Przemyslaw Niemiec's performance in the Strade Bianche was full of quality and gave Lampre-Merida a place in the top 10.

The Polish rider confirmed that he is one of the most competitive riders in the blue-fuchsia-green team with the 9th place, 1'03" to the winner Stybar.

The gravel sector of Monte Sante Marie was the key moment of the race: 9 riders escaped from the bunch and three of them, Valverde, Stybar and Van Avermaet, battled on the final climb of via Santa Caterina to Siena (16% of degree). Stybar beat Van Avermaet and Valverde.

Niemiec rode in the main group, he had a puncture after 70km of the race and he also tried an attack with 16km to go. n the final kilometers he had the energy to reach the finish line in the top 10.

There were good feedbacks from the neo-pro Ilia Koshevoy. In his debut in the Strade Bianche, the youngster waited only a few kilometers before challenging the strong wind on the course and escaping from the bunch with 7 other riders. His action ended with 70 km to go.

There was bad luck for Filippo Pozzato who spent energy to come back to the bunch after a puncture and so he was not in the front when the race got hard.

"Although we were not lucky, placing in the top ten of Niemiec makes the balance of the day discreet," sports director Daniele Righi said. "In this kind of racing, we must always take the unexpected into account but today the gaps occurred in delicate moments and forced many of our riders to spend precious resources to try to return to the group.  The boys have still given their best and raced well. Then Przemyslaw was good at asserting his excellent condition."