Following a successful gravel debut, the team returns to MTB Marathon with a solid performance on Elba Island, securing crucial points for the World Cup standings. Diego Arias claimed 11th, while Maria Zarantonello fought to 13th despite a crash. Punctures and fatigue hampered Eskil Evensen-Lie’s race.
Capoliveri (ITA) – May 10, 2026 – Metallurgica Veneta Professional Team faced the second round of the HERO UCI MTB Marathon World Cup this Saturday, tackling the brutal climbs of Elba Island. The selective 73 km course, featuring a grueling 2,600 meters of vertical gain, pushed the riders to their limits. The Tuscan-based squad rose to the challenge, delivering high-caliber performances and securing valuable points for the general classification.
Arias: a Masterclass in pacing
The standout result came from Diego Alfonso Arias Cuervo, who crossed the line in 11th place overall, narrowly missing the Top 10. The Colombian showed a significant step up from his 30th-place finish in Calpe, the result of a tactically astute and consistent ride.
«El ritmo fue a toda máquina desde el principio», comentó Arias, «sufrí un poco en los primeros compases, pero logré mantenerme con el grupo de cabeza. A partir de ahí, me centré en mantener un ritmo constante para ir remontando. En el tramo final, cuatro de nosotros luchábamos por el décimo puesto. Por desgracia, se abrió un pequeño hueco en un descenso técnico, y esos pocos segundos bastaron para decidir el resultado final. Recuperamos el contacto en la última subida, pero no fue suficiente para entrar en el top 10. De todos modos, terminar undécimo con una potencia tan constante es una gran señal».
Zarantonello: grit and resilience
Maria Zarantonello delivered an impressive performance to take 13th in the Elite Women’s field. Despite a difficult start, she displayed immense character to claw back positions throughout the race.
“My legs felt heavy in the first hour; I just couldn’t find my rhythm,” – Zarantonello explained – “Everything clicked on the Mimose climb, and I started picking riders off. However, starting from the back always makes for a hard chase. Towards the end, fatigue set in—I had a minor crash and ended up needing four stitches in my knee. Despite that, I’m happy with the progression; once I found my legs, I felt strong.”
This result marks a significant improvement for Maria, moving up from her 20th place in Capoliveri last year and her 16th place at the season opener in Calpe.
Tough day for Evensen-Lie
Expectations were high for Eskil Evensen-Lie. Coming off a stellar performance at La Traka and a Top 10 in the previous World Cup round, the Norwegian finished 24th. Although he previously claimed his career-best World Cup result on this very track in 2025, Saturday proved more difficult.
“I didn’t have the best sensations from the gun,” – Evensen-Lie admitted – “I think I was still carrying some residual fatigue from La Traka. I was in the top 12-13 for the first half, but the power just wasn’t there. To make matters worse, I hit a front puncture around kilometer 40, which cost me more time. At that point, I shifted into ‘safe mode’ to ensure I finished and collected points for the overall World Cup standings.”
Rising form
Rounding out the team’s performance, Andrea Candeago finished 39th overall, a massive leap forward from his 67th place in Calpe, confirming his upward trajectory this season.
Team Manager’s perspective
“Overall, it was a day of mixed emotions” – the Team Manager concluded – “We were so close to the Top 10 with both Diego and Maria, which leaves a bit of a bittersweet taste. We expected slightly more from Eskil, but the season is long. The most important thing is that all four riders scored points, which is vital for our standing in the HERO UCI World Cup Marathon.”
