At the end of the final sprint Nicolas Marini achieved the 2nd position in Astana Criterium, race dedicated to the memory of Michele Scarponi.
Riccardo Stacchioti wins two of the four intermediate sprint, reaching the 1st place in the points ranking.
12 August 2017, Astana EXPO International Criterium.
An #OrangeBlue podium in the International Criterium in Astana. NIPPO Vini Fantini team face the race, dedicated to the memory of Michele Scarponi, with strong motivation to obtain important results. To go very close to the victory was the sprinter Nicolas Marini, who closed the final sprint in 2nd position behind Ed Clncy. Great race for Riccardo Stacchiotti, the winner of the points ranking and necessary for final sprint, and Nicola Bagioli who helps Riccardo Stacchiotti in the intermediate sprint and Nicolas Marini to achieve the 2nd final place.
THE RACE
It is with a 1,5 kilometres circuit based on Kazakistan capital that the Astana team wants to pay tribute to Michele Scarponi. Several important riders partecipated in this race, including Chris Froome and Fabio Aru, the protagonists in the last Tour de France.Riccardo Stacchiotti, Nicolas Marini and Nicola Bagioli are the #OrangeBlue riders designed for this race with the goal to win intermediate sprints and fight for the final ranking. Riccardo Stacchiotti, aided by the important work of Nicola Bagioli, won 2 of the 4 intermediate sprint, achieving the key points necessary to close at the 1st place in final points ranking. The race ended with a final sprint. Thanks to the work done byNicola Bagioli and Riccardo Stacchiotti, the sprinter Nicolas Marini took the sprint in a good position and close the race on 2nd place behind Ed Clancy.
THE RIDERS
Riccardo Stacchiotti is satisfied for the results achieved on this race: “I’m satisfied for this race, in terms of results and strategy. We worked well to give the possibilities to Nicolas Marini to be in the good position for the final sprint. I’m little regretted for his second place, he deserved to win.”
Nicolas Marini comments with these words the final kilometres of the race: “I want to say thank to my teammate Riccardo Stacchiotti and Nicola Bagioli for the great job that they done. I did a good sprint, but the Ed Clancy action on the final kilometre give him the possibilities to achieve advantage and finally won the stage.”
STAGE RANKING
1 Edward Clancy
2 Nicolas Marini
3 Scott Sunderland
4 Steele Von Hoff
5 Maris Bogdanovis
POINTS CLASSIFICATION
1 Riccardo Stacchiotti
2 Maris Bogdanovis
3 Chris Froome