80 fixed gear riders made their way to the circuit to compete divided over the men’s and women’s categories. The main race turned into a battle between the local squad “Moskovstyle” and Ukrainian Kiev based team “Yatagarasu.bikes”. As a result the podium was split between them.

In women’s category for the second time the 1st place was taken by Oksana Antonova. However, this year it was decided by a photo-finish. The 2nd and the 3rd places were taken by girls from Moscow and Kiev correspondingly.

Men’s race:
1. Eduard Lavrov – Russia / Moskovstyle
2. Maxim Reznichenko – Ukraine / Yatagarasu
3. Vladislav Yushko – Ukraine / Yatagarasu

Women’s race:
1. Oksana Antonova – Russia / Kazan
2. Victoria Vasilyeva – Russia / Moscow
3. Maria Kachalova – Ukraine / Yatagarasu

Who or what made you try fixed gear crits? And what was your first race?
My first was Red Hook Crit Milan in 2015. Luca Oscar (Bike Channel Team) literally threw me in it after insisting for the entire season, trying to convince me to race it when I was always resisting. I was actually about to stop racing entirely when I decided to give it a try.

Do you prefer technical courses where speed isn’t the main concern, or the opposite?
I prefer technical courses by far, those where you need to drive at stay focused. Anyone can race on a straight line. I believe races only get more spectacular when the technical level is increased.

Apart from the race what is the aspect you love the most about fixed gear criterium?
That there are not too any restrictions. And that you get to meet people from all over the world building friendships even if we get together only 4 times a year.

What is the most important component in a breakless fixed gear bike, in your opinion? Wheels, frame or what?
The head and the legs of who rides it.

Do you have any particular good luck ritual before a race?
Way too many, but I’ll tell you at the end of the season…bad luck if I tell you now! :))

Dead Cyclists Society
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#ScattoFissoCrew took the decision to have 2  qualification heats to better manage the race event and let the riders adjust to the  narrow turns. The qualifications had 15 laps and the first six riders to cross the finish line would advance to the main race.

Meanwhile in the final race, the format was absolutely new, the race was divided in two parts, solid 20 lap race with the first ten as a normal Criterium and the last ten as a typical elimination race like in a velodrome. This was absolutely fun to see and to ride because no one ever set up a final heat like this. Some riders had no experience with track races, this final was very tricky indeed, but not for Beppe Ravasio, who is a former World Champion (World Master Track in Manchester ’13) and did a great job in the finals aswell.

Men’s Podium
1. Alessandro Mariani
2. Daniele Rota
3. Luca Sacchetti

Paolo Bravini
Q: From the technical perspective, can you explain us how was the circuit and what difficulties you encountered, if you had any?
A: Yeah, sure. So, the circuit was composed by a big C, very fast in the first part, with successions of very tight turns who ended with a straight, just before the finish line there was the very tight hairpin. The biggest challenge was facing all those tortuos turns at high speed without getting off the track (which happened to some of us) although the asphalt had a good grip and there wasn’t any type of roadholding issues.

Q: What do you think about this new format?
A: I found this format very interesting, it allows everyone to have fun and it’s exciting for who races and even for the public. I really enjoyed seeing track disciplines and rules moved to the Criterium races, it’s a signal who, I hope, other organizers could catch because it’s thrilling and entertaining.

Giacomo Scottini:
Q: What were your expectations before racing this circuit?
A: As I saw on the photos, my first impression was very good and I seen it as a fast track.

Q: We heard that you had a problem.
Yeah, seeing the track in the photos I chose a big ratio, well, it was too big for this course because in the qualification races I had to stop and change my gears. With the tight turns I suffered a lot in decelerating and attacking, and that, in the final race caused me some ugly cramps. So, yeah… The race didn’t go as planned but I had a lot of fun.

Alessandro Mariani
Q: So, you won the race, can you explain your experience in a few words?
A: Fast and technical as others said. The circuit is 1.3kms long, the first part it’s relatively easy, with a long straight where you could reach high speeds then the track was getting narrower and there started the tight 90 degree turn series. Here, the ratio choosing was fundamental, I opted for an 47×14, the race was different from usual, 20 laps of qualifications before heading to the final, once in the final, with 10 laps left, it started the lap elimination method, every lap, the last rider would be disqualified, so everyone was fighting to stay in elimination method, every lap, the last rider would be disqualified, so everyone was fighting to stay in front so they could sprint with the last 2 riders for the podium.

