Top-10 and KOM jersey for Maestri in the second stage of the Tour du Limousin
Rainy end of the second day of the Tour du Limousin, with Mirco Maestri in the breakaway, in a front group that reached the last 10 kilometres ahead, but was neutralised. The Italian managed to score the necessary points for the KOM jersey and then hold on in the bunch of favourites to finish 9th in the bunch sprint under an intense storm. He is now fifth in the general classification.
A tough stage, constantly up and down, with six climbs and a demanding terrain. The conditions that best suits the courage of Mirco Maestri. And the cyclist proved it, being part of a group of eight riders that got almost 3 minutes of difference in the lead with the peloton waiting for the final part.
But when the decisive part came, the breakaway group began to be selected with Marcellusi (Bardiani) attacking in front, neutralised later by Maestri himself and four other riders. On the climbs, almost consecutively, the Italian rider of Polti Kometa was scoring points to take the lead in the mountains classification.
The gap was down to 10 seconds, the tenacity of the escapees allowed them to recover more than 30 seconds but finally in the last 9 kilometres, taking advantage of the last climb, the break was neutralised. Even so, Maestri had the strength under the storm in the end to sprint and finish in ninth position, as well as taking fifth place in the overall classification. Thanks to this, he also received the combination classification jersey.
It was a solo victory for Baudin (Decathlon), who took advantage of the last wet descent to stand out from the bunch and also take the lead of the Tour du Limousin.
Mirco Maestri: ‘It was a very tough stage where the goal was to be in the breakaway. We made it, and it was a big breakaway and that always allows us to go further. We fought, I was able to score the mountain points, I gave everything to get the jersey. In the end, I tried to get the best result on the sprint, although with caution because it was dangerous in the rain. The feeling was good and I think we will continue to get good results in the two remaining stages’.
Giovanni Ellena, sports director: ‘A great performance by Mirco Maestri, who won the mountains classification and also finished ninth at the finish. I’m happy because this morning I insisted to the riders on the importance of doing well in this start of the second part of the season and I think they have done it perfectly’.
Tomorrow is the third stage of the race, 189 kilometres between La Riviere de Mansac and Argentat Xaintrie Val’Dordogne. Another day of hills and difficult terrain with five more important and tough climbs, where the team will be looking for a victory as well as to gain positions in the general classification.
