What has just ended is perhaps il tricolor of the new generation. The race that marked the shift of power to millennials. From the winner, Philip Fontana, per second David Toneatti, Federico Ceolin who was one of the protagonists. And also Jacob Dorigoni (third) is 25 years old, he is not a Methuselah.
The sun rises and at the same time lengthens the shadows on the pine forest of Castel Fusano and on the Camping Roma Capitol. Ironically, it's cooler when the sun is shining than when it's cloudy in the morning. But the air is filled with the excitement of the most anticipated race. And also the most uncertain.
Oracle Fruet!
Eventually he was right Martin Fruet. Both predicting a tactical race and placing Filippo Fontana among the favorites, especially if the race is narrow. In practice: “the angel passes by and says amen”!
Four of them leave: Fontana, Ceolin, Dorigoni and Toneatti. They hit, they pull, they let go, they accelerate again, but slowly they come back Joel Bertolini, “the old man” at 28 years old. The winners of the last four titles, Gioele and Jakob, were there. As Fruet used to say!
But it's the youngsters who make the most ferocious accusations. And perhaps Ceolin wastes too much. The line gets longer. They're all with their shoulders over the front wheel: they're even pushing with their necks...
Classy fountain
Filippo Fontana is suffering, even if it doesn't seem so from the outside.
«And yet – says the new Italian champion – it is like this. In the middle part I wasn't feeling well at all and I didn't even think I would be able to keep the wheels on. Then, I don't know why, a lap and a half from the end I felt my leg starting to turn the way I wanted it to. At that point I thought about how to play my cards.
"I should have taken the technical section, the one with the narrowest ribbon, in the lead. I knew that if I got there in the lead, it would be difficult to pass me again. And so I did. I dived in with determination, pushed hard, and gained a small lead.
"Afraid of the final bridge? More than anything, the long straight before. But all in all, when I looked back, I saw that the gap was reassuring."
The Treviso of the Carabinieri He's joy personified. Between mountain biking (hence his riding skills) and cross-country, he's coming off four second-place finishes. It was time to don the Italian flag.
This has a whole different meaning. I dedicate this jersey to those who are behind it and do so much to support us. My future in this specialty? We'll see, but I want to continue... As a member of a military sports group, we prioritize mountain biking, which is an Olympic sport. For now, I'm thinking about honoring this jersey as best I can."
Toneatti laughs
Davide Toneatti was the one who was happy and played a bit like Fontana in 2022. The rider of theAstana Qazaqstan Development Team He could have run with the U23s, but given his performance, he decided to raise the bar early. And like Fontana last year, when he too was an U23, he finished second.
"I'm glad we're all young. Maybe this will give the movement a boost." – explains Toneatti after the finish – I decided to race with the elite after the race in Turin. I saw that the values were there. But then after the trip to Belgium, which didn't go very well, I started having some doubts again, but in the end I made this choice."
«It was a good race. The difference on this course was not easy and In fact, it was also a tactical race. It's no coincidence that we had a bit of a fight on the last lap!
"Right now I'm thinking about the World Championships, then we'll see. I'd like to continue doing cross-country skiing. Maybe even a little less, but I think that's what matters in the end, too. What did the road to cross-country give me? It certainly gave me something in the sections where I have to push and relaunch. I really feel like my legs are responding differently. And what did I lose? A bit of guidance... at least initially."
