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UEC European Championships: Europe's best bikers at the start in Montebelluna

Today at 16h00 the opening press conference of the European Championships Marathon, taking place tomorrow with start and finish in Montebelluna, has been held. The press conference has been attended by Massimo Panighel, event director and president of the organizing team "Pedali di Marca", Gunn Rita Dahle, Olympic Champion and multiple World Champion, Mirko Celestino who won the Italian National Champion's title in this race on the very same course last year and Marco Bui, World Champion U23 in 1999 and now paralympic athlete.

Massimo Panighel underlined the commitment of all people involved in the organization, starting from the 800 volunteers to the 450 people involved in civil protection who, with their presence on the race course, ensure the security of the athletes and the correct proceeding of the race. This event is an extraordinary opportunity, also with regard to the UCI World Championships which will take place on the very same race course in 2011, a new organizing challenge for Panighel and his team. Panighel gave thanks to the sponsors and the institutional partners (the 6 parishes involved in the race, the province of Treviso and the Veneto Region) who always have believed in this event and helped making it come true.

Gunn Rita Dahle said that she didn't feel to be the favorite woman in the race when thinking of the results of the other bikers in this season, but underlined that she would give her utmost in order to achieve the title, also if this race seemed to become more demanding than expected.

The Norwegian Champion who became a mum only 15 months ago, is delighted about the race course, as well as it is Mirko Celestino, the Italian National Champion Marathon, who knows all the secrets of this race because he has been racing the Gunn Rita Marathon in the past two years as well. On one hand, the athletes stated to be concerned about the heat as they haven't been racing in the heat in this season so far, but on the other, the good weather conditions would ensure perfect conditions of the race course, without mud, "a race to enjoy yourself", the Ligurian biker Celestino quoted.

Marco Bui confirms his testimony of bravery and willingness through his story here in Montebelluna: after his car accident back in 2005, he fought his way back on his bike again and is now competing in the C5 Paralympic category, while carrying the dream to achieve a starting place in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Marco is also the testimonial of the first Italian National Championships for non-hearing people taking place here in Montebelluna as well.

There was room for a view into the future as well, with the presentation of the next European Championships Marathon, which will take place on June 12th, 2011, in the small village of Kleinzell, close to Linz, in Austria.