Fumic and Leumann win Marlene Sudtirol Sunshine Race

Manuel Fumic and Katrin Leumann won the 14th annual Marlene Südtirol Sunshine Race in Nals, Italy. Fumic triumphed in spring temperatures ahead of his Cannondale teammate Marco Aurelio Fontana and Alexander Gehbauer from Austria. In the women's category, Katrin Leumann from Switzerland won for the first time ahead of Alexandra Engen and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa. Eva Lechner, who holds the record for the most victories at the race, finished fourth as the first Italian woman.

The women had to complete five laps for 26.6km while the men did seven laps and 36.6km. The race is part of the Internazionali d'Italia Series and it drew a record 796 participants from 26 nations.

Men

The men's cross country race could not have been any more thrilling. Right after completing the starting loop, a large group including Anton Cooper, Marco Aurelio Fontana, Karl Markt, Manuel Fumic, Andrea Tiberi, Alexander Gehbauer and Gerhard Kerschbaumer set a strong pace.

The two Cannondale riders, Fontana and Fumic, along with Gerhard Kerschbaumer from Team Bianchi managed to build up a significant lead, which they expanded upon in the second and third laps. In the lap after that, Fontana attacked on the uphill finishing the 5km-long circuit with a lead of 20 seconds ahead of Kerschbaumer and 23 seconds ahead of Fumic.

Fumic then attacked in the fifth lap, first overtaking Kerschbaumer and then also Fontana. Both Fontana and Kerschbaumer had to deal with flat tires. While Fontana repaired his pretty swiftly, Kerschbaumer had to finish the downhill section to the feed zone before being able to attend to his.

Fumic continued in strides while Fontana started to catch up and Gehbauer rode into third place with Kerschbaumer falling to sixth.

"Nobody is hiding one week before the World Cup kick-off. We were all on on the attack today and tried to play 'our games'," said Fumic. "Fontana has done most of the leading work, but then he had to deal with his flat. I could catch up with him and Kerschbaumer, and had more power to set things right in the last lap. This surely boosts my self confidence at the beginning of the season. I'm in great shape."

Fontana said, "I had a flat with two and a half laps to go and could not catch up with Manuel after that. But leading up to that point, I felt great and did a lot of the leading work. It was an important test with the World Cup starting in one week. It could have gone better, but I'm generally happy."

Along with Tiberi and Markt, the trio tried to get close to Gehbauer. The Austrian had enough of a lead and energy left, to hold on to his third place all through the finish. Fumic completed the race with a final time of 1:38:04. He distanced himself from Fontana by 40 seconds. Third place went to Gehbauer at 2:45. Kerschbaumer placed fourth.

Gehbauer said, "It was a very hard but great race with many spectators and a wonderful atmosphere. I completed the entire race on my own, which was very hard. Unfortunately, my teammate Kerschbaumer had a flat. I knew, that I was closely chased, but didn’t risk anything in the last downhill as I had a large lead."

Kerschbaumer said, "I fell from third to sixth place due to my flat. Nevertheless, I realized that I am in great shape. My preparation is usually not so far ahead at the beginning of the season. The course suits me, but Nals seems to be cursed: third time fourth place. I'd be pleased if things stayed like this next week in South Africa."

Women

Four-time Swiss Champion Katrin Leumann won the women's cross country race. It was her first victory in Nals. The 32-year-old from Riehen in the canton of the city of Basel sent the eliminator world champion Alexandra Engen from Sweden to second place with a lead of 18 seconds Three-time Nals winner Gunn-Rita Dahle crossed the finish line in third place, 46 seconds behind the winner and 27 seconds ahead of record holder Eva Lechner, who was the one to set the rhythm from the start all the way through the fourth lap.

However, the race was decided in the last round. Leumann attacked, passed the two leading riders Lechner and Dahle and took off. Engen pushed hard and caught up, too. She managed to pass Dahle Flesjaa and Lechner in the last downhill crossing the finish line as the second-fastest woman.

"I was able to catch up with the leading duo in the last lap. I expected them to attack or prepare for the finishing sprint. But then I realized, that they didn't have it in them to race any faster," said Leumann. "They let me push ahead, which gave me energy and motivation. I raced very carefully in the last downhill to make sure nothing bad happened."

Engen said, "I simply wanted to ride a good race and gave it my all to follow through on my strategy. I realized at some point, that I am getting closer to the leading riders. That is when I pushed even harder, catching up on the last downhill. Luckily, I am a good sprinter."

