Cheile Grădiștei – Simonte Avondatto, 24 years old from Piedmont from Moncalieri, in his second year in the elite category, is the new European champion. He wins the title on a day characterized by cold and rain, which made today’s races challenging and full of twists and turns. For the Italian off-roader this is a historic result: it had never happened that a blue biker climbed to the roof of Europe in the Olympic discipline of crosscountry.
In the final test of the event in Romania, Andreassen starts in the lead with Avondetto in the rear. On the third lap the Dane punctures and the Italian takes advantage of this to take a fifty-second lead which he maintains until the end, despite the fact that the ground conditions were prohibitive and full of pitfalls.
Great joy for coach Mirko Celestino who returns from the expedition to Romania with two European titles and two bronze medals: “It was a tough trip, due to the weather conditions, and an exciting one. It forced all the staff to do double work, but the boys were really good and gave us the greatest joy: bringing home two beautiful victories and the awareness of having a group with great potential. I thank those who believed in this project. Now we look forward to the next events.”
The elite podium sees, behind Avondetto, the Danish Andreassen, who reached the finish line with a 50″ deficit, and the German Schelb, at 1’07”.
“I made a good start – commented Avondetto –, I was in the small group that was chasing. He had a puncture. I tried to attack, found myself alone and continued until the end. I’m really happy and I thank the staff for the great work they did.”
President DagnonI congratulated the new European champion and the entire team: “A result of this level in off-road racing hasn’t been had for a long time. It is the culmination of a journey that began with the four-year period and it comforts us for two reasons: it comes from a boy in his second year in the category, therefore with great margins for growth and in year of the Olympics. We are really happy and on behalf of the entire movement I thank the athletes, the coach Celestino who also constantly informed us about the difficulties encountered in this trip due to the inclement weather and the great effort by all the staff to put the athletes in the best conditions. We face the last events that separate us from Paris with the awareness of having a competitive and ready sector.”
Simone Avondatto was born in Moncalieri, he races for the Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team Xco. This year he has already highlighted himself by winning the Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race. For him, this is the second continental title of this expedition, having also participated in the Team Relay as the first competitor. Precisely on that occasion he had demonstrated excellent condition, recording the best lap time. In 2022 he had won the Italian, European and U23 world title in the same season.
Among the elite women, success went to one of the favourites, the Dutch Puck Pieterse, ahead of the Austrian Mona Mitterwallner (at 1’12”) and the German Nina Benz (at 2’15”). Greta Seiwald is fifth, at 4’34, Giada Specia twelfth, at 7’14. Seiwald, in the running for a podium for a large part of the race, suffered a puncture and an accident which forced her to pit twice.
Among the U23 women, the best result for Italy is sixth place for Valentina Corvi, 2’47 behind the winner, the Swiss Monique Halter. Also on the podium are the German Carla Hahn, at 26″, and the other Swiss, Anina Hutter (at 38″).
The final medal table of these European Championships sees Italy in third place, behind Switzerland and Denmark.
