Italian
In the UCI World Cup stage, gold for Claudia Cretti, silver for the women’s tandem, and bronze for the men’s. Silver and bronze also in the MC4
MONTESILVANO – A World Cup stage UCI to go crazy for the Italian team. On the last day of the Montesilvano stage, the Italian para-cycling team wins 5 medals thanks to the gold of Claudia Cretti in the WC5 category, silver in the women’s tandem, and bronze in the men’s tandem. Silver and bronze also arrive in the MC4 event.
Italy brings home a total of 17 medals and three leader jerseys thanks to Mirko Testa in the MH3, Claudia Cretti in the WC5, and Andrea Biancalani in the MC4.
Triumph Cretti
Gold medal and leader’s jersey as mentioned to Claudia Cretti, who triumphs in the WC5 category ahead of the Chinese Ji Zixian and the Canadian Jessica Law. A nail-biting final with all three athletes finishing in 1h39’00”, but the Italian manages to prevail in the decisive sprint.
The thought at the end of the race can only go to the champion symbol of Paralympic sports, Alex Zanardi, who passed away last week:
“After this trial, I still think about Alex and his contagious enthusiasm for the whole movement.” A special thought also for his mother on Mother’s Day: “I dedicate this victory to my mother who is here supporting me today; I couldn’t do without her.” Cretti then recounted the difficulties of the race: “It was a challenging race, where I had to keep an eye on the competitors who were trying to prevent me from reaching the sprint. But I maintained control of the situation and secured this victory.”
Double medal for the tandem and the M4
Great performance also from the two tandem teams. The women’s team made up of Marianna Agostini and Noemi Eremita finishes second, only behind Great Britain’s Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl. Ireland comes in third with Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly.
On the podium also the men’s pair made up of Lorenzo Bernard and Paolo Totò who finished third behind the Netherlands’ Patrick Bos and Ireland’s Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin.
In the MC4 event, finally, victory for the Frenchman Kevin Le Cunff ahead of the Italians Andrea Biancalani, second, and Giacomo Salvalaggio, third.
The statements
These are the words of a satisfied CT Pierpaolo Addesi, focused on renewing the team and fostering new talents in view of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics. “It was a very important World Cup, where we won 17 medals, including those from cycling and tandem, managing to assert ourselves in categories other than handbike, where we continue to be competitive, of course.
I have been aiming for this goal for two years to present myself in Los Angeles with high-level athletes in all categories. We are doing very well, demonstrating that we have made that leap in quality which, I hope, will allow us to aim for medals where in the past we were not able to be protagonists. The focus is now on the future and the path leading up to the great U.S. Paralympic event he concluded.
The president of the Italian Cycling Federation, Cordiano Dagnoni, also wanted to comment on the excellent result:
“Montesilvano hosted a World Cup organized impeccably, in a territory that once again confirms how Abruzzo is a land of cycling and great sports. I want to thank everyone, from the institutions to the volunteers, and to those who worked behind the scenes for the success of this event. Special thanks go to CT Pierpaolo Addesi and his entire staff for the work they are doing. This is a national team that has introduced many new elements but remains competitive in all categories, continuing to grow and achieve important results even where it was more difficult to stand out in the past.”
Photo Credits: comitatoparalimpico.it