Dahle Flesjaa said, "We competed for every meter. I am pleased with my placing. I really needed this competition ahead of the World Cup kick-off. I lost little time on the downhill, but all uphills were very hard for me. A great race with many spectators. Katrin fully deserved to win here."

Lechner said, "I ran out of air at some point. I noticed, that I didn’t have a lot of energy left, particularly in the last round. Nevertheless, I still hope to be ready for the World Cup next week."

Engen and Federspiel win eliminator

On the eve of the cross country, racers contested an eliminator in the center of the town of Nals. Daniel Federspiel won this event for the fifth time in a row. Second place went to Italian National Champion Elia Silvestri and third to Sepp Freiburghaus from Switzerland.

A thrilling final in the women's race was dominated by the current World Champion and World Cup overall winner Alexandra Engen from Sweden ahead of Eva Lechner and Lisa Mitterbauer.

Full Results (for cross country)

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Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Manuel Fumic (Ger)1:38:04
2Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita)0:00:40
3Alexander Gehbauer (Aut)0:02:46
4Gerhard Kerschbaumer (Ita)0:02:47
5Andrea Tiberi (Ita)0:02:48
6Karl Markt (Aut)0:02:52
7Luca Braidot (Ita)0:04:38
8Johannes Schweiggl (Ita)0:04:47
9Fabian Rabensteiner (Ita)0:05:02
10Anton Cooper (NZl)0:05:15
11Christoph Soukup (Aut)0:05:44
12Anton Sintsov (Rus)0:06:15
13Cristian Cominelli (Ita)0:06:18
14Martino Fruet (Ita)0:06:21
15Gioele Bertolini (Ita)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Simon Scheiber (Aut)0:06:58
17Umberto Corti (Ita)0:07:47
18Gregor Raggl (Aut)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Sebastian Carstensen Fini (Den)0:08:09
20Miguel Martinez (Fra)0:08:18
21Christian Helmig (Lux)0:08:38
22Andrea Righettini (Ita)0:09:26
23Keegan Swenson (USA)0:10:10
24Jacopo Billi (Ita)0:10:18
25Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut)0:10:51
26Matiss Preimanis (Lat)0:12:06
27Giuseppe Lamastra (Ita)0:12:39
28Lorenzo Samparisi (Ita)0:12:59
29Robbert De Nijs (Ned)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Markus Preiss (Aut)Row 29 - Cell 2
31Maximilian Maier (Ger)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Krystof Bogar (Cze)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Jan Vastl (Cze)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Federico Barri (Ita)Row 33 - Cell 2
35Philipp Wetzelberger (Aut)Row 34 - Cell 2
36Michael Mayer (Aut)Row 35 - Cell 2
37Philipp Bertsch (Ger)Row 36 - Cell 2
38Elias Hagspiel (Aut)Row 37 - Cell 2
39Mattia Setti (Ita)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Andrea Cina (Ita)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Marian Pablo Burkhardt (Ger)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Luca Gandola (Ita)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Tommaso Caneva (Ita)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Georg Egger (Ger)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Bart De Vocht (Bel)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Lorenzo Pellegrini (Ita)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Zdenek Vobecky (Cze)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Denis Fumarola (Ita)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Michael Spoegler (Ita)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Edoardo Bonetto (Ita)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Maximilian Vieider (Ita)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Matthias Grick (Aut)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Kristofers Racenajs (Lat)Row 52 - Cell 2
