Sunday, August 23^rd – Team Bahrain McLaren is on the podium of the Italian Road Race National Championship, as Sonny Colbrelli sprints to third place in Cittadella – in the Veneto region, behind the winner Giacomo Nizzolo and Davide Ballerini, second.

Our team – that was in action also with Enrico Battaglin, Eros Capecchi and Damiano Caruso – raced perfectly on the 254km course, that featured in the second part 11 laps of a 12,50 km circuit, including the Rosina climb (2 km length at average 6%) and before the final loop also a cobbled climb ‘La Tisa’, that made the decisive selection. Colbrelli managed to stay with the small leading group, showing that the course suited him and that he was ready to try to go for the win. As every attempt of attacks in the finale was unsuccessful, it was clear that the new Italian Champion would be one of the fastest men among the 13-rider group on front. Sonny was the one who opened up the sprint, but Ballerini and then Nizzolo overcame him.

Colbrelli, who took the bronze medal, after he was silver last year, says: “Too bad. I really wanted to win this title. I think I proved how much I cared about it. I opened the sprint from distance, trying to surprise my rivals, but I’ve got headwind and unfortunately, I couldn’t finish it off with a better result. I’m afraid for my teammates because I was hoping to repay them with a win. They were great at supporting me today. It’s another podium at the National Championships, I will try again”.

Team Bahrain McLaren Sports Director Franco Pellizotti adds: “I have to say that the boys were great today. We were in the early breakaway with Capecchi and then we controlled the race with Battaglin and Caruso, to support Colbrelli until the key moment. Sonny was perfect in every phase of the race. Too bad that the sprint unfolded in that way. We were looking for a win and so we’re a bit disappointed. But we did everything we could”.

Today it was also scheduled the Spanish Road Race National Championships. We were competing there with Ivan Cortina, who just missed the podium, finishing 4^th.