Stefano Valdrighi wins the Yellow MTB Race in memory of Lorenzo Vernazza Racing Sunday in two different places for the guys of Merida Italia Team. Stefano Valdrighi, Vanni Frassoni and the youth of the Team involed at Tabiano (Pr, Italy), to honor the first round of the Regional Cup, while Gioele Bertolini, Alessandro Naspi and Mattia Setti where engaged in Austria at the Oetztaler Mountainbike Festival of Haiming, HC class race useful to gather valuable UCI points for the first stages of the World Cup.
The event of Tabiano was opened in the morning from the races of the youngest, with Giulia Lazzari and Lorenzo Calloni involved. The young rider was not able to express his potential, due to a problem that occurred in the very early stages of the race, which forced him to retire. Unfortunately for him the bad luck continues in this first part of the season. Giulia has instead ended in 8th position, however not satisfied by her performance. In the early afternoon started the Open race, joined with the competitors of Juniores and Amateurs categories. Valdrighi immediately took the lead, keeping it easily till the finish. Easy victory for him because of the few opponents of hil level, but however great training
session. Vanni Frassoni imitated his teammate by winning among the Juniores, leading a race characterized by a fast pace, and even managing to grab the second position overall in the final. The riders involved in the Austrian HC class race have accused the incorrect start grid in which they were placed by the organizers (too much in the back), but details aside the race was very hard and fought. Gioele Bertolini still managed the difficult mission of recovering positions, reaching the third place at one lap from the finish. During the last lap, feeling the leg still well in pushing and wanting to aspire to an even better result, the guy has risked too much in the downhill, falling fortunately without serious consequences, but loosing a few positions and finishing in 6th position. Good race for Alessandro Naspi (12th), instead an unlucky one for Mattia Setti (23th), victim of a flat while was racing near Alessandro's positions.