Q: How were your last laps and obviously the finish line?
A: The last laps were very tense for me, because we were in three left. At that point we begun to check and keep eyes on others, to prepare for the best position until the last sprint. At the last 300-400 meters I started getting in front, at the hairpin my opponent tried to overtake me, but he pushed too much and ended off the track, a few meters left and I was on the finish line, alone, winning the race.

Riccardo Volpe
Q: Hi Riky! Have you got some words for us?
A: Hi, of course! I started my race in the first heat, who was absolutely fast since the first pedal stroke. The peloton then split in two major parts, which the first was composed of exactly six athletes who ride as fast as safe until the last lap’s bell played, as always, by the great director Antonio Vetrello. I have to mention that the course was absolutely amazing, it has a perfect balance of technics and fast straights, with a narrow but safe gripping lane asphalt, riding on this course gives the riders a way to increase their skills on the turns and at the hairpin, all this stuff with a total sense of safety. This spot is located in Rho, in the West side of Milan, so, this could become a nice alternative of the legendary Lambro park, in order to have a great calendar of fixedgear events for the next season.

Italian Simone Toso (CEO) and American Wyatt Wees (Digital Marketing WingedStore SRL) founded Wingedstore.com together in October 2013. Up to today they both run the company. On the question why they picked Cinelli products Wyatt replies “Simone Toso began producing official merchandise for Cinelli and Columbus in 2009. In 2013, Simone brought me in to do some copywriting work. With an extensive background in Information Technology I saw an opportunity to create an innovate web platform that could make Cinelli products available to people from all over the world. Along with Simone’s knowledge of the brand and strong marketing background the team had all the components necessary for success.”

Today, Wingedstore is a company owned by Cinelli President Antonio Colombo. However, up until 2016 they were independent from Cinelli. “Since the beginning the growth has been strong, there really wasn’t anything quite like Wingedstore at the time of it’s debut and and people that are passionate about Cinelli immediately embraced the concept. Cinelli is truly unique in the cycling world with it’s history of innovation and design oriented products therefore a single point of reference to showcase the full range of bicycles, components, and merchandise was an immediate success. After several years of growth Cinelli President Antonio Colombo began to take notice of the savvy upstart company that was selling truckloads of Cinelli caps, shirts, and components on the internet. In 2016 Colombo acquired a majority stake in the company and turned Wingedstore into the Official Cinelli online store.”

Wyatt on the aims of Wingedstore, “In the 80s and 90s Cinelli owned and operated a series of cycling stores under the name ‘Gran Ciclismo’ based in Milan. These stores, originally conceived by Antonio Colombo, were revolutionary and a forerunner in what would eventually become high-end sports retail. The cutting edge ‘Concept Store’ format dedicated almost entirely to a single brand was unheard of at the time. Wingedstore is the evolution of this idea, a single point of reference in a truly expressive environment available for the world to experience. Wingedstore was initially dedicated to the Merchandise range but over the years but has progessed to encomass the entire Cinelli line including a brief time as the official store of the Red Hook Crit (2014/2015). Wingedstore.com is now the Official Cinelli Online Store that sells the entire product range including frames, components, merchandise, and even spare parts.”

On the future goals Wyatt is clear “To make Cinelli and Columbus available to the widest possibile audience. These are truly global brands and Wingedstore aims to make them available to any rider, anywhere on the planet.”

On bike caps “All of the caps are designed along side the Cinelli design team and produced locally in Italy. One of the first projects that we did as wingedstore.com was the Rider Collection series. The Rider Collection allowed riders to create their Cinelli cap design interpretation. Some of the highlights include: 1984 Track Gold medalist Nelson Vails, Lucas Brunelle, Chas Christiansen, and Alfred Bobè Jr. My personal top 3 cap designs that we had are Chas Christiansen, Red Hook Milano 2013, and Ana Benaroya Eye of the Storm.”

Our FGC cap design, by Sue van Gageldonk, is currently completely sold out but should become available in limited numbers soon on the Wingedstore shop and will also become available in our own webshop to be opened as of 2018!

