Imola Cycling World Cup: Gold for Julian Alaphilippe, Silver Van Aert, Bronze Hirschi

From our correspondent Luca Gialanella

September 27th
-Imola (BO)

A musketeer on the track. This is Julian Alaphilippe, who won the professional world championship at the spectacular Imola circuit starting and finishing at the Imola racecourse. The 28-year-old French Deceninck-Quick Step, winner of the San Remo 2019 and second this year, a hunter of classics and French idol, makes the selection in the last 500 meters of Cima Gallisterna, the hardest climb on the Imola circuit . He comes out completely alone, doubles Van Aert who doesn’t even try to chase him. Suffered 8-10 “at Kwiatkowski, Van Aert, Fuglsang, Kwiatkowski and Schachmann, extending on a slight incline to 12” in – 8.5 km.

The Blues

–

Nibali’s attack on the Mazzolano and Caruso’s determination remain in Italy’s eyes, then the Tiburon relents just as Alaphilippe accelerates. It was since 1997, Laurent Brochard first in San Sebastian in Spain, that France had not won the world title. Silver for the Belgian Van Aert in 25 ”, bronze for the Swiss Hirschi, then Kwiatkowski and Fuglsang; Matthews sixth at 53 ”, best blue Damiano Caruso, tenth.

The race

–

Pogacar is 24 ”when he begins to face the climb to the Mazzolano. Spain and France rise. At 21 km, Pogacar has 11 ”, leaves the group Dumoulin, Roglic’s partner. And Pogacar will recover: 2 in command at 21.8 km from the finish line. At 21 km Italy leaves: Caruso’s razor, then Nibali who attacks in his own way, followed by Van Aert, Uran and Landa. All four have a few seconds in the group. Filmed in Riolo Terme. – 2 laps: Belgium forcing with Caruso, Masnada Ulissi Bettiol and Nibali, 50 km at the end. In Gallisterna, the French return to the front with Elissonde. Brambilla is on good guard. At 41 km, here is Tadej Pogacar’s lunge, which no one pursues, reaches a 16 ”margin but the group, pulled by four Belgians and five Italians, keeps him at a distance. Azzurri, Brambilla, Visconti and Ulissi escape and return. In the bell of the last kilometer, Pogacar has 25 ”in the group pulled by four Belgians. – 3 laps The race starts thanks to France, who wins the Cima Gallisterna World Championship, the hardest climb: it is Nans Peters, winner of the Anterselva stage of the 2019 Giro, who sets the pace. France pulls very hard even on a slight incline after the climb and descent, the group lengthens but no one comes out. Pogacar’s puncture on the track stands out and the bike change very fast before the frantic chase that ends positively.

Italy Tour

–

And now all eyes are on the Giro d’Italia, which will start on Saturday from Monreale with a 15-kilometer time trial and finish in Palermo. Final conclusion in Milan on Sunday October 25 in front of the Duomo. The next World Cup, in 2021, will take place in Belgium in the Antwerp area with arrival in Leuven.