Prato, Granfondo from square to square: Stefano Valdrighi wins

Prato, May 5, 2025 – Valdrighi unbeatable also in Prato. It was a beautiful edition of the Granfondo from square to square, a new stage of the Coppa Toscana Mtb as well as of the Rampitek and the Deltos Cup, which brought several hundreds of bikers in Prato, to tackle a completely renewed route that met with the approval of the participants. After the Marathon of about 100 km that had characterized much of the previous 36 years of the doyenne of Italian mountain biking, we moved on to a 47 km route for 1.680 meters honored by a great fight for the final success. In the end, the "usual" one won Stefano Valdrighi, the standard-bearer of the Bottecchia Factory Team who thus adds another pearl to his collection of successes that is starting to be truly rich and enviable. 2h15'45” his final time, with an arrival with his arms raised and a 1'02” advantage over his teammate Philip Bertone, while the third Joseph Panariello (Neb18 Factory Team) finished at 1'10”. Another Bottecchia team rider was out of the podium, Charles Cortesi at 3'38”, fifth Luke Accords (Neb18) at 4'23” Victory in the women's field for Chiara Gualandi (BHS Team) in 2h54'42” ahead of the Italian-Albanian by 6'31” Nelia Kabetai (Zhiraf Pagliaccia), third place for the former tricolor Maria Cristina Nisi (Boscaro Racing Team) 9'07” ahead of Christian Lippi (Ciclissimo Bike) at 16'51”. New success in the Tuscan challenge for Marco Bonini, first in the medium route of 27 km by 750 meters. The CM2 rider stopped the clocks at 1h14'43” preceding Daniele Pretini (Cicloteam San Ginese) and Matteo Pezzo (Vc Lunigiana) by 2'04” classified in that order. Among the women, success for Ernestina Frosini (Biking Racing Team) in 1h38'43” beating Chiara Vernaccini (Livorno Team Bike) in the sprint, third Martina Paladini (Giovo Team) at 12'56”.

The choice to revise the route rewarded the organizers of the Gs Avis-Verag, accompanied in their effort by the Municipalities crossed by the route: Prato, Vaiano, Cantagallo and Vernio. Thanks also to the Province of Prato and the CAI in addition to the Union of Municipalities of Val Bisenzio, Pratorace and the Territorial Committee of Uisp. Without forgetting the ARI section of Prato, the local Moto Club, the Carabinieri in Congedo association of Vaiano, the Oltre Association and the local Vab. Everyone did their part to transform this Sunday into something magical.