Pozzato claims Coppa Agostoni victory
Italian beats Ponzi and Zamparella in sprint
Filippo Pozzato (Lampre-Merida) claimed victory at the Coppa Agostoni, the opening race of the Trittico Lombardo, with a well-timed sprint in Lissone. The Italian saw off the challenge of Simone Ponzi (Astana) and Marco Zamparella (Utensilnord) to claim his second victory of the season.
“It was about time,” said Pozzato, who won the Trofeo Laigueglia in February but then fell well short of expectations in the spring classics. “I messed up the spring completely, but for the past two months I’ve been working very well.”
Traffic tailbacks in Monza meant that the start of the race was delayed by some 45 minutes and the race distance was reduced by 29 kilometres in order to maintain the original finishing schedule. The day’s early break featured Irish champion Matt Brammeier (Champion System), Nicola Dal Santo (Ceramica Flaminia), Alberto Cecchin (Nippo-De Rosa), Tim Mertens (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka), who built up a maximum advantage of four minutes before the three WorldTour teams in the race – Lampre, Astana and Katusha – began chasing in earnest.
They would be swept up on the finishing circuit, however, as the impressive Fabio Aru (Astana) sprang into action with a fierce acceleration on the climb of Colle Brianza with 47km to go. The young Sardinian was again on the offensive on the Giovenzana, ultimately helping to form an eight-man group on the front that also featured Davide Rebellin (CCC Polsat), Davide Mucelli, Ivan Rovny (Ceramica Flaminia), Kritjian Durasek (Lampre-Merida), Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox), Patrick Facchini (Androni-Venezuela) and Patrik Sinkewitz (Meridiana).
Aru’s fireworks were not quite finished, however, and the 23-year-old delivered another smart attack on the final climb of the Lissolo, punching his way clear of his fellow escapees. With 27km still to race, however, he quickly realised that it was impossible to stay clear alone and he duly waited for his breakaway companions on the technical descent.
At that point, it appeared as though the eight leaders would dispute the win as they held an advantage of almost two minutes over the main peloton, but a concerted chase from Vini Fantini-Selle Italia and Lampre-Merida helped to bring the gruppo back into contention on the approach to the finish.
With four kilometres remaining, the gap was down to just ten seconds, and while Facchini and Mucelli put up fierce resistance as far as the red kite, the race ultimately came down to a sprint finish, where Pozzato emerged to take the win and – perhaps – make a case for a spot on the Italian national team at the world championships in Florence. “I’m certainly interested, but Paolo Bettini will decide,” he said.
The Trittico Lombardo, the trio of races in Lombardy that has traditionally served as an important stepping stone towards the Worlds, continues on Thursday with the Coppa Bernocchi at Legnano, before the Tre Valli Varesine on Friday.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 4:58:15 |
2 | Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Marco Zamparella (Ita) Utensilnord Ora24.eu | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Ivan Rovny (Rus) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Angelo Pagani (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Davide Mucelli (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Katusha | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Team Europcar | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Riccardo Chiarini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Fabio Taborre (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Julian David Arredondo Moreno (Col) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Sergey Firsanov (Rus) RusVelo | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Mauro Finetto (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Jan Hirt (Cze) Leopard Trek Continental Team | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Meridiana Kamen Team | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Sojasun | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Patrick Facchini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team | 0:00:19 |
24 | Francesco Failli (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida | 0:00:26 |
26 | Elia Favilli (Ita) Lampre-Merida | 0:01:00 |
27 | Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Colombia | 0:03:30 |
28 | Alessandro Proni (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Robbie Squire (USA) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) RusVelo | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Gianfranco Zilioli (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Emanuel Kiserlovski (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Utensilnord Ora24.eu | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Tim Mertens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise | 0:03:32 |
39 | Alexander Vdovin (Rus) Russian Federation | 0:05:59 |
40 | Sergey Shilov (Rus) Lokosphinx | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Mikhail Antonov (Rus) Lokosphinx | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Aleksey Rybalrin (Rus) Russian Federation | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Jan Polanc (Slo) Radenska | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Alessio Camilli (Ita) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Leonardo Pinizzotto (Ita) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Dalivier Ospina Navarro (Col) Colombia | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Arthur Vanoverberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Brice Feillu (Fra) Sojasun | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Hideto Nakane (Jpn) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Petr Ignatenko (Rus) Katusha | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Fabien Schmidt (Fra) Sojasun | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Julien El Fares (Fra) Sojasun | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Ferekalsi Debesay Abrha (Eri) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Duber Armando Quintero Artunduaga (Col) Colombia | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Alexander Foliforov (Rus) Helicopters | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Eugeny Shalunov (Rus) Russian Federation | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Federico Rocchetti (Ita) Utensilnord Ora24.eu | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Antonio Santoro (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Andrea Zordan (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | 0:07:18 |
72 | Matteo Fedi (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | 0:07:53 |
73 | Etienne Tortelier (Fra) Sojasun | 0:12:58 |
