The Spanish racer from the DMT Racing Team wins the Pippo Yeah 2.0 ahead of leader Arias, who consolidated his lead over his immediate rivals. Third place on the day went to Francisco Filipe. Naima Diesner confirms herself as the undisputed queen among the women
After the efforts of the High Mountain Queen Stage, it was time for some pure fun at the 2022 Appenninica MTB Stage Race. The “Pippo Yeah 2.0,” designed by the famous trail builder, Pier Paolo “Pippo” Marani, was the star of the stage on Wednesday, September 7. At the finish line in Fanano, it was Miguel Munoz Moreno, who won the men’s race, and Naima Diesner, who won the women’s race.
After a fall in Stage 2, the Spanish racer from the DMT Racing Team had his day when he proudly crossed the finish line in Piazza Corsini in Fanano with a time of 3:02:27. Behind him, the general classification leader, Diego Arias, controlled the situation and arrived at the finish just 1:48 back from the stage winner. The Hubbers-Polimedical rider, however, gained time in the standings, as the other DMT Racing Team athlete, Francisco Filipe, arrived at the finish line 8:21 behind his teammate.
Immediately after the start, Diego Arias rode in support of fellow teammate, Filippo Bertone, who tried to attack from a distance. However, it wasn’t the Italian’s day, because Miguel Munoz Moreno had already planned his revenge and, on the climb to the Colombino Pass, Munoz Moreno waved goodbye to the group. Behind him, his teammate, Francisco Filipe, continued along with Diego Arias until they reached the second climb to the Passo della Croce Arcana, where the Portuguese racer could no longer cling to the leader’s wheels.
Arias now has a lead of 20:11 over Filipe in the general classification. Behind them, Munoz Moreno promises a fight for the podium. The Spaniard has a time gap of 1:01:01 from the leader, and promises to take aim at third place in the general classification – currently held by Felix Fritzsch, who’s down 26:50 from the Colombian race leader.
“Nice day and nice stage, I had fun,” Miguel Munoz Moreno said after his victory. “This morning I felt good, I had good legs, and I decided to try attacking on the first climb from further back. It was a very physical and very technical stage; it suited my abilities. I still feel good, and I will try to attack in the coming days to get on the podium.”
Also satisfied at the finish was Arias, who further consolidated his lead in the general classification. “I tried to help my teammate, Bertone, get away in the first part, then I controlled it until the finish. Nice stage.”
NAIMA DIESNER POISED TO BREAK ESTHER SÜSS’ RECORD
Naima Diesner took her fourth stage victory in this edition, and her seventh consecutive victory at Appenninica considering the three wins in the final three stages of the last edition. If the German racer for the Buff-Megamo team wins again tomorrow in Porretta Terme, she would beat the record of consecutive victories held by Esther Süss, the undisputed ruler in 2019 with seven out of seven victories.
Diesner completed the “Pippo Yeah 2.0” in 4:24:44 with a 9:14 lead over Camilla Marinelli (Bike and Fun Team) and 12:59 over Debora Lana. Both racers will maintain their positions in the general classification, unchanged at more than an hour behind the leader.
“Another beautiful stage, I went at my own pace, I didn’t want to overdo it after yesterday’s efforts. This morning my dad sent me a message and suggested that I enjoy this experience to the maximum. I didn’t know about this record, now I will have a bit more pressure for tomorrow’s stage,” said an always smiling Naima Diesner at the finish.
FROM FANANO TO PORRETTA TERME ALONG THE GOTHIC LINE
With its 67 kilometers and 2,200 meters of elevation gain, the “Gothic Line” is the second longest stage in the 2022 Appenninica MTB Stage Race. Tomorrow the racers will enter the Province of Bologna by going from Fanano to Porretta Terme and following the route of the Gothic Line, a key setting during the Second World War.
After the start, the racers will climb back up to Fellicarolo and then return to the valley of the Ospitale. From there a series of ups and downs will take the athletes to the final climb to reach the picturesque village of Monteacuto delle Alpi. Two technical descents in the final kilometers will challenge riders before the finish in Porretta Terme.
