Malori successfully defends Italian time trial title

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Adriano Malori (Movistar) won the time trial title at the Italian Road Championships held on Wednesday in Novara, Piedmont. He covered the 36.6km course in 44:13, to win the event by over a minute ahead of Moreno Moser (Cannondale-Garmin) and Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo). 

"Having put almost half a minute over the rest into that demanding section, he really had to feel strong", said Movistar's director José Luis Arrieta in a team press release.

Malori has had a strong season boasting four time trial wins, at the Tour de San Luis, Tirreno-Adriatico and Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire, and now at the championship. He was also recently fourth in the closing time trial at the Tour de Suisse. He will now focus on adding a fifth time trial win to his palmares at the opening time trial at the Tour de France in Utrecht.

"It was quite a technical course, with lots of turns, climbing... it wasn't easy at all. Fortunately, I felt really great, stronger than in the Tour de Suisse, and as there were many descents between the climbs, I was able to give my everything from the very start.

"Now it's time to start thinking about next Saturday: the competition will be quite stronger, it'll be a difficult day for me... but I feel strong and motivated. There's not much work to go: some specific training on the TT bike, with short, fast sessions... from a physical point of view, I'm ready for the Tour."

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