Coppa Penna: new route for the May Day race

The biggest news for the 56th Penna Cup (scheduled as per tradition on May 1st) is the variation of the percorso in the most strategic points: the Colombaio climb and, the longer ones, of Faeto-Casamona, for safety reasons. The two sections of road are very narrow and winding and athletes can easily fall.

Therefore, we will not go on Pratomagno (612 s/m) but there will be an additional passage from Loro Ciuffenna, with the climbs of the Balze (the so-called Calanchi) and the ring of castelfranco.

The route measures 145 kilometres, a real ride for the classification of the May DayThe runners registered for the race, organized by the Mercatale Valdarno Sports Centre with the Fagiolo Zolfino Festival Committee, there are 151.

A year ago, the eighteen-year-old from Hopplà 'Don Camillo', Riccardo Lorello, won in a tight sprint with Giuseppe De Laurentiis (Aran Cucine Vejus), and the winner's teammate, Alessandro Baroni, came in third. The roll of honor also features a great world sprinter, Alessandro Petacchi.

The start of the new edition is set for 14 pm: the climbs of the Montemarciano, Piantravigne, Persignano, Malva triangle will be tackled, as well as, of course, the ascent of the Penna climb.

The race is valid for the Tuscan Championship Under 23 and Elite, and is included in the Zolfino Bean Festival program.

Giorgio Grassi