Zoncolan has once again shown its most authentic and severe face. The soft terrain, technical passages and a demanding course, worthy of a World Cup event, provided the backdrop for the 3rd ZonCross Classic International, organized by ASD Carnia Bike under the supervision of ASD Romano Scotti.

The day also centered on the memory of Stelio Pittin, father of Alessandro, Olympic champion in Nordic combined. The presence of his wife Miriam made the bond between the event, the territory and a family that represents an important part of Carnia's sporting history even deeper. Approximately 500 participants in total came from every corner of Italy for the two-day cyclocross event.

The organization led by president Fabio Forgiarini could count on the tireless work of Vanessa Zagar, the true beating heart of the event, always present on the field without failing to contribute behind the scenes. Also important was the participation of sports and institutional authorities, including Stefano Bandolin, vice-president of the FCI, Alessandro Brancati of the National Off-Road Commission, technical commissioner Daniele Pontoni, returning from a gathering in Basilicata, provincial FCI president Davide Specogna, regional councilor Stefano Mazzolini and regional councilor Manuele Ferrari, who supported the initiative despite a complex phase for public budgets.

The story of today's races

MEN'S OPEN – Spectacle and plot twists in the most anticipated race of the day, featuring a prestigious lineup. On the slopes of Zoncolan, the present and future of Italian cyclocross faced off: Gioele Bertolini, ten-time Italian champion, and Stefano Viezzi, local hero, already a junior world champion and now part of one of the most important teams in the world.
For nearly half the race the group remained compact. Pink-and-blue jersey wearer Pietro Cao tried to impose his pace before losing some ground. A Bertolini-Viezzi tandem then formed at the front, closely followed by Samuele Grigolini. The two leaders battled without holding back, but neither managed to prevail over the other.

The balance broke three laps from the finish when a puncture on the rear wheel forced Viezzi to change bikes. Bertolini took the lead and Grigolini launched in pursuit, about forty seconds behind. Restarting in third position, Viezzi recovered ground until he reached and passed Grigolini, but could no longer catch up with the Valtellinese rider. Bertolini thus crossed the finish line first, ahead of Viezzi and Grigolini, whose third place earned him the pink jersey.

Behind them, Christian Cominelli completed a comeback of great substance: delayed by a problem at the start and passing through the first corner in last place, he recovered to fourth position. More unfortunate was Leonardo Schiavo, sixth after being among the protagonists for a long time, before a series of mishaps slowed his race.

"Viezzi and Grigolini were right behind and wouldn't give an inch – Bertolini commented – When Viezzi attacked, I had to grit my teeth for two laps because the pace was really very high. Then unfortunately he punctured and at that moment I managed to gain those thirty or forty seconds that I managed in the final. It went well that way. In the first race of the season I still had some uncertainty, but already in the second I felt good sensations. Today a victory came that was also favored by a lucky episode, but my condition is improving and my legs are turning well. It's important because the most important appointments are approaching".

For the Alpecin rider: "It was a beautiful race on a very demanding course, here at the foot of Zoncolan. Unfortunately, halfway through the race, a puncture compromised my chance to fight for the victory: we were down to two and I was battling it out with Gioele. These are episodes that are part of the game. The Carnia Bike organization proposed a very beautiful race in a suggestive place. For me, racing in Friuli always has a special value".

The comment from the new pink-and-blue jersey wearer, Grigolini: "It was a demanding race, also because I was away during the week and could train little. I still held on until the end. Today Gioele and Stefano really had good legs: I tried to stay with them but couldn't make it. I'm still happy I tried".

1st Bertolini Gioele (Ale Cx Team Asd)
2nd Viezzi Stefano (Alpecin-Premier Tech Development)
3rd Grigolini Filippo (Decathlon Cma Cgm Cx) – pink-and-blue jersey

WOMEN'S OPEN – A single athlete in command from the first to the last meter, with the fastest lap sealing a flawless performance. If we were in Formula 1, for Carlotta Borello we could speak of a Grand Slam. Starting from the front row with the leader's jersey of the general classification, the Piedmontese rider imposed her pace from the very beginning and confirmed herself queen of the Regional Cyclocross Tour even on the feared slopes of Zoncolan, where she had already won last year. Sabrina Rizzi and Beatrice Fontana completed the podium, never managing to threaten the leader's supremacy.

