Enrico Zanoncello (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) pipped Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team UKYO) by the narrowest of margins to win the bunch dash on stage 1 of the revived Giro d’Abruzzo.
Max Kanter (Astana Qazaqstan) opened up the dash in a stable place after sturdy work from his crew however nonetheless had 250 metres to go within the wind and was shortly overtaken by the 2 Italians and Manuel Peñalver (Polti Kometa) who completed third.
Malucelli appeared as if he had timed his dash completely as he slingshotted out of Kanter’s slipstream, however he had left simply sufficient of a spot for Zanoncello to steal the win on the road alongside the obstacles.
This was the Bardiani rider’s fourth skilled victory however his first in his dwelling nation, having solely beforehand received in Asia.
“I’m very comfortable. I had bookmarked this stage,” mentioned Zanoncello. “After an eventful stage, it got here all the way down to a head-to-head with Matteo Malucelli. It’s been tight. I’m glad I received it.
“Fiorelli introduced me onto Malucelli’s wheel and I managed to cross him. This is my first professional win in Europe and above all in Italy. Moreover, that is the affirmation we had been searching for. Let’s hope this win will persuade my crew to carry me to the Giro d’Italia.”
A seven-man break went up the street after the beginning of the 161km stage in Vasto, however solely thee would final nearly all of the day, Andrea Guerra (Zalf Euromobil Fior), Diego Bracalente (Team MBH Bank Colpack Ballan), and Tommaso Dati (Biesse – Carrera).
The trio had been swept up 12km from the road after UAE Team Emirates and Corratec-Vini Fantini did nearly all of controlling all through the run into Pescara.
Jan Christen was probably the most energetic rider for the Emirati crew, attacking every time the street went uphill within the remaining 60km. The younger Swiss rider’s strikes prompted late assaults from the likes of George Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech) and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan) however none caught with nearly all of groups inquisitive about a bunch dash.
Racing continues on the revived stage race on Wednesday with 160km of uphill racing from Alanno to Magliano de’ Marsi. It ought to begin the GC battle with sturdy climbers like Bennett, Lutsenko, Adam Yates and Pavel Sivakov (UAE Team Emirates) all current.
Results
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