MARCIALONGA: CECCHINI ...' WINS AT CYCLING CRAFT

It was a glorious day for the 1534 participants in Marcialonga Cycling Craft held today in the valleys of Fiemme e Fassa (Trentino region, Italy), who came from 25 countries in order to take part in this Marcialonga event, the historical brand that now unites cross-country skiing, cycling and running.
The rainy day did not stop cyclists, also because it started to rain when everything was actually decided for the 11th Marcialonga Cycling Craft, with Stefano Cecchini (4:00:20) capable of leaving all his contenders behind at Passo San Pellegrino and of beating, on the 135-km course with a vertical distance of 3279 metres, Enrico Zen (4:06:00), defending champion and recent winner of another race in the Dolomites on a similar distance. Third place for Davide Lombardi (4:12:59). The gaps clearly show how the race went, with a small group trying to keep Cecchini's pace, but eventually losing ground. “It was risky, because I was alone for 50 kilometres, but I felt really well and everything went fine. I outdistanced Zen at the beginning of the climb to Passo San Pellegrino; it was my first participation in the race and I won, the course is really good".
Among ladies, Manuela Sonzogni (4:44:13) took a clear victory with more than 15 minutes over Claudia Gentili (5:01:55), and Patrizia Piancastelli (5:06:46) who came third with a final sprint on Cristina Lambrugo (5:06:51). Manuela Sonzogni was really happy when she crossed the finish line in the first position, thus repeating the success of 2013: “I am happy, the rain did not disturb me. I decided this morning to compete in the longest race, despite weather conditions and in the end everything was fine. Two years ago I competed in the medium-distance race, but today I chose differently and rightly so”.
The medium-distance race (80 km with a vertical distance of 1894 metres) was really fast, with the exciting duel and a breath-taking final sprint of Andrea Pontalto (2:15:56) and Andrea Zamboni (2:15:56), with Pontalto crossing the finish line just before the latter: “It was a really tough race, we started fast and took a good pace on the road to Lavazè especially thanks to Cecchini and Zamboni. I know them, they're really strong and I knew that I could not lose ground in order to have a chance. I decided to compete in the medium-distance race because I have recently taken part in several competitions”. Unexpected third place for Federico Nicolini (2:18:06), who is better known for ski-mountaineering than cycling.
Serena Gazzini (2:29:49) won for the third time in the Marcialonga Cycling Craft: “This is my third victory; It is always difficult to win and cycling races are always tricky. Marcialonga Cycling Craft is one of my favourite races and I really wanted to do well. A victory in your own region has a special taste and I particularly love Val di Fiemme because I used to come here when I was a child”. Gazzini was followed by Marica Tassinari (2:33:09) and Jessica Leonardi (2:39:19).
The race began with free coffee at the start and went through the towns of Ziano, Panchià, Tesero and Cavalese, in Val di Fiemme, before climbing to Monte San Pietro and Passo Lavazé, with the arrival in Predazzo for the medium distance, whereas the long-distance race took competitors to Moena, Passo San Pellegrino and Passo Valles, and eventually down to Predazzo after 135 km and a vertical distance of 3279 metres.
The 11th edition of the Marcialonga Cycling Craft was extremely successful and it saw the participation of cyclists form all over the world, with important challenges such as the ACSI national championship, InBici Top Challenge, Gran Fondo World Tour and Zero Wind Show.
Satisfaction was expressed by Marcialonga chairman Angelo Corradini and by GM Gloria Trettel: "It was an excellent event, competitors and collaborators were all very happy" said Corradini. "The weather did not hamper competitors and all came to the finish line without problems".
Marcialonga will end the special combined event Punto3 Craft and its long season with the Running Coop on the 3rd of September, a running race that will once again highlight its values: competition, passion, fair play and… the valleys of Fiemme and Fassa.
Info: www.marcialonga.it, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

TV image download:
www.broadcaster.it

135 km men
1 Cecchini Stefano Asd Team Privee 04:00:20; 2 Zen Enrico Asd Team Terenzi Green Paper 04:06:00; 3 Lombardi Davide Cicloteam San Ginese 04:12:59; 4 Gerarduzzi Mauro Biemme Garda Sport Team 04:13:24; 5 Mazzucco Andrea El Coridor Team Offlimit Squadra Corsa 04:13:38; 6 Minuzzo Paolo Miche-Mg.K Vis-Legend-Lgl 04:13:59; 7 Ceragioli Giuseppe Asd Team Privee 04:15:47; 8 Calliari Filippo Biemme Garda Sport Team 04:16:52; 9 Corsello Giuseppe Asd Gianluca Faenza Team 04:16:54; 10 Bury Bart S.C. Marcialonga A.S.D. 04:16:54

135 km ladies
1 Sonzogni Manuela Team Isolmant Asd 04:44:13; 2 Gentili Claudia Team Giletti 05:01:55; 3 Piancastelli Patrizia Ktm Asd Scatenati 05:06:46; 4 Lambrugo Cristina Team Isolmant Asd 05:06:51; 5 De Cesare Lisa Team Passion Faentina 05:14:34; 6 Dalpiaz Giovanna A.S.D.Cicli Fontana 05:25:47; 7 Bonfanti Monica Team Colnago Sudtirol 05:27:37; 8 Dossi Marcelliina Carina Brao Caffe 05:28:17; 9 Fumarola Vincenza Villa Rosa Bike 05:29:40; 10 Bettinazzi Erika Team De Rosa Santini 05:30:57

80 km men
1 Pontalto Andrea Ale' Cipollini Galassia 02:15:56; 2 Zamboni Andrea Carina Brao Caffe 02:15:56; 3 Nicolini Federico U.C. Valle Di Non 02:18:06; 4 Spiazzi Davide Asd Total Speed 02:18:41; 5 Orsucci Simone Cicloteam San Ginese 02:18:41; 6 Avanzo Francesco Biemme Garda Sport Team 02:18:41; 7 Bonanomi Stefano Asd Gs Perego 02:18:42; 8 Motta Alessandro Asd Gianluca Faenza Team 02:20:25; 9 Salimbeni Luigi Cicloteam San Ginese 02:20:25; 10 Zanrossi Riccardo Asd Team Rana Tagliaro 02:20:25

80 km ladies
1 Gazzini Serena Team Lapierre Trentino Ale' 02:29:49; 2 Tassinari Marica Team Passion Faentina 02:33:09; 3 Leonardi Jessica C.C. Rotaliano 02:39:19; 4 Rosa Deborah U.C. Carre' 02:39:54; 5 Zambotti Barbara Tubozeta Mg K Vis Somec 02:42:34; 6 Marchesini Arianna A.S.D. Team Borghi Racing 02:44:29; 7 Bergozza Michela Giuseppina A.S.D. Breganze Millennium 02:47:55; 8 Coato Marisa Happy Bikers 02:52:28; 9 Palazzo Lavinia A.S.D. Team Fausto Coppi Fermignano 02:53:16; 10 Mari Romina Mg. K Vis-Somec-Lgl 02:53:20