Giro di Sicilia: Stacchiotti wins opening sprint

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Riccardo Stacchiotti of the Giotti Victoria-Palomar Continental team won the opening stage of the Giro di Sicilia in a high-speed sprint and so pulled on the first and yellow leader’s jersey.

UAE Team Emirates tried to lead out for their young sprinter Juan Sebastián Molano but he was passed by Belletti and then Stacchiotti in the final 200 metres.

Luca Pacioni (Neri Sottoli) was third, Sergey Shilov (Gazprom) fourth, with Molano finished fifth.

It was Stacchiotti’s third professional win after taking two stages at the 2018 Volta a Portugal.

The 165km stage was shaped by a six-rider breakaway, with Krister Hagen (Riwal Readynez) the last to be caught 16km from the finish.

Rally Cycling and then Androni Giocattoli led the peloton on the fast descent to the finish in Milazzo but Stacchiotti emerged to take the win.

Thursday’s second stage offers a long 236km in the saddle between Capo d'Orlando and Palermo.

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