The last stage of the Skoda Tour crowns the great week of Maestri and Piganzoli

Yesterday, Davide Piganzoli made it clear that he would try to go on the attack in the Skoda Tour’s final act. Said and done, he personally joined the first breakaway of 17 riders that animated the day. Too many GC contenders in the move: three riders went on as the Team Polti Kometa‘s climber and his main rivals rejoined the peloton to control the situation, protected by their teammates.

One wall after another, they entered the city circuit in the capital and 12 km from the finish the three escapees were caught. At -8km on the last climb a quartet broke away, leading Gaudu (Groupama) to win the stage and Tiberi (Bahrain) to claim the overall victory. In the end Mirco Maestri was the best-placed rider for Polti Kometa, finishing 14th and moving up to 16th in the GC, while Piganzoli held onto 9th place overall and commented: “We capped off a great week, which gives me and the squad good feelings ahead of the major classics in Italy that will conclude this year.”

Maestri: “We went full throttle all day. It was tough, but we held our own against some of the strongest cyclists in the world. We’re feeling charged and energized for the closing month of the season.”

Sports director Stefano Zanatta: “The first fifty kilometers were a real battle, with that huge breakaway that was eventually neutralized but highlighted our excellent form. In the finale Mirco and Piga did their best to respond to the accelerations of the champions ahead. Kudos to the two of them and to the entire sextet that competed in the Skoda Tour!”