Tre Valli Varesine

Unusual, unacceptable incident ruins Spanish champion's chances as Movistar Team leader was part of the main pursuit group 15km before the end. Roglic (TJV) claims another win as Verona finishes 12th.

Despite a more-than-decent attitude and some good legs, once again, in his final 2019 efforts across Italy, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) was inexplicably left out of victory contention near the end of Tuesday’s Tre Valli Varesine (UCI 1.HC), the first race of the final week this season over 198km of lumpy roads from Saronno to the 2008 Worlds venue.

As a group of about a dozen contenders escaped before the final lap, including the Spanish champion, the break -shortly anticipated by Luis León Sánchez (AST) with an attack through Via Montello- was misguided by the motorbikes and route marshals coming into a roundabout, 15km before the end. Becoming aware of teir mistake only 100 meters later, Valverde and his break companions -which included Nibali (TBM), Formolo (BOH), Teuns (TBM), Martin (UAD) and Gaudu (GFC)- was left completely out of contention.

Roglic (TJV) ended up claiming the win with an attack 500m before the end, at the slope prior to the finishing straight, while Carlos Verona, the only Blue member in the peloton which brought Sánchez back, was the top Movistar Team performer with a 12th spot at the sprint.

Cover picture (c): BettiniPhoto