Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani) again proved that attacking pays off by riding to a deserved win in the queen stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. The Italian attacked from an elite group of climbers on the final descent and held them off to claim a solo victory, with Clemens Fankhauser (Tirol) taking second and Mauro Finetto (Uniero) winning the sprint for third. Sergey Firsanov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) finished safely in the chase group to take the overall win with a 3-second advantage over Finetto.

 

Sergey Firsanov eyes the Giro d'Italia after Coppi e Bartali win

It was a areat satisfaction for the Gazprom-RusVelo which obtained the final victory in the Settimana Coppi&Bartali with Sergei Firsanov. Firsanov was sixth in the final stage

 

After the success in the team time trial and the victory of Firsanov in Sogliano sul Rubicone, Gazprom-RusVelo achieves the first great victory of the season.

 

"We are very happy," general manager of the team, Renat Khamidulin, says. "The last stage was very difficult, because Team Sky maintained a high pace. But the whole team worked well and I'm happy for Firsanov: after the finish he was very excited. He is a climber with great qualities, but in his career he was too often affected by bad luck. This time everything went well and I want to thank Adriano Amici and all his staff, the organizers of this great race, in which we have participatde for several years."

 

For Gazprom-RusVelo, the success in Settimana Coppi&Bartali is a new and important stage of the growth process, which confirms the quality of the young and ambitious team, determined to prove its value in the next Giro d’Italia.

 

"The success of the Settimana Coppi&Bartali," Renat Khamidulin continues, "tells us that we are working efficiently. Now we will have another important test, the next Giro del Trentino. We know we have chosen the right path and we must continue in this direction."

 

"Of course it was difficult to keep the jersey in the last stage," Firsanov told Spaziociclismo. But I managed it successfully. I have a strong team and without my teammates I could not reach such a result. So I dedicate this victory to the team and all those who have always been close to me in times of trouble.

 

"The next goal is of course the Gir. I want to do well  but do not ask me whether I go for GC or a stage, because there is no cyclist who does not dream about winning a Grand Tour! Even to win a stage would already be a big deal. 

 

"The Rio circuit is also a very tough one made. But I don't select the team and I will try very hard to win a spot on the roster." 

 

TriumphantStefano Pirazzi: Now my attacks are more respected

Stefano Pirazzi took the second win of the season for Bardiani-CSF (the first by Colbrelli in Lugano). For the #GreenTeam veteran rider it is the second success in career after the stage he took at 2014 Giro d’Italia in Vittorio Veneto. In GC, Pirazzi finished the race in 4th (at 21”) followed by Ciccone in fifth.

 

Beyond the satisfaction, today’s success is the umpteenth proof of Pirazzi’s perseverance. Two days ago he tried to attack without luck but today, after a few attempts, he did it.

 

“Well, it was really hard to take this win. I had to attack four times to go alone but, thinking of what happened two days ago, I only  wanted the big target” said Pirazzi. “Since the morning, together with the team, we planned to attack both searching the success and shaking up the general classification. At 40 km fom the finish, when Landa forced the rhythm, I knew it was the right moment. Lopez and Torres caught us soon and it was positive because we were able to work together and keep the gap to the peloton. But in my mind I didn’t want a small group finish, so I decided to force and force again.

 

“I feel my condition grew a lot after the hard work during the winter but I think I can improve again in view of the Giro d’Italia. After Tirreno-Adriatico, where I had no stages suited to me to test myself, I was looking for Settimana Internazionale as a test. Today’s victory is a new starting point. My goal is doing a bold performance at Corsa Rosa, but until May I have other chances I want to exploit. I will never lose my attacking spirit, but I hope to have the same precision as today.

 

"The first few years as a pro, when I attacked, I was insulted. Now, when I attack, I am more known and respected. But every time I attack, I do believe I will get to the finish line.

 

“This time I stopped pedaling 100 meters from the finish to savor the victory. Cycling is 40 percent legs and percent

 

"Today I struggled on the first two climbs, but I held firm, and then I attacked. I thank Reverberi and the team. I needed this victory. I am training well, I am even skinnier than a year ago because I reduced the quantity and the Nutella, but unfortunately in racing you are 200, and all have the same desire and the same rights, and that's why I'm going to attack.”

