Mantecon Gutierrez wins in final, muddy lap

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Spaniard Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing) and Switzerland's Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Bikepark.Ch Scott) won the Maremma Cup #1 in Massa Marittima, Tuscany, Italy on Sunday. En route to victory, they faced rain, wind and cold that produced muddy conditions.

The Swiss duo of Florian Vogel and Nino Schurter (both Scott-Swisspower MTB-Racing) joined Italy's Marco Aurelio Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) at the front from the start until the penultimate lap. Vogel then jumped to the front as Fontana struggled to keep his pace. Schurter fell off the two leaders' pace, while Gutierrez, who had a poor start, started to make up time and work his way toward the front of the race.

On the very last lap, Gutierrez caught Fontana and about five minutes later, with 500m to go, also caught and passed Vogel. Gutierrez then held on for the remainder of the race to take the win ahead of Vogel. Fontana was third.

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"It was the first test, and I felt very good," said Mantecon Gutierrez. "I have gone from less to more, and that cost me pick up the pace but with the passage of each lap I felt better."

Italy's Gerhard Kerschbaumer (TX Active Bianchi) was the fastest under 23 racer.

In contrast to the men's race, the women's race took place in the morning with no rain or wind. Saner Guinchard never seemed to have any trouble against her top competitors Frenchwoman Cécile Ravanel (GT/Skoda) and Norway's Elisabeth Sveum (Merida Smart Safety), who finished second and third respectively. Sveum was the top under 23 racer.

Among the juniors, Lorenzo Samparisi (FM Bike Factory Team A.S.D.) and Alessia Bulleri won their respective men's and women's contests.

Following four short-format races from Tuesday through Friday in the cities of Porto Santo Stefano, Grosseto, Arcidosso and Massa Marittima, the second and final round of the Maremma Cup will be run on Sunday, March 6. The HC-category cross country event will also serve as the first round of the Internazionali d’Italia series.

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