11 Oct The Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro Team bids farewell to 2025 with two top-10 finishes in the Škoda Roc marathon
Team Report from Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team, ISB SPORT Ambassador
Nicola Taffarel and Maria Zarantonello finished eighth in the French marathon. Arias staged a remarkable comeback after a mechanical failure. The team closes the season with a prestigious result and is already looking ahead to 2026 with new prospects for growth.
October 11, 2025, Fréjus (FRA) – With the final, epic effort of the season, the 2025 season for the Metallurgica Veneta MTB Professional Team comes to a close. In Fréjus, with the sunrise illuminating the Mediterranean on one side and the steep climbs of the Maures mountains as a backdrop, the team paid tribute to the Škoda Roc Marathon, the longest and most emblematic race of the Roc d’Azur, achieving a brilliant double eighth place – a truly prestigious result.
Nicola Taffarel and Maria Zarantonello forged their performance over 104 kilometers and 2,900 meters of elevation gain, achieving a top-10 finish in one of the world’s most prestigious marathon races, giving the Italian team a top-tier end to the season.
This result shines even brighter when contextualized within a year where raw results were sometimes overshadowed by adverse circumstances, but which never diminished the team’s spirit.
2025 has indeed been a season of quiet but steady growth, where beautiful memories – like this double smile on French soil – far outweigh the
inevitable setbacks.
In addition to the two top-ten finishes, the team displayed remarkable character with Diego Arias, who showed incredible tenacity: after falling to the back of the pack due to a mechanical failure, he staged a determined comeback that saw him finish in 29th place.
However, fortune turned against two other athletes. Andrea Candeago, who was having a brilliant race in fifth place and had even led at one point, was forced to abandon at kilometer 80 due to a crash. Jacopo Billi suffered the same fate, stopping prematurely due to a puncture.
“Up until that point, I was in the race and having a good race, perhaps even pushing myself too hard to stay there, but I was mentally motivated and had to try,” commented Candeago, visibly disappointed but aware that he had fought hard.
The voices of the protagonists
Nicola Taffarel (8th place)
“Eighth place is a bit disappointing.” I wanted to prove myself even more after the unfortunate races of the previous years. I wanted to give it my all in this last opportunity. Unfortunately, once again, a small problem slowed me down, but even though I missed out on a top-five finish, a top-ten finish at the Roc is always a significant result. I’m ending the season knowing that I’ve taken a big step forward compared to last year, both physically and personally. Now, a little rest, and then we’ll be back with even more energy for 2026.”
Maria Zarantonello (8th place)
“I’m very happy with how it went. I had the legs to do even better, and I felt good all day. I was back to riding the way I like, instinctively. I was sorry I couldn’t give 100% because of back pain and some intestinal issues, which prevented me from taking the gels properly. However, my legs felt great, and that gave me confidence. Anyway, I’m happy with this result.”
Diego Arias (29th place)
“It had been years since I’d raced this event, always so tough at the end of the season, the last one in Europe before heading back home to Colombia. This year, as I’ve mentioned several times, my fitness, after a difficult first part of the season, has continued to improve, and today, in the first few kilometers, it showed. Unfortunately, on the first descent, a mechanical failure cost me a lot of time. I thought about dropping out, but I decided not to give up and to honor the team. I’m happy to have recovered so many positions with such patience, because it’s a race with many singletrack sections where overtaking isn’t so easy. This shows that you should never give up and that you have to try not to get discouraged by so many things that have happened this season. Now, one last race in Mexico and then a break to recharge and get back to my level next year, which is also what I would have liked to do this year.”
The Metallurgica Veneta MTB Pro team bids farewell to 2025, thanking all its partners, sponsors, and fans for their unwavering support. Beyond the results, this year saw the team lay a solid foundation for the future, demonstrating a determination that is its true strength for the challenges ahead. After a well-deserved rest, we look forward to 2026 with the enthusiasm and motivation of those who have transformed every experience, good or bad, into an opportunity.