Intense team work in a very demanding and extremely hot Italian Nationals

Campionato Italiano 2021
Bellaria Igena Marina – Imola (225,9 km)

Very high temperatures, with moments above 39 degrees, and a circuit through the hills near Imola marked the development of a road race of the Italian Cycling Championships in which the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team had a very remarkable first part of the race, keeping a breakaway of thirteen riders under control when it was already travelling with five minutes of margin and carrying the weight of its pursuit.

The succession of climbs to Mazzolano and Cima Gallisterna brought an important wear and tear. On the last lap of the circuit, after moments of various attacks, a group of eight riders was formed, with Sonny Colbrelli, Fausto Masnada and Samuele Zoccarato standing out.  The first two riders went away and Colbrelli won the sprint unchallenged.

For the Contador Foundation ProTeam structure all options were over on the penultimate pass over the Cima Gallisterna. Vincenzo Albanese would be the first of his riders at the finish, 19th, leading a group that reached almost ten minutes (9′ 39″) and in which Lorenzo Fortunato (45th) and Edward Ravasi (49th) also arrived.

Lorenzo Fortunato: “Today has been a very difficult day, with the heat that has characterized the whole race and has been felt without mercy. The team has raced well, in my opinion: we were good to take on the shoulders the work to recover on the first breakaway, then the fatigue had the better. I archive this wonderful part of a season that has been magical for me, and in the next few days I’ll take a little breather to better prepare for the upcoming engagements”.

[   PhotoGomezSport]