The weather forecast called for a winter-like weekend, and so it was, for the first race of the Italian National Series held in Pragelato. Team Playbiker - Iron Horse was there in full force, and even with the extreme weather conditions the results were extremely satisfactory for the team, due mostly to the presence of many international riders, including Ben Reid, who had been our guest and training pal in Pila for the previous week. In the overall Lorenzo Suding, Mike Skinner and Nathan Rankin (who was first in the seeding run with a 7 seconds margin) got third, fourth and fifth, with only Thibaut Ruffin and the winner Alan Beggin ahead of them, for an Iron Horse filled podium. First and second for Floriane Pugin and Elisa Canepa, who showed what they are worth in such difficult conditions. The good weekend was completed by Paolo Alleva's win in the Master 1-2 category. Positive race for Adam Brayton and Luca Bertocchi, which confirms the excellent team spirit which has developed in the last months.



 

Before the prize giving ceremony all the racers paid homage to our friend Alan Beggin's dad Gianni, who recently passed away. Team Playbiker - Iron Horse's riders decided to wear a black band on their arm during the race to commemorate Gianni's memory, and the race organizer Luca Colomba entitled the Pragelato course to Gianni's memory, making Alan's victory even more special.
 

After the race the team returned to Pila for a full day of laundry, before leaving again for the World Cups in Andorra and Fort William.
 

Team Playbiker - Iron Horse is the first international UCI trade team based in Italy specialized in gravity racing. The team is supported by factory sponsors: Iron Horse Bicycles, UFO Plast, Kenda tires, Pila MTB Planet, Funn components, RMS Component Selection, A-Class Wheels, Five Ten, POC, SRAM, Rock Shox and Insight Productions.