Colbrelli wins Gran Piemonte
Senechal second, Ballerini third in Italian semi-classic sprint
Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) won a rain-soaked edition of Gran Piemonte on Thursday, taking a well-executed victory on a messy run to the line in Stupinigi.
The Italian, who won the Coppa Bernocchi last month along with finishing runner-up at the GP de Montreal and Coppa Sabatini, was the favourite for the victory on the largely flat course, though the weather conditions would always complicate matters in a race that has seen late attackers spring surprises on the peloton in recent years.
Jens Keukeleire (Lotto Soudal) rolled the dice in the final couple of kilometres and although he didn’t succeed in holding onto his advantage, the bunch duly split on the approach to the line. Colbrelli was alert and found himself up front with a teammate and, sensing hesitation from those around him, opened up his sprint from range.
He quickly opened up a big gap and the victory was in the bag, with Florian Senechal (Quick-Step Floors) finishing second and Davide Ballerini (Androni) taking the final spot on the podium.
"With 350m to go, I decided to go for it. That's my style, and I just said, 'if they pass me, they pass me'," said Colbrelli.
"I'm very happy to end this season with a victory. It was very dangerous, there were crashes, but when it's wet, it’s always like that."
The long-running Italian one-day race was back in its usual slot this year after being packaged up as part of the Italian national championships last year on an altogether hillier affair won by Fabio Aru.
Despite the flatter nature of the parcours, the likes of Jan Bakelants and Rigoberto Uran had upset the sprinters in the previous couple of editions. Even when it has ended in a sprint, it has rarely been clean, full-peloton affair. The weather only added to the list of complications as the rain fell all day in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, leaving the peloton heavily reduced as it approached the finish.
A breakaway formed in the opening kilometres, with Joey Rosskopf (BMC Racing Team), Mikkel Frolich Honoré (Quick-Step Floors), Matteo Sobrero (Dimension Data) and Filippo Ganna (UAE Team Emirates) opening up a lead of a few minutes before being kept on a relatively tight leash.
That was cause for Lotto Soudal to execute what was almost a full-team attack as Keukeleire, Tim Wellens, Tiesj Benoot, Thomas De Gendt, and Maxime Monfort all went clear from the bunch. With Cyrus Monk (EF-Drapac) and Nikita Stalnov (Astana) tagging on, they made their way across to the breakway to make it a group of 11 out front.
At that point, the gap was small, and there was an inevitable reaction in the peloton, and the race all came back together with 68km to go. Matti Breschel (EF-Drapac) and Marco Marcato (UAE Team Emirates) went on the move and were later joined by Davide Ballerini (Androni Sidermec) and Andriy Grivko (Astana). When Ballereini and Grivko crashed, and Marcato was held up, Breschel was forced into a solo effort.
With just under 50km to go, he had company once more as Grivko, refusing to give in, set off from the peloton once more. The partnership only lasted 8km, though, as Breschel couldn’t hold the pace and Grivko was left alone.
The Ukranian put up a brave fight and had a lead of a minute at one point, but the game was up with 13km to go as Bahrain-Merida and Bardiani-CSF took control of the peloton.
Julien Vermote (Dimension Data) had a tentative dig off the front in the closing kilometres but Keukeleire sparked real danger with his attack 1.5km out. Colbrelli was up near the front and had a teammate to help shut the gap, and a group of 10 entered the final 500 metres to contest the victory.
Colbrelli could have waited, but he sensed an opportunity and boldly went from range. Senechal was looking over his other shoulder at the time and was left with the bitter taste of regret. "I'm happy," he said, "but I could have won that."