54Matteo Olivotto (Ita)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Alberto Rossi (Ita)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Daniel Voitl (Ger)Row 55 - Cell 2
57Marco Bui (Ita)Row 56 - Cell 2
58Niels Rasmussen (Den)Row 57 - Cell 2
59Mattia Penna (Ita)Row 58 - Cell 2
60Thomas Paccagnella (Ita)Row 59 - Cell 2
61Jeroen Van Eck (Ned)Row 60 - Cell 2
62Jakob Hartmann (Ger)Row 61 - Cell 2
63Sven Strähle (Ger)Row 62 - Cell 2
64Fabian Costa (Aut)Row 63 - Cell 2
65Franco Nicolas Adaos Alvarez (Chi)Row 64 - Cell 2
66Jonas Müller (Ger)Row 65 - Cell 2
67Davide Clerici (Ita)Row 66 - Cell 2
68Simone Vecchia (Ita)Row 67 - Cell 2
69Stefano Bollardini (Ita)Row 68 - Cell 2
70Max Foidl (Aut)Row 69 - Cell 2
71Davide Simone Ferrero (Ita)Row 70 - Cell 2
72Davide Nardei (Ita)Row 71 - Cell 2
73Marco Ticco (Ita)Row 72 - Cell 2
74Petr Koudelka (Cze)Row 73 - Cell 2
75Florian Gruber (Aut)Row 74 - Cell 2
76Matteo Mandatori (Ita)Row 75 - Cell 2
77Thomas Forer (Ita)Row 76 - Cell 2
78Emanuele Crisi (Ita)Row 77 - Cell 2
79Simone Piccoli (Ita)Row 78 - Cell 2
80Louis Wolf (Ger)Row 79 - Cell 2
81Davide Finetto (Ita)Row 80 - Cell 2
82Elia Silvestri (Ita)Row 81 - Cell 2
83Milan Damek (Cze)Row 82 - Cell 2
84Philipp Heigl (Aut)Row 83 - Cell 2
85Giulio Valfre (Ita)Row 84 - Cell 2
86Jodok Salzmann (Aut)Row 85 - Cell 2
87Eros Capati (Ita)Row 86 - Cell 2
88Lukas Kaufmann (Aut)Row 87 - Cell 2
89Elia Mazzurega (Ita)Row 88 - Cell 2
90Sascha Pollak (Aut)Row 89 - Cell 2
91Filip Kubin (Cze)Row 90 - Cell 2
92Simone Moletta (Ita)Row 91 - Cell 2
93Christoph Hochmüller (Aut)Row 92 - Cell 2
94Eric Polansek (Aut)Row 93 - Cell 2
95Michele Gaeta (Ita)Row 94 - Cell 2
96Lukasz Szymczuk (Pol)Row 95 - Cell 2
97Alessio Forgnoli (Ita)Row 96 - Cell 2
98Stephan Hochmüller (Aut)Row 97 - Cell 2
99Antonio Fusco (Ita)Row 98 - Cell 2
100Reinis Andrijanovs (Lat)Row 99 - Cell 2
101Mattia Chesi (Ita)Row 100 - Cell 2
102Jure Onesti (Ita)Row 101 - Cell 2
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Elite women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Katrin Leumann (Swi)1:26:04
2Alexandra Engen (Swe)0:00:18
3Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor)0:00:20
4Eva Lechner (Ita)0:00:47
5Elisabeth Osl (Aut)0:01:04
6Tereza Hurikova (Cze)0:01:54
7Lisa Rabensteiner (Ita)0:02:54
8Serena Calvetti (Ita)0:05:01
9Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut)0:05:38
10Karla Stepanova (Cze)0:06:42
11Emilie Collomb (Ita)0:08:24
12Anne Terpstra (Ned)0:09:13
13Lucie Vesela (Cze)0:09:57
14Barbora Machulkova (Cze)0:11:43
15Alessia Bulleri (Ita)0:14:27
16Giulia Gaspardino (Ita)0:17:10
17Marta Turobos (Pol)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Serena Tasca (Ita)Row 18 - Cell 2
20Viktoria Zeller (Aut)Row 19 - Cell 2
21Jenny Fontana (Ita)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Karolina Cierluk (Pol)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Alessandra Signo (Ita)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Arianna Cusini (Ita)Row 23 - Cell 2
