Moschetti brushes to victory in Mornico al Serio

Giro d’Italia U23
Stage 3: Saliceto-Mornico al Serio (164.3 km)

The forecast came true and in Mornico al Serio, the finish line of the longest day of the Giro Baby, the victory was elucidated to the sprint. In the Volata, the Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Hagens Berman Axeon) set the pace ahead of Matteo Moschetti and Giovanni Lonardi. The Polartec-Kometa quick man, in a day where the whole team worked efficiently to his advantage, strengthened his leadership in the overall standings to the points thanks to this second place.

A large part of the 164.3 kilometres of the long third day of the Giro d’Italia was marked by a solitary escape from the Italian Edoardo Affini. The winner of Forli’s prologue, and first pink maglia, went off alone and came to have an income of more than eight minutes. His adventure, as controllable as it was, was of interest to many teams. And so it was that he opened the race for a good part of the day, until the sprint preparations were activated.

The Polartec-Kometa was one of the teams involved in these tasks, consolidating an important approach to the head of the race when there were 40 kilometers left for the’arrival’. Affini would definitely be hunted within the last ten miles. It had not been a pleasant start to the day, as several riders were affected by a huge crash that occurred in the first kilometers.

“It’s clear that being first is better, but today’s result is a good one, it’s very good,” says director Jesús Hernández. “The day hasn’t started out very well. At kilometre 5, everyone has fallen, except for Sevilla and Ries. Gamper actually, he’s crashed twice. Matteo has proved his level, despite the crash and a couple of bike changes, with this good position. Matteo is getting more and more every day and in the two clear opportunities that remain for the sprint will be a great favorite. Tomorrow the mountain comes and we’ll be with Ries.”

The U23 Giro faces one of its most important days this Monday, with the finish high on Passo Maniva, at 1744 metres above sea level. With Passo Tre Termini on the way, the final twelve kilometre climb to Maniva from the town of Collio will be the one to pass sentence. Third-placed Moschetti is the best placed of the Polartec-Kometa squad, but the chance to see Luxembourg’s Michel Ries in his bid to make a good general.
(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)