Andrea Fedi (Southeast) confirmed that he has a huge potential in the hilly one-day races when he claimed an impressive solo victory in the big Italian one-day race Trofeo Laigueglia. Having first made it into a 10-rider group on the descent from the main claimb of Colla Micheri, he made a solo move on the descent from Capo Mele with less than 3km to go and managed to hold off a select chase group to take his first professional win. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani) won the sprint for second ahead of Grega Bole (Nippo-Vini Fantini).

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Andrea Fedi after first pro win: I could not have asked for more

"I am delighted,” he told Spaziociclismo. "Today I tried in all ways. I really wanted to win. I tried once but it did not work. Then I tried again on the descent. I got 50 meters and it was enough to win.  I could not ask for more.

 

"I trained well during the winter. Nothing happened and everything is now coming to me easily. The work pays off, I am working at 100%, doing everything possible to get ready for the races and the results are there. I thank the team that did a huge job today.”

 

The month of February will continue at the Vuelta a Andalucia next week and then he will fly to Belgium for the opening races of the local calendar before returning to Italy for Strade Bianche , "his" GP Larciano and Milano - Sanremo .

 

Fedi’s teammate Matteo Busato was 8th.

 

“It was a great satisfacion because it comes after two years where I couldn’t live the emotions of such an amazing finale,” sports director Luca Scinto said. With [sports director Serge] Parsani we decided that it was impossible to win in a bunch sprint so we had to do everything to avoid it. Busato and Fedi were both brilliant. They tried it many times and in the end Fedi was able to win a fantastic race. We are a great group, the team worked really well. We all won.”

 

Sonny Colbrelli: I am not satisfied at all

Bardiani-CSF was close to take its first seasonal win at Trofeo Laigueglia. Sonny Colbrelli was second, winning the sprint a few meters behind the solo winner Fedi (Southeast).

 

“It’s a good result but I’m not satisfied at all,” said Colbrelli after the finish. “I wanted to do well and the chance, looking at the entire race, was pretty good. Fedi did a great action and I want to congratulate him. Unfortunately, when he attacked in the final kilometers, we looked each other in the group and we reacted too late.

 

“It’s a pity because this could be the best way to continue the series of good performances we did in this season beginning. I also wanted to present this success to the team which worked hard today but, first of all, it proves to be a strong and motivated group.”

 

" It was a very exciting race,” he told Spaziociclismo. “I knew I was good, but I did not expect that I could stay in the main group. The team did the best and there is nothing more to say. You have to congratulate Fedi who made a ​​large coup while we looked at each other.

 

“This second place gives moral even though I was hoping to give the first victory to the team because we deserves it . We're really a good group this year, very competitive and we will try in the next events.

 

"It's another Bardiani - CSF this year compared to 2015. It is a more compact and united group so that the results are already seen in these first appointments, not only for me, but for the whole team.”

 

“Second place in such an important race like Trofeo Laigueglia gives me a boost of morale, especially for the next races. After a short team camp I’ll race in Lugano and I’ll be motivated to fight for the victory. We’re a strong team and we’re on the right way to do well in this season,” added Colbrelli.

 

Grega Bole after third place: Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose

Nippo-Vini Fantini did an active race with Genki Yamamoto in the early break and Damiano Cunego in a solo attack before Grega Bole sprinted to third.

 

“Damiano and I were feeling very good, we talked and we decided to try two different actions,” Bole said. “When he attacked on the last Colla Michelli climb, he was going really fast. Then it’s a pity that in the final part Fedi escaped. In the final sprint with Colbrelli, we could have fought for the victory. I really want to thank the team because today they were working again inthe best way as possibile. This second podium is again thanks to them.”

 

"Today was a tough race,” he told Spaziociclismo. “I have to say thanks to my teammates if I did a good race, even Damiano (Cunego, ed.) as he was good on the climb. I regret the finale a bit but that's cycling: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.” 

 

“It has been a great week of training and a useful test for the season, not only for this week-end,” sports director Stefano Giuliani said. “To finish with a podium is great in such a wonderful and difficult race, but the most important signal is to have seen many riders doing good things. From Genki Yamamoto in the escape to Iuri Filosi in the best group and the attack of Damiano Cunego who made the difference and last but not least Grega Bole again in a sprint with Colbrelli and Felline demonstrating that he can compete with all riders.”

