The Grand Prix Triathlon greets 2021 in Palermo and gives indescribable emotions to 707 Team Minini. On the podium of the last stage of the top Italian circuit, there are in fact only two colors: the black and green of the Brescia team thus dyed all the medals of the men’s test, winning another thick success after the tricolor gold of the previous weekend . A week ago in Lignano Sabbiadoro, in this case in the Palermo hamlet of Mondello.
This time Gianluca Pozzatti, fresh from the title of national Olympic triathlon champion, placed himself on the second step of the podium and therefore repeated the silver of the previous weekend in the Grand Prix of Lignano. In Sicily, however, in the sprint distance race, the blue triathlete was only beaten by the new teammate Matthew Hauser. The Australian, bronze medal at the Under 23 World Championships and also competing in the Tokyo Games, thus made his debut in Italy and in the 707 Team Minini jersey in the best possible way, crossing the finish line in 53’03 “.
Pozzatti stopped the clock with a delay of 37 ”from the winner, while Seth Rider completed the fantastic black-green hat-trick in the final stage of the Grand Prix. The American, protagonist of a season in great growth, reached the finish line with a gap of 36 “from Hauser. Podium to remember therefore for the president Germano Raddi, who enjoyed the icing on the cake of a memorable 2021 for the double Olympic and Paralympic debut as well as for the brilliant successes in the tricolor competitions.
The 707 Team Minini has also taken possession of the men’s ranking by company of the most prestigious Italian circuit: a team victory that crowns the great performances of Hauser, Pozzatti, Rider and also of Barnaby, absent in Palermo but protagonist in Lignano. The last stage of the Grand Prix also smiled at Alessia Orla, sixth with an excellent performance in 1h02’36 “, while Lilli Gelmini finished in 12th place with a time of 1h03’39”.
The Australian Matthew Hauser was enthusiastic: “First race in Italy and immediately an extraordinary experience. I competed for a beautiful team and collaborated best with Pozzatti and Rider. Together we launched the decisive escape and then we fought for success. As far as I’m concerned, I had an excellent test in view of the last international match of the season, the World Triathlon Championship Series in Abu Dhabi “.
Gianluca Pozzatti will also be in the Arab Emirates: “This week, after the Italian title, I felt tired both physically and mentally. But it was exciting to be in Palermo and to be on the podium with two companions of 707 Team Minini. As in international competitions, we have been very strong from the start. Now a few days of less intense training before preparing for the last World Series of the season “.
Seth Rider also rejoices: “We made our debut in Italy in a truly enchanting location, which however put us to the test right from the swimming stage. On the bike we pushed hard to break and play it all in the race: we had the goal of making a hat-trick and we succeeded. I am very happy with this last competitive test before the end of 2021 in Abu Dhabi ”.
