On the Abruzzo roads, another success for Autozai Contri with Marco Andrea Pierotto, who sealed the third stage of the Abruzzo Juniors Tour connecting Casalincontrada to Cepagatti over a distance of 97.5 kilometers, while Alessandro Baruzzi (Aspiratori Otelli Alchem Cwc) maintained the overall leadership for the second consecutive day.

The Abruzzo Juniors Tour, organized by Vomano Bike and Parmegiani Management, received a warm welcome in Casalincontrada as the starting location, with 133 riders taking off. Mayor Vincenzo Mammarella, the entire municipal council, and the local stage committee, led by Remo Colalongo, expressed their full support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of hosting such a significant sporting event in the territory.

Great enthusiasm was also present in Cepagatti, where the stage was paired with the ninth edition of La Corsa del Dottor Carlo, a now-established event in the Abruzzo youth cycling landscape. The event is much more than a race: it's a tribute to the sporting spirit and values embodied by Dr. Carlo Santuccione, a passionate doctor and great supporter of sports. Deeply connected to the Cepagatti community, Santuccione left an indelible mark, celebrated each year with this prestigious competition, once again renewing the partnership with the Abruzzo Juniors Tour for 2025.

A six-rider breakaway animated the stage, keeping the main group on edge for most of the race. The protagonists of this action were Daniele Forlin (Nordest Villadose Angelo Gomme), Marco Andrea Pierotto (Autozai Contri), Andrea Quaresima (Nordest Villadose Angelo Gomme), the Polish rider Marcin Wlodarski (Aspiratori Otelli Alchem Cwc), the Australian Alexander Correll (Veleka Team), and Lorenzo Guglielmi (Pedale Casalese Armofer).

The collaboration among the six escapees allowed them to gradually increase their advantage, which reached a maximum of 2 minutes.

With the group unable to close the gap on the breakaway, the climb at Sant'Agata, included in the route for the first time, thinned out the field, and in the final kilometers, two riders battled for the stage victory: the Vicenza native Pierotto won a narrow sprint over Forlin, while behind, Wlodarski secured third place and narrowly missed reopening the contest. The group behind was led in the sprint by Marco Zoco (Gb Team Pool Cantù), Alessio Magagnotti (Autozai Contri), and Baruzzi.

On the awards podium, the day's protagonists were honored by representatives of the Santuccione and Creati families, along with Edoardo Salvoldi (technical commissioner of the Italian junior national team), Annalisa Palozzo (deputy mayor of Cepagatti), Mauro Marrone (president of the Abruzzo regional FCI committee), Fabio Cascini (reference for the Cepagatti stage committee), and Riccardo Bonelli (representing the Casalincontrada Pro Loco).

Sunday, May 4th, the fourth and final stage will be in Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata, in memory of Albino Di Matteo, Donnino and Marino Marcozzi. Starting at 11:00, riders will cover 101.2 km in eight initial short laps of 8.5 km between Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata and Ancarano. Then a large 33 km loop where they will climb the most challenging hill on the route, located between Santa Reparata and Civitella del Tronto. After descending from Civitella, they will pass through Ancarano before reaching the finish line in Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata.

STAGE RESULTS THIRD STAGE CASALINCONTRADA - CEPAGATTI

1st Marco Andrea Pierotto (Autozai Contri) 97.5 kilometers in 2:22'54" average 40.938 km/h

2nd Daniele Forlin (Nordest Villadose Angelo Gomme) at 2"

3rd Marcin Wlodarski (GS Aspiratori Otelli Alchem CWC) at 6"

4th Marco Zoco (GB Team Pool Cantù A.S.D.) at 13"

5th Alessio Magagnotti (Autozai Contri) at 18"

6th Francesco Baruzzi (GS Aspiratori Otelli Alchem CWC)

7th Luciano William Gaggioli (Polisportiva Monsummanese)

8th Alessandro Battistoni (Fior di Grano Tris Stampi)

9th Nicola Cerame (Lucchini Energy-Team Franco Ballerini)

10th Vincenzo Carosi (Work Service Coratti)

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER 3RD STAGE

1st Francesco Baruzzi (Aspiratori Otelli Alchem Cwc) 7:16'21"

2nd Alessio Magagnotti (Autozai - Contri) at 2"

3rd Vincenzo Carosi (Work Service Coratti) at 3"

4th Matteo Turconi (Bustese Olonia) at 4"

5th Niccolò Iacchi (Lucchini Energy-Team Franco Ballerini)

6th Giacomo Dentelli (Gb Team Pool Cantù)

7th Lorenzo Campagnolo (Borgo Molino Vigna Fiorita)

8th Mattia Proietti Gagliardoni (Lucchini Energy-Team Franco Ballerini)

9th Filippo Grigolini (Borgo Molino Vigna Fiorita) at 5"

10th Ilya Slesarenko (Blr, Veleka Team)

ABRUZZO TOUR JERSEYS

Blue general classification by time: Francesco Baruzzi (Aspiratori Otelli Alchem Cwc).

Red individual points classification: Alessio Magagnotti (Autozai Contri).

Green mountain classification: Daniele Forlin (Nordest Villadose Angelo Gomme).

White young riders (born in 2008): Vincenzo Carosi (Work Service Coratti).

Stage three results available at this link https://ciclismo.ficr.it/#/CIC/risultati/Giro%20D'Abruzzo%20Juniores%202025/2025/18/1525/3