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida | 4:20:50 |
2 | Florian Senechal (Fra) Quick-Step Floors | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Davide Ballerini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Jhonatan Restrepo Valencia (Col) Katusha-Alpecin | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Riccardo Minali (Ita) Astana Pro Team | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Manuel Belletti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Andrea Guardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Barnabás Peák (Hun) Quick-Step Floors | 0:00:02 |
10 | Simone Velasco (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Sky | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Omer Goldshtein (Isr) Israel-Cycling Academy | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Alexandr Kulikovskiy (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Willem Jakobus Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Filippo Ganna (Ita) UAE Team Emirates | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Cyrus Monk (Aus) Drapac Ef P/B Cannondale Holistic Development Team | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Julien Vermote (Bel) Dimension Data | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Mikkel Frølich Honoré (Den) Team Waoo | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | German Nicolas Tivani Perez (Arg) Trevigiani Phonix - Hemus 1896 | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | José Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Sebastian Schönberger (Aut) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Matteo Sobrero (Ita) Dimension Data | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Evgeny Kobernyak (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Israel-Cycling Academy | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Katusha-Alpecin | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Roman Maikin (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Michael Bresciani (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Marco Benfatto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | 0:00:12 |
32 | Kristijan Koren (Slo) Bahrain-Merida | 0:00:14 |
33 | James Shaw (GBr) Lotto Soudal | 0:00:16 |
34 | Joseph Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team | 0:00:17 |
35 | Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Michal Golas (Pol) Team Sky | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team Emirates | 0:00:27 |
38 | Johann Van Zyl (RSA) Dimension Data | 0:00:32 |
39 | Freddy Ovett (Aus) Australian Cycling Academy - Ride Sunshine Coast | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Simone Petilli (Ita) UAE Team Emirates | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Mattia Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Bahrain-Merida | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Alexander Evans (Aus) Mobius Bridgelane | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Alberto Bettiol (Ita) BMC Racing Team | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Vladislav Kulikov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Christian Knees (Ger) Team Sky | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Andrea Garosio (Ita) D'amico Utensilnord | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Matti Breschel (Den) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Dayer Quintana (Col) Movistar Team | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Sebastian Henao Gomez (Col) Team Sky | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Andrey Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team | 0:00:37 |
58 | Pieter Serry (Bel) Quick-Step Floors | 0:00:39 |
59 | Guy Niv (Isr) Israel-Cycling Academy | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-Alpecin | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Nikita Stalnov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Hector Carretero (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Marco Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Winner Andrew Anacona (Col) Movistar Team | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Matteo Badilatti (Swi) Team Vorarlberg Santic | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Alessandro Tonelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Filippo Zaccanti (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini | 0:00:44 |
71 | Stephen Cummings (GBr) Dimension Data | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Sacha Modolo (Ita) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Carlos Betancur (Col) Movistar Team | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Awet Andemeskel (Eri) Israel-Cycling Academy | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Manuele Mori (Ita) UAE Team Emirates | 0:00:48 |
77 | Jan Hirt (Cze) Astana Pro Team | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Luca Raggio (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Edward Ravasi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates | 0:01:03 |
80 | Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF | 0:01:35 |
81 | Eros Capecchi (Ita) Quick-Step Floors | 0:01:45 |
82 | Jaime Castrillo Zapater (Spa) Movistar Team | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Evgeny Shalunov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo | 0:01:50 |
84 | Mirco Maestri (Ita) Bardiani CSF | 0:02:06 |
85 | Maxim Pirard (Bel) Bahrain-Merida | 0:03:11 |
DNS | Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Marco Canola (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Astana Pro Team | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sergey Firsanov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jose Manuel Diaz Gallego (Spa) Israel-Cycling Academy | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ruben Plaza (Spa) Israel-Cycling Academy | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bjorg Lambrecht (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto Soudal | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Joan Bou Company (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eduard Michael Grosu (Rom) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Simone Ponzi (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marco Tizza (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Europa Ovini | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kasper Asgreen (Den) Quick-Step Floors | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lachlan Morton (Aus) Dimension Data | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mekseb Debesay (Eri) Dimension Data | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski (USA) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF | José Fernandes Neves (Por) W52/Fc Porto | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Robert Kišerlovski (Cro) Katusha-Alpecin | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Simon Špilak (Slo) Katusha-Alpecin | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) Team Sky | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Spa) Team Sky | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rory Sutherland (Aus) UAE Team Emirates | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Miguel Eduardo Florez Lopez (Col) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ilia Koshevoy (Blr) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nicholas Rinaldi (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
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Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.
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