Fabio Felline wins the Trofeo Laigueglia

Fabio Felline, riding for the Italian national squad, produced a powerful attack on the final climb of the Trofeo Laigueglia to take his first win of 2017 in his first race of the season.

Romain Hardy (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) finished 25 seconds behind Felline, thinking he had won the early-season Italian race after rubbing shoulders with Mauro Finetto (Delko Marseille), who was third, as a small group of riders sprinted for the placings behind Felline.

Felline had just returned from an altitude training camp with Trek-Segafredo team leader Alberto Contador and was happy to finally land a win after a difficult 2016 season. He will race with Contador at the Ruta del Sol that begins on Wednesday.

Last spring Felline suffered serious injuries to his nose and face after crashing in the neutralised section of the Amstel Gold Race while touching the quick release lever of his front wheel. His career could have been compromised, but he worked hard to recover quickly. He rode well at the Vuelta a Espana but failed to land a stage victory.

"It was emotional to finish like that," he said. "I've been chasing a win since last year. I had a good end of season after my comeback but never managed to win.

"On the final climb I was waiting for someone to attack, but no one did so I decided to go. When I looked behind me, no one was on my wheel, and so I went à bloc.

"I knew that if I was à bloc then they would also be à bloc behind me. I was told I had 20 seconds when I arrived to the final flat kilometres. I think it was 30 seconds, or 25 at the finish, but it doesn't matter; what matters is to get the win.

"It has been more than a year since I have won a race, and for me my goal for 2017 was to win again. To do it in my very first race gives me a lot of moral for the rest of the season."

A hard day out and selective race

The Trofeo Laigueglia was created as the first race on the Italian calendar over 50 years ago. It has lost its prestige and importance in recent years but is now part of the revitalised Ciclismo Cup series in Italy and attracted a strong field due to the absence of the Tour of Qatar.

The hilly route along the rolling Ligurian coast and hills makes for a hard day out and selective race.

After a series of attacks, four riders got away after a fast opening 30km. Davide Orrico (Sangemini-MGKVis), Remy Di Gregorio (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), Antonio Di Sante (GM Europa Ovini) and Conor Dunne (Aqua Blue Sport) were the four in the move and soon opened a three-minute gap, as Di Gregorio went on to win the climber's competition.

However, the peloton never let them get too far ahead, with FDJ and AG2R La Mondiale leading the chase for long spells. The four were eventually reeled in after 100km of freedom. The finishing circuit covered the Colli Micheri climb three times and inspired an attack from Mauro Finetto (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), Jan Polanc (UAE Abu Dhabi), Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli), Alexandre Geniez (AG2R La Mondiale) and Quentin Pacher (Delko Marseille Provence KTM). It was a good move but they were also pulled back with 14km to go.

Soon after as the road twisted inland on the Colli Micheri climb, Felline made his move and quickly got a gap as others hesitated to commit. A group of 10 riders eventually formed to mount a chase but they were hesitant, and Felline's Italian teammate Matteo Trentin did his utmost to slow the chase and make sure the others knew he was ready to attack or sprint if Felline was pulled back.

