Andrea Bagioli is our top finisher Saturday afternoon.
The season’s fifth World Tour event, Strade Bianche comprised once again eleven “sterrati” – Tuscany’s famous gravel roads – the salt and pepper of the 184km race, which delivered in terms of spectacle and excitement from the opening kilometer all the way to Piazza del Campo, where this eventful 17th edition concluded.
In the first part of the race, Soudal Quick-Step took the front of the peloton, controlling the gap of the three escapees with Davide Ballerini, Casper Pedersen and Pieter Serry. Then, when the first big moves came on the longest white roads sector of the race, Andrea Bagioli was quick to react, joining a dangerous move which in an instant put 20 seconds into the bunch. But things changed at a frantic pace, and the young Italian found himself chasing Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) by the time they exited Monte Sante Marie, part of another group, from where five riders attacked and went clear
Around 20 kilometers from home, Bagioli’s group was joined by what was left of the peloton, including Julian, but despite having the numbers they couldn’t make any inroads into the leader’s gap, which was well over a minute at that point of the race. In the end, the Brit took the victory, while Andrea finished as our best-placed rider.
“I am disappointed, because my goal at the start of the race was to do a good race and fight for a nice result, if possible. But it turned out it wasn’t my day, as I felt a bit empty with 50 kilometers to go and lacked the power to follow. It’s not the result we came here for, but we are motivated to bounce back in the next race”, said the young Italian.
“The team worked perfectly today, and I got a lot of support from the guys, who kept me out of the wind and well positioned. I felt good and this gave me confidence, but then we arrived on Monte Sante Marie, and I immediately felt that it wasn’t going to be my day. For Strade Bianche you need diamond legs and I didn’t have them. It’s a pity, because I love this race and would have liked to do something and repay the team for their effort”, Julian added.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
