Lonardi, sixth in a dangerous sprint in CRO Race
Giovanni Lonardi was in a very fast and complicated finish in which he was perfectly placed to maintain the collection of places of honour for EOLO KOMETA in the CRO Race. Sixth position in the fifth stage, again close to raise his arms.
The team’s performance in Croatia is being impeccable, always with attitude, with a leading role and looking for good positions at the finish line. It was exactly the same on this fifth day of the CRO Race, very explosive in the initial part (with a climb of almost 20 kilometres) in which the peloton broke up, but with enough time to regroup and look for the sprint.
A breakaway of five riders, without much margin for them, and the ambition of the favourites to try to maintain what they had achieved so far. The final part of the race saw the blue again at the head of the peloton. Protecting Erik Fetter, now eighth overall due to the bonuses, and taking Lonardi to the gates of the sprint. The narrowness of the road made for an electric final part, with a high speed and a crash on the last turn before the finish.
Lonardi, who rode in second place behind the winner and new leader Aular (Caja Rural), had to settle for sixth place. Another great result, another good performance and still the final chance on the streets of Zagreb tomorrow.
Giovanni Lonardi: “The stage had a long climb in the first kilometres, the peloton splitted a bit, I was able to hold on but they stopped to wait for those who had dropped off. In the end, another sprint finish where maybe I should have launched my finale earlier. I’m happy with the result, I hope it will be better tomorrow”.