Finally it arrived … after so many places and some of this weekend came the first victory of the season!
After participating almost by chance last year to Maxiavalanche of Cervinia (closed a little ‘surprise 4th place) this year I had placed on the calendar and I was especially keen to do well, and because I like mass starts and it is why it is the only Italian stop of the series and is a little ‘snubbed by many, so it would be a fine showcase if I had a good race.
He arrived on Thursday evening to Cervinia I started “trying,” we say to turn the paths, on Friday going now to put your feet in the “Plateau Rosa” snow; This year, however, there was very little snow and then immediately after the retreat of the “Theodule” began a path through the rocks that was more physically difficult and toughest stretch of the glacier last year. After this stretch you ributtava instead the path that was equal to the finish in the race last year; This in regard to the first heat because in this edition the two races would take place in two different trail.
The two races instead started from “Laghi Cime Bianche” and always ended up in the center of Cervinia along the path “Sky High,” a trail in my opinion very nice and very similar to an enduro race with the typical onset of high mountain to then make a nice stretch pedaled on the tracks of the old railway, and in the final instead a beautiful piece in the woods, very technical and everything to drive.
This second race was also virtually the same as the path on which the Saturday afternoon qualifying would take place; the only difference was the final (about the last 4 / 5min) that instead of going to the country holding his left and with a footpath still nice in the middle of the pine forest is finished near the “Lake Bleau”.
Then after having toured almost all day in the sun on Friday evening to pick the number, and you begin to see the clouds coming because the forecast was for rain and bad weather for the next day, while on Sunday gave the sun.
Saturday morning I get up and it was raining so I decide not to try and not to get bikes etc, so at 13:30 I started the qualifying battery. I mount the mud tires and get ready to go up to 2900m of Cime Bianche.
In my battery does not know any of my opponents and then the tactics, since it rains and there is mud, it is to leave at once strong and go to the head and then try to do a good pace in the first part and try to manage without working too much, and therefore the risk of falling, towards the final. In fact I can start well and placed me in second position, just after the start, earning head of the group and make my descent; halfway around I realize that we were in two and then are quiet (the first 5 of each battery in the first grid departed the next day), I am overtaken before the final part and without risking anything I put myself behind, I get quiet, being careful not fall, I saw that there was a lot of mud and made of large cross, and so I close second in my qualification battery (come paired to the winner) and with the eighth fastest time.
I am satisfied and load for the next day, I saw that I’m fine and then I know I can play my cards.
On Sunday morning there is not a cloud in the sky but having rained for most of the night soil is still muddy and treacherous.
Soon, very soon, you climb to Plateau Rosa … we got to the top the organizers decided to take us on the small stretch of the glacier in the transfer and make us leave just below the refuge of “Theodule”; But here are having to make us fall even a piece because in the first part of the road there was a large patch of ice and then it would be too dangerous to us all set out together from there.
MANCHE1: I’m leaving well enough and are in the top positions, I am overcome a couple of athletes in the first few corners and fourth; shortly after the first falls into the rocks and then I find myself in 3rd place … I do not ever turn back and I do not know what’s going on but I push to try to gain the second position but I have to fight and struggle with Bron (Sunn) that does not It road very easily while Giordanengo (Giant) takes slightly advantages. I can finally put me in 2nd place when we are about halfway through and slowly can also fall on the first and behind it forms a pretty important gap between me and the third reached Giordanengo … I try now to make the pace and I overcome it , I push everything I have to try to remove it but I still have to wheel and risorpassa me “Plain Mason” just before you throw in the part of the bike park; Here it seems to have more of it, and so I try to catch my breath and attempted to attack him in short cycled before the finish line. Unfortunately in mid-park I realize that I’m losing air from the front wheel and then in the end I have to let it go and I can not try to overtake, I look back not to miss my position and so close the first round in 2nd place.
I’m happy with my result but there is a bit ‘of regret for not being able to fight till the end for the win. But after this round I am aware that I can point to the first place … to do that but I have to win the second race!
MANCHE2: This time better birth and I am now in second place, in front of me but there Giordanengo … just find a hole and put him overtake me me make the pace. I try to keep a good pace without making any overspeed as the descent is long. Rest the lead for a while until a stretch with rocks and a little ‘free interpretation come overtaken by Bron; at this point I start to wheel and in the flat section of the railroad try to regain energy remaining at the wheel. Behind me, however, there is now Giordanengo and behind a nice little train … we must not make mistakes. After the stretch pedaled one throws downhill, and soon after, in a pretty steep ramp, Bron crashes and walk down; I can not sit in the saddle, and so I try to stick it over the pass when I realize I have yet Giordanengo wheel while behind the hole is formed. I decided however to push the whole because there is still a short stretch wide enough and then jump in the final pine forest where you then impossible to overcome until the arrival; in this piece I make a small mistake and ran wide on a corner and I come from the French that slipped up on the pedals and goes to all because a few hundred meters after starting the single track, but just before ributtarsi downhill can pass him again returning leader of the race. All the pine forest I do well without making any mistakes, I drive clean and when I arrive in the country and step up the two flights of stairs do the last shot until the finish line … I FIRST !!!
Thanks to the victory in the second round, although they are level on points with Giordanengo, I win the Maxiavalanche 2015 Cervinia … finally my first win of the season … finally! 😉
Icing on the cake is also the satisfaction of being the first Italian, the 11th edition of the Italian stage, to win for the first time a Maxi! Yeahhh !!!
Behind me a nice quartet of French put behind: 2nd Giordanengo, Bron 3rd, 4th and 5th Gaillot Durand.
Now a short period of relaxation to recharge your batteries and then thrown back at full capacity in training towards a season finale that promises crackling!
the next
Denny
MAXIvittoria-cervinia-podium