Red Hook 2017 Milano
It has become the can’t-miss event for the brakeless, fixed-gear world. Today, the Red Hook Criterium is the king of the fixie events, and Milano just hosted the last crit of the year. Castelli was there too, not only with the official Red Hook jersey but also with two participating teams. Our women’s team partner LA Sweat was in the race, and the men’s team Cykeln showed off a violet and mint green Castelli skinsuit.
After Brooklyn, London and Barcelona, Milano is the fourth city on the Red Hook calendar. It was the second race to be established, after the concept was launched in the Red Hook neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.
Bovisa, the university district north of Milano, hosted the event, where 34 different countries were represented by the participating athletes. More than 10,000 spectators attended the race.
It was a very special day of cycling indeed. The athletes are there with you all day long: you can chat with them, you can watch them warming up on the rollers, you can wait for the next lap with a craft beer and a local-style sandwich. And when the race is on, a lap is just a matter of seconds. The Red Hook is so fast that you don’t even realize when day becomes night, because your eyes are always on the riders, all the time.
The young crowd in Milano saw Bahrain-Merida’s Ivan Cortina take the victory over Alessandro Mariano and Filippo Fortin. After the fourth and final Criterium, Davide Viganò was confirmed the 2017 winner of the Red Hook men’s ranking. Among the women, the French rider Eléonore Saraiva won the final overall classification, while the Italian Maria Sperotto took first place in Milano.
Saraiva and Viganò, who wore the red Castelli jerseys in Milano as the series leaders, defended their lead to the end.
Thanks to everyone who attended or followed the Criterium in 2017. See you in Brooklyn next year!
PHOTO CREDITS | NICCOLÒ MATTOS GIOLAI