The 16th seasonal victory for the MBH Bank Ballan CSB Colpack team arrives at the Gran Premio Fornasiero, concluded in Corte - Piove di Sacco, in the heart of Veneto. Signing the success is Luca Cretti, with his second personal win of 2025, which enhances an extraordinary month and sees the Bergamo rider's personal record becoming increasingly significant. In 2025, he has collected 2 victories, 3 second places (including yesterday's at Monte Cengio, narrowly missing the big win) and 2 third places.

A different success from previous ones, often obtained on steep climbs: this time the victory comes on a flat, technical, and tricky course, complicated by the distance (177 km), the presence of tight curves, stretches of gravel, and winding roads that required maximum attention throughout the race.

Cretti crossed the finish line solo after a courageous and attacking race, thus giving the team of Antonio Bevilacqua, Gabor Deak, and the Ballan, D'Aprile, and Colleoni families a new significant achievement.

Notably, after 3h 54'54", Cretti didn't even raise his arms, such was the adrenaline with the breath of the pursuers on his neck. The race average was 45.236 km/h, beating Marco Manenti (Team Hopplà) by 6" and Stefano Leali (GC Sissio Team), who came third. Also worth mentioning is Samuel Quaranta's return to the top 10, finishing 7th.

Luca Cretti's words "It's a great satisfaction. A victory that redeems the anger from yesterday, when we were narrowly beaten in the sprint at Monte Cengio by Nicola Zumsteg. Today I earned it: it took everything - head, tactics, heart. Winning on flat terrain, for me as a climber, has a special flavor. With 20 km to go, I broke away with eight others. Initially, I stayed covered, knowing I had fast teammates like Quaranta, Cipollini, Fiorin, and Ambrosini in the group behind. I played everything on the gravel section with 4 km to go. We were three, then I gave it my all, dropping the others with a powerful move. I knew I had the legs, and believing makes the difference. After yesterday's disappointment, this was exactly what I needed."

The future. "Now I would like to be at the start of the Friuli Tour and September's professional races, to take another step in my growth".

DS Flavio Miozzo's comment. "It was a poker game, played with intelligence. When Cretti's breakaway seemed about to be reabsorbed, the sprinters were ready to activate. The guys were good at following instructions, keeping calm, and taking their responsibilities. Cretti in front, the others controlling behind without closing. Congratulations to Luca for the strength shown: he won a technical, selective race with high-level opponents.

FINISH ORDER
km 177 in 3h 54'54 avg/h 45.236

1 CRETTI Luca MBHBank Ballan CSB Colpack
2 MANENTI Marco Team Hopplà 6"
3 LEALI Stefano GC Sissio Team
4 FRATICELLI Luca Trevigiani Energiapura Marchiol
5 PEZZO ROSOLA Kevin General Store Essegibi F.lli Curia
6 LORELLO Riccardo Team Hopplà 14"
7 QUARANTA Samuel MBHBank Ballan CSB Colpack
8 BASEGGIO Matteo SC Padovani Polo Cherry Bank
9 LAVELLI Damiano GC Sissio Team
10 DIGNANI Filippo Sam Vitalcare Dynatek