A slipped chain meant the silver medal also slipped… out of reach, but Luca Braidot held firmly onto the bronze, coming third in the eagerly awaited test event on the route that next summer will host the Olympic XCO race. This Italian cyclist with team C.S. Carabinieri – Olympia Vittoria brought home a hugely valuable podium place for Italy, coming in behind Nino Schurter (Switzerland) and just seconds after Victor Koretzky (France). At the end of a race packed with changes in pace, not even a kilometre from the finish, this cyclist from Gorizia was slowed down by a slipped chain on the last ramp. These test events for Tokyo 2020 did, however, provide Luca and Italy with more than optimistic results.
“We are coming home with a good feeling,” said the Italian, Mirko Celestino. “The lads all gave it their best, my compliments to each and every one of them. Luca Braidot might even have won that silver, but after his problem on the last ramp he just couldn’t catch up with those two in front of him.”
As well as the one ridden by Luca Braidot, another Olympia F1-X completed the test event in the top 20: that of his brother, Daniele, finishing in 18th place.