Felline rarely looked back as he powered towards the finish. He made it over the Capo Mele climb that is covered in Milan-San Remo and then dived down to the finish in Laigueglia to celebrate alone.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Fabio Felline (Ita) Italy4:54:01
2Romain Hardy (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:00:25
3Mauro Finetto (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 2 - Cell 2
4Matteo Trentin (Ita) ItalyRow 3 - Cell 2
5Cyril Gautier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 4 - Cell 2
6Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 5 - Cell 2
7Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJRow 6 - Cell 2
8Matej Mohoric (Slo) Team UAE Abu DhabiRow 7 - Cell 2
9Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 8 - Cell 2
10Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:00:29
11Marco Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli0:00:35
12Alexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:19
13Ivan Rovny (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 12 - Cell 2
14Erwann Corbel (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 13 - Cell 2
15Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 14 - Cell 2
16Maxime Vantomme (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 15 - Cell 2
17Quentin Pacher (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 16 - Cell 2
18Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 17 - Cell 2
19Jan Polanc (Slo) Team UAE Abu Dhabi0:01:46
20Mikel Aristi (Spa) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:02:08
21Kevyn Ista (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect0:02:22
22Andrey Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team0:02:42
23Nicola Bagioli (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 22 - Cell 2
24Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli0:02:43
25Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) FDJRow 24 - Cell 2
26Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 25 - Cell 2
27Torres Rodolfo (Col) Androni Giocattoli0:02:54
28Quentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:15
29Iuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 28 - Cell 2
30Sebastian Schönberger (Aut) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Ryan Anderson (Can) Direct EnergieRow 30 - Cell 2
32Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 31 - Cell 2
33Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 32 - Cell 2
34Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Pavel Brutt (Rus) Gazprom – Rusvelo0:03:41
36Lawrence Naesen (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect0:04:29
37Diego Ulissi (Ita) Team UAE Abu Dhabi0:04:38
38Paolo Totò (Ita) Sangemini - MG.KvisRow 37 - Cell 2
39Valerio Conti (Ita) Team UAE Abu DhabiRow 38 - Cell 2
40Matti Breschel (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Alex Kirsch (Lux) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 40 - Cell 2
42Matteo Busato (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 41 - Cell 2
43Marco Zamparella (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 42 - Cell 2
44Remy Di Gregorio (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:08:02
45Marco Bernardinetti (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 44 - Cell 2
46Cristian Rodriguez (Spa) Wilier Triestina0:09:07
47Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 46 - Cell 2
48Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 47 - Cell 2
49Antonio Parrinello (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 48 - Cell 2
50Michele Gazzara (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 49 - Cell 2
51Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 50 - Cell 2
52Benjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling Academy0:10:12
53Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo NordiskRow 52 - Cell 2
54Alex Turrin (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 53 - Cell 2
55Ilia Koshevoy (Blr) Wilier TriestinaRow 54 - Cell 2
56Nicloa Genovese (ita) D'Amico UtensilnordRow 55 - Cell 2
57Nicola Gaffurini (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 56 - Cell 2
58Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 57 - Cell 2
59Davide Ballerini (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 58 - Cell 2
60Ettore Carlini (Ita) D'Amico UtensilnordRow 59 - Cell 2
61Andrea Cacciotti (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 60 - Cell 2
62Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 61 - Cell 2
63Andrei Solomennikov (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 62 - Cell 2
64Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 63 - Cell 2
65Antoine Warnier (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 64 - Cell 2
66Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 65 - Cell 2
67Brice Feillu (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 66 - Cell 2
68Alessio Taliani (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 67 - Cell 2
69Cedric Pineau (Fra) FDJRow 68 - Cell 2
70Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 69 - Cell 2
71Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 70 - Cell 2
72Justin Jules (Fra) WB Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 71 - Cell 2
73Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 72 - Cell 2
74Arnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 74 - Cell 2
76Luca Wackermann (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 75 - Cell 2
77Davide Pacchiardo (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 76 - Cell 2
78Ivan Savitckii (Rus) Gazprom – Rusvelo0:11:38
DNSHamish Schreurs (NZl) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFJulen Amezqueta (Spa) Wilier TriestinaRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFYonder Godoy (Ven) Wilier TriestinaRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFJacopo Mosca (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFFilippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFZhandos Bizhigitov (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFRiccardo Minali (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFMoreno Moser (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFRuslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Cimolai (Ita) FDJRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFMatthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFLorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFLéo Vincent (Fra) FDJRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFKristijan Durasek (Cro) Team UAE Abu DhabiRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Mori (Ita) Team UAE Abu DhabiRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Petilli (Ita) Team UAE Abu DhabiRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFEdward Ravasi (Ita) Team UAE Abu DhabiRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFAlberto Bettiol (Ita) ItalyRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFSeid Lizde (Ita) ItalyRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFTommaso Fiaschi (Ita) ItalyRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFMassimo Rosa (Ita) ItalyRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFGiovanni Carboni (Ita) ItalyRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Romano (Ita) ItalyRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFIldar Arslanov (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFArtem Nych (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFAnton Vorobyev (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFAydar Zakarin (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Martinez (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFMasakazu Ito (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFMarino Kobayashi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFYuma Koishi (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFHideto Nakane (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFRiccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Bouet (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFArmindo Fonseca (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFConor Dunne (Irl) Aqua Blue SportRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFAaron Gate (NZl) Aqua Blue SportRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Koning (Ned) Aqua Blue SportRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFMichel Kreder (Ned) Aqua Blue SportRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFLars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Aqua Blue SportRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFCalvin Watson (Aus) Aqua Blue SportRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFLudwig De Winter (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFKrists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFLuis Lemus (Mex) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFMihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Goldstein (Isr) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Turek (Cze) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFTyler Williams (USA) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFFabien Grellier (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFTony Hurel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Voeckler (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFAlessandro Tonelli (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo NordiskRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Gioux (Fra) Team Novo NordiskRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFBrian Kamstra (Ned) Team Novo NordiskRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Lozano (Spa) Team Novo NordiskRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFJavier Megias (Spa) Team Novo NordiskRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFCharles Planet (Fra) Team Novo NordiskRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFHendrikus Van Ijzendoorn (Ned) Team Novo NordiskRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFZahiri Abderrahim (Mar) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 143 - Cell 2
DNFJoão Almeida (Por) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 144 - Cell 2
DNFStanimir Cholakov (Bul) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 145 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Molteni (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 146 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Ravanelli (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 147 - Cell 2
DNFSergio Vega Merodio (Spa) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 148 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Viel (Ita) Unieuro Trevigiani - Hemus 1896Row 149 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Celano (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFMikel Elorza Pagaldai (Spa) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFPierpaolo Ficara (Ita) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFRedi Halilaj (Alb) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Galarreta Ugarte (Spa) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFJosep Miralles Rigo (Spa) Amore & Vita - Selle SMP p/b FondriestRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFAdriano Brogi (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Tizza (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFSebastian Lander (Den) GM Europa OviniRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Rotondi (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Ruscetta (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Di Sante (Ita) GM Europa OviniRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Bernardini (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFAlessandro Marinozzi (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Orrico (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFNiccolo Salvetti (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFPaolo Pradndini (Ita) Sangemini - Mg. K VisRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Brkic (Aut) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFFilippo Fortin (Ita) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Wachter (Aut) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Gamper (Aut) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Krizek (Aut) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFMaximilian Kuen (Aut) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFEnrico Salvador (Ita) Tirol Cycling TeamRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFSamuele Simoncini (Fra) D'Amico UtensilnordRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFMarcello Merlino (Fra) D'Amico UtensilnordRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFFrancisco Petrini (Fra) D'Amico UtensilnordRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFAngelo Raffaele (Fra) D'Amico UtensilnordRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Samparsi (Fra) D'Amico UtensilnordRow 178 - Cell 2

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Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.

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