News | Tour of Guangxi • October 24, 2017
Guardini 4th in the sprint, Mohoric 6th in the final GC
Good performances from the Emirati team in the Chinese race
Andrea Guardini came just shy of the podium in the conclusive stage for the Tour of Guangxi (Guilin-Guilin, 168.1 km).
The Chinese race was the last event of the season for the world’s elite cycling series. In the group sprint that wrapped up the 2017 World Tour once and for all, the Italian sprinter from UAE Team Emirates took 4th place, behind the winner Gaviria, Bonifazio (2nd) and Groenewegen (3rd).
The Emirati formation was also pleased with Matej Mohoric placing 6th in the general classification, just 24” from the overall winner, Wellens.
These were Guardini’s impressions at the end of the stage: “All my team mates lent me tremendous support in preparation for the sprint; Mohoric was impeccable in putting me in the perfect position for the last turn. I made it into the final straight stretch in 6th place and in the sprint I passed a few athletes, achieving a satisfying result, considering the top notch sprinters who are here in China.”
Mohoric is pleased with his place in the final rankings: “The Tour of Guangxi was the last race I will ride in the UAE Team Emirates jersey; it was gratifying that I managed to obtain a good result, thanks also to the great help I received from the entire team. I consider the Chinese transfer a positive experience.”
DS Pedrazzini and his associate Vicino led UAE Team Emirates on this mission, and took stock of the Chinese race: “We can be satisfied, especially for Mohoric scoring sixth place in the general classification against a field of high class competitors. In five out of the six contested stages we made it into the top 10, which signals decent consistency, and today we came close to the podium with a fine sprint by Guardini”.
Stage 6 results
1 Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) 3h46’30”
2 Niccolò Bonifazio (Bahain-Merida) s.t.
3 Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) s.t.
4 Andrea Guardini (UAE TEam Emirates) s.t.
Final general classification
1 Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) 20h59’49”
2 Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) 6″
3 Nicolas Roche (BMC) 11″
6 Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates) 24″
