Alex Tolio (Casillo-Petroli Firenze-Hoppla ') resists the return of the group and wins the victory in the City of Empoli
EMPOLI - The first race of the season in February (Florence-Empoli), the last of this year compromised by the pandemic, the 42nd City of Empoli Grand Prix, thanks to Maltinti Chandeliers-Banca Cambiano who wanted to keep faith with the organized commitments undertaken, in addition to these two races, also Vinci and Gambassi Terme.
And the last acute, and what acute, that of Alex Tolio for 120 kilometers at the head of the race and arrived 40 meters ahead on Piazza Matteotti in Empoli, the place of arrival, despite a mechanical accident to the rear wheel when there were 17 km to go. goal that made him lose at least 50 seconds against the pursuers led by a quintet of Colpack Ballan and the two South Africans of NTT Continental.
Tolio gritted his teeth and in the final despite the fatigue of a race for half in the pouring rain and even a fair wind, he was able to resist to seize the first victory of the season. It should be added that for many kilometers Tolio was not only in command of the Empoli race (80 starters from 20 clubs) as he had traveling companions, the blue of the track and silver medal at the Fiorenzuola European Championships. d'Arda Nencini, and Bazzica.
Maximum advantage for the trio of 3'40 "then around the ninetieth kilometer left Bazzica while at 29 Km from the arrival on the climb of Castra towards the heart of Montalbano, Nencini also detached and here began the solitary flight of the unleashed Tolio author of other good performances and which confirmed the very happy and brilliant season finale of the team today directed by Matteo Provini.
At the finish line great joy for those present Claudio Lastrucci (Hoppla ') and Giuliano Taverni (Tuck Italia) two of the sponsors of this team, while the very happy winner on the arrival podium he received the applause of the audience present.
"A victory that I had been chasing for some time, I wanted to reach it and I succeeded in the enterprise. For this reason I am very happy, in the final some apprehensions for the ever closer pursuers, but I managed to keep".
In place of honor Gazzoli, also today author of a positive performance and who was looking for the trio of successes in Tuscany after Montecatini and Ponsacco, but the fault of the pursuers only that of having started in a decisive way to do it, when the gap was a little ' too heavy. Who knows' perhaps they thought that Tolio would give up and instead took an amazing and deserved victory. Finally, congratulations to the Eritrean Mulueberhan third, and to Maltinti for the fourth race organized in this complicated season. |
