Sports results Italian Open XC

Italian Open XC

The Open Italian Championship in cross-country racing takes place in Sestola, Italy, from July 21 to 27.7, 2024. Stanislav Klikar and Karel Kůta will represent the Czech Republic .

Site of the race at CIVL here.

Race site on Airtribune here.

Results here.

Live tracking here.

 

Race reports

Report #1

As soon as the Germans reached their championship, the Italians jumped into the fray, including, traditionally, open places for non-Italian pilots as well. Two Czech pilots, Standa Klikar and Karel Kůta, will also take part in the race.
Today we bring you the report first thing in the morning for you to follow live tracking race and nothing came.
The race started in the spirit of Italian temperament:
"When the weather permits, we will fly!"
This was the start of yesterday's training day and today we are already in full field for the first task in Sestola, Italy. The pilots can look forward to very specific slopes and the top of the highest mountain in the Emilia Romagna region.
Today we bring you some important information:
📌LAA page Sports results with current info
📌race page on CIVL
📌race page on Airtribune
📌photos by Káji Kůta, which will bring you closer to the race environment - we are looking forward to the colorful fauna and flora of this beautiful corner of Italy ????

Report #2  – 1. task

Dnešní task, tedy 1. task závodu Italien Open 2024 se sice odletěl, ale nejedná se o top task letošní sezóny.
Dnes bylo 53 km dlouhá úloha, u které již v okamžiku pozemního startu mnoho pilotů doufalo, že se jim vyhne před startem se tvořící congestus, a že nezmoknou. Toto se naplnilo, nezmokli a odstartovali, dokonce prošel i vzdušný start.

However, after about 30 minutes from the aerial start, it was clear that the race would be halted, the only question was when. The Italian temperament was more lax than explosive this time, the organizers lingered and the stalling occurred more or less simultaneously with the rumble of thunder from the cloud along the route. Then they didn't delay so much!

Report #3 – 2nd, canceled task

The organizers of the Italian open have a little confusion in the race. They canceled the race in the morning, but with permission to fly freely, so some pilots went to fly immediately. Standa Klikar and Kája Kůta created a task, which they also flew.

The pilots had to carry their backpacks out themselves before the flight was cancelled, because yesterday's heavy rain soaked the roads so much that not even a tractor could drive without a load.
No results today, the Káji task with Standa can be seen on Xcontest, the boys swept the mountain ridges beautifully.
Tomorrow already, no task is valid yet. The first flights were training, the first official task was canceled during the task and is not valid, so today's task was canceled before the start.

Today we still have dinner at the mountain hut, let's enjoy the Italian high-altitude menu and look forward to tomorrow, when the race will start.

¨

Report #4 – 3nd, canceled task

In Italy, Wednesday was again a non-flying day due to a storm after a small turning point near the hill, and yesterday the pilots were already hoping that the task would take place. Although the task was accomplished, the start was quite late, but with beautiful views and lots of sun. Pilots write that they enjoy real Italy, good food, pizza, brass band on the street.
The results can be viewed both on CIVL, but they probably have bad info, especially on airttibune here:
The task was won by Paolo Facchini with 995 points. Standa Klikar finished 12th with 965 points and Kája Kůta 22nd with 506 points.
Today, let's hope that there will be another beautiful task and we keep our fingers crossed for the guys and the support.

Report #5 – penultimate task

We have the last day of the race ahead of us, and after yesterday's task, we are very supportive of both boys - if it continues, Kája is still in the game, and Staník has stepped on LA 1st place in both Sport and Serial and a very good position in the Open. The booth is going!
It is very hot in Italy, the sky is cloudless, but cumulus clouds are already starting to form. The atmosphere is said to be pleasant, music is playing, the boys are preparing for the task and expect more stable conditions. The task will be 70 km over the highest mountain in this part of Italy, LA 2150 m high Monte Cimone.
But for yesterday:
The task was 82 km long, the base just above the start, like every day. It started at 13:00 in order to have more time for a longer task. There are no fast flights, an average of around 20 km/h and often fighting just above the ground. After taking off, the pilots were sliding into a vast shadow and it was not at all certain where to go for risers. Finally, they found them about 200 m above the ground! This made the pilots choose the most stressful part of the day, because no one wants to land after a 5 km race. Unfortunately, Kaja was not so lucky.
Further along the way, the pilots found faster sections alternating with slower ones depending on shading and active clouds ahead.
At the end, Standa chose another more demanding section in a weak climb, where he again saved himself very low and what was interesting was that there was nothing stronger around, which resulted in a lot of pilots trying to leave this small bubble.
Before the ESS, Staník drove to the finish line with just enough to spare, because there was no need to hurry, the first group was already at the finish line in 45 minutes.
A five-hour shift and Standa is happy that he is at the finish line, as one of the few, and thus gained a huge lead in the sport category until the last task.
And here we have the grand finale. Kája fought for a decent position after the dash, Standa for two first places - Serial and Sport. The last task yesterday was fantastic, a beautiful flight and the pilots recognized the true potential of this part of the Apennines, where the race took place.
During the task, the pilots attacked 2700 m. They flew through risers with a force of 3 m/s and went for stronger ones and scraped the speed rollers against each other on the jumps.
Kája started ahead yesterday and it worked for him for some time, he enjoyed the lead until he was overtaken by a group that also included Staník.
The task was said to be too easy and short for the potential of yesterday's weather, however, it was the last day, the organizers and pilots were waiting for the results to be announced, so the organization resorted to a shorter task.
In the end, Standa managed to defend the continuous first place in Sport, in the serial category, the French pilot on Zeno 2 overtook him after crossing out, even though he was in a worse position than Standa yesterday.
Czechoslovak team Bramborghini lived up to its name and defended the 4th position.
According to the pilots, despite the first non-flying days, the race was successful. The conditions at this year's Italian Open were really varied, from zeroing and bailing out at low altitude to a "full speed only" style of flight.
Thank you for a great race and we look forward to the next one!