Another strong result for the 21-year-old Italian neo-pro.
Created in 1946 and won by the likes of Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck or Francesco Moser, Coppa Agostoni ran on Sunday its 78th edition. The 166.7km course consisted of several laps of a circuit featuring three climbs: Sirtori (1.5km, 4.9%), Colle Brianza (3.8km, 6%) and Lissolo (5.4km, 4.3%). Usually, the peloton has a chance of regrouping here as the last hill comes with 36 kilometers to go, but this year it wasn’t the case.
Sunday was one of those rare cases where the victory came from a breakaway which initially numbered 18 men, including Soudal Quick-Step’s Mauri Vansevenant. Around 60 kilometers from home, two of the escapees pulled clear of the rest and built a substantial lead while behind their former companions were being joined by a couple of riders from the peloton, including Andrea Raccagni.
An attack of Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) inside 30 kilometers to go concluded with the Brit’s solo victory, while the large group arrived a few minutes later and fought for the other places in the top ten. Raccagni once again impressed, showing his speed at the end of a hard race and taking seventh – his eighth top ten result of what has been a solid and consistent first season in the pro ranks.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
