Shortly after the race began, a violent storm made certain sections of the gravel course nearly impassable, forcing even the safety motorcycles and quads to stop. Without the ability to properly escort the riders, the race was called off in agreement with the riders.
Due to a sudden downpour right after the start, the organizers from PP Sport Events, after careful discussions with the riders, decided to cancel the 2024 Serenissima Gravel for safety reasons. The race, which began at 1:30 PM and had already been shortened by one lap due to heavy terrain and recent rains, was halted after the first lap when it became clear that some parts of the course were almost unrideable and, more importantly, that the necessary safety conditions could no longer be guaranteed.
Many of the quads and motorcycles responsible for escorting the riders had to stop because of the waterlogged conditions, and on top of that, in the Cittadella area, the Brenta River was beginning to overflow.
“It’s a very tough decision to cancel the Serenissima Gravel, but once the riders informed us that safety measures were no longer sufficient, we stopped everything without hesitation,” said organizer Filippo Pozzato. “Unfortunately, it started raining heavily right after the start, and the course flooded quickly. Some of the following motorcycles had difficulty keeping up with the race due to the amount of water, making it impossible to ensure the event could continue smoothly.”
All registered participants in the amateur race can request a refund or opt to carry their registration over to next year’s edition.
