Dario Verani (Fame)
A triumphal blue background. Dario Verani after the World Cup (Budapest 2022) takes Europe in Belgrade, taking over from Mario Sanzullo, who retired after 8 km. The Tuscan, trained by Fabrizio Antonelli in Ostia, triumphed in the 25 km in 5h08’50″9, ahead of the Venetian Matteo Furlan, silver at 5″7 and the Frenchman Axel Reymond, another specialist, at 9″6; below the podium is the Hungarian Peter Galicz at 22″5. At 29 years old, the Italian from Cecina wins his first continental title after a silver and a bronze. He was coming off an excellent World Championship in Doha in the 10 km.
Dario Verani
Furlan, 35 years old who trains in Padua, is also an expert cross-country skier with 3 world medals and 5 European medals to his credit. Curious detail: World Aquatics excluded the 25 km from the World Championships program, but European Aquatics kept this gran Fondo with which open water swimming debuted in 1991 (Chiarandini was silver).
Dario Verani and Matteo Furlan on the podium with Raymond
Says Verani: “It was a beautiful 25 with excellent conditions. The water was warm and the basin was higher, so she could swim very well. I did the race as I had planned: in control to force the last part. I am very happy because I have finally achieved a goal that I had set for myself.” Furlan adds: “I’m happy to have reached the podium for the fifth consecutive time at the European Championships, so I can finally go and quit with a good end result. I finished my career well.”
And Barbara Pozzobon also dominates, already silver in the 10 km and the women’s 25 km. The Italian had a very convincing performance, remaining in the top positions in the initial 15 km, then taking command of the operations and going into a solitary breakaway until the touchout after 5 hours 25’37”. Silver for the German Lea Boy at 3’01″9, bronze for the Spanish Candela Sanchez Lora at 3’37″5, under the podium the Hungarian Vivien Balogh; Veronica Santoni retired at the 21st km.
Barbara Pozzobon
Pozzobon, 30 years old, is a world relay medalist. Tomorrow the cross-country program will conclude with the relay (Guidi, Filadelli, Taddeucci and Gabbrielleschi). We remember that before today the gold had been won by Gregorio Paltrinieri in the 10 km. It is an Italy that bewitches Europe, led by Stefano Rubaudo. Barby says: “Very demanding race, even mentally. Keeping the men was not easy. I’m happy with what I did, how I swam and how I felt in the water. I can only be satisfied.”
The Italian medal count with one day to go is 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. At Ostia 2022 we finished with 4-4-3.
The podium with Barbara Pozzobon and Candela Sanchez Lora
Leonie Antonia Beck between Barbara Pozzobon (left) and Giulia Gabbrielleschi in the 10 km
Update / Artistic – The program in Belgrade is completed today. The Spaniard Dennis Gonzalez Boneu, almost in response to the case of homophobia of which he was the victim yesterday on social media. Together with her partner Mireia Hernandez Luna with 218.7658 beat the Italian couple Filippo Pelati and Sarah Rizea (217.1633), bronze went to the British duo Beatrice Crass and Ranjuo Tomblin (202.9817). It is the sixth Italian medal. Greece wins gold in the Team Freestyle with 270.1980: beaten Italy (Andina, Bisi, Esegio, Macchi, macino, Murru, Rocchino, Tabbiani) with 254.7354 and Great Britain (219.0228). The blue loot is 4 silvers and 3 bronzes. The diving and lane swimming competitions start from Monday.
