A royal sprint by the fantastic Irma Siri in the 30th edition of the "Province of Pordenone Tour", a prestigious national race for the open category, which took place on Sunday, August 3rd on the Friulian roads of Valvasone Arzene (PN). The eighteen-year-old from Vallecrosia (IM), achieving her first success in the top category after excellent results as a junior, beat in a sprint Chantal Pegolo from Pasiano di Pordenone (PN) (U.C. Conscio Pedale del Sile), who was the strongest among juniors, and twenty-one-year-old Giulia Vallotto from Salzano (Team Mendelspek e-work).

For Lucio Rigato's glorious team, this is the third consecutive success on these same roads, after victories by Giorgia Bariani in 2023 and Marta Pavesi last year. The event, perfectly organized by the Valvasone Cycling Association under President Michele Zilli's direction, also awarded the twenty-fifth "Ligido Zilli CONI Bronze Star Memorial" and was sponsored by the Municipalities of Valvasone Arzene, San Martino al Tagliamento, San Giorgio della Richinvelda, and 'I am Friuli Venezia Giulia', a brand promoting the cultural and sporting realities of the Friulian regional territory. Notable was also the precious collaboration with G.S. Macelleria Fratelli Vicenzutto, A.S.D. Bandiziol Cycling Team, Libertas Ceresetto, A.S.D. Sammardenchia, A.S.D. U.C. Sandanielesi, Valvasone Alpine Group, and A.S.D. USVAS Calcio.

139 athletes responded to the Friulian organizers' invitation (70 elite and 69 juniors), who competed over 108 kilometers on the traditional almost completely flat city circuit, 13,500 meters long, repeated eight times. Twenty-five teams were at the start: Top Girls – Fassa Bortolo, Zhiraf Pagliaccia, Horizons Cycling Club, Biesse – Carrera – Premac, Petrucci Gauss Cycling Team, A.S.D. Velodrome Marcon, Breganze Millenium, Born to Win Zhiraf BTC City Ljubljana, Isolmant – Premac – Vittoria, Bft Burzoni – Vo2 Team Pink, Libertas Ceresetto, Team Lady Zuliani, Aromitalia 3T Vaiano, Meblo Jogi Pro – Concrete, 2000 Ricambi, Pika Team by Mastercard, A.S.D. Club Corridonia SC, U.C. Conscio Pedale del Sile, Ciclistica Omnia Imola, FDB Sport Club, Team Wilier Breganze, C.C. Canturino 1902 ASD, Team Mendelspek e-work, Vaiano Bike and Pro Cycling Team Fanini. Ten nations were represented: Italy, Ukraine, Australia, San Marino, Cyprus, Slovenia, Romania, Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland.

The race came alive just before the halfway point, thanks to the well-orchestrated action by Friulian Asia Zontone from Buja (Isolmant - Premac - Vittoria) and Treviso's Sara Luccon (Top Girls - Fassa Bortolo), both fresh from participating in the "Giro d'Italia Women UCI WWT". The two breakaway riders, who reached a maximum advantage of about thirty seconds over the group, were caught during the penultimate lap, thanks to the excellent work by the Aromitalia 3T Vaiano team. A few kilometers from the finish, juniors Emma Gottoli (Team Wilier Breganze) and Maria Acuti (Biesse - Carrera - Premac) tried to break away, but their attempt was well controlled by the group, eager to contest the final sprint. Three kilometers from the end, a crash in the first part of the group disrupted many teams' plans, allowing a group of about twenty athletes to take the lead. The restricted sprint was decisive and rewarded an excellent Irma Siri, who could raise her arms to the sky in the typical triumph gesture.

"This beautiful success is truly unexpected, and I can hardly believe it" - emphasized the sympathetic Ligurian girl at the end of the competition - "the crash in the final kilometers also disrupted our plans. Fortunately, I found myself at the front, and with my teammates, I decided to launch into the final sprint. I dedicate this victory to Samuele Privitera, a dear friend of all of us who we miss more and more every day..." suddenly interrupted by sincere tears were the words of a generous Irma Siri, who on the podium was awarded by Valvasone Arzene Mayor Fulvio Avoledo, Pordenone Provincial FCI Committee representative Gilberto Pittarella, Valvasone Arzene Municipal Councilor Maurizio Cherubin, and AICS Pordenone President Giorgio Mior. The "Province of Pordenone Tour - Ligido Zilli CONI Bronze Star Memorial" was also valid as the inaugural event of the fourth edition of the "Female Open Challenge Friuli Venezia Giulia - Morfeo Gadget Trophy", promoted by A.C.D. Valvasone and A.S.D. Unione Ciclisti Sandanielesi. The second and final test, the fourth edition of the "San Daniele Rosa City Cup", will take place on Sunday, October 5th in San Daniele del Friuli (UD). The first leader of the prestigious points challenge is, of course, Ligurian Irma Siri. (Photos by Flaviano Ossola)

OPEN CATEGORY FINISH ORDER

1) Siri Irma (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo) 108 Km in 2h26'43" at an average of 44.167 Km/h

2) Pegolo Chantal (UC Conscio Pedale del Sile)

3) Vallotto Giulia (Team Mendelspek e-work)

4) Crestanello Lara (Born to Win Zhiraf BTC City Ljubljana)

5) Orsi Alessia (Bft Burzoni - Vo2 Team Pink)

6) Reghini Chiara (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

7) Murro Camilla (Libertas Ceresetto)

8) Bortoli Virginia (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

9) Laghi Clarissa (Breganze Millenium)

10) Guichardaz Sofia (Libertas Ceresetto)

ELITE CATEGORY FINISH ORDER

1) Siri Irma (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

2) Vallotto Giulia (Team Mendelspek e-work)

3) Crestanello Lara (Born to Win Zhiraf BTC City Ljubljana)

4) Reghini Chiara (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

5) Bortoli Virginia (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

6) Sklyarova Yelizaveta (Born to Win Zhiraf BTC City Ljubljana)

7) Giordani Arianna (Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria)

8) Zambelli Alessia (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

9) Luccon Sara (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

10) Castagna Monica (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo)

JUNIOR CATEGORY FINISH ORDER

1) Pegolo Chantal (UC Conscio Pedale del Sile)

2) Orsi Alessia (Bft Burzoni - Vo2 Team Pink)

3) Murro Camilla (Libertas Ceresetto)

4) Laghi Clarissa (Breganze Millenium)

5) Guichardaz Sofia (Libertas Ceresetto)

6) Segala Sara (Team Wilier Breganze)

7) Marinetto Ilaria (Breganze Millenium)

8) Deotto Eleonora (Breganze Millenium)

9) Rossignoli Matilde (Bft Burzoni-Vo2 Team Pink)

10) Bezzone Camilla (Bft Burzoni-Vo2 Team Pink)