On March 2, 2025, the 15th Cross della Baia del Re took place amid the beautiful landscapes of Fiorano al Serio, marking the Italian Cross Country Championships, which showcased both young talent and seasoned athletes across various categories.
The event was organized by the Gruppo Alpinistico Vertovese, drawing competitors from all over the region. The day began with the cadette category, where 14-year-old Chiara Terrani from Atletica Desio pulled off a remarkable upset by clinching the gold, surprising favorite Maddalena Ravà of Atletica Meneghina. Meanwhile, Matilde Casera from Atletica Riccardi finished 11th.
While the cadetti saw Leonardo Maselli from Aspes secure 5th place, his fellow competitors included Paolo Valgattarri from Milano Atletica at 7th and Marco Gianelli from SAO Cornaredo at 9th. Moving up to the allievi category, Thomas Colombo from Atletica Riccardi exhibited his dominance, finishing with such speed and skill, he left the competition trailing by 40 seconds. Javier Mercuri (Milano Atletica) finished 4th, and Alessandro Villa (CUS Pro Patria Milano) rounded out the top finishes at 5th.
For the women's allieve, Lisa Valgattarri from Milano Atletica secured 2nd place, closely followed by Asia Prenzato from CUS Pro Patria at 4th and Margherita Anelli from Atletica Meneghina at 6th. The junior women's race was characterized by Sofia Sidenius of Bracco Atletica who ran solo, finishing with ease as her teammates, including Silvia Signini (5th), fought for their placements.
Shifting to the junior men’s event, Alessandro Zanghi from Euroatletica completed the challenge at 17th place. The long cross run, stretching 10.3 kilometers, was won by Alain Cavagna from Bergamasco. Riccardo Amadori from Pro Sesto ran valiantly, coming in 7th, with Luca Andreis (Euroatletica) finishing 10th, who also claimed the 3rd position among under-23 competitors.
On the women’s side of the long cross, Adele Roatta from Bracco Atletica claimed 2nd place as the best under-23 participant, with her teammates Francesca Annoni (4th) and Ilaria Brunati (6th) maintaining strong representations. Federica Eterovich from DK Runners finished 7th, followed by Nicole Coppa from Bracco at 10th.
The shorter 3 km event saw Andrea Rotta from Pro Sesto finish 19th. Conversely, the young competitors shone through with Luisa Gaia Dal Molin (CUS Pro Patria Milano) finishing 2nd and her teammate Francesca Mentasti (Pro Sesto) claiming 3rd for the promise category.
Later the same day, the Brianzolo Championship concluded at 'Residenza Il Parco' on via Garibaldi, Carate, with participation hitting significant numbers—331 athletes from multiple local societies. The event honored the late Giorgio Molteni, instrumental in promoting athletics across the region. The final awards will take place on March 14, when trophies will be awarded to the top clubs, including the Trofeo Maxi Sport for first place and the Trofeo Incartare for the second.
The last part of the Brianzolo saw Roberto Pedroncelli from Atletica Paratico secure victory in the first group of maschile over 50 categories, finishing with a time of 19 minutes and 54 seconds. Massimo Figaraoli from CBA Cinisello captured second place, followed closely by Massimiliano Rigamonti from Marciacaratesi.
Among the junior male category, Pietro Maggioni, only 17 years old from Polisportiva Besanese, triumphed with 11 minutes and 34 seconds, showcasing younger talent against seasoned competitors. His performance outclassed Martina Ripamonti from Polisp.Team Brianza, who finished shortly after at 11 minutes and 37 seconds.
Francesco Canclini was the top finisher among senior competitors, claiming victory with 18 minutes and 14 seconds. Alberto Formenti from Polisp.Besanese and Davide Bolzoni from Cus Parma followed, rounding out the podium.
Overall, this thrilling day of athletics not only celebrated current talent but also reflects the dedication and heart embedded within the cross country running community. Athletes from various categories demonstrated exceptional skill and sportsmanship, heralding hope for the future of athletics.
Looking forward to the annual awards ceremony on March 14, athletes and supporters alike have much to celebrate and anticipate.