Trofeo Laigueglia - Live coverage

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Nibali, Bernal, Pinot and Quintana in action at the Italian season opener

Buongiorno and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of the Trofeo Laigueglia.

As the Cyclingnews virtual blimp takes height, the riders are lined up and about to roll out of the start.

The riders awoke to this stunning sunrise and will race in warm, sunny weather.

This was the scene at the sign-on earlier.

The riders are in the 1.5 neutralised sector. We are about to start racing.  

The opening 26km head along the flat coast road but there have already been some attacks.

This is the moment the Italian officially started.

Crash! A number of riders in the gruppo go down but are quickly up and away.

180km to go

We have an attack of 11 riders. This could be the early move that shapes the race.

175km to go

The gruppo is almost 4:00 behind the attack, with Trek-Segafredo on the front to keep the 12 within distance.

150km to go

As we suspected, the Italian Giotti Victoria- Vini Due team didn't start this morning due to a COVID-19 case in the team.  

"I’m preparing myself 100 per cent to arrive well at the Giro, but obviously the others are preparing themselves to win too. I won’t be racing alone," said Bernal.

Nicolas Edet of Cofidis is first to the top of the Cima Paravenna climb. 

Here are Trek doing the hard work on the front of the peloton.

After 85km, the work by Trek has reduced the gap to 2:45.

100km to go

The time gap to the peloton in Laigueglia is 3:00. 

The peloton has come back together along the coast road but the Testico climb will soon hurt the legs once more.

This is the moment the race passes through the finish. 

The Testico climb is 7km and is often the point that shakes up the race.  Movistar are on the front of the peloton, perhaps preparing for a surge. 

Young Italian Davide Perisco is suffering in the Testico climb as Movistar ride tempo behind.   

Niccolo Salvietti of the Mg.k Vis team is also distanced. The break is down to ten riders.

The peloton is clearly faster than the break, passing the summit of the Testico just 2:40 back.  

70km to go

On the fast descent back to the coast the gap to the break has fallen below 2:00.

Perhaps realising the gap was coming down too fast too soon, the peloton has eased the chase. 

Edet has upped the pace on the Colla Micheri, there are just five riders left in the break. 

Behind Landa attacks from the peloton!

The descent is a real test of nerves for the riders and the escort motorbikes.

The riders now face the Capo Mele but in the opposite direction to when it is raced in Milan-San Remo.

The peloton has split on the descent, with 15 or so riders up front.

Bernal is in the front split.

Only Hollman, Bais and Edet are left up front from the break.

Ciccone attacked and Bernal jumped on him. Now Nibali goes after Landa. 

The Capo Mele is a gradual climb along the rolling coast but it hurts when ridden at 40km/h. 

After the fast descent to Laigueglia the road kicks up again on the Colla Micheri.  

Edet leads the trio as the peloton compacts behind them.  

Now Ineos and Trek have to decide their tactics as Ballerini takes charge on the front for Deceuninck. 

Edet looks strong as Arkea lead the peloton, no doubt working for Quintana. 

Over the top of the Colla Micheri, Edet goes clear alone.

30km to go

This is the view on the coast.

The race is about to come back together, the gap to the break is just 20 seconds.

Pello Bilbao is there for Bahrain.  

25km to go

Ineos take it on with Dunbar accelerating hard.

Clément Champoussin of AG2R accelerates. Knox is on him. 

Here comes Bernal!

Bernal blasts up and past them. Ciccone is trying to chase Bernal but he's pushing a huge gear.

There is a small group of chasers but the rest of the race is spread out down the climb.

Fiver riders are closing the gap to Bernal and Champoussin.

Back on the flat roads and Bernal and Champoussin are joined by Landa, Mollema and Ciccone.

Madouas is 50m of the back but the riders up front ease to study each other.  

Vansevenant is also there, as is Biniam Ghirmay of Delko. 

Everyone else is spread out down the road in pursuit.

15km to go

Ciccone rightly sits on Bernal's wheel. However here are some other talented riders in the attack he will need to watch.

Madouas tries to lead the chase but Mollema already has a lead of 20 seconds as he powers up the Capo Mele.  

Ciccone sits at the back as the other take turns to lead the chase but Mollema is extending his gap, even with a quick super tuck. 

Bernal attacks in pursuit of Mollema. 

Bernal is away and in pursuit of Mollema.

Bernal dances on the pedals but Champoussin going across to him. 

Landa is there too. 

Vansevenant is also close, as the other suffer slightly. 

Ciccone is trying to close the gap but Landa attacks to up the pace.

Mollema leads by just 15 seconds as they near the summit. 

Mollema seems to be pacing his huge effort. 

The chasers have to work together otherwise Mollema will stay away.

Champoussin and Landa have a slight gap on Bernal, Ciccone and Vansevenant.

Mollema lives in  nearby Monaco and so has perhaps trained on the race route and so knows the descent of the Colla Micheri. 

He leads by 18 seconds as the five chasers comeback together. 

Mollema dives over the rough roads and is on the flat. 

6km to go

Mollema is suffering on the Capo Mele but leads by 30 seconds.  

The five chasers have started to think about second place.

Vansevenant attacks and opens a gap on the other chasers.

But Mollema is on the way to victory. He begins the fast descent to Laigueglia with a leads of 30 seconds.

This is a huge solo effort from the Dutchman but it is about to pay off.

Trofeo Laigueglia 2021 - 58th Edition - Laigueglia - Laigueglia 202 km - 03/03/2021 - Bauke Mollema (NED - Trek - Segafredo) - photo Dario Belingheri/BettiniPhoto©2021

(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Mollema emerges from the tunnels and tucks low trying to find every bit of speed.

They ease off the speed behind, thinking of the sprint for second place.

Mollema also eases and punches the air as he rides to the finish line.

Mollema sits up, looks back, straightens his jersey and wins with one arm in the air!

It's a sprint for second place.

Ciccone kicks it off early but Bernal comes back to take second place.  

Bernal congratulates Mollema with a first punch exchange. Chapeau to the flying Dutchman. 

Here's Mollema.

Mauri Vansevenant finished third in the sprint, just behind Bernal.

This is the top ten: 

Here's Mollema on the attack.

Egan Bernal was perhaps the most aggressive rider of the race, attack several times and looking strong, despite revealing he still feels pain in  his back.

Mikel Landa was another rider to impress. He was making his season debut but made the decisive attack and finished sixth. 

Here's the shot of Mollema winning alone. 

Bagioli came off worse, suffering a cut near his eye.

This shows the sprint for second place and how much Bernal fought for it.

It was a superb day of racing at Laigueglia. The decision to move the traditional Italian season-opener meant the race attracted some of the best teams and riders, making for a more aggressive race. 

The sprint for second place was this close.

It was a great day of racing at Trofeo Laigueglia.

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