Albanese, getting better and better: at Matteotti he is seventh

Another day passed in the wind, another day in which the team raced well, another day in which Vincenzo Albanese was among the protagonists even though the victory then went to another rider.

The Trofeo Matteotti was raced, a historic race – in its roll of honor so many champions from Francesco Moser to Gianni Bugno, from Gino Bartali to Paolo Bettini, and with our Vincenzo Albanese who was able to win it in 2016 – in the heart of Abruzzo with start and finish in Pescara. All expectations of EOLO KOMETA were for Vincenzo, in an ever-increasing condition after his return to racing. In the end Sjoerd Bax (UAE Team Emirates) won, able to resist the return of the group and overtake Velasco and Rota. Seventh our Albanese, among the first in the sprint of the group that came back very strong in the last meters: another Top-10, a growing condition that bodes well for the upcoming races.

However, we can’t not talk about what happened before, with Mattia Bais being the big star of the day with his breakaway in the company of Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies), in front alone for most of the race. The two even gained 6’35” on the group, until Latour tried the solo adventure leaving Mattia with 40 km to go. Bravo, very good Mattia: our man always on the attack. The final saw the attempt of Giulio Ciccone who wanted to give himself a success in his land, but Bax and Rota greeted the group in the last descent resisting the return of the group.

Stefano Zanatta: “Also today the team rode well, with Mattia who inserted himself very well in the breakaway of two riders: we hoped some other riders would join, but he and his breakaway companion managed to resist until four laps to go. Really good. Behind the World Tour teams started pushing hard, many riders broke away but ours managed to stay in front until the last lap. In the final Albanese moved very well, when Bax and Rota went away Piganzoli couldn’t hook up and then Fortunato worked to bring Albanese back underneath and he made a great sprint. It’s getting better and better, now hopefully a win will come.”