Press Release 17/06/2014

Merida Italia Team again starring at Internazionali d'Italia Series

The fifth stage of Internazionali d'Italia MTB Series was held in Vermiglio, in Trentino, where Merida Italia Team riders were again in the top positions.

Among the Juniores Alessandro Naspi has long battled with the race winner, Moreno Pellizzon, and with the young Stefano Sala, finishing third but keeping the leader's jersey at one stage by the end of the challenge.

In the Open race won by Marco Aurelio Fontana, in the afternoon, all athletes of Merida Italia Team have distinguished themselves by passing from the first lap among the top 15. Martin Loo, as usual lately, started slow but lap by lap had a

strong comeback and He finished in 7th position, just a few seconds from the 5th place.

The Under23s were the most impressive: in the early stages of the race the two athletes of Valtellina Gioele Bertolini and Lorenzo Samparisi, with Mattia Setti, have remained close to the tread and have occupied the first three places among the Under23s. Stefano Valdrighi instead had a problem in the start and remained a bit lingered.

The race of Samparisi was definitely the best of the season, because He always remained in the lead among the Under23s, and He has struggled in the first overall positions until catching an excellent 8th final place. Valdrighi has recovered a lot, and despite a slight decline in the final finished second in the U23 category.

Setti has conducted a regular race, and was awarded by the third step of the podium. Bertolini from mid-race suffered a physical decline, but He have gritted his teeth and also thanks to the fast descents, He has ended a short distance from his mates and anyway without loosing positions in the standings. This allowed him to keep the leader's jersey of the circuit .

The performance of all the riders also allowed the Team to lead in the special team standings. Next Sunday "all in" at Volpago del Montello, to fight until the end to honor the important circuit of International races organized in Italy.

Returning for a moment at two Sundays ago, the European Championships of discipline have seen the athletes of Merida Italia Team (Naspi, Samparisi, and Bertolini), tired after long weeks spent with fellow national. Martin Loo, with the national team of Estonia, ran quite well in spite of the physical condition still rough due to the fall in March, finishing 22nd.

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