Ulissi nearly reaches GP Lugano podium

Diego Ulissi stopped just shy of a podium place today in the GP Lugano, a race of 185.6 kilometres over eight circuits. The Italian finished fourth behind Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain-Merida).

Pernsteiner made the escape midway in the race with Kristian Sbaragli. They gained enough time to make it to the last lap and hold off the group, with the former mountain bike taking the honours over Sbaragli.

Ulissi arrived to the line at the head of the chase group at 1-40 minutes back. In the fight for the podium spot, Enrico Gasparotto anticipated with an attack. UAE Team Emirates’s Filippo Ganna placed 28th.

“I did everything possible to take on the numerical advantage of Team Bahrain-Merida. Pernsteiner made a good move and proved to have strong legs to win,” Ulissi said. “I felt brilliant today, and that’s over a course that had 4000 metres of climbing.”

Results:
1- Hermann Pernsteiner (Bahrain-Merida) 4h53’05”
2- Kristian Sbaragli (Israel Cycling Academy) 32″
3- Enrico Gasparotto (Bahrain-Merida) 1’33”
4- Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 1’40”