Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) took his second win of the 2016 season when he delivered a classy performance to win a thrilling first stage of the Giro della Toscana. Having made it into a seven-rider group on the penultimate climb, he found himself together with Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani), Daniele Bennati (Italy) and Fabio Aru (Astana) after the final ascent and after the quartet had worked together to keep the peloton at bay, he made a late attack inside the final kilometre to take a solo win and the first leader’s jersey. Colbrelli beat Bennati in the sprint for second.

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Visconti: This is how I wanted to end my beautiful Movistar adventure

It seemed like a dream when the season started, just like every year. And it looked impossible to reach in late March, the squad hit by hard blows such as Malori and Castroviejo’s injuries, as their account stood stuck on four wins. However, a memorable six months by the Movistar Team have seen them chaining success after success until reaching a remarkable milestone: equalling the 36 victories claimed in a single season that remained as all-time high for the Spanish outfit, previously held by Jiménez, Olano, Barbosa, Garmendia and Hunt with Banesto in 1998.

 

Giovanni Visconti was the author of such a feat on Tuesday, as a courageous, insistent race in stage one of the Giro della Toscana, 174km between Arezzo and Montecatini Terme, brought him to the top five months after his success in Amorebieta. The squad directed by José Luis Laguía kept the day’s early break on a leash and put big pressure on the field into the uphill sections, later countering Fabio Aru’s (AST) moves with a great Richard Carapaz and Visconti himself on the Monte Rocchina, less than 30km from the end.

 

As Visconti made part of an elite, seven-man attempt featuring quick finishers like Sonny Colbrelli (BAR) or Daniele Bennati (ITA), he knew it wasn’t enough for him to try and win the final sprint. And after two unfruitful attacks by Aru in the last climb of Vico, a duo of strong accelerations by Visconti in the last 2km allowed him reaching the line with a short margin over the rest of the group. He will try to defend his GC leader’s jersey on Wednesday at stage two, finishing in Pontedera. His final win would also end the record equalled today, in what’s undoubdtedly the most solid season ever by the Eusebio Unzué-led group.

 

Giovanni Visconti said: 

 

“I’m so happy about this win. I really needed this win to unblock myself and I also owed my family and my son a victory - they whispered for one for so long and today, they were at the finish so I had to make it real. It was also for Eusebio. I talked to him this morning and I told him I wanted to bring him a victory, for all things he did for me during this five-year adventure with the Movistar Team family.

 

“I kept clear in mind that, in a sprint, I just couldn’t win with such fast people. I only had a chance: attacking with 1km to go. I tried it twice, I got 50 meters on my pursuit group… and in such situations, when a peloton is charging behind and the pursuit feels them behind, they surrender, so it’s only you or the peloton. I’m impressed by the fact that such an attack prevailed - I never thought I could pull one like this off.

 

"I thought I'd do the last 20 kilometers like the" old "Visconti: attack because I said I had nothing to lose today. If it was bad I would still entertain the fans and friends here at the finish line and I would have taken another place of honour, but inside myself I wanted to win. I tried for the first time and it went wrong, then I tried again and I took advantage of the right moment that allowed me to get away. It is the second victory of the year but for me it is the first real one in long time, because I arrived with people of a certain calibre, and this success is great because I got it in front of my family. I'm happy. I wanted it to finish the year in a good way and also get a stimulus for the future and my new adventure next year in Bahrain. 

 

”I had a little oomph that was missing for a long time.  I won against people who are really good. I've never seen such a strong Colbrelli and Bennati impressed me, especially uphill.

 

“Closing this Movistar Team with a victory, with such good feelings, was a desire I held dear - I’m happy to have brought the squad to the record. Now it’s all about the GC. Why not trying it? It will all depend on the final decision by the jury: if they give us the same time or 1” between myself and Colbrelli / Bennati. Should we remain tied, it will be very difficult for me - it’s a tough start yet there’s only one little climb in the finale and I think we’ll end up into a sprint, and I won’t be able to beat them in such a finish. Still, there’s high morale in the group - we’ll keep trying. I hope to keep the leader's jersey, it will not be easy, but certainly I'll try.

 

" I wanted to win and dedicate it to Unzue. From here to the end of the season there are many beautiful races, such as Lombardy. To finish well helps you start better. The goal is to end in this way. 

 

“My new team hired me with the idea of giving me more space, allowing me to ride for my ambitions. Of course at some point I will be available for Vincenzo but this has stimulated me. If you give me more responsibility, I will be better.  I hope I come get back the grit that I once had.” 

 

Colbrelli: I am proud to stay with these climbers on the climbs

Sonny Colbrelli said: 

 

"I made ​​a great effort to get back and stay with the leaders, but then we were seven who went away with a good agreement. I knew there were riders in great shape and with a very good condition from the Vuelta. For me today is a great achievement to be able to stay with these big names on the climns

 

"I found it hard to get back on top because on the ascent I was dropped.  I was keeping an eye on Bennati. I knew he was strong and had come out well from the Vuelta. When I was at the end of the climb, I was held back by the crash of Rebellin, but I came back.  Then we went with a mutual agreement until the end. In the end I started to work hard to stay away and at least end on the podium. I'm happy for Visconti ". 

 

"My rivals are all good so let 's see how it goes. Today I tried and I think that second place is not a bad result. We will see what happens tomorrow. Anyway  I am satisfied, I did not expect to arrive with these riders . I'm not like them on the climbs.”  

 

Bennati: I am proud to be so close to Aru on the climbs

Daniele Bennati said:

 

"In the end, Sonny and I sprinted for second place. I am satisfied because I had the strength to hold a climber like Aru at just seconds on the climb.  I was surprised by my condition, but I made ​​a great effort.

