Daniele Pontoni, 57, is a former Italian cyclocrosser, mountain biker and road cyclist. He was World Amateur Cyclocross Champion in 1992 and Elite in 1997, and winner of the 1994-1995 World Cup in the specialty; he also won two editions of the Superprestige and ten Elite national titles. He also participated in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta in the Cross Country event with an excellent placing.
Daniele Pontoni, from 2021 is CT (Technical Commissioner) of the Italian National Cycling Team, for the Cyclocross and Gravel discipline.
Daniele often visits Monferrato and for the past couple of years has been taking the Italian national team to ride and train on these very rolling hills.
Interviewed by the Monsterrando organization he states; “- Monferrato is ideal for Gravel, the landscape is very beautiful, unspoiled nature and breathtaking views. The Route is fast and quite smooth and the total elevation gain is not excessive, with climbs that have a length of no more than 5 minutes of intensity so suitable for the choices I have adopted for the Italian athletes who will participate in the race in Quattordio on August 31, 2024, also for their qualification of the UCI Gravel World Championship race in Flanders in Belgium next October 5/6.”
And then he continues ” – I have given instructions to the blue athletes to mount 38″ tires that are quite smooth and smooth, the route is good and we will test it in the days before the race ” furthermore, the CT of the Italian National Team, states ” – In the indications that I gave to the cycle mechanics of the athletes of the National Team, I specified that for the Monsterrando we need a single chainring front from 34T to 50T with respective 10x36T and 10x40T cassettes “
He concludes the interview with, “-The Gravel discipline now seems like a ”fad,” but it is here to stay and will be able to do so much good for both competitive sports and tourism.”
We are waiting for the roster of the Azzurri athletes, summoned by CT Pontoni, who will participate in Monsterrando 2024, but we will know this shortly.
