Thanks to a national record in the final event, Alessandro Ciaponi from Valtellina secured the national title at the Italy Pro Championship by a margin of just one point.
t the end of an exciting and spectacular competition at Lake Orta, Alessandro Ciaponi was crowned Italian STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Champion 2026. The decisive factor was the final Hot Saw discipline featuring chainsaws tuned to up to 80 hp, in which Ciaponi secured both the title and the Italian record in this discipline. Just one point behind, the former champion from Aosta Valley, Michel Perrin, secured the new Italian record in the Underhand Chop and started in impeccable physical and mental condition. Third place was taken by Michael Del Pin from Friaul.
"It was a great and fiercely contested competition, a neck-and-neck race with my friend Michel from start to finish. I knew I’d have to go head-to-head with him right to the end, and the Hot Saw proved decisive. He would have deserved the victory too. I want to thank my wife, Marta, who always supports me - I’m overjoyed!", explained the new national champion Alessandro Ciaponi.
It was an intense and evenly matched competition, characterised by fair play and surprises – elements that highlight the steadily rising standard of the Italian scene and provided a fitting conclusion to the Official Summer Games. The Multisport Festival hosted the TIMBERSPORTS® competition for the first time.
The day began with the Italian Rookie Cup, a competition for young European athletes under the age of 25. This was won by Swiss Melvyn Geissler ahead of Léo Grangier and Nathan Simillion of France. At the same time, the young Italian Thomas Patroncino celebrated his debut, immediately demonstrating his remarkable potential.
"This day has crowned an incredible week for STIHL Italy: A few days ago, we received the Popka Award as the best B2C event for the 2025 World Championship. We are now enjoying the joy of an Italian championship, which was a great success in terms of visitor numbers, spectacles and sporting achievements," added Giuliano Sordi, Project Manager at STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Italy.
The next dates are all about the international competition calendar: the European Trophy will first take place in Poland on 13 September, followed by the team and individual world championships in the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart on 30 and 31 October.
