Giovanni Visconti wins Giro dell'Emilia

Giovanni Visconti took his first win in Bahrain-Merida colours on Saturday with an impressive ride in the Giro dell'Emlia. The 34-year-old attacked on the finishing circuit with 16 kilometres remaining and held off a late chase from the peloton to seal the win as teammate Vincenzo Nibali marked several counter-attacks.

Nibali put in a late attack to finish second, while Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale Drapac) completed the podium.

“It was a whirlwind of emotion," Visconti said. "Also because I have been waiting for this victory for a long time. A perfect day, there are no other words."

Bahrain Merida controlled the race for most of the day and had numbers when it mattered most, chasing several key moves before Visconti’s second attack on the penultimate lap of the finishing circuit created a gap of 30 seconds. Team Sky, BMC Racing and several other teams tried to chase the veteran Italian rider but the pursuit was halted briefly when last year’s winner Esteban Chaves (Orica Scott) crashed on a descent. The Colombian was on the front of the bunch when he hit the deck and bounced into the verge on the side of the road.

With one lap to go Visconti only needed to hold firm and despite a late attack from Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) the Bahrain rider took the win.

“I attacked during the penultimate lap and made an almost perfect downhill," Visconti said. "Then I managed to climb up and told myself that everything was going for the best. It was a sort of liberation; many seconds and third places but victory did not want to come."

The race began at an electric pace with Davide Ballerini (Androni Sidermec), Redi Halilaj (Amore e Vita Selle SMP), Francois Bidard (Ag2r La Mondiale), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis Solutions Credits), Fabien Doubey (Wanty - Groupe Gobert), Jacopo Mosca (Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia), Lorenzo Rota (Bardiani - CSF) and Nicola Bagioli (Nippo-Vini Fantini) forming the break of the day.

The group initially had a lead of seven minutes but the likes of Bahrain Merida, Team Sky, Cannondale and FDJ slowly reduced the gap to just over a minute with 40 kilometres remaining.

Ahead of the break and the bunch were five loops of a punishing circuit. Each loop finished with the climb up to San Luca, with its average slopes of 10 per cent but pitches of 18 per cent included. On the first ascent the leaders were reduced to just Edet, Doubey and Mosca.

Behind the trio, Team Sky and Orica Scott marked attacks before Visconti made his first move as he closed down an attack that included Mikael Cherel (AG2R La Mondiale).

Team Sky took a firmer grip on the front of the bunch on the second ascent with Kenny Elissonde particularly active. Behind him, however Bahrain were lying in wait. With the race regrouping and the break finally caught, Visconti turned to Nibali and asked if he could attack. With permission granted, the experienced all-rounder wasted no time and immediately kicked clear.

He instantly opened up a 13 second lead with Team Sky and FDJ both caught napping. The gap moved out to 23 seconds and then 30 seconds on the final lap and when Chavez took a heavy fall the chase lost momentum.

Take nothing away from Visconti, however, who still had the final climb to come. He was never troubled though, and when Moscon attacked he was quickly marked by Nibali. Nicolas Roche and Uran were in the mix but soon after Visconti took the corner it was Nibali who rounded the final bend to make it a Bahrain Merida one-two.

“I’m very happy for Giovanni," Nibali said. 

