MESSINA – The eighth edition of the “Rosario Costa Memorial” took place on Sunday in the external area of the “Franco Scoglio” Stadium in Messina on a “hard and technically demanding circuit of 3400 metres”, these were the words on the eve of Giuseppe Cipriano Director Team Nibali technician. After a hot morning, the weather conditions completely changed just before the start of the race reserved for the Student category; great work by the organization to ensure maximum safety and smooth running of the race for all athletes.
Caruso stands out among the students
After making the route safe, we move on to the Students’ race and after the first lap at a controlled pace, a quintet forms at the head of the race which practically decides the race composed of Salvatore Caruso (Naturosa – Bike & Co. Ragusa), Antonino Lucia and Daniel Bartolotta (ASD Team Bike Sport Ballero), Gabriele Tirendi and Jacopo Schirò (Cycling Team Nial Nizzoli Almo). A puncture puts Bartolotta out of action with his all-too-generous teammate Lucia leading the race. Final sprint with Caruso beating a very generous Lucia and Schirò; for the Naturosa representative – Bike & Co. Ragusa is the second victory of the season.
The Junior and Under 23 winners
Bad weather, after a short break, returns as a protagonist in the initial stages of the “promiscuous” race reserved for Junior and Under 23 athletes; rocket start with the boys of Solme – Olmo of the patron Giampietro Forcolin who already within the first lap putting the rest of the platoon in single file. Bad luck rages against the boys in the “turquoise jersey” who have to raise the white flag due to a triple puncture, which puts them out including the winner of the 2022 edition, in the Team NIbali jersey, Cristian Caputo.
The bad weather passes but it is a real elimination race with Illia Pylypchuk (CPS Professional Team) winning the Junior test ahead of Vincenzo Risplendente (Madone – De Angeli Professional Team) and Michelangelo Parisi (Pro.Gi.T Cycling Team). Among the Under 23s, Davide De Giorgi of Pro.Gi.T dominates, crossing the finish line alone ahead of former yellow-red-black Gianluigi Scibilia (ICS Group Dacia Multicar Amarù) and Antonino Veneziano (Pro.Gi.T.) .
Celebratory shirt for Scibilia
Gianluigi Scibilia, born in 2005, was awarded by Lillo La Rosa, Team Manager of Team Nibali, for being the best among the former athletes of the president Rachele Perinelli’s team; for Gianluigi a celebratory shirt of the event and another second place after the one obtained at the Coppa Maria SS in Gulfi in mid-April.
