Great pursuit by Polti Kometa and Lonardi finishes 4th in the first ZLM Tour sprint

The second stage of the ZLM Tour, the first of four days dedicated to sprinters, sees Team Polti Kometa fully present in the bunch leading the pursuit and leading-out Giovanni Lonardi. In the long passage through Dutch bridges and streets, between islands and three short cobblestones sectors, four riders early attacked, later becoming seven.

The peloton managed to catch the breakaway a couple of kilometers from the finish, and the sprinter trains were flawless in navigating the traffic island placed 350 meters from the Wissenkerke line. Just behind the three men who shared the podium, emerged the Polti Kometa rider from Verona, who finished in 4th place. A good result after Mirco Maestri’s 11th place in yesterday’s ITT which started to define the GC.

Lonardi: “We were always up there, but due to the slightly confusing dynamics of the sprint I couldn’t do better than this. With the great work of my teammates and my good condition, we’re going to try again!”

Sports director Biagio Conte (in the team car with Giovanni Ellena): “A challenging and nervous day due to narrow roads and wind, the boys were very attentive. Serrano and Fetter lively from the start, good job by Muñoz pulling in the first part and then Sevilla in the second, always coordinated by Maestri. In the finale Peñalver positioned Lona well, but there wasn’t a team pulling in front and there was a slowdown that allowed others to anticipate and forced us to chase. However, it’s a placement that gives good vibes for the next ones.”