Coppa Bernocchi and Tre Valli Varesine complete the Trittico Lombardo

After Piganzoli’s podium at the Giro dell’Emilia, today the Coppa Agostoni kicked off the Trittico Lombardo, which will be completed in the next two days with the Coppa Bernocchi and the Tre Valli Varesine. These are over century-old events, deeply rooted in Lombardy’s cycling tradition, and they serve as the perfect appetizer for next Saturday’s monument. But that’s another story and another preview…

Let’s focus on the immediate future. Tomorrow the nearly 175 kilometers of the Coppa Bernocchi are on the schedule: round trip between Legnano and the circuit (to be repeated 7 times) in the Valle Olona, featuring the climbs of the San Pancrazio and the Piccolo Stelvio. It’s a course suited for attackers with a quick finishing kick. For this reason Team Polti Kometa will line up captain Mirco Maestri, the explosive Jhonatan Restrepo and the man for reduced sprints Javier Serrano, along with strong workers such as Erik Fetter, the two Davides — Bais and De Cassan — and Maltese stagiaire Aidan Buttigieg.

On Tuesday the competition shifts from the upper Milan area to the Varesotto, home province of the sport manager Ivan Basso. Here the challenge becomes tougher, with 200 kilometers of continuous ups and downs. The initial section passes through the Morazzone uphill; once inside the city, the cyclists will face the Montello of Varese 9 times, followed by the double ascent of the Cinque Piante and finally the Ronchi’s wall (where Ballan built his 2008 World Championship victory) leading into the last flat kilometer.

Different profile, different lineup. For the Varese’s classic, Davide Piganzoli will return, joined by Alex Martín, Andrea Garosio, Mattia Bais, the new dad Matteo Fabbro, the other stagiaire Luca Bagnara… and De Cassan, the only Polti Kometa athlete to compete in all four consecutive races from yesterday through the day after tomorrow. “This weekend’s performances have given us a huge confidence boost” assures the latter, “and we’re here to fight, aiming for the highest possible achievement. With the added adrenaline from competing against such a top level of rivals. What a thrill!”

Here’s the dual analysis from sports director Stefano Zanatta: “At the Bernocchi, which has recently often ended in a reduced group, our key rider will be Maestri, fresh from the Cro Race and in excellent shape. These will be two important opportunities, in a region closely tied to our board and several sponsors, to confirm the rhythm and attitude of this past week. The Tre Valli will be very tough, both due to the course and the startlist, so we’ll need to bring out the best from everyone and put Piga in a position to once again chase a great result.”

Coppa Bernocchi: San Giorgio – Legnano (174,3 km)

Tre Valli Varesine: Busto Arsizio – Varese (200,3 km)