Bitter sweet weekend for Merida Italia Team The team has participated in the second stage of the Internazionali d'Italia Series in Montichiari (Brescia), taking home a victory in the Juniores category and excellent placings in the U23, but unfortunately two injured athletes, particularly serious the captain Martin Loo. Starting from the positive news, the race of Alessandro Naspi, who has been protagonist of a great performance, as had happened in Maser, has been exciting and has convinced everyone that the youth can no longer be considered a surprise. The victory of the competition strengthens his leadership in the overall standings of the challenge and above all makes him aware of his means. At the paddock of Merida Italia Team there was little time to celebrate because in a short time all were focused for the start of the Open race. But the bad news arrives before the end of the first lap. Martin Loo while was trying to overtake had a collision with an opponent , the crash was inevitable and with a very violent impact . Brought to the emergency room was diagnosed a displaced fracture of his left collarbone. Monday morning Martin has been operated at Montichiari's hospital. The surgery has expected the application of a plate with two screws and beyond the various bruises and the broken helmet, the boy of Tallin feels fine. The convalescence of a month and the subsequent rehabilitation will keep him away a lot from the races. It's a shame because his performance level was very high and He was relying to achieve meaningful results at this early stage of the season. The guys of the staff have not had the time to realize the situation immediately, cause there were four other athletes to manage in the race. In no time however comes the news of the fall of Stefano Valdrighi, fresh winner among the under at the past round of Maser (Treviso). He gets up and continues almost throughout the race but without being able to be incisive. He quit the race two laps from the end, and only in the evening He realize the gravity of the wound in the arm. Several stitches and a beginning of infection deprive him of participation in the next international race in Nalles (Bolzano). Gioele Bertolini , Mattia Setti and Lorenzo Samparisi well defended the colors of Merida Italia Team. Gioele e Mattia have played their cards right in the early stages of the race, despite the lack of UCI points has relegated them to the center group. Gioele have shown all his talent keeping a frenetic pace in the opening laps, showing the great desire to excel, but in the last few laps the force has decreased and He had to reluctantly give the third position.Mattia has appeared sprightly and at ease on the ramps and in the technical sections of the dry and spectacular circuit, completing one of his best races and closing fifth. Lorenzo started with a good race number, but
after a couple of laps suffered a heavy decline, which affected the final result. His true potential deserves better results, and also the guy deserves it. On sunday the Team will race at Nalles (Bolzano), third stage of the Internazionali d'Italia series, without his captain but with the cards in order to defend the leader's jersey in the Juniores category, and the great desire to recover the leadership also in the U23.
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