31 Mar Granfondo Muretto di Alassio: Bad day for the team
Granfondo Muretto di Alassio: Where luck does not accompany the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team, but the effort did not fail!
A race full of ups and downs
March 31, 2025, Alassio (SV), a race full of ups and downs for the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team at the Granfondo Muretto di Alassio MTB, marked by bad luck and courage. Despite the setbacks that affected nearly all the athletes, the team still showcased a promising condition ahead of their next challenge in Croatia, the 4 Island Epic, which they won last year with Nicola Taffarel and Massimo Rosa.
Race Recap
The 16th edition of the Granfondo Muretto di Alassio MTB was a tough test for the team, with several issues affecting the riders. Nicola Taffarel broke his chain just 5 km from the finish line while battling for a spot on the podium. Jacopo Billi suffered a flat tire 10 km from the finish while in second place, and Diego Arias slipped just 50 meters from the line, losing third place. A missed opportunity for victory or at least a podium, but the guys showed grit and solid form, leaving us optimistic for the upcoming challenges.
Diego Arias, after three second-place finishes in 2013, 2019, and 2023, was in reach of another podium but finished in fourth after a hard-fought race: “I found a course different from the usual, especially at the end with shorter climbs. There were 4 or 5 of us chasing the top three. At 8 km from the finish, I tried to push, but the pace was incredibly high. At the end, I could have finished third, but a slip in the final meters cost me positions,” said Arias. In the women’s race, Maria Zarantonello made her Granfondo debut in Alassio with a second-place finish, despite highlighting the difficulties she faced during the race. “The sensations are improving, though it’s harder for me than last year in these first races. I started strong, but on the first climb, the winner pulled away by 20-30 seconds. I almost closed the gap, but then we hit the single tracks, and the traffic from the amateur riders made it impossible to recover; we were constantly stopped, and I carried that gap to the end. Still, I’m happy: we’re improving,” Maria said.
Nicola Taffarel, who had to abandon the race due to a chain break, commented with frustration: “It was a day for the podium, but let’s say it turned out to be a bit disappointing, both for the team and personally. I was at the front and could’ve fought for second place, but the chain break ruined everything. It’s a shame, but the form is there: we’ll work hard for the upcoming races.”
Other key riders
Jacopo Billi, who suffered a flat tire 10 km from the finish while in second place, finished far behind, while Massimo Rosa (10th) admitted: “I’m still behind with my condition and struggling with physical issues. I can’t be happy with how this season has started, but I’ll work on getting better.” Andrea Candeago (11th), despite having some difficulties on the more technical sections of the course, highlighted his improvements: “On the first climb, I was with the best, but I lost rhythm and spent almost the whole race chasing alone. The sensations are positive: I still need time to reach my top form.”
Team Manager’s Comments
“It was a race marked by bad luck, but not by a lack of effort. Arias and Zarantonello showed great character, Taffarel and Billi were on the right track. Technical problems held us back, but the form is there. Now we’re focusing on the Savigno Bike, where we’ll send a smaller squad, aiming to be fully prepared for the 4 Island Epic.”