The French Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ) toasts also in Negrar di Valpolicella (VR): after the successes of last Saturday at Liege-Bastogne-Liege Under 23 and at yesterday's Giro del Belvedere, the 19-year-old - European junior champion 2021 in Trento and vice junior world champion - won also the 59th Gp Palio del Recioto - Trofeo C&F Resinatura Blocchi, making sound for the first time the Marsigliese for the walls of Negrar. Behind him the Colombian Egdar Andres Pinzon (Colombia Tierra de Atletas), for the first time from South America on the podium of the 'race of dreams', and the Norwegian Johannes Staune-Mittet (Jumbo Visma). After three years of absence, the Palio del Recioto has returned to warm the hearts of the many fans along the route, in a race that over the years has always seen protagonists and winning riders capable of great success among the professionals. All thanks to the organisational machine of Valpolicella B.E.S.T., whose intense work in recent months has been rewarded by the perfect success of one of the most prestigious events for the Under 23 category.




THE REPORT - 168 athletes started from the heart of Negrar. A group in which shone the class of the transalpine Romain Gregoire who has shown, once again, his extraordinary talent. He did it starting in the final, after the generous action of five athletes - Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF Faizané), Andrea Montoli (Eolo Kometa), Nicolò Parisini (Qhubeka), Dane Rasmus Sojbjerg Pedersen (BHS) and Marco Palomba (General Store) - who were gradually reduced under the pressure of the group led by Groupama FDJ (Marcellusi and Montoli the last to give up), after having been in the wind for over 90 kilometres.

Edgar Pinzon (Colombia Tierra de Atletas) had taken an advantage on the final lap but was hit by a crash which slowed him down in the final 10 kilometres, but before the Colombian's mishap Romain Gregoire had stretched out from the rest of the dozen or so chasers along with German Gomez Becerra (Colombia Tierra de Atletas) before catching Pinzon and pulling away. Gregoire's final pedal strokes turned into a parade of honour, and the crowds applauded for the extraordinary action the Frenchman was able to pull off.

THE PROTAGONISTS' VOICES - "A beautiful victory, mine, but above all of my team - Romain Gregoire declared -: with such teammates I couldn't not win. My objectives were Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the two races in Italy: now I'll take a break and then I'll dedicate myself to the preparation of Giro d'Italia Under 23. Did I think I'd be so competitive in my first year in the category? No, but I've worked hard and I'm in a team that helps me grow". On the 'dream race', Gregoire said that "I didn't expect such a difficult course, from start to finish. There was an incredible crowd: such a strong push helped me a lot today.

Edgar Pinzon's comments: "I crashed in the final descent, in a curve, when I was alone in the lead - said the Colombian - This is a race where you need a lot of strength, we decided to try from far away and when my advantage grew I pushed hard to go to the finish. My next goal is the Vuelta de la Juventud in Colombia, then I'll do the Giro d'Italia Under 23.

Finally, the Norwegian Johannes Staune-Mittet: "The course was complex, but I'm happy because I responded well: it means that I've grown. I tried to hold on in the climbs, but Gregoire was stronger. I feel suited to stage races, I'm strong on the climbs: my goal this year is the Tour de l'Avenir".



Enthusiasm was sky-high at Valpolicella B.E.S.T. for a great comeback greeted by a large crowd: "Today, after a thousand ups and downs, we crowned the dream of returning to applaud the Palio del Recioto. The embrace that the public gave us was moving: the athletes put on a great show for a truly extraordinary day. The emotions we experienced were so many and indescribable. It is a very precious baggage that has given us a huge adrenaline rush. With this enthusiasm we are ready to look to the future to write even more pages like this in the great book of the Palio del Recioto. I would like to thank all those who collaborated for the success of the event, as well as the institutions and sponsors who made all this possible," concluded Alessandro Comin Chiaramonti, President of Valpolicella B.E.S.T., at the end of the day.

This is the order of arrival of the 59th Gp Palio del Recioto - Trofeo C&F Resinatura Blocchi:
  1° Romain Gregoire (Groupama FDJ Dev.)
      che compie i 147 km in 3h58’35” alla media dei 36,968 km/h
  2° Edgar Pinzon (Colombia Tierra de Atletas) a 28″
  3° Johannes Staune Mittet (Jumbo Visma Dev.) a 37″
  4° Davide De Cassan (CTF) a 39″
  5° Davide Piganzoli (Eolo Kometa)
  6° Simone Raccani (Zalf Euromobil Désirée Fior)
  7° Archie Ryan (Jumbo Visma Dev.)
  8° German Gomez (Colombia Tierra de Atletas)
  9° Fernando Tercero Lopez (Eolo Kometa)
10° Martin Nessler (Sissio Team) a 1’33”