Rampiprima 2013- After the Dust has settled (or the mud has dried)

Conditions at the 2013 Rampiprima – Citta’ di Rovereto were a bit damp and soggy, making everyone - from the Freder, the team’s fun loving beer drinking mechanic, to each of the six FOCUS XC ITALY TEAM riders who started the race – work overtime due to sloppy course conditions.  After a week of rain in the whole of Northern Italy, the course overlooking Rovereto in the Adige River valley held up surprisingly well… but also had some surprises in store for everyone who started the race.

After a week of recovery from Gran Prix d’Inverno,  the riders of FOCUS XC ITALY TEAM lined up again this week hoping to have put the bad luck of a week ago behind them.  Unfortunately, the thick mud over large sections of the course had other ideas.  Fabian Rabensteiner showed great form (I hate to say I called it, but please see the previous post), surging into a commanding lead in the second of the five curcuits before the mud claimed one of its many victims breaking his chain and forcing him to abandon the race.  Rabensteiner, though understandably frustrated by his misfortune, was happy with his form, especially considering that he has recently recovered from the flu.

Rabensteiner launching what could very well have been the winning move

Meanwhile, Andrea Righettini, racing in front of a hometown crowd, had a rare off day in his season debut but still finished 7th in the U23 Race.  After a rocky start  (as those of us road racers turned mountain bikers are inclined to have), I was able to recover well enough to finish 7th in the Elite Race.  After a good showing a week ago at the hotly contested GP d’Inverno, Beltain Schmid was unfortunately forced to retire from the race with stomach problems.

Also in good form today was Kevin Filipozzi but he, like Rabensteiner was forced out of the race, in this case due to a crash induced mechanical.  Jenny Fontana, who was confined to watching TV (presumably) on the couch all week long due to influenza, showed tenacity in finishing 6th.

Fontana grits her teeth

Next on the docket for the FOCUS XC ITALY TEAM is a good solid block of trainig before a return trip to Tregnago for the GF Tre Valli in two weeks.