The Metallurgica Veneta Professional Team secured two top-ten finishes in Riva del Garda for Arias and Zarantonello.
Girona (ESP) – May 3, 26 – An action-packed Saturday for Metallurgica Veneta Professional Team saw the squad fighting on two high-stakes fronts: the legendary gravel tracks of The Traka in Girona and the prestigious UCI Garda Trentino Bike Marathon. It was a weekend of grit and high-octane racing that sent a clear message: the team is a force to be reckoned with across the toughest disciplines in international cycling.
THE TRAKA 200 – Evensen-Lie claims impressive 7th in Gravel debut
The weekend’s highlight was undoubtedly The Traka 200 in Girona, Europe’s premier gravel event. The race saw a thrilling sprint finish won by former road pro Lukas Pöstlberger, who held off a charging pack of MTB specialists, while Sofia Gomez Villafañe secured a dominant back-to-back victory in the women’s field.
In this elite field, tackling a 202 km course with 2,650 meters of elevation, Norwegian powerhouse Eskil Evensen-Lie delivered a masterclass. In his first-ever gravel race, the Metallurgica Veneta rider stayed in the mix from the gun, riding in a 40-strong lead group that dictated the pace until the first feed zone at kilometer 99. As the selection tightened between km 99 and 125, Eskil bridged across to an elite chase group of 5-6 riders – featuring some of the biggest names in MTB and gravel – to hunt down the leading trio.
The prestige of his performance was further highlighted by trading pulls with mountain bike “GOAT” Nino Schurter during the closing stages.
“Chasing the break with Nino Schurter was a blast,” Evensen-Lie commented after the finish. “The Traka 200 is in the books—my first ever gravel race and I loved every bit of it. I managed to stick with the favorites when the race blew apart on the climbs after 110 km. In the last 30 km, my legs weren’t exactly happy anymore, but I’m stoked with a solid 7th place. Huge thanks for the support throughout the weekend!”
It was a tough day, however, for teammate Andrea Candeago. The Italian was forced to abandon after just 25 kilometers due to a double puncture on a descent. Despite his best efforts to repair the tires, the massive distance remaining and the gap to the feed zone made continuing impossible.
BIKE MARATHON GARDA TRENTINO – Arias and Zarantonello secure Top-10 results
Simultaneously, the team was in action at the grueling UCI Bike Marathon in Riva del Garda (84 km, 3,400m+ elevation). The pace was relentless from the first ramps.
Colombian veteran Diego Arias showed his trademark character, riding consistently in the hunt for a podium spot. For three hours, he looked set for a top-5 finish, but severe cramping on the final climb forced him to drop from the lead group. He eventually fought through a five-way sprint to take 11th overall, improving on his 2023 result but leaving him hungry for more given his early-race form.
In the women’s elite race, Maria Zarantonello sought redemption after a DNF in 2025. She rode a calculated race, hovering between 7th and 9th position. Despite also battling cramps on the final ascent, she crossed the line in 9th place, a result that builds crucial momentum for the coming weeks.
“The sensations were good early on,” said a determined Zarantonello. “But I had a lot of energy fluctuations today. The pace on the first climb in Riva was higher than I’ve ever seen. I’m not entirely satisfied, but I finished only two minutes off 7th place, so the form is there. We’ll bounce back at Capoliveri – a technical, brutal course that suits me perfectly.”
Next Stop
Metallurgica Veneta Professional Team now shifts its focus to the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Cup in Capoliveri, looking to convert this weekend’s strong signals into podium hardware.
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