Three hundred and ten seconds of colors, 310 seconds of smiles, 310 seconds of pure emotion. It took that long to parade the 2,300 cyclists who on Sunday 5 May, at 7 o’clock, set off from via Marzabotto to take part in the second edition of the BGY Airport Granfondo.
There are many stories in the group, like those of 42 Swedes landed at Milan Bergamo Airport, partner and title sponsor, to participate in the eventof the eighteen faithful who have not missed an edition of the Bergamo granfondo since 1996, or of the eight participants who celebrated their birthday today, Sunday 5 May: among them Mara Camilla Lamera, third in the medium route. A happy return to Bergamo also for Mirella Pontiggia, former commander of the traffic police and the only woman in the escort of the Giro d’Italia, who took part in one of the three routes.
The participants cycled through 37 municipalities and had the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle of the enchanting naturalistic sceneriesoffered by the six Bergamo valleys to cross: Val Cavallina, Val Seriana, Val Serina, Val Brembana, Val Taleggio, Valle Imagna. Some inconvenience to traffic is inevitable.
Granfondo at the start with 2,500 runners: they will cross 37 municipalities
The cycling Granfondo starts on Sunday 5 May: here are the most beautiful photos.
Speaking of those who performed well at the BGY Airport Granfondo from a chronometric point of view, Lucia Isonni (As Boario) and Luca Boschini (TCT Asd) won the short 89.4 km route, Carlotta Uber (Garda Scott Matergia) and Filippo Calliari (Garda Scott Matergia) crossed the finish line first after the 128.8 km of the medium route, while Erika Jesenko (New Molini Dolo) and Manuel Senni (Team Crainox) tamed the 162.1 km and over 3,050 meters of difference in altitude of the long route. With this success, the Slovenian becomes the first foreign athlete in the roll of honor of the BGY Airport Granfondo.
The winners of the short course
Obligatory mention also for the grimpeurs Simone Capelli (Salvi Bike Store), Matteo Molteni (Team DA-TOR / Isb) and Michele Negri (Team MP Filtri), the fastest in covering the 10 km of the Selvino and who therefore won the «Cronoscalata Eugenio Mercorio», a challenge within the challenge of the BGY Airport Granfondo dedicated to the late accountant/cyclist who passed away 14 years ago but is always alive in the hearts of cycling friends.
To ensure greater safety for participants the organization has prepared 40 technical escorts, 12 traffic police motorbike relays, two Polstrada coordination patrols, nine ambulances and nine mechanical assistance pointsfour electric rescue bikes for the last km, five mountain rescue volunteers and five electric cars of the organization made available by the Sarco Toyota dealership. The kids from the «Boys on the road» project have also had this experience as they test themselves with the rules of road safety during sports competitions.
A happy return: Mirella Pontiggia, former commander of the traffic police in Bergamo and the only woman in the escort of the Giro d’Italia
The «Boys on the road» with the mayor Giorgio Gori
The 2024 podiums
Long route (km 162.1)
MEN: 1. Manuel Senni (Team Crainox) 4h30.57; 2. Paolo Castelnuovo (Team MP Filtri) +2.46; 3. Patrick Facchini (Team Sildom Garda) +4.50
WOMEN: 1. Erika Jesenko (New Molini Dolo) 5h03.45; 2. Sonia Passuti (Team Staweld Buzzolan Basso) + 21,583. Sarah Palfrader (Team Da-tor ISB) st.
Eugenio Mercorio time trial (among the participants of the long route): Michele Negri (Team MP Filtri)
Average route (km 128.8)
MEN: 1. Filippo Calliari (Garda Scott Matergia) 3h27.00; 2. Filippo Bianchi (Asd OOP! Sport & Fitness) st; 3. Luca Cantini (Team Morotti) +2:15
WOMEN: 1. Carlotta Uber (Garda Scott Matergia) 3h49.41; 2. Katia Mennea (Garda Scott Matergia) +12.39; 3. Mara Camilla Lamera (RT 96 Srl) +18.06
Hillclimb time trial Eugenio Mercorio (among the participants of the medium route): Matteo Molteni (Team DA-TOR / Isb)
Short route (km 89.4)
MEN: 1. Luca Boschini (TCT Asd) 2h20.35; 2. Daniel Pellegrinelli (TCT Asd) +0.05; 3. Matteo Bertocchi (Team Morotti) +0.11
WOMEN: 1. Luisa Isonni (Asd Boario) 2h33.38; 2. Maria Donzelli (Bike Avengers) +4.32; 3. Emilie Bottini (Switzerland, Zerotest) +12.29
Eugenio Mercorio time trial (among the participants of the short route): Simone Capelli (Salvi Bike Store)
All information on www.granfondobgy.it.
