Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani) confirmed that he is in excellent form for the August season when he took his fourth win in less than a month at the Coppa Agostoni. In a dramatic finale where Miguel Angel Benito (Caja Rural) was caught on the finishing straight, the Italian emerged as the fastest in the 40-rider sprint. Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) and Francesco Gavazzi (Androni) completed the podium.

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Colbrelli optimistic for European Championships after winning Coppa Agostoni

Bardiani-CSF’s leader Sonny Colbrelli won the 70th edition of Coppa Agostoni. In the final sprint of the ItaliaN road race, Colbrelli was the strongest, leaving behind Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) and Gavazzi (Androni-Sidermec). It is the fifth success for the Italian rider in 2016 (14th as professional) and tenth for the #GreenTeam.

 

“Yesterday’s second and third place at Coppa Bernocchi left us a little disappointedm” said Colbrelli. “Today was a big chance and I didn’t want to lose it. Winning in Italy is always a great joy and I’m really glad also for my team.

 

“It was a hard race, firstly because of the route and secondly because the rain we suffered in the first part of the race. We needed patience, my teammates did a great effort managing the hottest parts of the race. In the finale Androni-Sidermec did a great job in preparing for the sprint. I chose to follow Gavazzi’s wheel and just waited for the last 300 meters. I’m happy that I left behind strong riders like Francesco and Diego.

 

"Yesterday I wanted to do something new, trying to attack from the distance and it went well. Today i wanted to redeem myself. I was fine and after the places of honour for my teammates it was only right to win. Androni did a great job and have launched a great sprint.”

 

Colbrelli will return to racing with Bardiani-CSF on September 20 at Giro della Toscana - Memorial Martini, followed by Coppa Sabatini, Tre Valli Varesine and Gran Piemonte. Before these races, Colbrelli will attend the European road race Championship in Plumelec on Sunday wearing the Italian Team jersey.

 

“I’m so happy for this call, it’s a great honor for me. I said to CT Cassani that I’m feeling good and I’m at his disposal. We’ll be at the start with a strong team and I want to give my contribution. It could be the chance to make this season more and more special.

 

"We are ready, not just me but the whole national team. On Sunday we will see how it goes. It is not easy, there is a climb and we can keep both me and Diego (Ulissi) for the finale. We are going to look at it but it will be the national coach who decides the roles for Sunday."

 

Confident Ulissi after second place: My legs felt great

On the final straight in Lissone, Diego Ulissi obtained the 2nd place in the Coppa Agostoni at the end of a performance which could be considered as a good test for his participation in the European Championships.

LAMPRE-MERIDA was represented by one of its riders in the breakaway which led the race for most part of the course: among the 13 attackers there was the blue-fuchsia-green jersey of stagiaire Masnada, who succeeded in being in the front group also when the breakaway was selereduced cted to 6 members.

In the final sprint, Ulissi tried to battle against Colbrelli but he had to surrender to the speed of his opponent.

"I obtained a podium place also in the GP Montreal. It would have been great to win here, however I'm satisfied with the feedbacks I had during the race about my condition,” Ulissi explained. “My legs were very good on the climbs, unfortunately no actions could give troubles to the sprinters such as Colbrelli. Conti tried on Lissolo, but the group rode at a regular and sustained speed and every attempt was canceled.

”In the approach to the sprint, I succeeded in being in the front positions, but Colbrelli is faster. That's why I consider the second place as a good result.

 

"I am happy with this second place because I came from Canada. This served as a finishing touch for Sunday and it was a good test.

 

”Last Sunday I felt like well, but when you are behind the world champion and Olympic champion you have nothing to reproach yourself. It was a sprint of 500 meters uphill  which was more suited to my characteristics while today I am surprised because I beat riders that are much faster than me

 

"I think the role that I will that the national coach will tell me which roll I will have on Sunday. The most dangerous opponents are Van Avermaet, Sagan and Rui Costa.”