 

The DS Stefano Giuliani expresses its satisfaction with the week spent in Liguria. "It 'been a week of workouts and very useful test to start the season as best, not only in preparation for this weekend. Close with a podium in a race so hard and level is a great satisfaction, but it is even more seeing the team do well. By Genki Yamamoto in a Filosi perky uphill run, Damiano Cunego that when attacked has made a difference and Grega Bole who once again showed that they could play with everyone in the sprint with Colbrelli (2nd) and Felline (4th). Working so bring us a lot of satisfaction.”
 

Niemiec crash costly for Diego Ulissi in Trofeo Laigueglia

Despite his attempt to give the blue-fuchsia-green team the 4th consecutive victory in the Trofeo Laigueglia, Diego Ulissi was 6th at the end of a race which LAMPRE-MERIDA contributed to make selective.

Ulissi wanted to avoid the same finale as at the GP Costa degli Etruschi when fast riders could battle for the victory in a restricted sprint so LAMPRE-MERIDA controlled the 4 riders in the breakaway and raised the pace in the finale.

The blue-fuchsia-green team could not rely on Niemiec who crashed with 90km to go and was forced to quit the race because of a bruised knee (Petilli was also involved in the crash, but he could continue the race) but this did not prevent Ulissi's mates from being protagonists. Valerio Conti was ready to join an attack with 20km to go.
 

The move was neutralized some kilometers later and in the last lap, Ulissi was protahonist protagonist, following the most important moves and attacking on the last climb of Capo Mele. Unfortunately, Ulissi's attacks could not give him a solo vicory and he had to settle for sixth.

 

"We have done everything possible to make the race. The finale lent itself to an intense pace so we tried to get rid of as many sprinters as possible,” explained sports director Bruno Vicino. “All our riders moved well, and they did what they were asked to do. Unfortunately a crash 90km from the finish took out Niemiec. He would have been a valuable support for Ulissi in the finale. With Przemyslaw alongside Diego, our race plan could have led to a winning conclusion. 
 

”Ulissi did very well to try to force pace in the sections suited to him, though without being able to make the required selection. However, we had good feedback by riders like Polanc, Petilli and Conti.”

 

Furious FDJ sports director: The motorcycle helped the Italians

FDJ sports director Franck Pineau was angry at the finish line, showing his frustration and disappointment. Admiring the work of his riders throughout the Italian semi-classic, he regretted the conditions that saw Arthur Vichot’ efforts being marred by a poor organization.

 

"Our team had a great spirit,” he said. I think we will have good results and I can tell you that my guys did a great job all day in support of Arthur Vichot.”
 

"Olivier Le Gac, Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier and Jeremy Maison were first attentive to avoid a big break. Then they worked behind the three escapees Celano, Gaffurini and Yamamoto. And they have further accelerated to make the race hard at the request of their leader. Their work was good. They handed the baton to Benoît Vaugrenard and Laurent Pichon on the climb on the final circuit. Anthony Roux was with him when Arthur Vichot decided to attack and took the lead in the descent before being joined by Italian riders who were assisted by a motorcycle! It is not normal..."

 

While  Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) were two serious rivals for Vichot, the five others who got back, got help from a motorcycle, Pineau explains .Especially Andrea Fedi (Southeast) who was dropped on the descent. Vichot took seventh place.

 

Kevin Reza was not able to take the start as his plane from Nantes failed to take off because of a storm.

 

Wet descents costly for Novo Nordisk in Laigueglia

On Sunday, Team Novo Nordisk made its third appearance at Italy’s esteemed Trofeo Laigueglia.

 

The race’s 53rd edition kicked off at a high pace, with several teams eager to get out in front. At 30km, three riders, including Nicola Gaffurini (Norda-MG.Kvis Vega), Genki Yamamoto (Nippo – Vini Fantini) and Danilo Celano (Amore & Vita – Selle SMP), pulled away, and though Team Novo Nordisk was aggressive from the start, no one from the six-man squad was able to join the break.

 

David Lozano finished as Team Novo Nordisk’s best-placed rider in 24th.

 

“The guys worked well in the final kilometers to try and stay with the leaders,” Team Novo Nordisk Sport Director, Massimo Podenzana, says. “Since the circuit ended up being so challenging, Clancy, Peron and Verschoor worked to help Megias, Planet and Lozano at the end, and I think they rode well.”

 

“It was a really cold day in Italy,” David Lozano says, “with really wet and treacherous roads. I managed to stay up the front, but I didn’t have much confidence on the descents, which perhaps forced me to expend a little more power than I should have and cost me a better result at the end of the day. Still, I’m pretty happy with how the team worked together to keep Javi, Charles and me safe. And I feel I’m getting better every race, so this is a good time for me right now!”