Challenge to the summit between Calcaterra and Menegardi
PRESS RELEASE No 10
Special edition Italian Championship 100 km on the road
Challenge to the summit between Calcaterra and Menegardi
The Italian 100 km road championship, in 2021 in the form of a special edition organized on the track at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack in Imola, promises a great show thanks to the presence of many very competitive runners among the 250 participants. The most awaited challenge at the top is that between the 47th Florence-Faenza champion Marco Menegardi (fresh winner of the 6 hours of the North Park) and the record holder of the Passatore Giorgio Calcaterra, but there are many other possible candidates for success. Among the most accredited rivals for the conquest of the Italian 100 km road championship we also find the Trentino Silvano Beatrici (4th at the Passatore 2018, 2nd at the 100 km of Brianza in ’16), the Rocchigiano Matteo Lucchese (winner of the 100 km of Seregno 2018, 2nd at the 50 km of Romagna 2018, twice winner of the Pistoia-Abetone Ultra-marathon, recent winner at the Bettona Crossing 2020, at the Ultra Trail of Casola Valsenio 2020 and at the Ultramaratona della Pace sul Lamone ’20), Simone Pessina (2nd at the 50 km of Romagna 2019), Marco Pozza from Bolzano and Roberto Isolda from Varese (winner of the 6 hours of the North Park and Viborg 100 km 2019). Among the outsiders who might surprise we mention Luigi Pecora from Romagna and Massimo Leonardi from Trentino. In the women’s field to contend for the victory we find Denise Tappatà from Marche (winner among women at Strasimeno 2021), Federica Moroni from Rimini (absolute triumph at 6 hours Coratina), Sara Trevisan from Treviso (winner in women at Ultra Franciacorta 2021), Lorena Brusamento from Padua and Elisa Benvenuti from Rimini. Forty women athletes are enrolled, 35 are rookie athletes, over 40 are from Romagna. The record holder of the Cento, Giorgio Calcaterra, made the following statements in view of the great challenge: “I think that this special edition of the Italian 100 km road championship is an excellent example of resilience, that is trying to adapt to what you have. All of us would have liked to race on the traditional route, but since external reasons prevent us from doing so, we are happy to change our plans by running on a magnificent track like Imola. Choosing a similar route was a good idea, both for the difference in height and for its characteristics. The Imola track, in some ways, can recall different sections of the classic Passatore. I am thinking, for example, of the two big, very demanding climbs and the succession of emotions ”. On the meaning of the race, “king” Giorgio states: “We must compete first of all with ourselves, when we are able to overcome ourselves we always win. Arriving well and with a smile running fair and clean is what matters. The Passatore has always been possible thanks to many forces, one of them are the volunteers, absolutely decisive. A big thank you to all the volunteers ”. The reigning winner of the traditional Passatore, Marco Menegardi, said about him a few days before the start: “I really appreciate the idea of an Italian special edition championship and we are lucky that it won’t be very hot on the day of the race. I have not experienced the circuit and I think it will be very nice in terms of climate and atmosphere. Maybe I would have reduced the number of participants, if only for a question of usability in the broadcast of the live broadcast. Perhaps, for a special edition, a few more risks could be taken. The race format could have been more adapted to the circuit, but these are only constructive criticisms. Without volunteers, amateur sport could not survive in Italy, so we can only thank them. In the next 20-30 years I don’t know how many volunteers there will be due to the many people who will not be retired, the concern is not only for running but for all amateur sport “.
Press Office
