Working in the front and testing echelons for the Kometa-Xstra at the Umag Trophy

8th Umag Trofej / Umag Trophy
Stella Maris Resort – Stella Maris Resort (154 km)

Victory for the Dutchman Olav Kooij, of the Jumbo-Visma Development Team, in the sprint that resolved an edition of the Umag Trophy this Wednesday, in which the Kometa-Xstra competition was fundamental to the dispute of the massive arrival. Antonio Puppio was the best classified among the cyclists of the continental structure, 31st in the main peloton that arrived a few seconds after the winner.

A breakaway, first two men, finally five riders, managed to stand out at the head of the race midway through the race. Their lead fizzled out in the three minutes. Without any presence in that movement, in spite of the attempts of the first bars of the race, the Kometa-Xstra worked together with the Italian Bardiani at the front of the peloton; they marked a rhythm that allowed the neutralization of the breakaway.

The hunt was carried out within the last ten kilometres and the interests of several squads converged in a thrilling finale which, with a small cut in the last bars within the great group, brought success for the Dutch cyclist against Marko Krump (Adria Mobil) and the German Niklas Markl (Sunweb).

“We controlled the race with a view to a possible arrival at the sprint with Giacomo and we also tried to play with the wind with two laps to go, but there was no luck and that movement did not crystallize”, said Alejandro Ropero from Granada. “The finish also had its complication, because it was just after a descent that favoured the heavier people more. It is a day from which we learn and from which we leave with our minds already on Sunday’s race”.

(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)