“The Shark of Messina” helped close out the Italian gran fondo season at his namesake Granfondo Vincenzo Nibali on Sunday in Porto Recanati. The multiple Grand Tour winner and Trek-Segafredo rider, accompanied by his brother and teammate Antonio, obliged fans with selfies and treated over 2000 participants to an exciting day of amateur cycling in the Marche region.
Vincenzo Nibali calmly led the group out of Porto Recanati under grey skies, then the 123 kilometre Gran Fond peloton shattered as the route climbed up steep Marche walls along the Adriatic coast, including Vincenzo’s dreaded Wall of the Shark, a sharp climb of one kilometer at 15%. For those who tackled the Medio Fondo, the route covered 80 kilometres with 1270 meters of total altitude difference.
The Gran Fondo ended as a five-up race to the finish line, with Paolo Ciavatta (Team Go Fast) going with a one-arm fist pump victory celebration after easily defeating Ambrogio Chiriacò (Team Preview Bikespace Sei Sport) and Ettore Carlini (Hair Gallery) in 3:19:50. Immediately behind the top three riders, the Nibali brothers, Vincenzo and Antonio, arrived to a loud applause.
Among the women, Arianna Marchesini (Team Ciclismo 2014) won the Gran Fondo in 3:48:03, ahead of Barbara Genga (Team Fausto Coppi Fermignano) and Valeria Zappacosta (Cycling Bro).
In the Medio Fondo, Manuel Fedele (Team Go Fast) won in 2:08:21, completing a sweep by the Go Fast Team in both Medio and Gran Fondos. Second place went to Enrico Ferrian (Cage-Capes Silvana) and third to Carlo Nocentini (Fd Steel). In 2:30:46 Federica Figliola (Mkg) won the Women’s race, posting ahead of Camilla Cavallotto Rossi (Squadra Corse Valtellina) and Orietta Schiavoni (Giuliodori Renzo).
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