The International Coppi e Bartali Week saw the MBH Bank Ballan CSB Colpack team conclude an excellent five-day race, highlighted in the final stage with Lorenzo Nespoli's 8th place and Luca Cretti's 13th place.

The rider from Brianza and the one from Bergamo arrived in the immediate chasing group behind Jay Vine from the UAE Emirates, who broke away to claim his 2nd victory (after Cesena) in the race organized by the GS Emilia of Adriano Amici. The overall classification went to Ben Tullet.

The balance sheet of the Italian-Hungarian team is excellent, with a 14th place in the team rankings, which was 7th until yesterday. A remarkable placement considering there were 8 World Tour level teams at the start. The best in the general classification is Luca Cretti, 33rd at 17'09". This is complemented by Nespoli's 2nd place at the GPM of Rocca dei Carminati and 4th place in the day's youth classification.

ASSESSMENT: "We're closing a progressively improving performance," explains Gianluca Valoti, who in the team car was supported by Rossella Dileo and Davide Martinelli — "with the guys being protagonists in several actions, confirming an improvement in form. An excellent test after the high-altitude period, which now sees us oriented towards the international races in April that we're looking at with particular attention. The only negative of the Coppi e Bartali Week was the bad weather that hit the final stages. Fortunately, it seems our guys didn't suffer health-wise."

During the race, all athletes stood out, particularly Cesare Chesini, Pavel Novak, Manuel Oioli, Diego Bracalente, Luca Cretti and Nespoli himself. The team delivered convincing performances, in line with the philosophy guiding the formation of Antonio Bevilacqua, Gabor Deak, the Ballan, D'Aprile, and Colleoni families, which is to help athletes mature international-level experiences aimed at human and professional growth.

UPCOMING RACES: We recall that today another group of riders will be racing in the Mantua area, in Montanara di Curtatone, with the GP della Battaglia, a race reserved for Elite and U23. Led by Giuseppe Dileo: at the start Balog Zsombor, Balint, Casalini, Cipollini, Fiorin and Quaranta.