LAMPRE-MERIDA rules again in Trofeo Laigueglia, obtaining the third victory in a row: 2013 Pozzato, 2014 Serpa and 2015 Cimolai.
The Italian rider, born in 1989, gave the blue-fuchsia-green team the first seasonal victory and he achieved the first personal success in his career (he had obtained one victory in a team time trial in the 2010 Coppi e Bartali). Cimolai beat Francesco Gavazzi, Tsatevich, Montaguti and Felline in the sprint of a reduced group
The 2015 edition saw the riders compete on a 191,8 km course with two KOMs of Cima Paravenna, the KOM of Testico and the hill of Colla Micheri at less than 10 km to go.
LAMPRE-MERIDA managed the energies of their riders in a perfct way, giving the proper contribution to the chase of the main breakaway of the race (4 riders) that was neutralized at 40km to go and controlling the situation in the final part of the course.
Niemiec was great in closing the gap on three attackers (Zakarin, Stortoni and Gerdemann) with 1500m to go and Cimolai was amazing in finalizing the performances by his teammates with a success.
Cimolai, who turned pro in 2010 and joined the blue-fuchsia-green team in 2012, explained: "I have always liked Trofeo Laigueglia, it's a joy to have won this race, especially after two team mates had conquered it in the recent past.
"The path to the victory began in Australia, where I improved my condition. Coming back to Europe I suffered for bronchitis that influenced my performances in Dubai, but when I came back to Italy I focused my attention on recovering the necessary form: I came here to Laigueglia and I had morale for obtaining a top result.
"The team did an amazing race, Niemiec was outstanding in supporting me in the final kilometers. This victory makes me face the hard trainings in view of the next appointments, Paris-Nice and the Classics.
"I dedicate this victory to the Galbusera family and Lampre-Merida that gave me the opportunity to grow in these four years. This is a victory that I want to devote to them. We come from two wins in this race, this last time it happened to me.
"It's been years that I waited for a personal success. I knew my value, I have worked in these seasons to help with my teammates and this has allowed me to grow. I always liked Laigueglia as a race and its course, it is truly a pleasure to win here for the first time.
"Tomorrow I'll realize what I have done. To say what I feel at the moment is impossible. We were all tired after the penultimate climb and we were just me and Niemec left from Lampre. I must say that without him the others would have stayed away. So I want to dedicate the win to my teammates who have done an outstanding job. The final climbs? It was hard but inside I knew my value I, and after years of hard work for the captains it's my time. It was the right opportunity and I could not waste it.
"I will go to the GP Lugano , I'll do the Paris Nice and then the Milan-San Remo which is the classic of my dreams.Then I'll be in Belgium to complete the first part of the Northern Classics with the Tour of Flanders and Paris - Roubaix. For years, we have raced together. I keep my feet on the ground but we can do well."
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