The 18-year-old Spaniard of Team Colpack-Ballan completed the Trofeo Piva-Giro del Belvedere double, twenty years after Yaroslav Popovych in 2001. The podium was rounded out by Viktor Potocki and Alexandre Balmer
Juan Ayuso completed a memorable weekend, taking a solo victory in the 82nd Giro del Belvedere on Monday, April 5th, 2021. After the success of Trofeo Piva, the 18-year-old rider of Team Colpack-Ballan gave an encore in Villa di Cordignano (Italy), winning ahead of Croatian Viktor Potocki (Ljubljana Gusto Santic) and Swiss Alexandre Balmer (Groupama-FDJ).
The last rider to pull off the Trofeo Piva-Giro del Belvedere double was Yaroslav Popovych in 2001, who went on to make a long high-level pro career. “I’m very pleased with this double, and I wish to thank the team for their incredible work. The Montaner climb was perfect to attack, but I waited until the last meters of climbing because I knew the following flat section. I gained a few seconds, defending this advantage in the downhill e in the final flat section”, said Juan Ayuso after the finish line.
Once again, the Giro del Belvedere lived up to its long-established international prestige among Under 23 races, as confirmed by the top ten. Valentin Paret-Peintre (AG2R-Citroen U23), Antoine Raugel (Groupama-FDJ), Asbjorn Hellemose (Velo Club Mendrisio) and Michel Hessmann (Jumbo-Visma Development) came to the the finish line behind the day’s top-3, whilst Andrea Pietrobon (Cycling Team Friuli), Henok Mulueberhan (Team Quebeka) and Francesco Parravano (Aran Cucine Vejus) rounded out the top-10.
The 14 laps of the Conche circuit were animated by the breakaway of Riccardo Bobbio (Work Service) and Gianmarco Garofali, who reached a 2-minute maximum advantage. After an attempt in the first lap on the Montaner circuit, Juan Ayuso launched the winning attack on the final climb, soloing to victory on the finish line of Villa di Cordignano.
Italian Cycling Federation President Cordiano Dagnoni attended the event: “Giro del Belvedere is a historic race with a prestigious roll of honour. It’s a pleasure to see this race return after a year off with such a prestigious startlist that rewards the efforts of the organizing committee, the sponsors and the local authorities. Despite the restrictions, the anti-Covid measures were perfect, and the riders delivered a great show”.
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