A London 2012 Bronze medallist, the Italian biker will race with Bianchi’s MTB team for the next two seasons.
From left, Team Bianchi Countervail’s President Felice Gimondi and Marco Aurelio Fontana (Credits Bianchi).
Team Bianchi Countervail is reinforced with the addition of Marco Aurelio Fontana; he’s one of the strongest and most representative athletes of the international MTB and cyclo-cross scenes. A bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics (and a 5th place finish in Beijing 2008), 3 World Championship titles on the relay team, gold at the 2013 European championships in Bern with the relay, and multiple Italian cross-country and cyclo-cross champion, the 32-year-old biker signed on to the team, presided by Felice Gimondi for two seasons, starting in February 2017.
Fontana is a phenomenal biker, determined and versatile when it comes to the greater challenges, as he can adapt his technical and mental capacities to both XC and cyclo-cross courses. Fontana has received the most recognition for off-road cycling at the world level, garnering high visibility in the press, and he is expert on the bicycle products and technology. His knowledge will, in fact, lend a hand to the development of future Bianchi racing models.
FONTANA: “Aiming for the big finishes with the Methanol CV”
“I view Bianchi as a powerful, high-class brand,” Fontana explains, “and I’ve been always attracted to it. I want to race at the highest levels in the upcoming seasons, and Reparto Corse Bianchi is willing to give me what I need to do just this, starting with the new Methanol CV. I know this new model is engineered with a special carbon material that cancels vibrations, Countervail, and I can’t wait to take full advantage of its performance and ride control. The bike is beautiful and I like very much the frame shape. All the components are the top: we’re definitely well supported to achieve great results. I’m also impressed by the professionalism of the entire Bianchi management and staff, starting of course from Felice Gimondi, a legend”.
Marco Aurelio Fontana (Credits Michele Mondini).
GHIROTTO: “Fontana, an added value”
“Fontana’s arrival gives an important value to our team, enriching it with history,” Massimo Ghirotto, Bianchi Countervail team manager confirms, “and I’m certain he’ll bring home results. His insertion represents further motivation and inspiration for the whole team, aiming for the best results in every race in which we participate”.
GIMONDI: “Competitive value and media visibility”
“Marco Aurelio is a strong racer with a stand-out personality: I think both these aspects are important to help grow the competitive value and media visibility of our team. Fontana is a great communicator who will also know how to make the value of our Bianchi bikes stand-out with him,” commented Felice Gimondi, President of Team Bianchi Countervail.
From left, Team Bianchi Countervail’s Team Manager Massimo Ghirotto, Marco Aurelio Fontana and Felice Gimondi (Credits Bianchi)
The team bikes
Fontana will use the very new Methanol CV, the first mountain bike in the world created with the innovative Countervail® vibration cancelling technology. Team Bianchi Countervail also has the Methanol Full Suspension (29″) model available, designed for extreme performance and equipped with a full-carbon frame that’s stiff and light thanks to Bianchi’s exclusive technologies and the reactive XC geometry. For cyclo-cross races, Bianchi will make its Zolder model available to Fontana.
but will they let him race in baggies?