On Tuesday, the riders tested the new course of Internazionali d’Italia Series stage 4, Valle di Casies – Südtirol Trophy. Italian Team coach Celestino looking for the final indications ahead of the Tokyo selections
The first edition of Valle di Casies – Südtirol Trophy will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, June 2nd, on Italy’s Republic Day. The new Cat. 1 event, valid as Internazionali d’Italia Series’ stage 4, figures to be a key moment for many Italian riders hoping for a slot for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games, with Mirko Celestino called to select three Men and one Woman rider.
The SSV Colle/Casies have set up a challenging ring of roughly 4000 meters, characterized by a 175-meter elevation gain per lap.
OPEN MEN: THE CLASH AMONG THE AZZURRI
Italian National Champion Luca Braidot (Team Santa Cruz FSA) and local favorite Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Team Specialized) are to be regarded as top favorites in Valle di Casies.
Behind them, Nadir Colledani (MMR Factory Racing) is also aiming for the big target, with U23 leader Simone Avondetto (Team Trek-Pirelli) and Gioele Bertolini (Trinx Factory Racing) also hoping to get into the discussion, as well as Russian Anton Sintsov (Struby Bixs) and Swiss Marcel Guerrini (Torpado-Ursus).
OPEN WOMEN: ALL AGAINST EVA LECHNER
Eva Lechner (Trinx Factory Team) is returning to her best form and shall be regarded as the top favorite for the second Internazionali d’Italia Series race in her home region.
Internazionali d’Italia Series’ GC leader Chiara Teocchi (Trinity Racing) also looks to be in the discussion, along with Martina Berta (Team Santa Cruz-FSA) and her teammate Greta Seiwald, racing in her hometown after being raised by the local organizing team. South African Candice Lill (Faces Seattle) and Canadian Jennifer Jackson (Norco Factory Team) will look to break into the race top positions as well.
JUNIORS: FOREIGN THREATS FOR LEADERS AGOSTINACCHIO AND CORTINOVIS
There will be plenty of competition coming from abroad for Internazionali d’Italia Series’ Junior Men leader Filippo Agostinacchio (Scott-Libarna) in Valle di Casies. The Pan-American Champion, Colombian Camilo Gomez (Specialized Colombia), Canadian Owen Clark (Homestad Racing) and the German Fabian Eder (German Racing) are expected to compete for the big prize. Among women, leader Sara Cortinovis (Four ES Racing Team) will look to keep her winning streak intact versus the competition of German Alexa Fuchs (Stevens MTB) and fellow Italians Noemi Plankensteiner and Lucia Bramati (Trinx Racing Team).
Tomorrow, Wednesday June 2nd, the Internazionali d’Italia Series races are taking place in Valle di Casies: Junior Men (4 laps + launch) at 10.00, Women’s Open (5 laps + launch) at 12.00, Junior Women (3 laps + launch) at 12.02 and Open Men (6 laps + launch) at 2.00 PM (all CET times).
