Nazionale Italiana

[Vos]

NT race 5 result ;

2    Frederico Gucciardo      27   0: 00"   250      Flyvende_hjul

Unfortunately no victory, but 2nd is also a very good result.
With these 250 points, it seems to me that Italy is already "secured" of the NT world championship.
Hopefully I'm not cheering too soon now.


GARA 6 : Yverdon-les-Bains

16ºC

Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland,
A very short time trial of just 15 km is always even more a lottery than a NT time trial of a normal distance already is.
And there could be low-stamina TT specialists/foreign rivals, that are only really suited for this very short TT to score points.
But Italy has a TT-top-selection, so, I expect many points. And even without luck, as in previous TT = NT race 5.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 6 :

Salvatore Vergottini ( 24 ) Villavante
Nestore Novelli ( 31 ) SPORTLIFE
Giovanni Pizzuto ( 31 ) WaterBoys
Vicenzo Marsile ( 26 ) OphiukoCT
Simone Facci ( 29 ) SPORTLIFE
Vittorio Spadaro ( 26 ) AJ_Visma
Massimiliano Palandrani ( 28 ) Lukara
Marco Petruso ( 31 ) Lukara
Michael Palosi ( 24 ) GiabbaStar    ( debutto )

[Vos]

NT race 6 results ;

3    Nestore Novelli      31   0: 05"   225      SPORTLIFE
4    Salvatore Vergottini      24   0: 06"   200      Villavante
11    Vittorio Spadaro      26   0: 11"   110      AJ_Visma
15    Simone Facci      29   0: 13"   70      SPORTLIFE
20    Giovanni Pizzuto      31   0: 15"   10      WaterBoys

Facci finished with a mechanical breakdown, and Italy scored even less points as in NT race 5, the flat time trial of 38 km.

Australia was the best in this short 15 km time trial with a total of 670 points, and moves up to 2nd in the season ranking.
Although Australia has a better flat-cobble captain than Italy, it has just 2 golden flat-cobble specialists, just like Italy.
And the gap is enormous / way too big ; Italy is 990 points ahead. 

I expect that Belgium will be the nr 2 this season, because it has an amazing flat-cobble selection, incl. nrs 1 + 2 + 10.
But the current nr 5 Belgium is 1.175 points behind Italy. Also that gap is way too big to overtake.

Nice to mention ;
Brencis ( Latvia & SPORTLIFE ) won both time trials of this NT season. 

[Vos]

GARA 7 : Richmond

6ºC

Richmond, Virginia, USA,
There are just 2 Italian golden flat-cobble specialists, the nrs 22 & 27 of the CFF flat-cobble ranking.

With an enormous GV cap to the Italians with a silver flat-cobble icon.
Even the "best" silver Italian is a very unexperienced 24yo, and almost certain he is not good enough to help in s3.
So, no need to select an extra silver helper in this situation.
And although selected as xp cyclist, maybe, and just maybe, the Italian cobblehills captain can help in s1 and/or s2.

A lot of space to select xp-cyclists, and 4 of them are debutants.
I gave toptalent Scafidi his debut in race 1 of this NT season, now his 3rd xp selection,
and promising/nice to see that he is moving up quickly, as very young 21yo, in the u23 DreamTeam.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 7 :

Cristiano Sansonetti ( 31 ) BiciclistasCT
Giulio Pellasci ( 29 ) TeamSerfin
- - - - - - - - - -
Fabian Scafidi ( 21 ) Lukara
Gino DAndrea ( 20 ) AleAle
Cristian Veroli ( 20 ) WinterIsComing    ( debutto )
Domenico Avenatti ( 19 ) Aspigarri     ( debutto )
Frederico Pinicci ( 20 ) SPORTLIFE     ( debutto )
Frederico Gucciardo ( 27 ) Flyvende_hjul 
Giusto Carta ( 22 ) JGMTeam     ( debutto )

[Vos]

NT race 7 result ;

5    Cristiano Sansonetti      31   0: 14"   180      BiciclistasCT

Very nice result !
Although Italy did not need these points, because with a huge gap the world champion of NT season 47.
Belgium finished as nrs 1 + 2 + 18 + 19 in this last race, and moved up to the 2nd place.
Final podium season ranking =

1.     2.345   
2.     1.590
3.     1.240



Italia = Campione del Mondo !

Un grande ringraziamento a tutti
che si sono allenati- o gareggiat con- i migliori ciclisti italiani, che hanno reso possibile questo Campionato del Mondo Italiano !

A big thank you to everyone
who trained- or competed with- the best Italian cyclists, who made this Italian World Championship possible ! 

