Giro d’Italia Handbike 2022, the Active Team La Leonessa sponsored by MAK Wheels triumphs for the second year running! This was the case in 2021 and it has happened again twelve months later, with the Brescia-based company taking the lead in the pink handbike race, winning the Fast Team red jersey as the team able to collect the most points over the seven stages, thanks to the placings of its riders. A goal to be shared among the twenty athletes who from April to October worked hard between Bari, Bellaria-Igea Marina, Meda, Udine, Cerro Maggiore, Livorno and Pisa, collecting repeated satisfaction.

This time the number one protagonist is Mirko De Cortes, 45 years old from Calcinato, who in Tuscany not only excelled for the umpteenth time in the MH5 category, taking home the final pink jersey, but also took the trophy for the overall winner of the competition, i.e. the one who – regardless of the category – collected the most points at the Giro. Nobody even came close to his 205 points, the result of six victories in seven stages. The overall title had also belonged to Active Team La Leonessa in the past edition, thanks to Christian Giagnoni. Also celebrating in Livorno was the MAK Wheels-sponsored athlete Mirko Testa, the 25-year-old from Bergamo (category MH3) who once again crossed the finish line ahead of everyone, covering the eleven laps along the lungarni in one hour, six minutes and thirteen seconds, and beating his rival Claudio Conforti in a sprint. The success allowed Testa to win the MH3 classification for the second year running, crowning a season that also saw him take two Italian titles (road and time trial) and win a world bronze medal in the time trial.

From two pink jerseys won, to two missed by a whisker, respectively by Giuseppe Uberti (MH1) and Omar Rizzato (MH2). The former, in the lead of the classification since the first stage, was mocked at the last stage by Riccardo Cavallini, who, thanks to the success in Livorno, caught him on 180 points, but is ahead of him because – according to the regulations – the best result in the final stage has priority. On the other hand, Rizzato’s victory in Livorno was not enough to complete his comeback against Lazio’s Manolo Simeoni, who was only two points ahead (162 against 160). The Veneto athlete paid for his absence in the second stage, as he was busy with the national team in the World Cup.

Victory in the last race also for the (bi) WH1 world champion Simona Canipari: the Brescia-born woman raced two stages and dominated them both, but to make the rankings it was necessary to race more. An Active athlete was also awarded the black jersey of the last classified, worn by Bernardo Pasinetti, who also received a special fair play award for his consistently exemplary behaviour. „It was a phenomenal Giro,“ commented captain Sergio Balduchelli, „thanks to the guys who never cease to surprise us. 

In addition to the various victories, we bring home a red jersey that is a symbol of the value and commitment of the entire team‘. Wearing it was Marco Colombo, president of Active Sport, among the 15 athletes competing in Livorno. „These results,“ he said, „are the fruit of a team effort that starts with sport therapy in collaboration with Domus Salutis, and involves many sporting excellences in a virtuous process of help in the difficult path of life that follows a disabling accident“. With the Giro over, the season of Active Team La Leonessa has one last, very important appointment left: the final stage of the Italian Club Championships, on Sunday 23 October in Lucca. The Brescian company will try to defend a place on the podium.

Giro Handbike 2022 – Final ranking
Placings of the athletes from Active Team La Leonessa
Cat. MH1 – 2nd Giuseppe Uberti, 4th Giannino Piazza.
Cat. MH2 – 2nd Omar Rizzato, 6th Oscar Signorini.
Cat. MH3 – 1st Mirko Testa, 10th Bernardo Pasinetti, 12th Fabrizio Falappi, 13th Marco Dagnoni.
Cat. MH4 – 2nd Franco Tonoli, 5th Claudio Zana, 8th Mattia Guerini.
Cat. MH5 – 1st Mirko De Cortes, 5th Claudio Pietroboni.
Best young white jersey – 3rd Mattia Guerini, 6th Marco Dagnoni.
Fast Team red jersey – Active Team La Leonessa.

7th stage Giro Handbike – Pisa
All the results of the Active Team La Leonessa athletes
Cat. WH1 – 1st Simona Canipari.
Cat. MH1 – 2nd Giuseppe Uberti, 4th Giannino Piazza.
Cat. MH2 – 1st Omar Rizzato, 7th Oscar Signorini.
Cat. MH3 – 1st Mirko Testa, 17th Fabrizio Falappi, 21st Marco Dagnoni, 22nd Marco Colombo, 23rd Bernardo Pasinetti.
Cat. MH4 – 2nd Franco Tonoli, 4th Alessio Scutteri, 9th Mattia Guerini.
Cat. MH5 – 1st Mirko De Cortes, 6th Claudio Pietroboni.