European Champion grabs the Giro del Belvedere in impressive fashion

Alexandr Riabushenko claimed a prestigious win in the 79th edition of the “Easter Monday Classic” surrounded by a great crowd. Aussie Hamilton and Italian Fabbro rounded out the podium

For the second consecutive year, a non-italian rider celebrates at the Giro del Belvedere, whose resounding success and massive prestige have been confirmed by the huge crowd surrounding the race. From the Swiss National Champion’s jersey, worn by Patrick Muller last year, to the European Champion’s jersey of Belarussian Alexandr Riabushenko, winner of the 79th “Easter Monday Classic” with a powerful sprint on the slightly sloping finish in Villa di Cordignano (Treviso, Northern Italy).

Behind Team Palazzago’s 21-year-old rider another of the big favourites, Lucas Hamilton (Australia National Team), second on the finish line. The Australian youngster inflamed the race in the last time on the Montaner climb together with Italian Matteo Fabbro (Cycling Team Friuli), who completed the day’s podium.

I dreamed of winning the Giro del Belvedere with the European Champion’s jersey – said the winner. – This is a prestigious race and I wanted to do well. In the early part of Montaner ascent, Hamilton and Fabbro were in front of me, then I recovered the gap in the second part of the climb and in the finale I controlled the situation in the downhill in view of the sprint”.

If the winner showed a great killer instinct, Hamilton and Fabbro exhibited a remarkable tenacity. In addition, the Italian rider was awarded as the most combative rider. “I knew to be the least explosive of the trio and I moved on the attack in the downhill – commented the Friulian rider – I’m very satisfied: I started the season with a bad fall during a training session, but in the last weeks I’m fighting with the best U23 riders in the World”.

After the early part of the race, characterized by high speed in the peloton, the riders inflamed the race in the two passages on the final circuit, including the Montaner climb and the Via delle Longhe hill. Seid Lizde’s attack broke the peloton in view of the last lap, where Fabbro and Hamilton launched a strong attempt, reached by Riabushenko in the Via delle Longhe hill. The trio faced together the last kilometers until the final straight and the impressive sprint of the European Champion.

Italian Daniel Savini (Maltinti Lampadari) and US’ Adrien Costa (Axeon Hagens Berman) crossed the finish line behind the day’s top-3, whilst Powless (Axeon), Zilio (Zalf), Storer (Australia), Romano (Palazzago) and Pogacar (ROG Ljubljana) rounded out the top-10 of the U23 Italian classic.

Villa di Cordignano (Italy), April 17th, 2017
2017-04-17T20:57:38+02:0017 April 2017|

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