Marta Lach from the Ceratizit WNT team clinched victory in the second Grisette Grand Prix de Wallonie, raced between Aywaille and the Citadel of Namur. She triumphed over the Italian, Silvia Persico of the UAE Team ADQ, French champion Victoire Berteau from Cofidis, Sofia Bertizzolo, Nadia Quagliotto, and Usoa Ostolaza. This win followed Lach’s recent triumph at La Choralis Fourmies.
A couple of winters ago, on the Namur CX course, Silvia Persico secured a commendable ninth position in the CX World Cup, setting the stage for her success at the Italian championships and a bronze at the Fayetteville World Championships. Back again in Namur today, the 26-year-old from Bergamo settled for second place in the Grisette Grand Prix de Wallonie, preceded only by Marta Lach.
The race was mostly tight, with the peloton staying together. As the race neared its end, the competition intensified, with French champion Victoire Berteau striving to seize the “Fibre de Proximus” sprint. Berteau initiated another sprint at the Citadel of Namur’s summit but was overtaken by Silvia Persico and Marta Lach, with Lach proving to be the most formidable. Speaking on her victory, Lach expressed her elation, attributing her success to her mental preparation and willingness to push beyond her limits. Grateful for her team’s unwavering support, she also mentioned her fondness for challenging courses.
Discussing her performance, Persico said she regretted not clinching the top spot and extended her congratulations to Marta Lach. Describing the race, she mentioned that they started at a relaxed pace, but the latter half became more challenging with several sprints, and the race eventually concluded in a final sprint. Though she was well-positioned, she lacked the strength in the last 25 metres. This race marked Persico’s debut with the UAE Development Team, as she is a member of and normally races on the main squad of UAE Team ADQ. She praised her younger teammates for their performances and their attitude, noting their willingness to heed advice from more seasoned racers. Persico is set to compete next in the Tour de Romandie from 15-17 September wearing the UAE Team ADQ jersey.
2023 Grisette Grand Prix de Wallonie result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Mathilde L’Azou
