Malori successfully defends Italian time trial title

Adriano Malori (Movistar) won the time trial title at the Italian Road Championships held on Wednesday in Novara, Piedmont. He covered the 36.6km course in 44:13, to win the event by over a minute ahead of Moreno Moser (Cannondale-Garmin) and Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo). 

"Having put almost half a minute over the rest into that demanding section, he really had to feel strong", said Movistar's director José Luis Arrieta in a team press release.

Malori has had a strong season boasting four time trial wins, at the Tour de San Luis, Tirreno-Adriatico and Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire, and now at the championship. He was also recently fourth in the closing time trial at the Tour de Suisse. He will now focus on adding a fifth time trial win to his palmares at the opening time trial at the Tour de France in Utrecht.

"It was quite a technical course, with lots of turns, climbing... it wasn't easy at all. Fortunately, I felt really great, stronger than in the Tour de Suisse, and as there were many descents between the climbs, I was able to give my everything from the very start.

"Now it's time to start thinking about next Saturday: the competition will be quite stronger, it'll be a difficult day for me... but I feel strong and motivated. There's not much work to go: some specific training on the TT bike, with short, fast sessions... from a physical point of view, I'm ready for the Tour."

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