Giro d'Abruzzo: Enrico Zanoncello wins photo finish sprint on stage 1
Matteo Malucelli narrowly second in Pescara with Manuel Peñalver in third

Enrico Zanoncello (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) pipped Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team UKYO) by the narrowest of margins to win the bunch sprint on stage 1 of the revived Giro d’Abruzzo.
Max Kanter (Astana Qazaqstan) opened up the sprint in a solid position after strong work from his team but still had 250 metres to go in the wind and was quickly overtaken by the two Italians and Manuel Peñalver (Polti Kometa) who finished third.
Malucelli looked as though he had timed his sprint perfectly as he slingshotted out of Kanter’s slipstream, but he had left just enough of a gap for Zanoncello to steal the win on the line alongside the barriers.
This was the Bardiani rider’s fourth professional victory but his first in his home country, having only previously won in Asia.
"I'm very happy. I had bookmarked this stage," said Zanoncello. "After an eventful stage, it came down to a head-to-head with Matteo Malucelli. It's been tight. I'm glad I won it.
"Fiorelli brought me onto Malucelli's wheel and I managed to pass him. This is my first pro win in Europe and above all in Italy. Moreover, this is the confirmation we were looking for. Let's hope this win will convince my team to bring me to the Giro d'Italia."
A seven-man break went up the road after the start of the 161km stage in Vasto, but only thee would last the majority of the day, Andrea Guerra (Zalf Euromobil Fior), Diego Bracalente (Team MBH Bank Colpack Ballan), and Tommaso Dati (Biesse - Carrera).
The trio were swept up 12km from the line after UAE Team Emirates and Corratec-Vini Fantini did the majority of controlling throughout the run into Pescara.
Jan Christen was the most active rider for the Emirati team, attacking each time the road went uphill in the final 60km. The young Swiss rider's moves prompted late attacks from the likes of George Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech) and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan) but none stuck with the majority of teams interested in a bunch sprint.
Racing continues at the revived stage race on Wednesday with 160km of uphill racing from Alanno to Magliano de' Marsi. It should start the GC battle with strong climbers like Bennett, Lutsenko, Adam Yates and Pavel Sivakov (UAE Team Emirates) all present.
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

James Moultrie is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who joined Cyclingnews as a News Writer in 2023 after originally contributing as a freelancer for eight months, during which time he also wrote for Eurosport, Rouleur and Cycling Weekly. Prior to joining the team he reported on races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d’Italia Donne for Eurosport and has interviewed some of the sport’s top riders in Chloé Dygert, Lizzie Deignan and Wout van Aert. Outside of cycling, he spends the majority of his time watching other sports – rugby, football, cricket, and American Football to name a few.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Ponderosa Pines – A new gravel race to decide the 2025 Australian national champions
Tiffany Cromwell, Rebecca Henderson and defending champion Brendan Johnston among those set to vie for green and gold jersey in South Australia Saturday -
Tour of the Gila: Lauren Stephens and Eric Brunner set the GC markers on stage 1 with Tyrone time trial victories
Defending women's champion Stephens dominates ITT with one minute margin over 17-year-old runner-up Sidney Swierenga -
'I suffered because of the cold' - Miserable weather affects Thibau Nys' debut performance at Flèche Wallonne
'I was too hot and then too cold again. That really affected my legs, very early in the final' Lidl-Trek rider finishes 8th despite discomfort in rain-soaked Huy -
'I blew up a little bit' - Elisa Longo Borghini lands podium at Flèche Wallonne and gains confidence for Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Italian Champion holds off Niewiadoma-Phinney for third place on Mur de Huy final ascent to finish