Marco Canola “breaks the ice” and won the Volta Limburg Classic 2017: protagonist in a northern classic, beautiful ride on paved and conquered with authority and decision. “Very happy for me and for the team, now we want more”, here are the words of the winner.
EIJSDEN (Netherlands) – Marco Canola, 28, a win at #Giro2014, an adventure in America to grow, the return in Italy and a weight victory that breaks the ice. Its success swept away in a flash all the difficulties of the last period: nothing is worth the surprise of the morning, with 16 bikes stolen from the team, or the crash of the teamamate Ito Masakazu at Tour de Taiwanthat has precluded the team leadership Asian and secure podium in the General Classification. Nothing made him spent the winter working hard despite the ailments, thinking of Sanremo but dreaming of lifting the arms again to heaven in any goal, because when you’re a winner inside you feel it, you live it and run after you. Today Marco becomes the true Canola, winning, ready, sure. He brings his NIPPO Vini Fantini on the roof of a beautiful North race, the Volta Limburg Classic.
Marco Canola won the 2017 edition of the Volta Limburg with authority and the savoir faire of great northern rider: attacks when there are 60 km to the finish line, exhausting rivals, stays with Xandro Meuresse (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) and Nick van der Lijke ( Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij), is formed so that a trio located immediately the agreement. Canola, then, burning them in the sprint. A successful "liberating" for Canola and the NIPPO Vini Fantini that with determination has covered a full calendar and rich in World Tour events, dividing his time between Europe and Asia, because both calendars are major goals for this international project that sees the common goal #Tokyo2020.
THE RACE – It start strong the 44th edition of the Volta Limburg Classic which sees the first flight of the day the young #OrangeBlue Nicola Bagioli, attentive and present to the captains service. I resumed the fugitives is the talented Iuri Filosi to attack, the Trentino makes the difference and takes the lead with a squad of athletes, but soon kilometers in Training. At about 60 km from the finish Marco Canola is doing the forcing uphill and led the race brings, after a few kilometers within three runners and forms a quartet of strong athletes on the pass that found the agreement and want to try to get to Eijsden , where the finishing line together. In the final three kilometers they remain, they are the ones who play the 2017 edition victory.
Bravo also Filosi, who manages to get into the group of the 12 fugitives, just behind the strikers. In the final kilometers, try to anticipate breakaway companions with a great action, but is taken just before the finish line and closes out the top ten, in eleventh.
RUNNER – "This victory is undoubtedly a great satisfaction, not only for the personal meaning but also as it came," said Canola. "Today we were all very angry about what happened, so even very motivated. As a team we have moved very well. We knew that the arrival was tricky and that volatone could not be discounted. Bagioli before, De Negri, Stacchiotti and Filosi then, were exceptional. I knew the final so I took the last corner in the lead, I knew I was the fastest. I’m fine and I enjoy a very good condition, I wanted to prove myself, I did today".
THE DIRECTOR – Satisfied and with a tear of joy on your face even Sports Director Stefano Giuliani: "Winning is always a strong emotion, but today has a special flavor. After his luck, finally, we can raise his arms to the sky. Marco is a talent, now led in a perfect way race, a condition that allows him to also go fast in a non-simple path like this, topped off with continual breakaways. Today, moreover, I am pleased with the way he worked the team, I’m proud of them".
TEAM – "Marco is the prototype of Italian athlete ready to leap. Identikit perfect: 28 years, already winning, experienced abroad. The Professional teams have the burden – and merit – to launch young talents and bring victory to those who may have missed the street. Mark in the two years in America (he ran the UHC) has come a long and valuable experience but had not centered successes, yet in 2014 we all remember dominate the final sprint in the Tour of Italy, in the 13th stage (Fossano- Rivarolo Canavese)". These statements by Francesco Pelosi, who adds: "After the points jersey in Abu Dhabi, lost by a whisker, the Milano Sanremo where Marco made 20 ° but above them was sprinting with the best, we knew we could win and the team worked to ensure that give the maximum. We are also very happy with the growth of our other talents, from Grosu to Filosi that was there today, to protect his companion on the run. In short, an exceptional team that is growing, and will continue to be seen and to be talked about."
In the morning the team woke up with a sweet-sour taste: the goodness of the 2nd place of Alan Marangoni in the 1st stage of the Tour of Thailand, to the brink of victory and the sorrow of the stolen bike in Hotel. Now it closes the day with a smile and a positive balance: ensure you have still many, unique, sports days in which to triumph in #OrangeBlue.