A good week-end for the young Italian riders of the NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini team. In the Italian race the 22 years old Nicola Bagioli made a great race closing in final 4th position the Trofeo Laigueglia, very close to his possible first podium of the career. In France a final 7th place of the young neo-pro Damiano Cima that closed the Tour La Provence with a good sprint.
A good Sunday gives great satisfactions to the NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini team, especially looking forward to the future of the team with 2 good placements reached by to of the young riders of the Italian-Japanese roster. In the first race of the Italian calendar of the Ciclismo Cup a brilliant race of Nicola Bagioli that closed with a final 4th position with a photo-finish final very close to the possible first podium of his career.
LAIGUEGLIA TROPHY.
The first Italian race of the season gives emotions to all the public since the first climb of Colla Micheri. After many changes at the top of the race, during the last lap a very good solo breakaway of Moreno Moser on the 10 followers makes the difference. Behind him only Nicola Bagioli and Gavazzi at the top of Colla Micheri, but then the other 8 competitors caught them closing with a final sprint behind the solo victory of Moreno Moser with the jersey of the National Selection.
On the finish line Nicola Bagioli made very good things, but he is not lucky. Very close to the second and third place he reached the final 4th position, the best results of his career, that could be a podium with few cm more of advantage.
“Moser made a very good breakaway” says Nicola Bagioli after the finish-line “I tried to stay behind him but I was alone between him and the group. So I waited for Gavazzi to save energies and then we have been caught by some of the other riders closing with a final strong sprint. Bust have more experience than me I was sure to be second in the sprint (final third) but he appears in the very final meter. I will try again to reach a podium and a victory.”
TOUR LA PROVENCE.
The NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini conclude with a top10 also in France in the Tour La Provence, with a good 7th place of the young neo-pro Damiano Cima. Eduard Grosu, after the good second place in the first stage was expected to be the sprinter of the team but he was not feeling good during the stage so it was time for Damiano Cima to be there and try his first sprint among PROs closing with a good final 7th.
LAIGUEGLIA FINAL RANKING:
1 MOSER Moreno – Italia
2 TOTÒ Paolo – Sangemini – MG.Kvis
3 BUSATO Matteo – Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia
4 BAGIOLI Nicola – NPPO – Vini Fantini – Europa Ovini
5 GAVAZZI Francesco – Androni – Sidermec – Bottecchia
CLASSIFICA 3rd stage LA PROVENCE:
1 LAPORTE Christophe – Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
2 BARBIER Pierre Roubaix Lille Métropole
3 VAN GENECHTEN Jonas Vital Concept Cycling Club
4 DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale
5 FEILLU Romain St Michel – Auber93
6 LEVEAU Jeremy Delko Marseille Provence KTM
7 CIMA Damiano NIPPO – Vini Fantini – Europa Ovini
8 SARREAU Marc FDJ
9 HARDY Romain Fortuneo – Samsic
10 BARTHE Cyril Euskadi – Murias