The sky remained overcast and threatening for much of the day, the temperature finally restored typically autumnal sensations, but at Rivellino Park the anticipation from the eve did not change: the third stage of the Regional Cyclocross Tour was a spectacle of sport, friendship and colors. The atmosphere was warmed by none other than the athletes themselves, protagonists of a Sunday of high competitive intensity in the heart of the Friuli Collinare Community.

The first figure recorded in the archives is that of participation. With 480 starters in Sunday's races plus 180 very young riders on Saturday, Osoppo set a new record for the Regional Cyclocross Tour, confirming the extraordinary expectations raised on the eve by the remarkable participation of clubs and athletes. To Sunday's numbers are added those of the Junior Cross held on Saturday, completing a weekend that brought hundreds of young people, companions and industry professionals to Rivellino.

The twentieth edition of the Jonathan Tabotta Memorial, organized by Jam's Bike Team Buja with the collaboration and supervision of ASD Romano Scotti, offered technically rich races. The course laid out among ditches, embankments and continuous changes of direction required precision in handling, ability to accelerate and attention in choosing trajectories. The ground remained rideable, but the overcast sky and cool air accompanied the entire day with a climate finally close to the most authentic nature of cyclocross.

Particularly interesting were the races of the international categories, followed with attention by the technical commissioner of the Italian National Team Daniele Pontoni. Some of the athletes observed in the first three stages of the Tour will now depart for a federal training camp: the presence of the pink-and-blue jerseys in the convened group confirms the technical value assumed by the circuit in this first part of the season.

The Osoppo weekend also renewed the memory of Jonathan Tabotta, to whom the event has been dedicated for twenty years. Memory, the participation of families and the work of volunteers continued to live alongside the races, in the fiftieth anniversary of the Friuli earthquake, in a territory that was able to rebuild through solidarity and the strength of its communities.

To sum up the stage was Fausto Scotti, president of ASD Romano Scotti: "Osoppo gave us a participation never reached before by the Regional Cyclocross Tour. It is a result that rewards the work of Jam's Bike Team Buja, the administrations and the many people who made time and energy available. I thank the clubs, which arrived in large numbers from every part of Italy and also from abroad, and the families who continue to follow us, but today a thought also goes to Carlo Macci, historic race director and great friend of my father Romano, who left us. For our family he was a dear and authentic presence. We greet him with deep emotion and gratitude. The technical level of the races was very high and the presence of several athletes observed with an eye to the national team confirms that the Tour is fully fulfilling its function. Now we leave Osoppo with gratitude and prepare to conclude the Friuli trilogy on Monte Zoncolan".

Few words, as is her style, from Gessyca Baldassa, president of Jam's Bike Team Buja: "We are very happy. The participation record is the most beautiful reward for all the people who worked on the preparation of the Memorial. I thank the volunteers, the clubs and all those who were close to us".

The president of the Regional Committee FCI Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Michele Bevilacqua, stated: "Such a large presence represents an important signal for the entire regional movement. Jam's Bike Team Buja and ASD Romano Scotti organized an event of great value, supported by concrete collaboration with the territory. Osoppo offered spectacular and technically significant races, especially for young people who are approaching international activity. Friuli-Venezia Giulia once again confirms its vocation for cyclocross".

Closing the remarks was Marco Zontone, vice-mayor of Buja and founding member of Jam's Bike Team Buja: "The Jonathan Tabotta Memorial has grown while maintaining intact the bond with the people and places from which it was born. Seeing Rivellino so full rewards the work done during the year and demonstrates how effective collaboration between municipalities, sports clubs and volunteers can be. The participation record makes us proud, but it also gives us the responsibility to continue to grow this event without losing its original spirit".

Race Report

JUNIORS – Only one second separated Francesco Dell'Olio and Giovanni Bosio at the end of the 40-minute race. On the final straightaway, Dell'Olio found the necessary momentum to overtake the ASD DP66 Pinarello rider and secure a particularly significant victory also in terms of the general classification. Third place went to Michel Careri, followed by Alessio Borile and Massimo Bagnariol. Dell'Olio's success at Osoppo also earned him the new pink-and-blue jersey of the Regional Cyclocross Tour.
1st Francesco Dell'Olio (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)
2nd Giovanni Bosio (ASD DP66 Pinarello)
3rd Michel Careri (CX Devo Guerciotti)
4th Alessio Borile (ASD DP66 Pinarello)
5th Massimo Bagnariol (B-Team Cycling Project)
Pink-and-blue jersey: Francesco Dell'Olio (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)

WOMEN JUNIORS – Local favorite Azzurra Rizzi, riding for Jam's Bike Team Buja, secured victory with a time of 37'54", ahead of Rachele Cafueri by 15 seconds. Nicole Righetto completed the podium 23 seconds behind the winner. Beatrice Maifré and Sara Peruta took fourth and fifth place respectively. The victory allowed Azzurra Rizzi to strengthen her lead in the Women Juniors classification.
1st Azzurra Rizzi (Jam's Bike Team Buja)
2nd Rachele Cafueri (ASD GS Sorgente Pradipozzo)
3rd Nicole Righetto (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)
4th Beatrice Maifré (Ale CX Team ASD)
5th Sara Peruta (Ale CX Team ASD)
White jersey: Azzurra Rizzi (Jam's Bike Team Buja)

