Fifth consecutive signature of a "foreign" rider in the roll of honour of the Gran Premio Palio Recioto di Negrar. The race was won this year by Giovanni Battaglin from Vicenza, who took the victory after a race full of unexpected events and twists and turns. Around forty riders took off with momentum on the Negrar circuit.
Already after the first two laps the race takes on a face that will last for all thirty passages through the streets of the village. Rigotto was dictating the race and, together with Storari, he was able to distance himself from the group. The two seemed well set in their action but the idyll only lasted a few laps. In a bend where the gravel forced the riders to slow down a lot, Rigotto caught his breakaway companion by surprise and went off all alone.
His action was beyond any tactical logic, but that didn't mean that any scheme could be overturned. The thirty laps of the circuit are in fact a monologue of Rigotto that at a desperate pace pushes on the pedals gaining about 5 seconds each passage, until reaching a maximum gap of almost a minute and a half.
Behind him, meanwhile, it was a continuous whirlwind between the pursuers. The attempts to catch up are almost immediately extinguished, either because the initiative is individual or because the pursuers do not find the right harmony. Some considered the gap to the front runner to be unbridgeable, but the latter could also count on effective teamwork. In fact, his companions, even if a little sceptical about Rigotto's chances of victory, were able to successfully stem any attempt to escape. But, in the long run, the game cost too much energy to the group "Fauna" of Vicenza, and slowly the whole team disappeared from the scene, while Rigotto continued in his adventurous escape.
At the end of thirty laps, the race entered its second phase. Rigotto is still in the lead with an advantage of 1'25" and aims decisively at Pedemonte, while behind him Pancheri, Dal Dosso and Marchiante have managed to break away from the group, in the meantime, the counter-offensive of the climbers begins, who try to move into the leading positions before the start of the climbs that lead to S.Anna d'Alfaedo.
It's a fight without quarter that ends with a twist. At the second passage from Pedemonte, in fact, Rigotto sees behind him a group of five opponents that is swooping down on him. He tried to sprint, but his legs wouldn't respond. The pedalling of the solitary rider, who for more than 50 kilometres had cherished the dream of a sensational victory, suddenly faded and, before suffering the shame of being overtaken, he raised his arm in a sign of surrender and withdrew disheartened.
The game remained open to a small group including Battaglin and Lora from Vicenza, and Morelli, Clementi and Dal Dosso from Verona. At the beginning of the climb that leads to Torbe, Prun and Corrubio, where is placed the great prize of the mountain, the [...].
Ermanno Ferriani
ARRIVAL ORDER:
1. Battaglin Giovanni (V. C. Vicenza Campagnolo) che compie km. 126 in ore 3.05' alla media di 40,865;
2. Lora Armando (id.) a 1'20'';
3. Da Ros Mario (G.S. Crich Treviso);
4. Clementi Carlo (G. S. Bettotti Borgo di Trento)
5. Chies Gino (G.S. Crich Treviso);
6. Tagliente Giorgio (S.C. Garibaldina Sav);
7. Brenteganl Enzo (G. S. Ponton);
8. Tabarelli (Gs. Bettotti Borgo di Trento) tutti a 44';
9. Morelli (id.) a 5'15";
10. Cavazzana
