Where were we? The Sasso Race picks up where it left off in 2022, with a two-day celebration in Sasso Marconi (BO), with many riders – from budding to pros – taking to the stage in the town at the foot of the Apennines. The highlight was the kermesse this Sunday 8 September , which saw 350 athletes at the start – divided between the granfondo route and the route reserved for hikers -, many of whom followed the four circuits to which the race belongs, namely the Deltos Cup , the Biciscout Cup (both put together by the home team Green Devils Team ), the Rampitek and the Appennino Superbike .
The real star of the day was Diego Rosa ( Torpado Kenda Factory ), a former road pro who has been back to his first love, fat tires, for a couple of years. An excellent climber, he chose his hunting ground to secure this success. With 45 km and 1500 meters of elevation gain in sight, the rider from Piedmont chose to attack immediately, on the first of the many climbs that characterize the Sasso, the one that leads to the San Silvestro area; no one was able to respond to the frenetic pace, and the opponents had no choice but to take note of one certainty: that the fight would be for the second step of the podium.
A small group of four athletes was then formed, equally divided by team: Stefano Vadrighi and Filippo Bertone ( Bottecchia Factory Team ), with Luca Accordi at the disposal of his teammate in the Zerozero team, Marco Galeotti . The quartet rode together until halfway through the race, when Galeotti opened the throttle, followed by Valdrighi: the elastic between the two continued until the last ramps, those of Monte Sole, where Galeotti took off, conquering second place.
With the MTB Granfondo cameras immortalizing the moment, after 1 hour 58 minutes and 32 seconds (at an average of over 20 km/h) Diego Rosa was able to cross the finish line with his arms raised, a few seconds before feeling the first drops of rain on the finish line in Sasso Marconi. Fifty seconds behind was Galeotti (who had always remained around a minute behind the leader throughout the race), and after another exact turn of the clock, Valdrighi concluded his race.
“ At the beginning we looked at each other a bit – Diego Rosa's words at the microphone of speaker Silvio Mevio. “ Then I knew that the first climb was the hardest one, and I said to myself “let's go, let's not take any risks”, I went at my own pace. It was a great race, also because of the route that I really liked ”.
Glass half full for Galeotti, second. “I’m happy, because Diego had more. On the first climb I tried to keep up with him, but with his constant attacks he went away. For me a second place that is as good as a first” .
In the women's field, victory for Federica Sesenna ( RF Team ). And you could say "finally!": so many podiums at Sasso (such as the second place in 2022, in the last edition held) and now the name inscribed in the roll of honor of the event. " I started immediately convinced this morning - the words of the winner, as soon as she crossed the finish line. " I kept a high pace from the beginning, trying to create a margin. I didn't know how much of an advantage I had (on the second, ed.) but I was aware of having a good advantage. I'm happy because I was feeling good, and I finally managed to win here in Sasso Marconi ”.
For Sesenna, the race was a carbon copy of Rosa's: dominance from the first ramps, with Chiara Gualald i ( BHS Team ) and Chiara Mandelli ( Team Todesco ) chasing, and arriving three and seven minutes behind respectively.
If rain was the protagonist from the second part of the race (at least for the “big group” of those who had no ambitions of ranking), the same cannot be said of Saturday, kissed by a beautiful sun that illuminated the over 250 baby riders at the start of the Sasso Baby Race , a race reserved for the very young in the categories from G1 to G6 of the Italian Cycling Federation. A beautiful show of new bikers who with their energy acted as “trailblazers” for the more experienced athletes.
Closing the day were the words of patron Massimo Cipriani , to whom due thanks are due. “ Thanks go to the municipal administration of Sasso Marconi, to our partners, to the many volunteers involved on the route and in the area of the Ca' de Testi sports center ”. “ This edition – continues Cipriani – is a good starting point for the next editions: the goal starting next year will be to further enhance the route, which has already received super positive feedback from those who ran ”.
The category winners of the Sasso Race :
Elite: Diego Rosa – Torpado Kenda Factory
Under 23: Lorenzo Biagi – Zerozero Team
Junior: Edoardo Bonafini – Gagabike Team
Elmt: Mattia Zunino – Bike O'Clock Team
M1: Luca Accordi – Zerozero Team
M2: Claudio Pollini – Ciclissimo Team
M3: Ronnie Calonaci – Bad Team
M4: Luca Chiarini – GS Poppi BP Motion
M5: Filippo Ceci – Free Bike Team
M6: Fabrizio Pezzi – Team Errepi
M7: Valentino Bandelli – Minerva Circle
M8: Agostino Oss – GSA Penne Sprint
M9: Marcello Bortolozzi – Taddei Cycles
EWS – W1: Federica Sesenna – RF Team
W2 – W3: Elisa Castaldelli – Iema MTB Team
W4 – W5: Chiara Mandelli – Team German
W6 – W8: Luisa De Lorenzo Poz – Team Estebike Zordan
The complete rankings on the endu.net website
Press release
Luca Guarneri
