important thing was to score points and keep the leader’s jersey. Mission accomplished.”
U23 Category
Tommaso Ferri (BCL Team) led the U23 race from the very first lap, closely followed by Team Sogno Veneto’s Marco Betteo and Martino Zavan. Thanks to today’s victory, Ferri now holds the U23 leader’s jersey in the general classification and says: “I found my rhythm right away and made the right choice regarding tire selection. I was feeling great, but unfortunately, I suffered a puncture on the last lap, which cost me a spot on the overall podium among the Open riders. Despite that, I managed to push through and secure the U23 victory. For the first time this season, I had really good feelings, and I’m very happy with this result.”
Despite challenging weather conditions, Porto Santo Stefano’s Mayor, Engineer Arturo Cerulli, expressed his enthusiasm and highlighted the administration’s commitment to the event: “This has been a major investment for us, one we strongly believe in. We greatly appreciate all the work done to bring this event to our region, even though today’s weather wasn’t on our side. I am extremely satisfied with the setup. For years, we have organized the Granfondo, which consistently attracts a large number of participants. Investing in cycling means investing in the region itself, not just in the races. Argentario is full of cycling routes, and it’s essential for us to attract more and more cycling tourists.”
His enthusiasm was echoed by Chiara Orsini, Municipal Councillor for Tourism and Sport, who added: “I speak on behalf of the entire administration when I say that we strongly supported this event from the moment it was proposed to us. I pay special attention to initiatives like this because my role includes sports tourism, which I consider a highly valuable form of tourism. An event like this has a tangible impact, providing a unique opportunity to showcase our region and encourage cycling tourists to return. We hope that the seed planted this year will grow into something even bigger for the future. The organizing team has done an extraordinary job, and we are truly pleased with the results.”
As the Internazionali d’Italia Series prepares for its next stage in Nervesa della Battaglia on May 31, the Argentario event continues tomorrow with another full day of competitions. The Masters will be the first to take to the course at 9:00 AM, followed by the Beginners category at 11:00 AM. The Junior Women’s category will race at 1:00 PM, and the da
