GP Industria e Artigianato di Larciano
Italian veteran from Movistar Team takes 3rd at home in GP Larciano under miserable conditions, with pouring rain all over the route. Sütterlin spends 150km into break; Soler, Ventoso do fine teamwork in finale
A late solo attack by Simon Clarke (CPT) on the last of four climbs brought him victory in the 199.2km GP Industria e Artigianato in Larciano, Tuscany, on Sunday, at the end of a race characterised by splits in the group and early abandons. Movistar Team’s prelude to Tirreno-Adriatico, which gets underway on Wednesday, also in Tuscany, took place in rain which fell over the entire course almost all day, only relenting near the finish on the last loop. But the conditions made no difference to the group directed by José Luis Jaimerena, who attacked continuously.
Jasha Sütterlin spent 150 kilometers in the day’s early four-man breakaway with Lang (IAM), Schwarzmann (BOA) and Navardauskas (CPT). The Lithuanian dropped his companions on the last San Baronto ascent, as Clarke first bridged across to him then set out alone towards victory. Meanwhile, the Movistar Team riders sought to animate the front of the chasing group.
First, Ventoso and Visconti joined a five-man move on one of the downhill sections. Then Marc Soler did an impressive job at the front of the bunch, trying to pilot Visconti back to the fore. Soler ultimately helped launch Visco towards his 3rd spot, after Clarke and Andrea Fedi (THA).