French respect us, who’s balls still spinning…a vintage Paolo Conte fits the bill: while Vincenzo Nibali took home the Tour de France, Giancarlo Pedote aboard Prysmian won the first stage of Les Sables-Azores, the most important race on the 2014 Mini 650 calendar.
SILVER FOR ZAMBELLI
And as if that were not enough, silver went to young Romagna skipper Michele Zambelli on the Fontanot proto. The course au large is no longer the exclusive preserve of the transalpine. It had been seen in part at the Mini Transat, and with Pedote’s election as French Deep Sea Sailing Solo Promotion Champion in 2013.
NET DOMAIN.
Pedote finished the race in Horta (Azores) in 6 days, 22 hours, 53 minutes and 30 seconds at an average speed of 7.62 knots. By the time he crossed the finish line he was 45 miles ahead of compatriot Zambelli, who in turn had accrued a 40-mile lead over Nicolas Boidevezi, the third place finisher. And to think that the Romagnolo even had an autopilot failure! The second stage, the one that will take the Minis from Horta back to Les Sables d’Olonne, will be staged next August 5. What a snub for the “cousins” if the one-two punch is confirmed!
(Breschi photo)
