Graz. The odds were in our favour, but actually winning feels incredible: the Italian national team won a gold medal, securing the highest step of the podium in the first round of the European MTBchampionship. Luca Braidot, Marika Tovo, Filippo Fontana, Chiara Teocchi and Jury Zanottiare the new European champions!

The five top athletes chosen by the coach Mirko Celestino managed to beat Switzerlandto the finish, with a final lead of 14 seconds: the Swiss team included Joris Ryf, Alexandre Balmer, Alessandra Keller, Sina Frei and Filippo Colombo, excellent athletes who, however, were outperformed by the Italians. In third place was Denmarkwith Jonas Lindberg, Alexander Young Andersen, Simon Andreassen, Caroline Bohe and Malene Degn.

1. ITALY (Braidot Luca, Tovo Marika, Fontana Filippo, Teocchi Chiara, Zanotti Juri) 1h23’18”20

2. SWITZERLAND (Ryf Joris, Balmer Alexandre, Keller Alessandra, Frei Sina, Colombo Filippo) 1h23’32”47

3. DENMARK (Lindberg Jonas, Andersen Alexander Young, Andreassen Simon, Bohe Caroline, Degn Malene) 1h24’03”98

4. GERMANY (Schwarzbauer Luca, Kaiser Leon Reinhard, Eibl Ronja, Koch Franziska, Brandl Maximilian) 1h24’37”37

5. FRANCE (Zingle Axel, Chabaud Pierre, Clauzel Hélène, Lecomte Loana, Dubau Joshua) 1h24’39”42

6. BELGIUM (De Froidmont Pierre, Michiels Githa, Janssens Arne, Detilleux Emeline, Horny Clément) 1h26’43”54

7. AUSTRIA (Bscherer Moritz, Holland Michael, Stigger Laura, Spielmann Anna, Wimmer Florian) 1h28’47”88

8. GREAT BRITAIN (Flynn Sean, Orr Cameron, Harnden Harriet, Short Isla, Clacherty Frazer) 1h29’00”44

9. CZECH REPUBLIC (Jirouš Samuel, Zeťák Michael, Sásková Tereza, Czeczinkarová Jana, Skála Jaromír) 1h29’45”82

10. HUNGARY (Dina Márton, Vas Kata Blanka, Fetter Erik, Buzsáki Virág, Palumby Zsombor).