Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) added another one-day race victory to his palmarès at the Coppa Sabatini, soloing home from 37km out at the hilly Italian semi-Classic.
The Swiss rider scored his fourth race win in a row and the 20th of his career after going clear over the closing circuit hill of the Via Mazzini in Peccioli (1.4km at 5.8%) after 160km of racing, leaving the peloton behind and pulling out a gap over half a minute on the run to the finish line.
Gregor Mühlberger (Movistar) scored second place from the sprint in the chasing group 28 seconds back, while Anders Foldager (Jayco-AlUla) took third place.
“I knew the race, I knew it was demanding and I wanted to try this move from afar. I found myself alone in front and I pushed full throttle to prevent them from coming back from behind, I immediately managed to gain about 40 seconds and I managed to win," Hirschi said in a press release from race organisers.
"This is a victory that added to last Sunday’s in Larciano confirms my positive condition on the road to the World Championship in Zürich, at my home, in Switzerland."
Hirschi launched his bid for victory just as the day’s breakaway, formed in the early stages of the race, was being brought back. Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar), Carlos García Pierna (Kern Pharma), Davide Bais (Polti-Kometa), Alexandre Balmer (Corratec-Vini Fantini) were the men in question, with Balmer hanging on the longest as the Swiss rider pushed past to lead the race into the final kilometres.
Heading into the final lap of 12km, he enjoyed a 40-second lead over a chase group including Mühlberger, Foldager, Kristian Sbaragli (Corratec-Vini Fantini) and Axel Huens (TDT-Unibet), while the peloton lay 1:30 adrift.
With the result pretty much set already, those behind began to think about the podium fight, while up front Hirschi could enjoy his victory solo. Half a minute later, Mühlberger had the best legs in the sprint finish at the end of 197km of racing, delivering second place ahead of Foldager, Sbaragli, and Huens.
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
-
The most expensive bike light we've ever tested has just hit the lowest price we've ever seen – grab a huge £60 off the Exposure Strada Mk12 RS AKTIV
Our best overall front bike light comes with a whopping price tag to match its illuminating performance. It's got 18% off at Tweeks Cycles, a rarely seen reduction -
'It's unfortunately the nature of life in this sport' – Riders and staff left in uncertainty react amid announcement of Arkéa-B&B Hotels' imminent end
DS and riders react to news of French WorldTour team missing UCI registration deadline after failing to find new sponsor -
Deja vu? Jan-Willem van Schip booted from yet another race for UCI-illegal bike setup
Parkhotel Valkenburg set to appeal the ruling, with a decision due ahead of stage 2 -
'Starting from nothing and finding my own way' – Louis Meintjes reflects on 13 years of racing after waving goodbye at Il Lombardia
South African climber looks to life after racing which 'just didn't feel the same anymore'
