Davide Piganzoli rides with the best on the queen stage of the Tour of the Alps
The Italian rider was the protagonist from start to finish in the most demanding stage of the Tour of the Alps. Present in the breakaway with Mattia Bais in the first kilometres, and holding on in the group of the favourites until the final climb, he consolidates a top-10 in the general classification that he will have to defend tomorrow in the last stage.
A great day for Team Polti Kometa, who showed a high level of teamwork in the queen stage of the Tour of the Alps. From the very start, they were attentive to the breaks and Davide Piganzoli was able to be in the quartet that formed the first breakaway. They were later joined by Mattia Bais and another counter-attacking group, to form a breakaway of 11 riders that had more than 2 minutes on the main bunch.
After the Sover sprint, which Bais took, it was the turn of the mountains with Piganzoli showing a great level. Although he could not be in the movement of Simon Carr (EF), the eventual winner, he held the attacks and stayed in the leader’s group in the last 30 kilometres.
Knowing how to suffer despite dropping off on the Passo del Vetriolo, he rejoined on the descent and then held on in a second group. Close to the top-10 of the stage, and thanks to his consistency, Piga now occupies 10th place in the general classification to defend that privileged position tomorrow. Matteo Fabbro is now 13th.
Davide Piganzoli: “We had the idea of being in the breakaway, we were able to do it and we made our way to the hardest part. There was a high level among those in front, I tried to attack without success and in the end the favourites caught me from behind. I held on to stay in the top-10 overall, the team has done a spectacular stage and we will defend it tomorrow”.
Stefano Zanatta, sport director: “We fulfilled perfectly what we had planned, trying to defend the mountains jersey with Mattia although we didn’t manage to do it. There was a dangerous breakaway with important riders and Piganzoli was very attentive to join them, he suffered on the hardest climb but he caught up with the leader to secure the top-10 overall and show his quality. Fabbro was a bit further back, but he was good and will have his chance tomorrow.”.
The fifth and last stage of the Tour of the Alps remains with 118.6 kilometres with start and finish in Levico Terme and double ascent to Palù del Fersina in the final part.