The riders field stayed together in the first three rounds with some riders trying to pace up at the front to see if the field reacts. In the fourth round it was Max Schelenz from Team Street Monkey who attacked on the second hill. The field was not sure how to react, because there were still 15 km to go. But as the gap expanded, Alex Worgitzki from Team Life is a Ride decided to have a try to catch up to the solo breakaway. Max Schelenz wasn´t willing to let him catch up and tried to hold the gap steady which succeeded with a first place after a 15km solo breakaway. Alex Worgitzki went for the second place with a comfortable gap to the bunch. There it was Thatchai Pinyou from Team Fixedpott who had the legs to bomb up the finish line hill for a third place. The only woman in the race, Suza Franke automatically crowned herself ‘Queen of Rheinland’

Photos by: Emanuele Barbaro, Micaela Pozzoli, and Chiara Redaschi
Text translation: Micaela Pozzoli

At 7.30pm the Men’s A, the one that will assign the Italian Champion title and the Criterium Italia’s trophy of 2017, starts. At the end of the first lap a crash occurs involving Jesus Rubio from IRD Squadra Corse and Roberto Pagliaccia from Cykeln Divisione Corse, unfortunately Roberto is forced to quit the race. Jesus is almost instantly back on his bike, completely full of scratches and blood on the left side of his body.

From the gun the pace is set high and it is a constant battle between Cykeln’s, Urbe’s, Brilla’s, Bahumer’s, Bike Channel’s men and Mariani from IRD, who was isolated after the crash of Rubio. Rubio bravely kept pedalling but was unable to return to the front of the race.

With 5 laps to go it is clear that the first Italian Fixed Gear Crit Champion will come from the front group of 12 riders. The rain continues to fall, reducing the visibility of the riders. With amazing team work, Cykeln Divisione Corse brings Martino Poccianti, best man in the Italian fixed gear 2017 season, to the win of the first Italian Championship and the entire Criterium Italia’s trophy. Alessandro Mariani from IRD Squadra Corse Carrera takes the 2nd place, and Marco Poccianti makes the race for Cykeln even better by taking 3rd place.

While in the Men’s A Final the rain came pouring down, the women were more lucky as they started their race with a bit of drizzle. However, mid-way the race the rain intensified. The first Italian Fixed Gear Crit Champion in the Women’s is decided by a sprint. In the sprint it is Paola Panzeri from Cinelli-Chrome who shows her fast legs and takes the victory and the first Italian Championship’s jersey in the Fixed Gear world. Behind her Virginia Cancellieri (IRD Squadra Corse Carrera) and Jasmine Dotti (IRD Squadra Corse Carrera) come in 2nd and 3rd.

In the B Final a group of 12 separates themselves from the rest of the field in the third lap.
02 Race B

With 5 laps to go, Manuel Scerbo, from Beltrami Criterium Italia, attack but are being neutralised by the first group. The finish of the race is a long sprint, with 9 athletes, won by Manuel Scerbo helped by his teammate Manuel Cucciniello. Edo Belt (Balanders’ Crew) takes 2nd place and Mattia Capece (Dafne Fixed) complements the podium of the Final B.

Men’s A Podium
1. Martino Poccianti – Cykeln Divisione
2. Allesandro Mariani – IRD Squadra Corse Carrera
3. Marco Poccianti – Cykeln Divisione

Women’s Podium
1. Paola Panzeri – Team Cinelli-Chrome
2. Virginia Cancellieri – IRD Squadra Corse Carrera
3. Jasmine Dotti – IRD Squadra Corse Carrera

Men’s B Podium
1. Manuel Scerbo – Beltrami Criterium Italia
2. Edo Belt – Balanders’ Crew
3. Mattia Capece – Dafne Fixed

“It’s a well known fact that the fixed gear community in Asia is huge, and every community has its own unique identity. However, there hasn’t been much opportunities for the different communities in the region to connect, and that’s something we’d like to change,” added Saeful Hakim, HolyCrit’s race director. “It’s always been our goal to connect the Southeast Asian fixed gear community and bring together to race and hangout. Our previous events have seen more diverse fields of riders taking part, and we hope to make more friends from the fixed gear from across the globe in Jakarta.” he added. Early bird prices for the race start at IDR$150,000 (US$11). Registration can be done online at indonesiafixedday.com and the crit is added to our Fixed Gear Crit Calendar