In Massa Marittima 'XX Maremma Cup' series has been an important parade of Olympic and international Champions. But Italian athletes dominated the entire series: Marco Aurelio Fontana triumphed in the Open Men category, while Eva Lechner won the Open Women race. In Junior races, the final victories go to Alessia Bulleri and Swiss Roger Walder.

Marco Fontana seemed perfectly capable of dealing with the strongest names of the worlwide mountain bike, who attended the race in Massa Marittima, like as Schurter, Absalon, Vogel, Hermida, Näf. In the starting loop, he preceded Näf, Vogel, Absalon and Schurter. The 4-men group leaded the race since the first technical downhill passage. Mid-lap and Näf tried to overcome his opponents. Vogel and Fontana followed him strictly, while Schurter and Absalon composed the greatest World couple.
At the 3rd lap, the leading trio has an advantage of 43" but behind them the situation suddenly changed. Tony Longo re-joined Absalon-Schurter duo and overcame him. 

At the 4th lap, Vogel and Fontana increased their rhythm, while Näf's gap was around 49". Swiss biker seemed not to be able to continue his performance, even if his Merida bike was functioning perfectly. Looking at the situation, we noticed that Naef's teammate Milan Moritz has previously fallen down. This accident totally devolved Ralph Naef. Meanwhile Schurter, Longo and Absalon's gap from the leaders was around 1 minute.

Italian National Champion Fontana and Swiss National Champion Vogel continued their progression while World Champion Schurter and Olympic Champion Absalon were at 3rd and 4th place. 5th provisional position for Longo, who preceded Näf, whose gap was 1'31". Ruzafa, Lejarreta and Martinez seemed able to reduce their disadvantage.

In the 5th lap, Fontana had enough strenght to increase his advantage. Hadly supported by fans, Marco Aurelio Fontana triumphally won the first round of 'Internazionali d'Italia series' in Massa Marittima, preceding Florian Vogel and Nino Schurter. Absalon ended at 4th place, while Tony Longo superlatively concluded his performance at 5th place.

The Open Women race has been characterised by the fought between Colnago Team's teammates Eva Lechner and Nathalie Schneitter (SUI), who were able to control the entire competition and defeat all their opponents. Till the second lap, they preceded Czech Hurikova, while French Cecile Ravanel and Slovenian Klemencic concluded the Top5.
At the third lap, Hurikova was forced to stop because of some problems with her shift system. Ravanel performed finally at 3rd place, while Klemencic was provisionally at 4th. Suddenly Eva Lechner accelerated but her teammate Schneitter was not able to re-join her. 3rd place for Cecile Rode Ravanel. Several times Pistard Champion Vera Carrara also attended the event, but she ended at 25th place.

Considering the Junior races, the final victories go to Swiss Roger Walder, who controlled Denny Lupato and Andrea Righettini, who perfectly performed last weekend. Looking at the Junior Women race, even if she has fallen down, Alessia Bulleri triumphed preceding Miriam Corti and Julia Tanner.
Finally the 2010 edition of 'XX Maremma Cup series' has ended. In the overall ranking, Marco Aurelio Fontana preceded Schurter and Kugler. Thanks to the collaboration of Camera di Commercio and Province of Grosseto, Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and the Cities of Massa Marittima, Monte Argentario and Grosseto, Massa Marittima could aim to become even more important in the international MTB panorama. CO would like to propose Massa Marittima for a World Cup's stage and for many other international events.

For more information: www.maremmacup.com

XX MAREMMA CUP 07.03.2010
Open Men Results
1) FONTANA Marco Aurelio (CANNONDALE FACTORY RACING) 1.43.35; 2) VOGEL Florian (SCOTT-SWISSPOWER MTB-Racing) 1.44.04; 3) SCHURTER Nino (SCOTT-SWISSPOWER MTB-Racing) 1.44.37; 4) ABSALON Julien (ORBEA) 1.44.48; 5) LONGO Tony (TEAM FULL-DYNAMIX) 1.45.13.

Open Women Results
1) LECHNER Eva (COLNAGO ARREGHINI SUDTIROL) 1.23.24; 2) SCHNEITTER Nathalie (COLNAGO ARREGHINI SUDTIROL) 1.24.10; 3) RAVANEL Cecile (LAPIERRE INTERNATIONAL) 1.25.19; 4) KLEMENCIC Blaza (FELT OETZTAL X-BIONIC TEAM) 1.25.35; 5) MORATH Adelheid (TEAM FELT OETZTAL X-BIONIC TEAM) 1.25.38.

Junior Men Results
1) WALDER Roger (SCOTT-SWISSPOWER MTB-Racing) 1.14.48; 2) LUPATO Denny (GIANT ITALIA TEAM) 1.15.18; 3) RIGHETTINI Andrea (L'ARCOBALENO CARRARO TEAM) 1.15.41; 4) VIEIDER Maximilian (ASC TIROLER RADLER BOZEN) 1.17.44; 5) CARPINO Giuseppe (A.S.D. TEAM BIKES RAGUSA FRW) 1.17.51.

Junior Women Results
1) BULLERI Alessia (ELBA BIKE) 1.10.54; 2) CORTI Miriam (TEAM CBE TECNOIMPIANTI A.S.D.) 1.12.26; 3) TANNER Julia (A.B.C. EGNA NEUMARKT) 1.15.57; 4) WIDMANN Veronika (A.B.C. EGNA NEUMARKT) 1.17.01; 5) SPADACCIA Elena (TEAM GEBI SISTEMI) 1.17.13.

Overall ranking final results finale (after 5 rounds)
1) FONTANA Marco Aurelio (ITA) P.22; 2) SCHURTER Nino (SUI) P.15; 3) KUGLER Andreas (SUI) P. 12; 4) VAN HOUTS Rudi (NED) P. 7; 5) VOGEL Florian (SUI) P. 7; 6) Näf Ralph (SUI) P. 4; 7) MILATZ Moritz (GER) P. 3; 8) KAUFMANN Lukas (SUI) P. 2; 9) ABSALON Julien (FRA) P. 2; 10) LONGO Tony (ITA) P. 2.
COMPLETE RESULTS

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