[Vos]

programma della stagione 48 =

1.   Campbell Town  FFFFH  132 km

2.   Colombia  MMMMM  265 km

3.   Emilia-Romagna  FFFFF  173 km

4.   Adelaide  TT-FFFFF  88 km

5.   Harelbeke  FCHC^C^ 200 km

6.   Aix-en-Provence  TT-FFFHF  27 km

7.   Poreč - Trevesio  CCCFC  234 km

It is difficult to predict what is possible in this NT season schedule with a rare hills-time-trial in it.
Italy should be strong in 3 out of the 7 races = mountains & flat-TT & cobblehills.
Hopefully enough points in the other races to compete for at least a podiumplace in the final season ranking.
Again a WC title might be hard to achieve in this NT schedule, but I will try anyway. 

Everyone good luck with scouting in Italy !   


GARA 1 : Campbell Town

9ºC

Glenelg, beach-side suburb of Adelaide, Australia,
It seems that Italy has no top contenders for this flat-hills race.
But all 7 Italians with a golden hills icon, have a good flat as extra, and 3 of them are ranked as flat-hills specialists.

Even though there is no wind, this still is a tricky tactical race due to the 4 flat sections.
But if the tactics go well, it should be possible to score points.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 1 :

Santino Mastrilli ( 29 ) SentinelChickens
Gaspare Fortticcini ( 30 ) TeamSerfin
Ivano Mangili ( 26 ) Shiro_Lions
Amauri Bettino ( 25 ) Fiestina
Max Cocco ( 27 ) Rekutxuteam
Pier Forte* ( 33 ) PedaleSanvitese
Rocco Chiappucci ( 28 ) Speedbird
- - - - - - - - - -
Frederico Gucciardo ( 28 ) Flyvende_hjul
Salvatore Vergottini ( 25 ) Villavante

[Vos]

NT race 1 results ;
5    Santino Mastrilli      29   0: 03"   180      SentinelChickens
17    Pier Forte      33   0: 09"   40      PedaleSanvitese

A nice total amount of points ! 
Italy starts this season on a split 4th place with Great Britain.
Spain has just 5 points more, the Netherlands 50 points more, and the USA did great in this first race by scoring 460 points.


GARA 2 : Colombia

39ºC

Duitama, Colombia,
Italy is strong in the mountians because it has 4 top climbers = nrs 4 + 12 + 16 + 18 in the pure-climb-ranking of CFF.
The best 9 for this extreme long distance race are selected, so, including low ranked climb helpers.
Probably they are much needed as water carriers, because with 39ºC, it will be superhot* in the Colombian mountains.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 2 :

Lauro Fortticcini ( 28 ) BoletusEdulis
Andrea Sansalone ( 31 ) Sonfuga
Massimiliano Fazzini ( 27 ) GiabbaStar
Cristian Pellasci ( 31 ) TeamCCC
Simone Giardini ( 26 ) Turrones
Alessio Macannazi ( 31 ) MDDCycling
Lucio Medizzo ( 31 ) SPORTLIFE
Gallo Starnari* (28 ) BiciclistasCT
Lino Forlan* ( 26 ) Naram     ( debutto )

[Vos]

NT race 2 result ;
5    Lauro Fortticcini      28   0: 35"   180      BoletusEdulis

Italy now 5th in the season ranking with a total of 400 points.
Spain scored the most in the Colombian mountains, and is the new leader with a total of 805 points.
The USA is also far ahead with a total of 710 points.


GARA 3 : Sprint in Emilia-Romagna

32ºC

Modena, Italy,
There are 7 Italian golden flat-sprinters, and all 7 are selected.

It's worrying that the old 33yo Marello is still the highest ranked flat-sprinter ; as nr 15, so, many foreign sprinters are better.
I assume that he drops even further by Sunday, therefore the captain will be the current nr 16 of the CFF flat-sprint ranking.
If the tactics go well, it should be possible to score some points, probably somewhere outside the top 10.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 3 :

Damiano Carrassi ( 31 ) Shiro_Lions
Francesco Marello ( 33 ) PedaleSanvitese
Emanuele Montalbano ( 24 ) Anglers
Cristiano Maranesi ( 24 ) Peromatobike
Daniele Vasari* ( 24 ) SaulSalinasTeam     ( debutto )
Fortunato Raviolli ( 31 ) Villamuriel
Fabiano Grandini ( 31 ) PedaleSanvitese
- - - - - - - - - -
Fabian Scafidi* ( 22 ) Lukara
Salvatore Vergottini ( 25 ) Villavante

[Vos]

NT race 3 results ;
5    Damiano Carrassi      31   0: 00"   180      Shiro_Lions
19    Emanuele Montalbano      24   0: 17"   20      Anglers

Excellent ! 
Italy( 600 ) moved up to 3rd in the season ranking.
Former leader Spain( 805 ) is 2nd, and the USA( 1100 ) takes back the lead.