74 | Juan Pablo Valencia (Col) Colombia | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Nicola Dal Santo (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Jérémie Galland (Fra) Sojasun | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Arkimedes Arguelyes Rodriges (Rus) Lokosphinx | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Matteo Di Serafino (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Sergey Vdovin (Rus) Russian Federation | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Andrea Fedi (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Alfredo Balloni (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Andrea Manfredi (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Fondriest | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Viktor Manakov (Rus) RusVelo | 0:16:07 |
88 | Alexander Serov (Rus) RusVelo | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Sergey Chernetski (Rus) Katusha | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Simone Masciarelli (Ita) Utensilnord Ora24.eu | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Yonathan Monsalve (Ven) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Tsgabu Gebremaryam Grmay (Eth) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Josef Cerny (Cze) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | Dion Smith (NZl) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
100 | Youcef Reguigui (Alg) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
101 | Alberto Cecchin (Ita) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | David Lelay (Fra) Sojasun | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
103 | Jim Songezo (RSA) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Volodymyr Starchyk (Ukr) Amore & Vita | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
105 | Eugenio Alafaci (Ita) Leopard Trek Continental Team | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Alex Kirsch (Lux) Leopard Trek Continental Team | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
107 | Sacha Modolo (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
108 | Tom Thill (Lux) Leopard Trek Continental Team | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Pit Schlechter (Lux) Leopard Trek Continental Team | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Marco Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
111 | Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
112 | Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
113 | Jang Chan Jae (Kor) Champion System Pro Cycling Team 16',22" | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
114 | Wilson Alexander Marentes Torres (Col) Colombia | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
115 | Meron Russom (Eri) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
116 | Bradley Potgieter (RSA) MTN-Qhubeka | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
117 | Antonio Testa (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
118 | Alexander Mironov (Rus) RusVelo | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
119 | Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
120 | Mikhall Ignatiev (Rus) Katusha | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
121 | Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Astana Pro Team | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
122 | Timofey Kritskiy (Rus) Katusha | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
123 | Mateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
124 | Sander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise 19',43" | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
125 | Maxwell Stuart Durtshi (USA) Leopard Trek Continental Team | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
126 | Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
127 | Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team Europcar | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
128 | Daniel Klemme (Ger) Leopard Trek Continental Team | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Matthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Dmitry Sokolov (Rus) Lokosphinx | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
AB | Davide Vigano (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
AB | Luca Wackermann (Ita) Lampre-Merida | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
AB | Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
AB | Carlos Julian Quintero (Col) Colombia | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
AB | Jeffry Johan Romero Corredor (Col) Colombia | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
AB | Bartolomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
AB | Mateusz Novak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
AB | Mikhail Akimov (Rus) Helicopters | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
AB | Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Sojasun | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
AB | Gennady Tatarinov (Rus) RusVelo | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
AB | Mart Ojavee (Est) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 140 - Cell 2 |
AB | Matt Brammeier (Irl) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
AB | Gregor Gazvoda (Slo) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 142 - Cell 2 |
AB | Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 143 - Cell 2 |
AB | Muhamad Adiq Husainie Othman (Mas) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
AB | Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
AB | Kin San Wu (HKg) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
AB | Zico Waeytens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
AB | Simone Campagnaro (Ita) Team Nippo-De Rosa | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
AB | Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) Utensilnord Ora24.eu | Row 149 - Cell 2 |
AB | Anton Mikailov (Isr) Amore & Vita | Row 150 - Cell 2 |
AB | Battista, Antonio Di (Ita) Amore & Vita | Row 151 - Cell 2 |
AB | Daniel Holloway (USA) Amore & Vita | Row 152 - Cell 2 |
AB | Alessandro Mazzi (Ita) Utensilnord Ora24.eu | Row 153 - Cell 2 |
AB | Niv Libner (Isr) Amore & Vita | Row 154 - Cell 2 |
AB | Viesturs Lukesevics (Lat) Amore & Vita | Row 155 - Cell 2 |
AB | Marco Zanotti (Ita) Utensilnord Ora24.eu | Row 156 - Cell 2 |
AB | Eugenio Bani (Ita) Amore & Vita | Row 157 - Cell 2 |
AB | Enrico Rossi (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team | Row 158 - Cell 2 |
AB | Massimo Demarin (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team | Row 159 - Cell 2 |
AB | Alberto Di Lorenzo (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team | Row 160 - Cell 2 |
AB | Luka Grubic (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team | Row 161 - Cell 2 |
AB | Pavel Ptashkin (Rus) Lokosphinx | Row 162 - Cell 2 |
AB | Endi Sirol (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team | 0:19:43 |
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Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.
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