Tour du Limousin: Albanese tries but is defeated in the sprint. “I’m a little bitter”

54º Tour du Limousin
Stage 1: Isle – Sainte-Feyre (183.3 km)

And so the first stage of the Tour du Limousin, from Isle to Sainte-Feyre, has gone to the archives: the French rider Laporte won, who outsprinted his compatriot Godon and the Belgian Paquot. The eyes, the efforts and the attentions of EOLO-KOMETA were all focused on Vincenzo Albanese, who was in an excellent condition and full of desire to win.

And in fact, the team worked the whole stage for him: to protect him and to bring him in the best conditions to play for the victory in the sprint. Alba tried. He tried to surprise everyone by starting with 300 metres to go, but his courage was not enough as the peloton passed him with 100 metres to go. For him, a 9th place that leaves him with a bitter taste in his mouth.

“The team – said Albanese – has worked all day for me and I just have to thank my teammates, all of them. I’m a little bitter because my legs are there but I always make some mistakes in the final: this time I started a little early and I arrived in ninth position. I’m not satisfied, because I won’t hide the fact that I’m chasing a victory, but it’s not coming. I will continue to try, and I really hope to find it”.

More satisfied, instead, the DS Stefano Zanatta: “The team raced well: it was a nervous and difficult route, in the final we tried to bring Alba in the best position: he tried to anticipate the sprint but the road in the final was climbing a bit and they passed him. But I have nothing to complain, here there are World Tour teams and everything is more difficult but the team is racing well. And tomorrow we’ll try again”.

Tomorrow, stage two: 172 kilometres from Agognac to Payzac. And yes, EOLO-KOMETA will try

[ Zoe Souillard / Tour du Limousin]