Internazionali d’Italia Series – #1: Martina Berta and Valentina Corvi unrivaled among women in San Zeno

The big start to the season of Martina Bertha (SantaCruz-FSA) also found confirmation in the first test of Internationals of Italy Series 2023, Sperane XCO pine forest. The athlete from Valle d’Aosta, reigning Italian Champion, put her wheel in front in the launch lap a San Zeno di Montagnaand for the following four rounds she never looked back: for her, who had seen a now probable success fade in 2022 due to cramps, it is a success with an even sweeter taste.

“I learned from last year’s experience, I knew the track was tough and the race would be felt over the distance,” Berta explained,” I took the lead on the downhill in the launch lap and finding myself with a small gap I continued trying to manage my pace, without overdoing it but taking advantage of the sections that best suited my characteristics. I certainly didn’t expect such an important start to the season, but the work done is paying off and I’m enjoying the moment.”

In San Zeno, Berta found bread for her teeth, among the many technical and single track passages that enhanced her driving skills. Lonely behind her, for almost the entire race and at the finish line (+ 52 seconds), she was the Austrian champion Mona Mitterwallner (Cannondale Factory Racing), certainly less at ease on this terrain, but whose great underlying qualities always make a customer extremely uncomfortable for all the opponents.

The fight for the third position, up for grabs between a small group of athletes who fought for the podium placements in the last round, was more heated: it was Giorgia Marchet (Trinx Factory Racing, +3.04), from Veneto and supported on the course by many friends, who preceded to the finish line Clare Teocchi (KTM-Protek-Elettrosystem, +3.22) and the 2022 winner Jade Specia (Wilier-Pirelli, +3.34). Seventh and best under 23 was Sara Cortinovis (SantaCruz-FSA), first leader of the special classification.

1 BERTA MARTINA – SANTA CRUZ ROCKSHOX PRO TEAM – ITA 01:12:24
2 MITTERWALLNER MONA – CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING – AUT 01:13:17 00:00:53
3 GIORGIA MARCHET – TRINX FACTORY TEAM – ITA 01:15:29 00:03:05
4 TEOCCHI CHIARA – KTM – PROTEK – ELETTROSYSTEM – ITA 01:15:46 00:03:22
5 SPECIA GIADA – WILIER-PIRELLI FACTORY TEAM XCO – ITA 01:15:58 00:03:35
6 CORTINOVIS SARA – SANTA CRUZ ROCKSHOX PRO TEAM – ITA 01:16:10 00:03:46
7 PEDERSEN SOFIE – WILIER-PIRELLI FACTORY TEAM XCO – DEN 01:16:22 00:03:59
8 LECHNER EVA – TRINX FACTORY TEAM – ITA 01:18:40 00:06:16
9 SEIWALD GRETA – TEAM ROCKRIDER – ITA 01:18:54 00:06:30
10 PESSE NICOLE – RDR ITALIA LEYNICESE FACTORY TEAM – ITA 01:21:18 00:08:54

Full ranking

Internazionali d’Italia Series 2023 – #1 San Zeno – Open Women by MTB-VCO on Scribd

Absolute monologue, however, in the Junior Women’s race: Valentina Crows (Trinx Factory Racing), already overall winner of Internazionali 2022 in the Junior category, imposed its own law from the very first lines, even overcoming a puncture without a hitch. The final lead of 1.34 on Eva Herzog (RC Arbö Askö) and 1.48 on Elisa Lanfranchi (KTM-Protek-Elettrosystem) leaves no room for doubt.

“I felt good from the start, I was able to be effective even uphill and I took a good lead. During the race I punctured, but luckily the latex caught quickly and I recovered the pressure without having to stop. I’m happy to be off on the right foot” Corvi commented.

1 CORVI VALENTINA – TRINX FACTORY TEAM – ITA 01:01:45
2 HERZOG EVA – RC ARBÖ ASKÖ OMYA VILLACH – AUT 01:03:19 00:01:34
3 LANFRANCHI ELISA – KTM – PROTEK – ELETTROSYSTEM – ITA 01:04:04 00:02:19
4 INALDONI GIULIA – SCOTT – LIBARNA RACING TEAM ASD ¬- ITA 01:04:55 00:03:10
5 RIZZO VITTORIA – GS TERMO LA SPEZIA ASD – ITA 01:05:44 00:03:59
6 CELESTINO MARIKA – SCOTT – LIBARNA RACING TEAM ASD – ITA 01:06:19 00:04:34
7 SQUARISE LAURA – ASD LA FENICE MTB – ITA 01:08:40 00:06:55
8 MARTINOLI GIADA – GREEN ASD GORLA MINOR – ITA 01:08:40 00:06:55
9 GASPERINI GAIA – RACE MOUNTAIN FOLCARELLI – ITA 01:08:57 00:07:12
10 DEMICHELIS GRETA – FOUR ES INTERNATIONAL PROJECT – ITA 01:09:24 00:07:39

Full ranking

Internazionali d’Italia Series 2023 – #1 San Zeno – Junior Women by MTB-VCO on Scribd