Race characterized by a first escape of 4 forwards kept under control by the Bardiani CSF Faizané riders to set the pace in a group. A compact group begins the selection that gradually creams the leaders of the race. On the Grappa there are 10 of them, including Zoccarato, Covili and Zana. The morning leader of the general classification Scaroni loses contact in the last kilometers of the climb, thus giving the leadership of the general to Filippo Zana. On the finish line it is a narrow sprint and Filippo Zana launches from distance to try to anticipate everyone but closes once again in second position.
Filippo Zana is now the leader of the general classification, of the youth classification and by virtue of the placements in the first two stages also of the points classification.
Filippo Zana - Declaration:
“Today the team has been wonderful, in front of the group for the whole stage, without receiving any kind of help from other teams. Before the controlled the breakaway of the day, then Luca Covili and Samuele Zoccarato make a strong selection on Monte Grappa, giving me the chance to play for the victory and to be the new GC leader. I knew that Tesfasion was faster than me so I tried to anticipate in order to take a couple of meters of advantage, but unfortunately I didn’t catch the full result. My condition is very good now, similar to the one of last year, so I will try to reach good results both for me and for my team. Now 3 stages in this Adriatica Ionica Race are missing and we we will try to win the GC even if it is still a long and hard road.”
Good final performance also for Luca Covili 4th of stage just 8 seconds from the first 3 athletes. Top10 also for an excellent Samuele Zoccarato, after the work done for his teammates.
STAGE RANKING:
1 Tesfazion Natnael Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
2 Zana Filippo Bardiani CSF Faizanè + 00
3 Pronskiy Vadim Astana Qazaqstan Team + 00
4 Covili Luca Bardiani CSF Faizanè + 08
5 Cepeda Alexander Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli + 12
6 Bizkarra Mikel Euskaltel-Euskadi + 19
7 Fortunato Lorenzo EOLO-Kometa Cycling Team + 42
8 Scaroni Cristian Italy + 01:04
9 Zoccarato Samuele Bardiani CSF Faizanè + 01:04
GENERAL RANKING:
1 ZANA Filippo Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè
2 TESFATSION Natnael Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli +0:21
3 PRONSKIY Vadim Astana Qazaqstan Team +0:27
4 COVILI Luca Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè +0:39
5 CEPEDA Jefferson Alexander Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli +0:43
6 BIZKARRA Mikel Euskaltel - Euskadi +0:50
7 SCARONI Christian Italy +1:06
8 LUCCA Riccardo Work Service Vitalcare Vega +2:22
9 SANDRI Edoardo Cycling Team Friuli ASD +3:46
10 FORTUNATO Lorenzo EOLO-Kometa +4:03
POINT JERSEY RANKING:
1 ZANA Filippo Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè 30
2 SCARONI Christian Italy 28
3 ZURLO Matteo Zalf Euromobil Fior 20
Trofeo Città di Mendola - Under23
The Under23 riders of the team have been racing also today, to the Trofeo Città di Mendola. Good action by Alessandro Pinarello who is good at entering the decisive action, unfortunately losing the wheels of the two other riders who will arrive at the finish with a few seconds of advantage over the following group, where Martin Marcellusi in the sprint closes 6th of the day.