- press -
“Make the history” was the slogan of the World Championship Endurance Mountain Bike Wembo of Finale Ligure, the first story of the grueling specialties of fat tires. And Manie Plateau, charming home of World Championships, was truly made history, with 150 athletes 15 nations that have cycled continuously for 24 hours, from 13 of yesterday 13 Today.
A story that has as its protagonists two Australian athletes, Jason English e Jessica Douglas, respectively king and queen of the first edition of the World Private “ironman” of 24 hours in solitary, the first world champions of the specialty. Hand rankings, is to say that the choice of Finale Ligure for the edition of the World Championships was a very apt, because to win, both male and female, athletes who were the experts had indicated the day before as men to beat.
On the spectacular and challenging path traced by the organizers of the Blue Bike, 18 km in the charming scenery of Manie Plateau, overlooking the sea of Liguria. A path that has exalted the qualities expected of Australian, who also had to deal with the rain, that accompanied them in the first hour of the match and the final, to give a touch of epic triumph in their most.
The race, as anticipated, lived on the long ride of Jason and Jessica Douglas English. The five-time national champion English (in his first race in Europe) in 24 hours of the race was able to cover 22 rpm (in total 396 km), a rift between himself and his opponents, accomplices stomach problems that, during the race highlights, out of contention for the podium fight the Austrian Thomas Widhalm, in the early hours had managed to keep the wheel of neoiridato.
The fight for the two lower steps of the podium, at that point, lived on the confrontation between the two Britons Jason Miles and Craig Bowles, with the first of two that, after a challenge on distance, got the better of his compatriot for a little over 12′.
Da applausi, with regard to the colors blue, proof of the bearer of Polisportiva Nuvolera (Brescia) Alberto Zambelli, that, After a quiet start, has become the protagonist of a comeback that led him to sixth place, with 20 laps covered 24 hours and 23 minutes.
The women's race, instead, Jessica has awarded Douglas, Flawless tenacity, grit and tactical intelligence. The Australian made the race for the first couple of hours with the British Rickie Cotter, then take off on the sunset and become protagonist of a long triumphal march, that allowed her to close the command with considerably 19 laps (342 km), one more of English Cotter (18), silver medal. Bronze for German Sivia Müller 17 rpm.
Sixth place for the Veneto in Treviso (adoption of Padua) Juliana Massarotto, best of Italian, followed in seventh place by Ilaria Balzarotti team mtb-Toned Santa Marinella Sport.
The satisfactions, however, there have been even for Italy, that could toast to five rainbow jerseys category. To win the title of champion of the world were in the order in the veteran category Lombard Ausilia Vistarini “single speed” (bikes with fixed-ratio), the bearer of Manuel Alberto Zambelli Bike Nuvolera in men's category 45-49 anni, Athlete of the strong valdostano Niner-cycles in the male category Nicoletti Marco Lucchini 35-39 annageaffaele Verzella in category 55-59 years and Armando Fasolo Focus Italy.
Applause for the athletes and stainless steels as organizers of the event which allowed Finale Ligure to make history. The next edition will take place in the World MTB Wembo 2013 a Canberra, in Australia, while in the 2014 it remains for Scotland and Fort William.
Jason English (1First classified the male, World Champion) “E’ long been an emotion 24 hours, on a path hard but just as beautiful. Constant ups and downs but I like, also because it is very close to the type of tracks on which I train regularly in Australia. I'm happy and proud to have defended and carried high the colors of my country in this first world championship, along with my teammate Jessica Douglas. E’ was an exciting race, in a breathtaking and I think that next year will not only return, but I shall stay a few more days, because I'm really interested the Italian culture, especially the food. E’ initial state stimulating the duel with Thomas Widhalm. Then I was alone anE then I could relax and enjoy the whole show and the contour”.
Alberto Zambelli (6Th overall male, the first Italian winner and category 45-49) “I wanted to honor the tricolor jersey won last year, but honestly I did not expect such a result. My tactic? Eat, eat and eat, to avoid low blood sugar that could put me out of the game. For the rest, I must thank my team for their great support. It was the first time I came in Finale Ligure and I took advantage of the World to bridge this gap, also because many friends and colleagues bikers I had spoken very well. I am excited and thrilled at the outcome for the locality: I can tell me the happiest person in the world”
Mark Nicoletti (1St place category 35-39 year male) “At some point we hoped more, because the fourth and eighth hour I had two bad crisis. I gritted my teeth, trying to run with restrictor inserted through the night and the choice has paid: from 6.30 in the morning then I managed to make a difference and to recover 80 minutes on my rivals. E’ the third time that I run here in Finale Ligure, the only 24 hours to which I participate, only here because I found the true mountain bike. Here's to drive, in an incredibly beautiful scenery: try to think out of the woods and find the sea, maybe at sunrise or sunset. As they say… worth the price of admission by itself. In this case the fatigue”.
Jessica Douglas (1/classified in absolute female, World Champion) “In a race so tough is not enough legs: to make a difference are also head and big heart. What helped me to overcome the most difficult times and to win. Do I have to congratulate the organizers and all the people I found on the path, really fantastic. The scenario? I think it is fascinating to say reductive. In the race I decided it was looking towards the sea, but I still had time to appreciate the landscape throughout the week, since I arrived seven days ago and I still say that in Australia there is no such thing”.
Ausilia Vistarini (1/classified in Category female single speed) “In my life I have been involved in many 24 hours, but that of Finale Ligure is always the most beautiful, the most exciting, with both the sun and rain. Looking for landscape, Look for the difficulty of the route, Here I can feel emotions that I try not elsewhere. E’ a hard gara, but fun. The key moment? For me definitely the night, because it takes little, a fault to lose an hour or more. I'm happy with my test, but above all it helped to write the history of this event”.
Juliana Massarotto (6/in absolute, before the Italian and 4 / Elite) “I must say that it was really hard, the 24 hours toughest I've ever done. But I chose it on purpose, attracted me because the idea of running on a path to global and testarmi with the best athletes in the world. For me it was the key tactic, because, I lost some positions in the night, I got caught by the heat and 7 Then in the morning I managed to recover and get my position”.