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Junior men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Simon Andreassen (Den)1:16:13
2Luca Schwarzbauer (Ger)0:00:13
3Hugo Pigeon (Fra)0:00:31
4Moreno Pellizzon (Ita)0:02:21
5Filippo Colombo (Swi)0:02:25
6Alessandro Saravalle (Ita)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Jan Rajchart (Cze)0:02:29
8Robin Hofmann (Ger)0:02:45
9David Horwarth (Ger)0:02:46
10Kenneth Coomans (Bel)0:03:05
11Maximilian Brandl (Ger)0:03:19
12Alessandro Naspi (Ita)0:03:39
13Anders Bregnhoj (Den)0:03:46
14Milan Vader (Ned)0:04:29
15Wout Alleman (Bel)0:04:38
16Tobias Eise (Ger)0:04:41
17Pierre De Froidmont (Bel)0:04:51
18Felix Ritzinger (Aut)0:04:58
19Dario Thoma (Swi)0:05:07
20Robin Gemperle (Swi)0:05:27
21Lars Koch (Ger)0:05:32
22Lukasz Winiarski (Pol)0:05:36
23Roel Van Der Stegen (Ned)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Michele Marescutti (Ita)0:05:56
25Niels Derveaux (Bel)0:06:01
26Matej Prudek (Cze)0:06:02
27Léo L'homme (Swi)0:06:06
28Juri Cerqui (Ita)0:06:20
29Lukas Kobes (Cze)0:06:21
30Marton Dina (Hun)0:07:04
31Moritz Zoister (Aut)0:07:05
32Daniel Tassetti (Ita)0:07:06
33Filip Srovnalik (Cze)0:07:22
34Andries Baert (Bel)0:07:24
35Marceli Boguslawski (Pol)0:07:34
36Rob Vanden Haesevelde (Bel)0:08:06
37Rudy Molinari (Ita)0:08:08
38Dominique Sitta (Ita)0:08:27
39Mike Hermann (Swi)0:08:29
40Simon Schneller (Ger)0:08:44
41Wiebe Scholten (Ned)0:08:51
42Stefano Sala (Ita)0:08:52
43Filip Helta (Pol)0:09:00
44Paul Oberrauch (Ita)0:09:08
45Benjamin Inauen (Swi)0:09:10
46Dominik Gschnell (Ita)0:09:11
47Moritz Bscherer (Aut)0:09:33
48Toni Partheymüller (Ger)0:09:51
49Louis Jamin (Bel)0:09:58
50Alessandro Monni (Ita)0:09:59
51Mikkel Juhler (Den)0:10:09
52Marco Liporace (Ita)0:10:11
53Davide Pinato (Ita)0:10:14
54Oscar Vairetti (Ita)0:10:23
55Emil Toudal (Den)0:10:53
56Robin Wendelen (Bel)0:11:02
57Lorenzo Dal Piva (Ita)0:11:03
58Alberto Lenzi (Ita)0:11:07
59Nehuen Truc (Ita)0:11:08
60Gabriele Guerri (Ita)0:11:19
61Peter Zupancic (Slo)0:11:26
62Andrea Dori (Ita)Row 61 - Cell 2
63Perry Van Den Bos (Ned)0:11:27
64Attila Erdelyi (Hun)0:11:52
65Filippo Innocenti (Ita)0:11:54
66Alessandro Di Santo (Ita)0:11:55
67Daniel Schemmel (Aut)0:11:58
68Matyas Krumphanzl (Cze)0:12:03
69Armin Embacher (Aut)0:12:05
70Jonas Lindberg (Den)0:12:06
71Kasper Seiersen (Den)0:12:09
72Maximilian Ribarich (Aut)0:12:11
73Jaroslav Vojir (Cze)Row 72 - Cell 2
74Emil Falck Giraldi (Den)0:12:28
75Philip Handl (Aut)0:12:47
76Sergio Costa (Ita)0:12:54
77Luis Blattner (Ger)0:12:56
78Mateusz Banas (Pol)0:12:57
79Luca Maurici (Ita)0:13:13
80Simone Strazzacappa (Ita)0:13:20
81Roberto Faustini (Ita)Row 80 - Cell 2
82Moritz Plaikner (Ita)0:13:21
83Michele Cappelli (Ita)0:13:22
84Tiziano Cicuzza (Ita)0:13:23
85Alessandro Zoppelli (Ita)0:13:30
86Cristian Perico (Ita)0:13:35
87Kevin Maderegger (Aut)0:13:38
88Vaclav Dolezal (Cze)0:14:00
89Andreas Egger (Ger)0:14:04
90Stefano Cerisara (Ita)0:14:37
91Giuseppe Ardizzone (Ita)Row 90 - Cell 2
92Luca Garino (Ita)Row 91 - Cell 2
93Riccardo Gobbo (Ita)Row 92 - Cell 2
94Alessio Agostinelli (Ita)Row 93 - Cell 2
95Robin Bianchetti (Ita)Row 94 - Cell 2
96Zdenek Jilek (Cze)Row 95 - Cell 2
97Max Ruckriegel (Ger)Row 96 - Cell 2
98Štepán Schubert (Cze)Row 97 - Cell 2
99Michele Cucchi (Ita)Row 98 - Cell 2
100Davide Pozzi (Ita)Row 99 - Cell 2
101Mainardo Forcella (Ita)Row 100 - Cell 2
102Armin Gamper (Ita)Row 101 - Cell 2
103Marco Pozzo (Ita)Row 102 - Cell 2
