Giro del Trentino (st. 2)

Ninth place for Basque climber in San Giacomo di Brentonico, just short for first echelon of favourites in first mountainous round of Trentino. Zardini (BAR) wins stage; Evans (BMC) seizes GC lead

He had already offered details of his always-known, raw quality with teamwork in Tirreno-Adriatico, and today, Igor Antón made a notable individual performance in the first mountain stage of this year’s Giro del Trentino. The summit finish in San Giacomo di Brentonico (15km at 7% average) was a hard test for the main favourites, surprised by a brave youngster: local Edoardo Zardini (BAR), who attack halfway through the climb granted him a 40-second advantage the top guns couldn’t reduce in the finale.

Evans (BMC), Niemiec (LAM), Pozzovivo (ALM) and Duarte (COL) led a first pursuit group which Antón couldn’t unfortunately make, the top Movistar Team performer as the Blues couldn’t enter the day’s break following several attacks. It was a 9th place (38secs back) for the Basque, now seventh overall before another two difficult finishes in Roncone (Thursday) and the Monte Bondone (Friday). Eros Capecchi concluded just under a minute behind, now within the best twenty overall.