 

Mauro Finetto regrets missed opportunity at Coppi e Bartali

"We started this morning with 7" to recover on the Russian,” Finetto said. “We knew it would not be easy to drop him on the climbsl but in the end we tried because in the case of gaps I could pass him with bonus seconds. Unfortunately, Pirazzi arrived solo and in the sprint I placed second, a result which was not enough to win. Too bad, it would have been nice to take home a stage. I'm happy and I have to thank my teammates, these young riders that gave the soul in the initial team time trial, allowing me to go for GC. They were fantastic," says Finetto, whose next race on the calendar is the  Tour of Morocco  from the 1st to the 10th of April.

 

”It is a shame with the stage. I could have won but Sky who made ​​the race all day, did not believe in Moscon, that he could win the sprint, and have decided not to chase Pirazzi,” he told Spaziociclismo. But Pirazzi did a great job and I'm very happy with his success . He attacked at the right moment and behind the lack of agreement made it easier for him to get to the finish. But even if we would have tried, it would be tough to take him back. In the GC, I had little to do: I tried several times on the last climb but Firsanov responded promptly to any attack. With a little collaboration, I could have won the stage.

 

"I was a little behind with the condition when I had no team. During the winter I still prepared well and and I knew I could get in good shape for this race.

 

"I hope to be good at the Tour of Morocco, ten stages, a new experience and I hope to win some camels and then return at the Giro dell’Appenninno. I hope to participate in Trentino, but we have not yet been confirmed by the organizers, so we'll see in the coming days.

 

"The boys have given one hundred percent in recent days. It was not easy to face the race with a GC man. Alongside Mauro they have grown. More than this we could not do, everyone did really wel. Tomorrow and the day after we will be engaged in the U23 races. We must recover a bit of energy, but there is a chance to continue to do well," added team manager  Marco Milesi. 

 

Fantastic performance by Sky neo-pro at Coppi e Bartali

Gianni Moscon secured a third place finish at Settimana Coppi e Bartali after a frantic final day in Italy.

 

The Italian attacked late on in a valiant attempt to secure the overall win, having started the day 19 seconds behind leader Sergey Firsanov (Gazprom RusVelo). But Firsanov marked Moscon's moves in the closing stages and the Russian came home sixth to secure the win, while Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani - CSF) launched an attack five kilometres from the line to take a fine solo victory. Meanwhile Sebastian Henao finished fifth overall, having come home in the reduced bunch with Moscon.

 

Mikel Landa had hit out 40km from the finish and formed a four-man break with team-mate David Lopez, Pirazzi and Rodolfo Torres (Androni), which looked like it might stay the course. But, after a tough day of climbing in Italy, what was left of the peloton slowly closed the gap until Pirazzi launched his decisive solo attack.

 

Speaking to TeamSky.com after the stage, Sport Director Kurt Arvesen said the team left it all out on the road in an attempt to secure the win.

 

"We went all in today, from early in the stage. Halfway through the day we put Xabi [Zandio] and Philip [Deignan] on the front, they rode hard, and we got time back on the break. Then on the penultimate big climb we attacked with Sebastian, tried to isolate the leader, and we attacked again with Landa going away. He was very good for a long time, but we just got beaten by stronger bike riders today.

 

"Everybody was involved in the day's tactics and work and it shows that the guys are on track."

 

 

Arvesen spoke of his pride at how youngsters Moscon and Henao rode across the week, adding that the Italian has impressed a lot of people in his first professional season. He added:

 

"It's very nice to see the young guys up there, with Gianni third and Sebastian fifth. From the beginning in Valencia and in every race since Gianni has been up there. I'm super impressed with him.

 

”In general it's been a very encouraging week, with guys coming back from injury. It will certainly lift them all to a higher level for what's to come. A lot of these guys are going to do Pais-Vasco and this was very good training for that.

 

"Alex [Peters] was also very strong this week but he picked up a puncture today. He was one of the cards we were going to play late on, but he picked up a flat tyre at the worst possible time."

 

"A podium in this race is a great satisfaction and makes me look to the future with optimism,” Moscon told Spaziociclismo.  "In every the target for the first year is just to be competitive right away and to take a podium is a great result although it is not a WorldTour race.
 

"On the final climb I missed the legs. I still have to work a lot, I saw that I'm missing something uphill and this it is an important part of my growth path. I have to figure out if I will be more a classics or a stage race rider but for now it's okay.

 

”Firsanov was really good at defending today. We have attacked in every way and on the last climb I missed a the legs and I lost a few seconds to him, but I have to say that he was clearly the strongest.”