It had to be a record setting Nove Colli – Selle Italia and so it was.
An event becoming every year more complete, by combining history, passion, volunteering, and the professionalism that a such an event has to provide to the thousands cyclists coming from all around the world.
The 47th edition presented many news: a new app for Android and iOS mobile dispositive, with a tracking system that allow everyone to follow friends and live with them the emotion of pedalling kilometres after kilometres; a virtual race kit to aim a future free from wasteful paper, that let the organization offer better services for cyclists and companies; but most of all, a live coverage on an important TV Italian Channel: two and a half hours of pure entertainment, with panoramic footages from the helicopters and several mini trailers showing the real beating heart of the Nove Colli: the glorious G.C. Fausto Coppi, the city of Cesenatico and the whole amazing inland of Romagna.
“I can easily say that the event has been a success on all fronts” president Alessandro Spada proudly says “especially the live broadcast on Rai3 that was the added value to this edition. Today we started with not helpful weather conditions, due to a rainy night, but then, with a perfect organization and the first lights coming out, we succeed in let everything go in the right way”.
Words of phrase even from the guest star Joaquin “Purito” Rodriguez: “It was an incredible show. Pedalling along with 12.000 cyclists is an emotion never felt before. I rod for 130km, having the first snack break after 70km, is amazing how much food was there. Also the pasta party was fantastic. A party inside the party”.
The only negative mark of this edition is the disqualification of an athlete for throwing a sneak shell on the street. “Our rules are clear, I also recommended this important thing during this morning starting ceremony” Alessandro Spada explains. “During the live broadcast on RAI3, while I was commenting on the run, I noticed the athlete doing that thing, and we could not act like if nothing happened. Maybe other cyclists acted like him, but it’s hard to catch everyone in flagrante with so many riders on the roads”.
The two courses, 130km and 205km, have been won by the Belgian from Genk, Houben Kristof, and, for the third straight time, by Igor Zanetti in the men’s races. The women races have been conquered by Erica Magnaldi and Emma del Bono.
130 km riders declarations:
Houben Kristof: “I love so much Italian granfondos. This is the third time I attended the Nove Colli. In the first two editions I did the long course and I got 6th and 12th. This time I did the short course because two weeks ago I was ill and my daughter suggested me to do that. After the result I can now say it was the right decision.”.
Erica Magnaldi: “I’m really satisfied of my race. I expected a fast start and I was mentally ready about that. On the second climb I forced the pace and I was able to get advantage from my direct adversaries, maintaining it until the finish line. I really aimed the victory after the last edition win. Win is difficult, repeat it is more difficult.
205 km riders declarations:
Igor Zanetti: “Nove Colli is the most important granfondo for me. It fits me at the best. This year I’ve begun the preparation later, and so, I didn’t think I could get the first place. In the last 3 km I gave everything I had and I finally got this amazing victory.
Emma del Bono: “I want to dedicate this victory to my new-born daughter, and to my life-mate who today encouraged me from the start to the finish-line. This win paid me back for all the sacrifices I did.