Under the shadow of medieval Castello Estense, Lorenzo Beneficati (ASD Borello Team) and Elisa Vanzetto (ASD Tecnoteam) claimed top honours at the 12th edition of the Gran Fondo del Po on Sunday, while Matteo Pongiluppi and Alessia Piva topped the medio fondo standings in one of Italy’s flattest and fastest amateur cycling races.

MEN’S GRANFONDO: BORELLO TEAM WINS BY A WHISKER
The men’s gran fondo was decided in the finest of margins after 139 kilometres of dead flat racing through the misty flatlands of the Po Delta south of Venice. Beneficati, Brini, Ippolito, Gazzelli and Rossi all crossed the line in a dead-heat time of 3:11:31, making for a dramatic mass sprint finale entirely in keeping with this pancake-flat course, where wind and tactics replace climbing as the decisive factors. In a photo finish Beneficati, 32, barely edged Alberto Brini (A.S.D. Capitani Minuteria Metalliche Cycling Team) and Stefano Ippolito (Team Factor Hicari Stemax) in second and third. Tomas Gazzelli (Team Passion Faentina) finished fourth, while Enrico Rossi (Borello Cycling Team) finished fifth after helping teammate Beneficati secure victory. It was a fine outing for the Borello colours, with both Beneficati and Rossi featuring prominently in the final standings.

WOMEN’S GRANFONDO: VANZETTO DOMINANT
Elisa Vanzetto, 27, rode to a commanding solo victory in 3:28:54 – a full 14 minutes clear of runner-up Letizia Angela Lombardi (G.S. Baglini). Benedetta Pastore (ASD Gio’n’Dent) took third in 3:50:36, with Francesca Salari (A.S.D. Due Ruote Sport) fourth and Ilaria Rosati (ASD La Belle Equipe) fifth in 4:00:02. Vanzetto’s ride was a masterclass in pacing on roads that, despite their flatness, demand rispetto from anyone who underestimates Po Valley wind.

MEDIO FONDO: PONGILUPPI AND PIVA FLY TO VICTORY
On the 76 kilometre medio fondo course, 26 year-old Matteo Pongiluppi (ASD G.S. Sportissimo) took the men’s honours in 1:42:10, flying over the route with an average speed of 45 kmh. On the women’s side, Alessia Piva (F.R.T Racing Associazione Sportiva) crossed the line first in 1:46:46 to claim a confident victory for the 28 year-old on the shorter route.

Gran Fondo del Po, now in its twelfth edition, forms part of the Italian Alé Challenge gran fondo circuit and is organised by Po River ASD-APS from Ferrara.

Full Gran Fondo del Po classifications available HERE

Photo Credit: Facebook/stemaxteam

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