The 26-year-old Italian is on the verge of triumphing in a stage race for the fourth time in his career.
Filippo Zana leads the Giro di Sardegna with one stage to go after powering to his maiden victory since joining the team, at the end of a perfect day for Soudal Quick-Step, who controlled things from start to finish.
The course contained no fewer than five ascents, four of which were classified, and accumulated over 3000 meters of climbing, and the Wolfpack produced a dazzling team performance, constantly increasing the tempo and applying pressure on the peloton to the point they managed to reduce it to 30-odd riders. Both Gianmarco Garofoli and Filippo Zana launched their moves from the distance, further reducing the main group, which on the slopes of Su Pradu numbered just 15 men, including Louis Vervaeke, who in the meantime had joined his teammates.
The two Italians continued to rely on the old 1-2, trading attacks until the last ten kilometers, when on a short descent, Filippo finally zipped clear and quickly put some daylight between him and the chasers. That gap soon ballooned to more than half a minute, making the final kilometer a triumphal one for the former Italian Champion, who had plenty of time to celebrate a victory that put him in the leader’s jersey. Behind, Vervaeke took third, followed by Garofoli, who thanks to this effort will go into the last day of the race sitting in second overall.
“Today we did an amazing job and I’m delighted I could finish it off for the team. We controlled the stage, went full gas on the climbs, and constantly pushed and attacked to force a selection. On the descent, I made my move, got a gap and kept the rhythm all the way to the line, while Louis and Gianmarco shut down attacks behind. I’m happy with this success and with having the overall jersey, which we’ll try to defend on Sunday”, said Filippo – who also leads the points classification – after the sixth victory of his career.
Photo credit: ©Sprint Cycling Agency
