In cycling it rarely happens that a junior rider manages to win the Italian title twice in a row. From Sunday 15 January there is one more champion who can boast the double title. It is Samuele Scappini, little more than 18 years old, a rider from Marsciano in force of the Fortebraccio da Montone Team. The second day of the Italian Cyclocross Championships, taking place in Ostia Ancient City (Rome), opens with the tricolor encore of Samuele Scappini, who is reconfirmed by repeating the success achieved last year in Variano di Udine. Deserved victory for Scappini who took the lead of the race immediately after the start controlling his most formidable opponents from a distance. Scappini is at his number nine victory of the season, triumphing by detachment in front of the Friulians Stefano Viezzi and Tommaso Cafueri both of the DP66 Giant Selle Smp formation. Fourth was Elian Paccagnella from Trentino (Zanolini SudTirol). Scappini’s teammate Tommaso Massi finishes with an honorable 27th position, it could have been better, but the puncture problems didn’t help him.
Of the nine this season, this one in Ostia Antica is certainly the most beautiful, the most painful after a week spent with the physiotherapist to repair the damage from last Sunday’s terrible fall in the World Cup. A crash that seemed to jeopardize the Italian championships and instead Samu showed up in perfect condition and reiterated that he was the best junior this season. Satisfaction in the Fortebraccio Team starting with diesse Giancarlo Montedori. But who was most moved and Wladimiro Rellini, technical companion of the team that Samuele saw him grow from a very young age and who accompanies him in a silent and concrete way. And then Fabio Rossi the team manager and the president Elvio Celestini. There is another man who experiences the satisfaction of this success and he is Patrizio Braganti, president of UC Città di Castello, a club that brings together all the teams from the Upper Tiber. It’s impressive to see Samuele Scappini climb on the top step of the podium for the second consecutive year. It’s effective to listen to the anthem of Italy and know that that shirt is bringing it back to Umbria, also for 2023. The World Championships in a few weeks. Is a dream. But that incurable optimist Uncle Ulderico used to say: Men’s dreams must always be excessive, otherwise what would Heaven be for?
