MARCEDDI' – To have a slightly trained eye it was seen since yesterday that Michael Vanthourenhout was the one who was most in form, the most convincing candidate for the victory. Only Sweek behind him, with the lead in the World Cup at stake, tried to worry him, but in the end he also let Nieuwenhuis get in his way, who took second place. In this Nordic triumph, he could not go unnoticed Filippo Agostinacchio's eighth place: second race of the season and first top 10 in the World CupDespite being a mask of black mud, the Aosta Valley native's eyes sparkle with satisfaction and a little surprise.
The race was frenetic. Unlike women, men hit the pedals with terrifying power.: this is also why their faces are dirtier at the end. They were passing so fast that they were kicking up water like motorboats: a copious amount of water, unlike even yesterday, which made the journey slower and rather challenging.
"Sincerely I didn't expect to do so well – says Agostinacchio – even though I knew I was in decent condition. Already in Turin, when I had been on my bike for 20 days, I felt my legs were good. Two weeks have passed, I refined the condition a bit and let's say that today it went above expectationsI made a mistake on the second lap because I was so eager to find myself in front. I tried to I recovered some positions in a somewhat critical point and fell. But apart from that I think I made very few mistakes."
Some technical errors
Wear the EF Education shirt. His contractual history we've already told you about it, so once the cross-country season is over, Agostinacchio will return to the ranks of the Biesse-Carrera waiting to move to the WorldTour from 2027. And if the handshakes may not be enough, his wild and powerful pedaling It will certainly become the best business card.
«Obviously it's the second race – he continues from his black mask – so I made a few more technical mistakesIn fact, I had to recover every time after the sand sections. Let's say that lap after lap I felt better and better, even on the technical sections. I gained a bit of confidence and in the end, in the last two laps, when I saw that I was fighting for the top 10, I gave it my all. Honestly, it's incredible to get my first top 10 in the World Cup in Italy, with the fans really cheering me on."
The Belgian Campaign
He liked the route. And perhaps for an athlete still searching for his best condition... the fact that there wasn't a big difference in altitude was a positive factorHis legs will now come back and will allow him to tackle the upcoming routes with greater solidity. Starting in Namur next week.
«A fun journey – says Agostinacchio – It's a shame that there were those puddles of water that made everything a bit muddy, but it was funNext week I'll be in Namur and then there's the whole Christmas campaign in Belgium. Punctual I hear it quite often, he's also my gravel coach, so we're always in touch. Let's just say the best is potentially about to begin."
An unforgettable day
He starts to move away from the barrier they pass him a water bottle so white it makes his black face even blackerThen a child asks him and he says yes. And when he starts to walk away, the fans surround him and ask him to take some selfiesYou'd expect him to be a bit confused after such a tiring, chasing race, but instead he's the one assessing the situation and telling the kid: "Put the wide angle on, so we can all fit."
The photo is taken and immortalize an unforgettable day for the great Agostinacchio brother. The press room is also buzzing with praise. They ask us if they'll see him again in the North, and we arrange to meet him in Namur. All we can do is write.
