The 2022 edition of Adriatica Ionica Race opened in the name of the real show and the authentic enthusiasm: it started this morning from Tarvisio (Ud) and it will end on Wednesday 8th June in Ascoli Piceno.
Tarvisio-Monfalcone crowned Christian Scaroni’s (Italian National Team) who beat Filippo Zana (Bardiani CSF) and the Spanish Raul Garcia Pierna (Kern Pharma) in a sprint action.
THE RACE REPORT – 114 athletes started from Tarvisio on a hot and sunny day. The first hours of the race slipped away at a fast pace for the entirely Friulian stage that gave a spectacular and unpredictable finish. Immediately after the end of the descent of the KOM of San Michele del Carso, at 5 km to the finish, a quintet composed of Christian Scaroni (Italy), Filippo Zana (Bardiani), Raul Garcia Pierna (Kern Pharma), Riccardo Lucca (Work Service) and Mikel Iturria (Euskaltel) escaped from the group and caught the victory at the finish line in Via Valentinis.
Previously, the race was animated by the escape of four of the 114 starters: Matteo Zurlo (Zalf Euromobil Désirée Fior) – who received the orange official jersey for the most combative rider of the day -, Federico Burchio (Work Service Vitalcare Vega), Matteo Donegà (Team Friuli) and Adriano Brogi (Giotti Vittoria).
The first to cross the hill on the KOM of San Michele del Carso was – however – the British Paul Double (Mg K Vis) who is also the leader of the KOM special classification.
STATEMENTS – “I didn’t expect to win the first stage of the Adriatica Ionica Race” declared the winner Christian Scaroni (Italian National Team) incredulous and happy. “I struggled on the last climb, but I arrived at the finish clear, pushing more with my head and heart than with my legs. I focused on doing well and having fun and my efforts over the last few months have been paid off. I thank my trainers and the Italian national team for giving me the opportunity to race. Tomorrow I will try to manage my energy, even if I think the third stage is more suitable to my features” concluded Christian Scaroni.
OFFICIAL JERSEYS
General classification leader: Christian Scaroni (Italian National Team)
Blue jersey Geo & Tex 2000 (general classification): Christian Scaroni (Italia)
Green jersey Enit (KOM classification): Paul Double (MG.K. VIS)
Red jersey Suzuki (sprinter classification): Christian Scaroni (Italia)
White jersey (youth classification): Filipo Zana (Bardiani CSF)
Orange jersey FSA (the most combative): Matteo Zurlo (Zalf)
THE WINNER – The one won in the opening stage of AIR 2022 with the Italian national team is the first victory among professionals for Christian Scaroni. The 24-year-old rider from Brescia was in Gazprom-RusVelo, the team suspended by the UCI due to the start of the war in Ukraine. In 2021 Scaroni had finished thirteenth in the Giro dell’Emilia and was second in the overall of the Tour du Jura. Among the juniors he had been the Italian road champion.
STAGE RESULTS:
1° Christian Scaroni (Naz. Italia) 3h43’48”
2° Filippo Zana (Bardiani CSF Faizanè)
3° Raul Garcia Pierna (Kern Pharma)
4° Riccardo Lucca (Work Service Vitalcare Videa)
5° Mikel Iturria (Euskaltel Euskadi) a 5″
6° Davide Persico (Colpack Ballan) a 19″
7° Matteo Malucelli (Naz. Italia)
8° Nicolas Dalla Valle (Giotti Victoria Savini Due)
9° Samuele Zambelli (Work Service Vitalcare Videa)
10° Sacha Modolo (Bardiani CSF Faizanè)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION:
1° Christian Scaroni (Naz. Italia) 3h43’48”
2° Filippo Zana (Bardiani CSF Faizanè) a 4″
3° Raul Garcia Pierna (Kern Pharma) a 6″
4° Riccardo Lucca (Work Service Vitalcare Videa) a 10″
5° Mikel Iturria (Euskaltel Euskadi) a 15″
6° Davide Persico (Colpack Ballan) a 29″
7° Matteo Malucelli (Naz. Italia)
8° Nicolas Dalla Valle (Giotti Victoria Savini Due)
9° Samuele Zambelli (Work Service Vitalcare Videa)
10° Sacha Modolo (Bardiani CSF Faizanè)
CURIOSITY: THE DISH OF THE DAY – Today in Monfalcone in the hospitality area, the chef Kevin Gaddi, the Ambassador of taste of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, presented the recipe of the day: “Risotto with fresh water with green apple, ginger, smoked trout and balsamic vinegar”, a perfect combination between the mountains and the sea. It is a recipe of his invention to bring out both the taste of the smoked trout and the balsamic vinegar aged ten years. The vegetable broth with apple peels accompanies this risotto with a perfect balance of flavors, where ginger guarantees a pleasant sensation of freshness on the palate. For this Friulian culinary specialty, only 0 km agri-food products are used whose brand guarantees the traceability of their raw materials.
TOMORROW’S STAGE – From Castelfranco Veneto (Tv) to Cima Grappa. The second act of AIR 2022 will undoubtedly be the most demanding from the elevation point of view. After a first flat part, the caravan will tackle the rise and fall of the Asolo hills and then enter the Belluno area facing the climb to Monte Grappa from the Seren del Grappa side.
The last kilometers
There are 24.5 kilometers of ascent leading the athletes to the top of the 1,708 meters of altitude of Monte Grappa. The average gradient is 5.9% but the most challenging ramps will be in the first part of the climb, reaching a maximum peak of 15%. In the last five kilometers, after a short stretch of slight descent, the road returns to rise regularly at 6-7% right up to the finish line.
