Formolo fights for top-5 at Coppa Agostoni

Davide Formolo had to overcome a flat tyre in the final of the Coppa Agostoni to come back to take 4th place in the 1-day classic on the hilly course starting and finishing in Lissone (193km).

Having been very active in the attacks to form the initial group, Formolo, clearly showing good condition, fought his way back to the leading group after a puncture forced him to stop inside -10km to go. The Italian bravely battled back and landed just outside the podium in the bunch gallop.

Sjoerd Bax (Alpecin-Deceuninck) sprinted home to victory from the nine rider group which formed at -40km to go containing Formolo, with Marc Hirchi and Diego Ulissi in the reduced peloton behind.

Formolo: “It was a really hard race with attacking all day. The plan was for me to follow the moves and I ended up in the winning break. At 9km to go I had a puncture and when I saw that they started to push on when I stopped I thought it was over. The effort to get back on was the hardest moment of the day.

In the end we arrived in a small bunch sprint but the legs were heavy and there were faster guys there. I would have liked more but the condition is good and it’s a positive sign for the races to come.”

On Saturday the racing continues in Italy with the Giro dell’Emilia.

Coppa Agostoni results:

1.Sjoerd Bax (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4:57:26
2.Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) s.t
3.Andrea Piccolo (Ef-Education First) s.t
4.Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) s.t