ENRICO ZEN WINS MARCIALONGA CYCLING CRAFT

Enrico Zen wins the Marcialonga Cycling Craft road race in Trentino region (Italy)
Thrilling photo finish over compatriot Francesco Cipolletta
Valentina Gallo wins the Granfondo race among women


The 9th annual Marcialonga Cycling Craft granfondo event took place in Italy’s Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa, yesterday. Enrico Zen and Valentina Gallo won the 135k-long course after crossing the tough Lavazé, San Pellegrino, Valles and Mount San Pietro alpine passes. Andrea Pontalto and Serena Gazzini of Italy secured the victory in the 80k-long Mediofondo race.
Italy’s Marcialonga road race attracted around 2,000 riders at the start from all over the country and from abroad, and the huge group gathered in the alpine town of Predazzo at the foot of majestic Dolomites, early in the morning. A sunny and warm Sunday morning welcomed everybody at the start and the first semi-flat part of the race allowed any participant to warm their muscles up before the uphills and the passes. On top of the first tough Lavazé climb, Andrea Pontalto was in the lead flanked by Antonio Camozzi and Daniele Bergamo. The following fast downhill did not change the head of the race and a thrilling photo finish eventually gave the victory to Andrea Pontalto for the second year in a row. On the women’s side, Gazzini took the race lead from the very beginning and nobody ever managed to overtake her. As for Pontalto, Gazzini jumped on the highest step of the podium for the second year in a row.
Regarding the Granfondo race, a leading trio composed of Enrico Zen and the two team-mates Francesco Cipolletta and Federico Profeti from Tuscany jumped in the front once the 80k race was over. Zen showed good climbing skills and shape up to the San Pellegrino pass, but his opponents overtook him on the following Valles pass. The very last downhill was absolutely crucial at that point. While descending back to Predazzo and the finish line, Profeti slipped and fell on the ground letting Cipolletta and Zen make their move to the lead. Cipolletta made a huge mistake in the very last part of the downhill and Zen couldn’t but take advantage of it even though he eventually won in a photo finish over Cipolletta. Among women, Valentina Gallo secured the victory over Florinda Neri and Alessandra Corina, and over the rain that more than once tried - unsuccessfully - to ruin the event in Northern Italy.

Download TV images: www.broadcaster.it

Overall Standings:

Granfondo Men (135k)
1  Enrico Zen Asd Team Beraldo Green Paper  4:12:00; 2  Francesco Cipolletta Promotech Shoptoo  4:12:01; 3  Federico Profeti Promotech Shoptoo  4:12:44; 4  Luigi Salimbeni Cicloteam San Ginese  4:14:10; 5  Emanuele Poeta Ponte Cycling Team   4:15:33; 6  Paolo Minuzzo Asd Team Granfondo Liotto 4:15:49; 7  Marco Spada Gianluca Faenza Team 4:15:49; 8 Agostino Zortea A.S.D. Fol 4:15:52 ; 9 Jarno Varesco Carraro Team Trentino 4:16:06; 10  Werner Weiss Cannondale Obbi Fsa 4:16:26

Granfondo Women
1 Valentina Gallo A.R. Team Armistizio Hard Service  5:07:46; 2 Florinda Neri Royal Team A.S.D. 5:13:24; 3 Alessandra Corina Ale' Cipollini Galassia 5:23:39; 4 Barbara Zambotti G.S. Alpilatte - Br. Pneumatici Zane' 5:26:09; 5 Letizia Grottoli Giuliani Cicli Arco 5:30:05; 6 Micaela Boniciolli Bici & Sport 5:44:08; 7 Tiziana Gaspari Royal Cycling Team Ita 5:50:23; 8 Rita Simeoni Velo Club Due Torri Rovigo Ita 5:58:31; 9 Marchioro Sonia Gs Praseccobiesse 6:25:39  

Mediofondo Men (80k)
1 Andrea Pontalto Ale' Cipollini Galassia 2:18:22; 2 Antonio Camozzi Team Isolmant 2:18:22; 3 Daniele Bergamo A.S.D. Brao Caffe' - Unterthurner 2:18:22; 4 Michele Bencivenni Grandis Racing Team 2:18:23; 5 Jacopo Padoan A.S.D. Biemme Sport Team 2:18:23; 6 Davide Spiazzi Asd Total Speed 2:20:35; 7 Francesco Avanzo Bren Team Trento 2:20:36; 8 Eduard Rizzi Sportler Team 2:20:36; 9 Michele Attolini Asd Team Rana Tagliaro 2:20:37; 10 Tommaso Cecchi Genetik Cycling Team A.S.D. 2:20:59

Mediofondo Women
1 Serena Gazzini Carraro Team Trentino 2:29:24; 2 Marica Tassinari Team Passion Faentina 2:30:13; 3 Manuela Sonzogni Team Isolmant 2:30:15; 4 Marina Ilmer Team Mg.K Vis Gobbi Lgl Miche 2:31:18; 5 Emma Delbono Cycling Team T&P 2:33:13; 6 Claudia Gentili Team Giletti - Ale' 2:34:47; 7 Claudia Wegmann A.S.V. Jenesien Soltnflitzer 2:38:20; 8 Marcella Dossi Bici E Sport 2:41:49; 9 Elisa Benedet Team Uisp Pordenone 2:42:29; 10 Lorna Ciacci Sportler Team 2:42:32