The fast men were denied on the second stage of the race.
Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali continued on Thursday with what should have been the sprinters’ biggest opportunity of the week. The peloton travelled from Lodi to Massalengo, over 158 kilometers – a course that contained three classified climbs, the last of which came with more than 50 kilometers remaining.
The peloton easily kept the breakaway in check and reduced their gap to just a handful of seconds inside the last 20 kilometers, when the group briefly fragmented. Max Schachmann was there for Soudal Quick-Step, but the action was a short-lived one, as the bunch came back under the forcing of the sprinters’ teams.
However, despite looking to be in control, they let a rider slip away in the closing kilometers, and the fast men had to sprint for second behind Filippo D’Aiuto (General Store-Essegibi-F.Lli Curia), who claimed the victory and the leader’s jersey. Martin Svrcek had a strong turn of legs in the finale and came home sixth, for his best result since the start of the season.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
