The 18th City of San Vendemiano Trophy, also valid as the 65th Industry and Commerce GP, delivered great emotions in today's race on the roads of the Marca Trevigiana, organized by the San Vendemiano Cycling Club under President Fabrizio Furlan.

THE RACE - The international Under 23 event saw 162 athletes from 29 teams worldwide at the start. The race began with a lightning-fast pace, with the peloton rolling through San Vendemiano's city circuit, featuring numerous breakaway attempts that ultimately proved unsuccessful. The day's narrative unfolded during the five hilly laps including passages over the Formeniga climb and the Ca' del Poggio Wall.

The high pace kept the race alive, even when a seven-rider breakaway formed, consisting of Tommaso Bosio (General Store), Ronan O'Connor (Skyline), Trym Brennsaeter (Tirol KTM), David Pauman (Tirol KTM), Matthias Gusner (WSA KTM), Leonardo Volpato (Campana Imballaggi) and Dean Harvey (Martigues). On the penultimate hilly lap, six more riders joined the seven, creating a 13-rider group from which Marco Schrettl launched his winning move.

The Austrian national champion, riding for Team Tirol KTM, managed to force the pace, gaining about twenty seconds on his immediate chasers and racing towards San Vendemiano. Behind him, an eight-rider chase group formed, including Lorenzo Masciarelli and Lorenzo Nespoli (MBH Bank Ballan), Filippo Turconi (VF Group Bardiani), Filippo Agostinacchio (Biesse Carrera), Juan José Prieto De Luna (Petrolike), Ronan O'Connor (Skyline), Dean Harvey (Martigues) and Mykhailo Baraba (Uc Monaco).

The final battle, however, smiled upon Marco Schrettl, who maintained the necessary coolness and lucidity to prevent being caught by the chasers, arriving on the San Vendemiano finish straight with a minimal but sufficient advantage to secure an extraordinary international victory. Completing the podium were Mexican rider Juan José Prieto De Luna (Petrolike) and Valle d'Aosta's Filippo Agostinacchio (Biesse Carrera).

STATEMENTS - First seasonal victory for Marco Schrettl, born in 2003: "I really wanted to do well in this race and can't believe I managed to win. I'm incredibly happy; in the finale, I gave everything I had to reach the finish line: winning like this is beautiful. I want to dedicate this success to the entire team that was close to me and supported me at its best today".

Enthusiastic and satisfied at the end of the day was President Fabrizio Furlan: "It was an extraordinary day, we experienced a beautiful and uncertain race until the very end. I want to thank all the collaborators, the Municipal Administration, and the sponsors for the support they guaranteed us again this year, allowing us to set up this event in the best possible way".

FINAL STANDINGS

1st Marco Schrettl (Tirol KTM)
completing 171.6 km in 3h54'41" at an average of 43.872 km/h
2nd José Juan Prieto De Luna (Petrolike) at 9"
3rd Filippo Agostinacchio (Biesse Carrera)
4th Filippo Turconi (VF Group Bardiani CSF)
5th Mykhailo Basaraba (Uc Monaco)
6th Lorenzo Masciarelli (MBH Bank Ballan)
7th Dean Harvey (Martigues)
8th Ronan O'Connor (Team Skyline)
9th Lorenzo Nespoli (MBH Bank Ballan) at 13"
10th Lachlan Mnabb (Martigues) at 1'12"