Countless breakaways, Martín in polka dots, Lonardi 7th in the stage, Maestri 9th overall to kick off the Tour Poitou Charentes

Team Polti Kometa has developed a taste for targeting the climbers’ classifications in August races. After Sevilla’s success in Burgos and Maestri’s near miss in Limousin, tomorrow David Martín will be the polka-dot jersey owner in the 38th Tour Poitou Charentes. But much more happened today, including a double top-10…

In an opening day with countless breakaways, Polti Kometa was always in the spotlight: Diego Sevilla was part of one of the early moves after the start, followed by Martín and Mirco Maestri in the central part of the race, with Mattia Bais attempting a counterattack, and finally Fran Muñoz despite a cut under his chin from an early crash managed to be part of the final group of leaders.

With 30 km to go, our special interviewee Muñoz couldn’t keep up with the pace of the 5 remaining leaders who would eventually fight for the victory (won by Dversnes of Uno X). In Cognac, Giovanni Lonardi led-out by Manuel Peñalver finished 7th placing second in the bunch sprint.

Lonardi: “It was a day of constant attacks and we were on top of it. It’s a pity that the breakaway made it to the end and my sprint only earned a placing, but I’m happy with my performance and that of the squad. We’ll give it our all in the coming days!”

Martín: “I was feeling good and managed to stay on the wheels of the best in the peloton. Then, at the beginning of the second set of three walls that marked the course, I saw a new breakaway form and I jumped on it, crossing first at the 3 KOMs. I’m happy to kick off tomorrow with a jersey to defend!”

Sports director Giovanni Ellena: “The guys were everywhere in a chaotic stage, at times it felt like an amateur race with all those splits. Beyond the many breakaways, including an impressive Muñoz, Lonardi’s placing and David’s jersey, we take home a 9th GC place for captain Maestri, who’s in this moment our overall best-placed rider.”