Lonardi adds another top-10 finish at the end of the Tour de Limousin
The final day of the Tour de Limousin left all the expectation for the last kilometres, with the good work of EOLO KOMETA to place Giovanni Lonardi and his 8th place (second top-10 in this race) to close with a great result the competition.
A long, hot and full of steep climbs day in which the breakaway was fought again, with Andrea Pietrobon himself trying to repeat his already double presence in the front group. In this case, it was not to be and the leading group didn’t have team representation. It was time to wait for the options for the resolution of the stage.
And it was the work of his team-mates, with special mention to Mirco Maestri’s attempt to lead the peloton again in the last kilometre (he did it also perfectly in the second stage) that placed Lonardi in the search for the places of honour. Once the sprint was launched, he gave it all to take 8th place at the finish in Limoges. A result that extends EOLO KOMETA’s good results in Tour de Limousin.
Giovanni Lonardi: “I fought to stay in front on the last circuit and took the sprint in a good position. Then I didn’t have the legs to gain positions but I was able to stay up there at the front and finish among the best. I am happy because after the crash on the first day I recovered well. The condition is good let’s hope to do well the next races”.
Stefano Zanatta: “It was a great Tour de Limousin for us. Today we played our role again, staying alert in the initial kilometres with Andrea Pietrobon who tried to be in the breakaway and also Davide Bais. Without being able to be in the breakaway, we focused on helping Lonardi both with Rivi and Mirco Maestri, who placed him very well. The finish was difficult, with that final steep climb, but Lonardi was able to finish eighth and we have to look to Poitou Charentes with ambition. I think the balance is positive and with the arrival of Albanese and Fortu to the line-up we will be even more competitive. Special mention to Fran Muñoz, our stagiaire who in this first race of the season with the pro team has been at a great level and has adapted perfectly to what has been asked of him”.
