16 Sep 2018
Top-five sprint for Basso
Related riders
Leonardo Basso
Leonardo Basso dug deep to pull off an impressive fifth-place finish as the Coppa Bernocchi came down to a bunch sprint in Legnano.
The Italian battled it out in a blanket finish behind victor Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Merida), after benefiting from a strong lead-out from his Team Sky teammates.
Mark Donovan pushed hard to help haul back a late breakaway group on the race’s finishing circuit, and with 1.5 kilometres to go Michal Golas surged to the front of the race with the Team Sky train on his wheel.
Gianni Moscon strung out the bunch into the final kilometre before Ethan Hayter took it up. Basso was able to hold on for fifth, with Kristoffer Halvorsen finishing just outside the front positions in 19th, the young Norwegian having become separated from his teammates just ahead of the final kilometre.
With the day’s early break swept up with 38km still to race, Moscon was again hungry and went clear briefly in a group as he looked to add to his victory 24 hours earlier. Eddie Dunbar and Golas were also in the mix, but as the laps clicked off it became clear it would all come back together for a sprint.
After the race Sport Director Dario Cioni wrapped up a strong weekend of racing in Italy, and heaped praise on the three young riders making their first appearances for Team Sky.
He told TeamSky.com: "It's been two good days of racing for the younger guys. For our two stagiaires it was the first time racing in a pro team and for Eddie it was his first race with the team. We were all quite interested to see how they would get on and I have to say they've all done a really brilliant job.
"Mark was pulling a lot yesterday and also today he did a lot to bring back the break in the final. Ethan was up there too and started the lead-out in the last kilometre. Eddie has done a really good job. Compared to Ethan and Mark he's obviously a bit further on as he's been racing all year with Aqua Blue. He's made an impressive start with the team. He's a super guy and he's fitted in really well.
"We raced for Kristoffer today. Gianni, Golas and Eddie were all in previous moves, just to make sure we always had someone in front and didn't have to chase behind. That worked really well. At the end I think we were one of the only teams who had the whole team there on the final circuit. So that demonstrates the level of our guys was good. It was a pity as Kristoffer was there until 50 metres from the last corner. He lost a few positions and at that point it was too late to do anything different in the lead-out. Leonardo tried to do his best and was still able to finish in a pretty good fifth place."
Results:
He told TeamSky.com: "It's been two good days of racing for the younger guys. For our two stagiaires it was the first time racing in a pro team and for Eddie it was his first race with the team. We were all quite interested to see how they would get on and I have to say they've all done a really brilliant job.
"Mark was pulling a lot yesterday and also today he did a lot to bring back the break in the final. Ethan was up there too and started the lead-out in the last kilometre. Eddie has done a really good job. Compared to Ethan and Mark he's obviously a bit further on as he's been racing all year with Aqua Blue. He's made an impressive start with the team. He's a super guy and he's fitted in really well.
"We raced for Kristoffer today. Gianni, Golas and Eddie were all in previous moves, just to make sure we always had someone in front and didn't have to chase behind. That worked really well. At the end I think we were one of the only teams who had the whole team there on the final circuit. So that demonstrates the level of our guys was good. It was a pity as Kristoffer was there until 50 metres from the last corner. He lost a few positions and at that point it was too late to do anything different in the lead-out. Leonardo tried to do his best and was still able to finish in a pretty good fifth place."
Results:
1. Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Merida) 4:29:03
2. Manuel Belletti (Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec) s.t.
3. Paolo Simion (Bardiani-CSF)
4. Jose Jose Lobato (Nippo-Vini Fantini)
5. Leonardo Basso (Team Sky)