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Bahrain-Merida5:31:50
2Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida0:00:12
3Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac0:00:15
4Nicolas Roche (Irl) BMC Racing Team0:00:19
5Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky0:00:23
6Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:26
7Diego Ulissi (Ita) Team UAE EmiratesRow 6 - Cell 2
8Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jack Haig (Aus) Orica-Scott0:00:33
10Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:00:35
12Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Astana Pro TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 12 - Cell 2
14Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 13 - Cell 2
15Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:39
16Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:55
17Valerio Conti (Ita) Team UAE EmiratesRow 16 - Cell 2
18Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Bahrain-Merida0:01:05
19Daniel Martinez (Col) Wilier Triestina0:01:13
20Egan Bernal (Col) Androni GiocattoliRow 19 - Cell 2
21Sergio Henao (Col) Team SkyRow 20 - Cell 2
22Ildar Arslanov (Rus) Gazprom – Rusvelo0:01:24
23Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli0:01:30
24Yonder Godoy (Ven) Wilier Triestina0:02:00
25Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale-DrapacRow 24 - Cell 2
26Pierpaolo Ficara (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b Fondriest0:02:10
27Rodolfo Andres Torres Agudelo (Col) Androni - Sidermec - Bottecchia0:02:24
28Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-SegafredoRow 27 - Cell 2
29Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott0:02:30
30Alexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:40
31Simone Petilli (Ita) Team UAE EmiratesRow 30 - Cell 2
32Sergio Pardilla (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:02:58
33Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini0:02:59
34Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 33 - Cell 2
35Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 34 - Cell 2
36Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:03:02
37Rudy Molard (Fra) FDJRow 36 - Cell 2
38Diego Rosa (Ita) Team SkyRow 37 - Cell 2
39Darwin Atapuma (Col) Team UAE Emirates0:03:04
40Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini0:03:09
41Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:03:14
42Mekseb Debesay (Eri) Dimension Data0:03:20
43Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-DrapacRow 42 - Cell 2
44Matteo Busato (Ita) Wilier Triestina0:03:35
45Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ0:03:50
46Mathias Frank (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 45 - Cell 2
47Pello Bilbao (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:03:53
50Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jesper Hansen (Den) Astana Pro Team0:04:02
52Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Team UAE Emirates0:04:33
53Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K Vis0:05:28
54Ben King (USA) Dimension Data0:05:48
55Manuel Senni (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Mathias Le Turnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 55 - Cell 2
57Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Nicola Gaffurini (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 57 - Cell 2
59Ilia Koshevoy (Blr) Wilier TriestinaRow 58 - Cell 2
60Hugh Carthy (GBr) Cannondale-Drapac0:06:08
61Sergey Firsanov (Rus) Gazprom – Rusvelo0:06:30
62Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:08:20
63Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 63 - Cell 2
65Carlos Verona (Spa) Orica-Scott0:08:50
66Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 65 - Cell 2
67Christopher Butler (USA) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:09:02
68Diego Rubio (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 67 - Cell 2
69Marco Tizza (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 68 - Cell 2
70Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 69 - Cell 2
71Jakub Kaczmarek (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 70 - Cell 2
72Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-SegafredoRow 71 - Cell 2
73Brendan Canty (Aus) Cannondale-DrapacRow 72 - Cell 2
74Umberto Orsini (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 73 - Cell 2
75Edward Ravasi (Ita) Team UAE EmiratesRow 74 - Cell 2
DNFEsteban Chaves (Col) Orica-ScottRow 75 - Cell 2
DNFDamien Howson (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFRoman Kreuziger (Cze) Orica-ScottRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFRuben Plaza (Spa) Orica-ScottRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFJens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-ScottRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFMatthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Gaudu (Fra) FDJRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Roux (Fra) FDJRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Roy (Fra) FDJRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFSteve Morabito (Swi) FDJRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Elissonde (Fra) Team SkyRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFSebastian Henao (Col) Team SkyRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFIan Boswell (USA) Team SkyRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFSalvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFTao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team SkyRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFEnrico Gasparotto (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Boaro (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Boaro (Ita) Bahrain - MeridaRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFGrega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Mori (Ita) Team UAE EmiratesRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Romano (Ita) Uae Team EmiratesRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFIgor Anton (Spa) Dimension DataRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFNatnael Berhane (Eri) Dimension DataRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFLachlan Morton (Aus) Dimension DataRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFAdrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) Dimension DataRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFAmanuel Ghebreigzabhier Werkilul (Eri) Dimension Data For QhubekaRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Coledan (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFGregory Daniel (USA) Trek-SegafredoRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Didier (Lux) Trek-SegafredoRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFEugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFJarlinson Pantano (Col) Trek-SegafredoRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFCyrus Monk (Aus) Drapac Pat's Veg Holistic Development TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFTom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFFrançois Bidard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFBen Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFKarl Patrick Lauk (Est) Astana Pro TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFMoreno Moser (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFDario Puccioni (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFMichele Gazzara (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFPaolo Toto (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFNiccolo Salvietti (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFCristian Scarroni (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFDamiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Muller (Sui) BMC Racing TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFDylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFLoïc Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFYoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Bonnafond (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Degand (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFFabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFXandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFPavel Brutt (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFDmitriy Kozontchuk (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFArtem Nych (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFSergey Lagutin (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFIvan Rovny (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFNikolai Cherkasov (Rus) Gazprom - RusveloRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFEnrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Sterbini (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFLorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFMiguel Eduardo Florez (Col) Wilier TriestinaRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFCristian Rodriguez (Spa) Wilier TriestinaRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFEugert Zhupa (Alb) Wilier Triestina - Selle ItaliaRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Cattaneo (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Frapporti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Frapporti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Ballerini (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFIvan Ramiro Sosa (Col) Androni GiocattoliRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFNicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFGiacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFIuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFMarino Kobayashi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFHideto Nakane (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFFelix Großschartner (Aut) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFJan Hirt (Cze) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFLeszek Plucinski (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFMarcin Mrozek (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Schlegel (Cze) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFLuis Mas (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 159 - Cell 2
DNFDylan Page (Swi) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 160 - Cell 2
DNFEduard Prades (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 161 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Celano (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFGonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RgaRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFBesmir Banushi (Alb) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Mancini (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFUri Martins Sandoval (Mex) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFRedi Halilaj (Alb) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFAdriano Brogi (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Di Sante (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFRossano Mauti (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Pacchiardo (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Parrinello (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Rotondi (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Ruscetta (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFJoão Almeida (Por) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 176 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Molteni (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 177 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Ravanelli (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 178 - Cell 2
DNFDonovan Alonso Davila Cespedes (CRa) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 179 - Cell 2
DNFGerman Nicolas Tivani Perez (Arg) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 180 - Cell 2
DNFRiccardo Cenghialta (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 181 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Viel (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 182 - Cell 2
DNSZahiri Abderrahim (Mar) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 183 - Cell 2

 

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews