The Swiss women's national team used the second race of the Internazionali d'Italia Series, the Capoliveri Legend XCO, as the conclusion of their training camp, which they also completed on the Italian island of Elba. The protégés of Swiss head coach Edmund Telser took the lead from the very first laps. Nicole Koller, Sina Frei and Linda Indergand dictated the pace together with the overall leader Martina Berta and Giada Specia. On the third lap, Berta attacked, followed by Nicole Koller, while Sina Frei and Giada Specia took up the chase.

The two leaders stayed together until the last lap, when the Swiss rider launched the decisive attack on the steepest climb. At this point, it was impossible for Berta to catch up with the eventual winner, who crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead. Giada Specia (Wilier-Pirelli) climbed to the third step of the podium (+36") and relegated the Swiss riders Sina Frei (+51″) and Linda Indegrand (+1'17") to fourth and fifth place.

"I'm very happy about this victory, which I've been waiting for for a long time. It was a tough race in which it was difficult to break Martina Berta's resistance. I gained a few seconds in the final laps, which I was able to keep until the finish. Despite the changeable conditions today, I think that the training camp on Elba over the last few days has helped me a lot," said a delighted Nicole Koller about her first victory in the elite race.

Dual battle at the highest level

The men's open race (start at 14:00) was warmed by the sun after the morning was characterized by rain and mud. The weather favored a World Cup-level show in the battle between Nino Schurter and French champion Titouan Carod.

At the start of the race, the riders controlled each other, but the first decisions were made quickly: the winner of San Zeno di Montagna, Luca Braidot, retired from the race as he was still plagued by the flu that had weakened him in recent weeks and forced him to retire halfway through the race. On the third lap, the rider from Team Scott-Sram and the French champion from Team BMC decided to push the pace, breaking away from the rest. Behind them, an Italian trio consisting of Nadir Colledani (Santa Cruz -FSA), Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Pirelli) and Daniele Braidot (CS Carabinieri Olympia Vittoria) tried to put up resistance.

The Schurter-Carod duo battled in the following laps until the penultimate lap on the Elba circuit, when the world champion launched the decisive attack on Carod (+18" at the finish). Behind him, Simone Avondetto took third place (+1'03") ahead of the new overall leader of the Internazionali d'Italia series, Nadir Colledani (+1'12"). Swiss rider Luca Schatti snatched fifth place from Daniele Braidot (+1'39").

"I love the island of Elba and the races here, I'm happy to have won. It was a good battle with Titouan. It was difficult to get away from him because he is a very strong rider technically, but I hope there will be more challenges with him this season. I'm happy to be back in the Internazionali d'Italia series and to have won in a spectacular Capoliveri Legend XCO in front of so many fans," says Nino Schurter.

Andreas Vittone wins the men's U23 classification. Swiss rider Janis Baumann rode to second place just nine seconds behind the Italian. Third place goes to Paul Magnier (FRA).

Full results