GARA 4 : Adelaide 88km TT

35ºC

Adelaide, Australia
Despite Vergottini does not have a very high stamina ( needed ; 88km ! ), I expect a top result of the nr 1 flat-TT-ranking.
Novelli has even a bit less stamina, but also the current nr 7 flat-TT should be a certainty to score points.
Both have an active weather icon in this windy* and very hot* long distance time trial.

The other 5 selected golden flat-TT-specialists probably might need a bit of luck to score points.
But difficult for me to estimate/predict due to the 88km.
In the CFF flat-TT-ranking, they are the (in this order selected due to my estimated race GV) nrs 21 + 14 + 15 + 24 + 56.
Only the nr 56 has an excellent high stamina, maybe he can "surprise".
But looking at the ranking, it should be no surprise if at least one or a few of these 5 should be able to score some points too.

The other Italians with a golden flat-TT icon are not good enough to score points in this 88km TT, not even with extreme luck.
What causes that there are 2 places for xp-cyclists :
Supertop-TT-talent Scafidi is a very obvious choice and will ride his 5th NT race.
Scafidi is riding for Lukara, who recruited another promising top-TT-talent, the 19yo Panettiere, who makes his NT debut.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 4 :

Salvatore Vergottini* ( 25 )  Villavante
Nestore Novelli* ( 32 ) Estoparia
Simone Facci* ( 30 ) SPORTLIFE
Giovanni Pizzuto ( 32 ) WaterBoys
Vicenzo Marsile ( 27 ) Teamclaes
Vittorio Spadaro ( 27 ) AJ_Visma
Filippo Fortticcini ( 29 ) PedaleSanvitese
- - - - - - - - - -
Fabian Scafidi* ( 22 ) Lukara
Alessio Panettiere ( 19 ) Lukara    ( debutto )

[Vos]

NT race 4 results ;

1    Salvatore Vergottini      25   0: 00"   300      Villavante
5    Nestore Novelli      32   0: 08"   180      Estoparia
13    Simone Facci      30   0: 16"   90      SPORTLIFE
15    Filippo Fortticcini      29   0: 17"   70      PedaleSanvitese
17    Vittorio Spadaro      27   0: 19"   40      AJ_Visma

The very first NT victory of Vergottini ! 
Also great that 5 Italians scored points, and only 1 Italian ( = Facci ) had a flat tire or mechanical breakdown.
Pizzuto ( 24th on 0:22" = 1 second behind the nr20 ) and Marsile ( 30th on 0:24" ) needed a bit more luck to score points too.

Italy scored the most points (= 680 ) in this flat time trial, and moves up to nr 1 in the season ranking. 

Australia did great too(= 535 ) and moves up to 3rd.
I suspect that Australia is amazing in NT race 6, the hills-TT, what seems not the speciality of Italy, unfortunately.
Rivals USA and Spain did not score points in this NT race 4, that is beneficial.

But too soon to tell if Italy can battle for another world championship, or even "just" a podium place in the season ranking.
For example, the current nr 5 Belgium is most likely a fierce rival too, because it will be amazing in NT race 7.
And also on flat-cobble, Italy is not good. Only in the next NT race 5 (= cobblehills ) Italy has a top contender.

TOP 8 season ranking after 4 races ;

1.     1280
2.     1100
3.     1090
4.      805
5.      680
5.      680
7.      620
8.      590
8.      590

[Vos]

GARA 5 : Harelbeke

16ºC

Harelbeke, Belgium
Hopefully a top result of Gucciardo.
Probably needed, because I do not expect enough Italian points in the last 2 races of this NT season.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 5 :

Frederico Gucciardo ( 28 ) Flyvende_hjul
Luciano Palosi ( 32 ) grrrgroengelebollen
Roberto Salerno ( 26 ) eternals
Ezio Marello ( 30 ) Mlb
Giusto Quaranta ( 26 ) FaltososDeChigre
Maurizio Pannucchi ( 24 ) Kroton
- - - - - - - - - -
Fabian Scafidi ( 22 ) Lukara
Alessio Panettiere ( 19 ) Lukara
Valerio Forte ( 20 ) LOSRAYOSDELARRY    ( debutto )

[Vos]

NT race 5 results ;

1    Frederico Gucciardo      28   0: 00"   300      Flyvende_hjul
20    Luciano Palosi      32   0: 32"   10      grrrgroengelebollen

Victory ! 