"This year the course developed more in the lower part and didn't climb as much as last year's, but it was still very demanding – Borello explained – The terrain conditions also made themselves felt: after 53 minutes of racing I can say it was a course that didn't give a moment's respite. You had to keep pushing until the end. The barriers were also placed uphill and, right after getting over them, you had to accelerate again: it was never simple, but it went well. Last week we were in Basilicata for a training camp. We thought we'd find higher temperatures; in reality it wasn't that hot, but we still managed to complete an excellent block of training, working especially on courses with a lot of elevation".

1st Borello Carlotta (Team Cingolani-Specialized) – pink-and-blue jersey
2nd Rizzi Sabrina (Team Sogno Veneto)
3rd Fontana Beatrice (Team Bosco Di Orsago)

JUNIORS – The downhill section gradually dried out, while the first sun peeked out on the slopes of Zoncolan. Michael Careri took the lead from the initial curves, appearing in full control of the race until halfway through, when a puncture forced him to change bikes. Giovanni Bosio seized the opportunity in the third lap: the Piedmontese rider from Alessandria increased the pace, dropped Filippo Cingolani and took the lead of the race. Thanks to precise handling, Bosio returned to victory right at the foot of the Kaiser, ahead of Cingolani and Careri. Behind them, Alessio Borile recovered several positions with a brilliant final sprint. At the finish line, however, Bosio did not celebrate: a gesture of elegant sportsmanship from another era toward Careri, stopped by the mishap when victory seemed already within his grasp. The victory earned Bosio the leadership in the general classification and the pink-and-blue jersey that he will wear in the next stage at Capalbio.

"Out of respect for Michael Careri and the friendship that binds us, I decided not to celebrate at the finish – Bosio explained – We couldn't know how the race would have ended if he hadn't punctured. The course was very tough and the terrain not very flowing: especially in the first laps it was easy to overdo it and spend too much energy. So I tried to start calmly and gradually find my rhythm, a choice that ultimately paid off. I dedicate this victory to all the staff, the team and my parents, who always support me".

1st Bosio Giovanni (Asd Dp66 Pinarello) – pink-and-blue jersey
2nd Cingolani Filippo (Team Cingolani-Specialized)
3rd Careri Michel (Cx Devo Guerciotti)

WOMEN JUNIORS – Matilde Carretta attempted to break away, but Azzurra Rizzi remained just meters behind, keeping an intense and never foregone battle open until the final moments. Further back, Friuli native Rachele Cafueri gradually lost contact and was caught and passed by Nicoletta Brandi, author of a splendid comeback that earned her the third step of the podium. Against the backdrop of Monte Zoncolan, Carretta was finally able to celebrate her first victory in the juniors category, while second place allowed Rizzi to strengthen her lead in the general classification.

"I'm very happy, also because the course was tough and I didn't expect such a performance – Matilde Carretta commented right off the podium – I gave everything: after the climb I was really exhausted, but I managed to hold on until the end. With Azzurra Rizzi it was a beautiful battle. I've been trying to beat her for a couple of Sundays and finally I managed it. I'm starting to understand how far I can push myself, how to manage the race and how to face this new category. I dedicate my first victory to ALE Cycling Team, my parents and all my teammates who always support me".

