Our rider is the new leader of the youth classification ahead of the final day.
Andrea Raccagni is on the verge of scoring his best World Tour result since turning pro one year ago. The Italian, who made his debut for the team at the Tour Down Under, is back in Australia and has been enjoying a great week so far. On Saturday, he took his first top ten of the season, but more importantly, went straight to the top of the white jersey standings after nabbing three vital bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint in Aldinga Beach.
Due to the extreme temperatures, the organisers modified the parcours of stage four, which meant a shortened course, no more Willunga Hill on the menu and a new finish. Instead of being the decisive day for the general classification, it ended up giving the sprinters another opportunity at the season’s first World Tour race, and Andrea finished ninth behind winner Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling Team).
But before getting himself in the mix at the finish in Willunga, the 22-year-old from Genova was perfectly launched by his Soudal Quick-Step teammates – who made sure of bringing the breakaway back just in time for the intermediate sprint – and took the bonus seconds that elevated him two positions in the general classification. It was a fine move from The Wolfpack, one thanks to which Raccagni is now just three seconds from the top five overall going into the final stage of the event.
Photo credit: ©Con Chronis / Getty Images