3 nations scored more points in this cobblehills race, but Italy is still leading the season ranking.

At the moment 145 points ahead of the USA ( nr 2 ).
But Australia ( nr 3 ) ánd Belgium ( nr 4 ) are probably more fierce rivals.
Australia might be amazing in the next NT race 6, the hills-time-trial.
Belgium has my own Vandendorpe, who won this hills-TT in 1A this season ( stage 2 Paris-Nice ),
but even more worrying is that Belgium scored 600 points in the flat-cobble NT race of previous season.

My expectation for another world championship is low.
And even too soon to tell if Italy can succesfully battle for a podium place in the NT season ranking.
For example Spain ( nr 7 ) can even still be a podium-rival, despite it is very, véry far behind after 5 races.
But for now, Italy is leading, and better being ahead than being behind.

[Vos]

GARA 6 : Aix-en-Provence

26ºC

Rognes, France,
I guess that only the first 3 selected Italians have a chance to battle for the top 20 and maybe score a few points.
In case I'm wrong, 5 more TT riders are selected. The last place is for an xp-cyclist.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 6 :

Filippo Fortticcini ( 29 ) PedaleSanvitese
Salvatore Vergottini* ( 25 ) Villavante
Simone Facci* ( 30 ) galegospolabici
Vincenzo Fagnini ( 30 ) Luka_Warriors    ( debutto )
Gigi Mazza ( 32 ) Blanes
Giacommo Corioni ( 23 ) Lukara    ( debutto )   
Antonello Coletti ( 33 ) Lukara
Massimiliano Palandrani ( 29 ) Lukara
- - - - - - - - - -
Fabian Scafidi ( 22 ) Lukara

[Vos]

NT race 6 results ;

6    Simone Facci              30   0: 09"   160      galegospolabici
11    Filippo Fortticcini      29   0: 10"   110      PedaleSanvitese
15    Vincenzo Fagnini      30   0: 15"   70      Luka_Warriors
20    Salvatore Vergottini      25   0: 18"   10      Villavante

Vergottini started with a flat tire, and Facci finished with a flat tire.
Despite this, way more points (= 350 ) as I expected. 

Only Belgium and Ukraine (= both 430 ) did better in this time trial.
Italy is leading in the season ranking with a huge gap towards all other nations.
A podium place seems secured already, but another world championship is still uncertain.
According to me, Italy is probably not even the WC top favorite right now, because ;

Thé rival for the WC title is current nr 4 Belgium, that scored 600 points in the flat-cobble NT race of previous season.
It is possible that Belgium does even better this season.
In the flat-cobble ranking, Belgium has the numbers 1 + 2 + 9 + 15 + 24.
The Italian teamcaptain is the number 27.
Even if Belgium scores again those 600 points, then the Italian teamcaptain must finish as 16th to win the WC title.

[Vos]

GARA 7 :  Poreč - San Vendemiano

21ºC

Poreč, Croatia,
There are just 2 golden flat-cobble specialists in Italy.
Both are low ranked, but it should be possible to score a few points due to the captain role, if the tactics go well.

Because every point might be important in the WC battle, the best 3 silver helpers are added.
The last 4 places are for young top-talents.

Nazionale Italiana, selezione gara 7 :

Giulio Pellasci ( 30 ) TeamSerfin
Cristiano Sansonetti ( 32 ) PedaleSanvitese
Fiorenzo Mangili ( 25 ) TeamSerfin    ( debutto )
Simone Tiralongo ( 32 ) Sonfuga
Romolo Bonetti ( 30 ) Biciclub
- - - - - - - - - -
Fabian Scafidi ( 22 ) Lukara
Domenico Avenatti ( 20 ) Aspigarri
Alessio Panettiere ( 19 ) Lukara
Frederico Pinicci ( 21 ) SPORTLIFE

[Vos]

NT race 7 result ;

15    Cristiano Sansonetti      32   0: 10"   70      PedaleSanvitese

Belgium ( 5 points scoring cyclists ; nrs 3 + 10 + 18 + 19 + 20 ) did not do so amazing as I expected.
What causes that Italy is again the world champion ! 

Final podium season ranking =

1.     2.010   
2.     1.785
3.     1.595



Italia = Campione del Mondo !



Un grande ringraziamento a tutti
che si sono allenati- o gareggiat con- i migliori ciclisti italiani, che hanno reso possibile questo Campionato del Mondo Italiano !

A big thank you to everyone
who trained- or competed with- the best Italian cyclists, who made this Italian World Championship possible !