 

"With 20km to go, we found ourselves in front and we tried to work together. I went, I knew I had the teammates behind. We were able to go to the last climb

 

”It's part of the game. Visconti tried at the right time, right after a climb a little less than two kilometers from the finish. He got an advantage, Sonny and I looked at each other. The one who closed the gap would have lost the race, but in the end we both lost out.”

 

Aru gets confidence from great performance in Toscana

“I’m in a very good shape, increasing day by day, and I’ve tried to win the stage,” commented Fabio Aru after the finish. “We had a high rythm and I attacked a few times, then on the Vico climb which I have known it since I was U23, I’ tried to leave behind me the other attackers but honestly Bennati was super strong and caught me on the last descent to Montecatini Terme.

 

“Tomorrow there will be the second stage of this Giro della Toscana that, on the map, should be easier than today’s but never say never. Let’s see what kind of race will come out and let’s look confidently to the next races.”

 

In-form Bennett close to victory in Toscana

For BORA – ARGON 18 the race started with a disappointment. Gregor Mühlberger had to abandon the race at the feed zone due to illness. He tried to support the team as good as possible, but was not able to carry on any further.

 

On the penultimate climb of the day the decisive move was launched from a group of seven riders including Fabio Aru and Giovanni Visconti. The break was able to go clear from the peloton but was chased by Emanuel Buchmann and Steve Cummings. It looked like the duo could close the gap but when both crashed in the downhill section, their chase had an abrupt end. Buchman is ok and could finish the race though.

 

In the chasing group, BORA – ARGON 18 took responsibility to work for a possible sprint finish with Sam Bennett, who was still part of that group. Cesare Benedetti and Paul Voss tried everything in alliance with some other teams.

 

Sam Bennett presented himself in great shape today after he struggled a little bit after the Tour de France and his crash there. Even though the stage’s profile was pretty demanding, he won the sprint of the chasing group and finished in a strong 5th place.

 

“It was not the best of luck when Emu crashed. With him in front we would have had a lot of opportunities for the last kilometres. After he went down we concentrated 100% on Sam. It’s a pity that in the end just a few metres were missing to catch the leaders. But Sam showed really impressively that he back at 100%, I am very happy for him and with the 5th place,” said André Schulze, sports director.

 

Cavendish shows good form, Cummings crashes out

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka placed Daniel Teklehaimanot at the head of the peloton with a rider from Movistar and Bardiani to control proceedings. Teklehaimanot did a great job pacing on the front for the majority of the stage. A 10km climb to Olmo that came with 80km to go saw the gap reduced to 2 minutes, while one breakaway rider also dropped back to the pack. From then on it was quite clear this early break would be caught as the race approached Montecatini.

 

The break was caught with 28km to go and just before the first of 2 final climbs around Montecatini. New attacks came on the climb and the peloton was strung out. The African Team was doing a great job, as all our riders bar Teklehaimanot where contributing to the chase. Unfortunately on the descent Steve Cummings crashed and was not able to continue on in the race, fortunately his injuries were not too severe in the end.

 

As the race passed the finish-line in Montecatini before starting 1 final local lap of 14km, a 7 rider break had formed with Visconti, Colbrelli, Bennati and Fabio Aru (Astana) part of this selection. The peloton came past some 30 seconds later with the African Team in command of the main group. The firepower up ahead was just too much though and they would just survive to take the stage honours. Mark Cavendish was the best placed rider on the stage in 7th position.

 

Sports director Oliver Cookson said:

 

“We looked at the stage last night and it really looked a hard stage actually. The 10km climb at 80km and then the Papi climb which our riders who live around here know very well along with the final climb on the circuit. Our plan was to engineer the right breakaway, and then look after Mark Cavendish and Kristian Sbaragli. Following the big climb it was important that we came into the penultimate climb in a good position. Then we would decide if we would go for Kristian or Mark after the climb and Mark showed he was going well by staying with the front group over the top. Unfortunately on that descent Steve went over the edge but luckily he is okay and already back with us in the hotel after being checked out by the doctors. After this scenario there was a bit of confusion and 7 riders with some important names got away. We were working on the front tentatively at this point because our guys weren’t sure if Stevo was there or not, he went so far over the edge that nobody saw him. Once they realised Steve was not there they started to pull but with such a high caliber of riders in the lead it was always going to be hard with smaller teams. Everyone is okay though, Cavendish showed he has really good legs so we will live to fight another day.”

 

Solid ride by Novo Nordisk climber in Toscana

Team Novo Nordisk kicked off the two-day Giro della Toscana on Tuesday, facing off against some stiff competition on the 174.7-kilometer opening stage through the Tuscan countryside.

 

As the riders approached the first of two final climbs near Montecatini, teams were once again on the attack, forcing the peloton to break up, but Team Novo Nordisk rider David Lozano emerged with an elite front group of approximately 30 riders.

 

“Today was a hard day at the office,” Lozano said, “everyone knew the second to last climb, with its sections of 18% gradients, were going to be decisive and threaten to split the group. I managed to stay up with the first group, and the last 20-25km were really fast and hard, with up and downs that made the group even smaller.”

 

As the race entered it’s final 14-km lap, seven riders broke off, gaining a 0:30 over the peloton and holding on to the finish. Movistar’s Giovanni Visconti won the day, and Lozano finished with the chasers at 14th, 0:07 behind Visconti. 

 

“I did my best to stay in a good position, and I did the sprint as best as I could. I think with all the big teams and names, this is a good result for our team!”