104Anton Albrecht (Ger)Row 103 - Cell 2
105Davide Barbero (Ita)Row 104 - Cell 2
106Michele Mazzieri (Ita)Row 105 - Cell 2
107Eddy Zordan (Ita)Row 106 - Cell 2
108Damiano Ferrigno (Ita)Row 107 - Cell 2
109Tommaso Patrucco (Ita)Row 108 - Cell 2
110Andrea Roccon (Ita)Row 109 - Cell 2
111Felix Haller (Ita)Row 110 - Cell 2
112Nicolo Zoccarato (Ita)Row 111 - Cell 2
113Marco Thalhofer (Ger)Row 112 - Cell 2
114Niccolo Vacchina (Ita)Row 113 - Cell 2
115Lukas Kunt (Cze)Row 114 - Cell 2
116Gregorio Cerutti (Ita)Row 115 - Cell 2
117Maximilian Pettinger (Aut)Row 116 - Cell 2
118Kevin Leidi (Ita)Row 117 - Cell 2
119Niels Van Pol (Bel)Row 118 - Cell 2
120Roman Gufler (Ita)Row 119 - Cell 2
121Giovanni Beltrami (Ita)Row 120 - Cell 2
122Davide Zambelli (Ita)Row 121 - Cell 2
123Mauro Caneva (Ita)Row 122 - Cell 2
124Marco Carozzo (Ita)Row 123 - Cell 2
125Herman Larsson (Swe)Row 124 - Cell 2
126Enrico Bressan (Ita)Row 125 - Cell 2
127Alessandro Cattaneo (Ita)Row 126 - Cell 2
128Mario Rainoldi Daniele (Ita)Row 127 - Cell 2
129Luca Cerri (Ita)Row 128 - Cell 2
130Federico Alimi (Ita)Row 129 - Cell 2
131Nicola Pizzigoni (Ita)Row 130 - Cell 2
132Nadir Venturi (Ita)Row 131 - Cell 2
133Julian Biedermann (Ger)Row 132 - Cell 2
134Luca Cina (Ita)Row 133 - Cell 2
135Simone Tarchini (Ita)Row 134 - Cell 2
136Kevin Rasera (Ita)Row 135 - Cell 2
137Matteo Tagliapietra (Ita)Row 136 - Cell 2
138Andrea Moro (Ita)Row 137 - Cell 2
139Federico Mazza (Ita)Row 138 - Cell 2
140Alberto Dagro (Ita)Row 139 - Cell 2
141Andrea Almonti (Ita)Row 140 - Cell 2
142Dominik Weiss (Ita)Row 141 - Cell 2
143Stefano Bertamini (Ita)Row 142 - Cell 2
144Giovanni Quaini (Ita)Row 143 - Cell 2
145Matteo Abate (Ita)Row 144 - Cell 2
146Giacomo Omati Corbellini (Ita)Row 145 - Cell 2
147Michael Affini (Ita)Row 146 - Cell 2
148Daniele Lievore (Ita)Row 147 - Cell 2
149Giovanni Calgaro (Ita)Row 148 - Cell 2
150Krzysztof Bujalski (Pol)Row 149 - Cell 2
151Matteo Zanon (Ita)Row 150 - Cell 2
152Dominik Gamperl (Aut)Row 151 - Cell 2
153Daniele Capati (Ita)Row 152 - Cell 2
154Mirco Cioni (Ita)Row 153 - Cell 2
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Junior women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Greta Weithaler (Ita)1:14:48
2Barbora Prudkova (Cze)0:02:17
3Isla Short (GBr)0:02:58
4Chiara Teocchi (Ita)0:03:33
5Antonia Daubermann (Ger)0:04:22
6Bianca Haw (RSA)0:05:44
7Jana Czeczinkarova (Cze)0:05:55
8Frances Du Toit (RSA)0:06:06
9Lisa Neumüller (Ger)0:06:26
10Nadja Heigl (Aut)0:07:03
11Sarah Bauer (Ger)0:07:36
12Rebecca Gariboldi (Ita)0:07:54
13Felicitas Geiger (Ger)0:08:56
14Hannah Grobert (Ger)0:09:31
15Coline Goedert (Fra)0:09:49
16Denisa Bartizalova (Cze)0:10:47
17Anna Jakobs (Ger)0:11:23
18Anna Madsen (Den)0:11:43
19Mirjam Kuhn (Ger)0:12:34
20Elena Torcianti (Ita)0:13:48
21Julia Zeininger (Aut)0:14:08
22Lilla Megyaszai (Hun)0:15:25
23Silvia De Piaz (Ita)0:15:52
24Gabriela Wojtyla (Pol)0:16:58
25Beatrice Prataviera (Ita)0:19:18
26Julia Wieltschnig (Aut)0:20:37
27Daniela Brezinova (Cze)0:21:00
28Rita Meda (Ita)0:22:14
29Vittoria Spada (Ita)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Greta Bruguier (Ita)Row 29 - Cell 2
31Agnieszka Jastrzebska (Pol)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Giorgia Novero (Ita)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Dorotea Gilioli Viola (Ita)Row 32 - Cell 2

 

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