1st Carretta Matilde (Ale Cx Team Asd)
2nd Rizzi Azzurra (Jam'S Bike Team Buja) – pink-and-blue jersey
3rd Brandi Nicoletta (Ktm Academy Le Marmotte)

BEGINNERS MEN 1ST YEAR – Vittorio Trentin signs his first victory as a Beginner, at the category transition. A great performance, led from start to finish. Tommaso De Giusti is second with determination. Third is Mattia Di Pietro.
1st Trentin Vittorio (G.S. Mosole) – white jersey
2nd De Giusti Tommaso (B-Team Cycling Project)
3rd Di Pietro Mattia (Caprivesi)

BEGINNERS MEN 2ND YEAR – Race characterized by a group of four athletes for all 30 minutes of the program, until the final attack by Lorenzo Guassora, who managed to gain just enough to take home a quality victory: "I think it will be a beautiful and very competitive season: we'll fight for the result in many races and I hope they all go like today's. We're working well and this victory rewards our effort. Winning here, on Monte Zoncolan, has a special meaning".
1st Guassora Lorenzo (Mtb Academy Giaveno)
2nd Zanolini Pablo (Ale Cx Team Asd)
3rd Toffoli Stefano (Soc. Sport. Sanfiorese) – blue jersey

WOMEN BEGINNERS 1ST YEAR – Race in absolute solitude for the blue jersey holder, Nicole Tongiorgi, who with her first victory as a Beginner, after those as a G6, secures her general classification. After the finish she commented: "Today everything went well again and I'm very happy with the victory. Last Sunday, instead, I fell in a corner during the Tarvisio race. Now I'm looking forward to going back to school: among the subjects I prefer are German and mathematics".
1st Tongiorgi Nicole (Jam's Bike Team Buja) – white jersey
2nd Brollo Nicole (G.C. Montegrappa A.S.D.)
3rd Panizzo Maria (G.S. Mosole)

WOMEN BEGINNERS 2ND YEAR – Every meter of the course was needed, especially the last ones to determine who should prevail between Diletta Bandiziol and Chiara Villa; in the end the current blue jersey holder won by a whisker: "I'm happy with the victory, even though the course wasn't among those best suited to my characteristics and I really had to give everything – Bandiziol explained – I knew I would find a very strong opponent and imagined it would be a hard-fought battle. The season is just beginning and many more races await us. I dedicate this success to my family, the team and all the friends who always cheer for me".
1st Bandiziol Diletta (B-Team Cycling Project) – blue jersey
2nd Villa Chiara (G.C. Montegrappa A.S.D.)
3rd Ballis Nicole (Soc. Sport. Sanfiorese)

WOMEN YOUTH – Only a mishap that befell Aurora Cerame deprived the Carnic crowd of a sure sprint finish: the entire race was a beautiful duel with Zoe Del Ponte, who at the finish also celebrated the blue jersey: "I really liked the course: there was a lot of climbing, terrain where I can express myself well, but also technical sections and downhill stretches – Del Ponte explained – I'm happy with the victory and how this season is going. I dedicate this success to my new team and my family". Praise to Vittoria Bondi for the tenacious comeback that earned her second place.
1st Del Ponte Zoe (Asd Gs Sorgente Pradipozzo) – blue jersey
2nd Bondi Vittoria (Mtb Academy Giaveno)
3rd Ceccarelli Ilary (Cycling Cafe' Racing Team)

YOUTH 1ST YEAR – Poor start for blue jersey wearer Meniconi, then forced into a very long comeback. At the front a solo breakaway by Alberto Mario, chased but never threatened by Luca Bacchin.
1st Mario Alberto (MTB Academy Giaveno)
2nd Bacchin Luca (FAS Airport Services Guerciotti)
3rd Meniconi Mattia (A Favore del Ciclismo A.S.D.) – blue jersey

YOUTH 2ND YEAR – Large group in the first lap and a half, until the pace was set by European champion Luca Ferro, followed wheel-to-wheel by blue jersey wearer Alberto Finetto from Verona. In no time the duo created a gap and continued to overtake each other until the final meters, which saw the star rider enter the finish amphitheater first. Constantly in third place in the second half of the race was Giuseppe Marti.
1st Ferro Luca (ASD DP66 Pinarello)
2nd Finetto Alberto (Hellas Monteforte) – blue jersey
3rd Marti Giuseppe (Cinghiali Evolution Armofer)