There was a double victory for Italian teams in  Trofeo Vanoni, the classic autumn relay race (with three men’s elements and two women’s elements) organised by the GS CSI Morbegno in Morbegno (Italy): the Società Atletica Valchiese ousted France and won a long sought-after triumph among men, while Atletica Alta Valtellina won among women. 

MEN’S RACE 

There were as many as 155 trios at the start of this race, which attracted athletes from Mexico and from all over Europe.

Alberto Vender immediately set off at full speed, determined to take that first team place he has so often missed out on. At the end of the climb, Vender teamed up with Andrea Elia (La Recastello), who, as an excellent Italian vertical champion, gave his best. He was followed by Michael Galassi (US Aldo Moro Paluzza), Tiziano Moia (Gemonatletica) and Matthieu Le Fur (France). The descent saw Vender flying towards Vanoni Street (with the best time of the day of 29’52 ‘, the only one to go under 30 minutes), while behind him, with a 31’ gap, the US Paluzza changed, launching Rok Bratina. After another 15′, Team Caledonia passed the baton between Ross Gollan and Ewan Brown. Fourth at the changeover was England under 23, and fifth was La Recastello. Marco Filosi did not give up in the second stage and held the lead. Behind the Valchiese placed La Recastello with Luciano Rota. Following the second change, the British of Team Caledonia, the US Aldo Moro Paluzza, Gemonatletica Atletica, England and France, which, with an Alric Petit with the handbrake off on the downhill, broke away in the lead. In the third and final leg, Luca Merli started with a lead of over a minute, and Ennio Colò began to dream. Jean-Claude Louison relied on European bronze medallist Théodore Klein, who recovered five positions and brought France into second place at the Dosso. By now, the it was all over. The Valchiese won with a time of 1h31’04 ‘, leaving France at 1’25’, who gave up the sceptre after four consecutive victories. Fabio Ruga (La Recastello) gritted his teeth and held onto third position with a final time of 1h33’58’. Four teams from the United Kingdom followed: fourth was Team Caledonia (1h34’06 ‘), fifth England under 23 (1h34’37’), sixth England (1h35’12 ‘), and seventh Scotland (1h36’14’). The top ten was completed by US Aldo Moro Paluzza (1h37’09 ‘), Mexico (1h37’48’) and Snowdon Race Team (1h37’51”).

Best under 23 Matthew Knowles (England), best master A Great Britain with Rob Hope, Ben Mounsey and Shaun Godsman, best master B the British Karl Gray, Ian Holmes and Paul Cornforth. The regional relay title went to the Recastello Radici Group of Andrea Elia, Luciano Rota and Fabio Ruga: silver to the Recastello Radici Group’ B’ team (Francesco Bongio, Marco Zanga, Mirko Bertolini), third to the GSA Sovere (Pierluca Armati, Nicola Piffari, Alessandro Bianchi).

WOMEN’S RACE

Great numbers (55 relays at the start for 110 women), great level (with national teams from Mexico, England, Scotland, North Wales, Ireland, Poland, Slovenia and the best Italians), great spectators and super cheers for everyone.

Once again, this year, the women’s Vanoni lived up to expectations, with its relay formula making the race even more exciting and hard-fought. Last year’s winner, Elisa Sortini set off at full speed, followed by the Englishwoman Eve Pannone (Snowdon Race Team), Arianna Oregioni (GP Santi), Italian champion Luna Giovanetti (Atl. Valle di Cembra) and the Mexican Arian Yveth Chia Hernandez. Thus, they came down in order at the GPM in the Dosso locality, with Sortini having a four-second lead over Pannone.

On the descent, the Atletica Alta Valtellina athlete did not spare herself, and at the famous ‘jump’, the advantage rose to 23 seconds. Behind her Beatrice Bianchi (La Recastello), who we know to be a great downhill runner (in fact, she recorded the best downhill time of the day with 8’58 ‘, the only one to go under 9 minutes) and in fact at the change she was third, behind Elisa Sortini (second best time with 22’36’), Eve Pannone (23’02 ‘); changes in fourth position the English Alice Crene (23’13’ at her first Vanoni) of the A team and fifth Mexico, new entry of this edition. In the second leg, a wild Emmie Collinge (Atl. Valtellina) increased her lead considerably, so much so that she climbed 1’42’ ahead of Emilia Platt (England sq. A), with Mexico moving up to third place thanks to Mariel Tapia Salazar. Involved in the victory was Collinge, behind her pushed hard by Alice Gaggi (La Recastello), who grabbed second place against England, who finished third, overtaking Mexico. There was an excellent fifth place for Poland, thanks mainly to the second stage of the former professional cyclist Sylwia Kapusta. To complete the top ten: England team A, Scotland, England team C, Atletica Malignani Libertas and Atletica Valle Brembana, which, with Elisa Rebucini and Claudia Locatelli, is bronze in the Absolute Regional Championships behind Alta Valtellina and Recastello.

The final times of Collinge and Sortini, respectively the best time of the day with 22’12 ‘and the second best time with 22’36’, are one second off the Gaggi/Belotti record (44’48”). They therefore promised to return next year to lower it. Bianchi and Gaggi also promised that they would do everything to win next year.

It was a great result for Mexico, happy to have come to Morbegno and impressed by the warm welcome, and great results for England, which placed its three relays in the top ten.

Photo credits: Davide Vaninetti, Angelo Elio Testa, Roberto Ganassa, Fabio Vedovatti