WOMEN OPEN – Second consecutive victory in the Regional Cyclocross Tour for Carlotta Borello, who after Tarvisio repeated her success on the Osoppo course. The Team Cingolani-Specialized rider finished in 50'17", ahead of Elisa Ferri by 48 seconds. Giorgia Pellizzotti secured third place, followed by Nicole Azzetti and Sabrina Rizzi. The result allowed Borello to take the lead in the general classification.
1st Carlotta Borello (Team Cingolani-Specialized)
2nd Elisa Ferri (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)
3rd Giorgia Pellizzotti (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)
4th Nicole Azzetti (Ale CX Team ASD)
5th Sabrina Rizzi (Team Sogno Veneto)
Pink-and-blue jersey: Carlotta Borello (Team Cingolani-Specialized)

MEN OPEN – The main race rewarded Stefano Viezzi, who completed the race in 58'41". The Friuli rider from Alpecin-Premier Tech Development finished five seconds ahead of Gioele Bertolini and seven seconds ahead of Filippo Grigolini, with Tommaso Ferri fourth ten seconds behind the winner. The tight gaps among the top four testified to the balance that characterized the top competition. Tommaso Tabotta completed the top five. Pietro Cao, ninth at the finish, retained both the pink-and-blue jersey and the white jersey.
1st Stefano Viezzi (Alpecin-Premier Tech Development)
2nd Gioele Bertolini (Ale CX Team ASD)
3rd Filippo Grigolini (Decathlon CMA CGM CX)
4th Tommaso Ferri (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)
5th Tommaso Tabotta (B-Team Cycling Project)
Pink-and-blue jersey: Pietro Cao (ASD GS Sorgente Pradipozzo)
White jersey: Pietro Cao (ASD GS Sorgente Pradipozzo)

WOMEN YOUTH – Irene Righetto secured victory ahead of Zoe Del Ponte and Anna Mombello.
1st Irene Righetto (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)
2nd Zoe Del Ponte (ASD GS Sorgente Pradipozzo)
3rd Anna Mombello (Cinghiali Evolution Armofer)
Blue jersey: Zoe Del Ponte (ASD GS Sorgente Pradipozzo)

MEN YOUTH 1ST YEAR – Nicolò Ferrari claimed victory ahead of Mattia Meniconi and Fabio Pisarra. Second place allowed Meniconi to retain the white jersey.
1st Nicolò Ferrari (CX Devo Guerciotti)
2nd Mattia Meniconi (A Favore del Ciclismo ASD)
3rd Fabio Pisarra (S.C. Alfredo Binda)
White jersey: Mattia Meniconi (A Favore del Ciclismo ASD)

MEN YOUTH 2ND YEAR – Second consecutive victory for Luca Ferro, already winner at Tarvisio. Behind him were Nicolò Maglietti and Alberto Finetto.
1st Luca Ferro (ASD DP66 Pinarello)
2nd Nicolò Maglietti (Cinghiali Evolution Armofer)
3rd Alberto Finetto (Hellas Monteforte)
Blue jersey: Alberto Finetto (Hellas Monteforte)

MEN BEGINNERS 1ST YEAR – Vittorio Trentin prevailed ahead of Lorenzo Mazzucotelli and Loris Agliano.
1st Vittorio Trentin (G.S. Mosole)
2nd Lorenzo Mazzucotelli (Team Senaghese Guerrini)
3rd Loris Agliano (MTB Academy Giaveno)
White jersey: Vittorio Trentin (G.S. Mosole)

MEN BEGINNERS 2ND YEAR – Pablo Zanolini claimed victory. Massimo Peretti finished in second place, while Stefano Toffoli completed the podium.
1st Pablo Zanolini (Ale CX Team ASD)
2nd Massimo Peretti (G.S. Avis Bike Amelia)
3rd Stefano Toffoli (Società Sportiva Sanfiorese)
Blue jersey: Nicolò Causero (B-Team Cycling Project)

WOMEN BEGINNERS 1ST YEAR – Marta Daffini secured victory ahead of Nicole Tongiorgi and Nicole Brollo.
1st Marta Daffini (CX Devo Guerciotti)
2nd Nicole Tongiorgi (Jam's Bike Team Buja)
3rd Nicole Brollo (G.C. Montegrappa ASD)
Blue jersey: Nicole Tongiorgi (Jam's Bike Team Buja)

WOMEN BEGINNERS 2ND YEAR – Another victory for Diletta Bandiziol, already winner in the first two stages of the Tour. The B-Team Cycling Project rider finished ahead of Beatrice Di Pardo and Eleonora Lombardi.
1st Diletta Bandiziol (B-Team Cycling Project)
2nd Beatrice Di Pardo (Velo Club Cattolica)
3rd Eleonora Lombardi (CX Devo Guerciotti)
Blue jersey: Diletta Bandiziol (B-Team Cycling Project)