 

Gavazzi: We knew that Colbrelli would be faster

Francesco Gavazzi (Androni) finished third. He told Spaziociclismo:

 

"We did a great race as a team because we were all present in the first group. We had the duty to close the gap although on paper Sonny was faster and it turned out to be the case.

 

" It was a tough and selective race. I gave everything as the rest of the team gave their all. I think that we were obliged to pull. It was not a finish for me but we tried. I did my best so you have to be happy.

 

"So many times the victory has eluded me by a small margin but this year I managed to win because Androni Giocattoli believes in me and is a great team.”

 

 

Bole back on form with top 5 at Coppa Agostoni

It was a good race for Coppa Agostoni. Pierpaolo De Negri was in the break and Grega Bole sprinted to fifth.

 

Bole did not give up in the hardest part and together with Gianfranco Zilioli he rejoined the group.

 

Sports director Mario Manzoni is satisfied with the team's performance.

 

"Today was definitely better than yesterday. In the decisive moments we were there, and then to make the difference between victory and a place of honour is always the final touch.  De Negri did well to be in the action and Bole and Zilioli not to give up and got back to the best to sprint for the win. It was a rainy day and very tough. The fatigue was felt in the final and to compete in a sprint after a race like this is never easy. On Saturday there is the Memorial Pantani and we can try again.”

 

Caja Rural youngster 150m from victory in Coppa Agostoni

The Caja Rural - Seguros RGA riders put in an impressive performance in the Italian one-day race Coppa Agostoni this Thursday.
 
Both Héctor Sáez and Miguel Ángel Benito were part of the early breakaway, from which Benito went solo and almost kept the peloton behind him. It was only with 150 meters left to go that the sprinters overtook the 22-year-old Spaniard. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) won the race, while Jonathan Lastradid well to finish in 10th place in the sprint.
 
Miguel Ángel Benito said: “Both Héctor and Iknew we had good legs after Tour of Britain. On the final kilometers, Héctor completely sacrificed himself for me and with 6 km to go, as the peloton was closing in, I decided to attack and go solo. It almost worked out. On one hand, it’s a shame that I came this close without making it, but on the other hand, I’m also very happy to be able to fight for victory all the way towards the end. I’m extremely grateful to the whole team today and especially to Héctor”.

 

Novo Nordisk climber shows form at Coppa Agostoni

Friday’s Coppa Agostoni got off to an energetic start, with a 13-man pulling away early in the race and establishing a maximum gap of nearly 6:00. But once again, the Italian national team was determined to keep the break from sticking, and chipped away at the group’s advantage until the gap was down to 1:30 by the time the riders riders reached the climb at Lissolo.

 

“The circuit was hard,” said Team Novo Nordisk Sport Director Massimo Podenzana, “and included three short, but very steep climbs. But there was also a lot of rain added to the mix, which made it very challenging. Our guys fought hard from the beginning, but unfortunately they couldn’t make it happen.”
 

The final 6 breakaway riders were reeled at the 8km mark, setting the stage for an elite group of approximately 35 riders– which include Team Novo Nordisk rider David Lozano– to battle it out in the bunch sprint.

“Lozano was very strong,” Podenzana said, “but was unable to out sprint the other riders.”

 

David Lozano finished best Team Novo Nordisk at 19th with the same time as Colbrelli.

 

Aggressive Aru gains confidence at Coppa Agostoni

The Coppa Agostoni saw a competitive Astana Pro Team, captained by Italian Fabio Aru.

 

Aru tried to make the difference on the Colle Brianza, attacking two times and escaping with Gianni Moscon.

 

“Despite the heavy rain that accompanied us in the first part of the race, I had good sensations and I attacked in the 3rd and 4th climb to Colle Brianza. Together with Moscon and some other riders we created a small gap but the problem was that the flat final facilitated the comeback of the sprinter’s teams," he said.

 

“Anyway, I’m satisfied with my condition and I’m confident for the European Championship of the next Sunday and for the races of the coming weeks."