Splendid finale of the Giro dell'Appennino and magnificent double for Team Polti Visit Malta who celebrate the victory of Ludovico Crescioli ahead of teammate Thomas Pesenti with Domenico Pozzovivo finishing the 196-kilometer race on the third step of the podium just six days after returning to racing with the colors of Solution Tech NIPPO Rali. The 43-year-old from Basilicata gave the signal for the breakaway that decided the result, attacking when 28 kilometers remained to the finish line.

THE RACE - About twenty kilometers after the start from Arquata Scrivia, nine riders escape from the peloton: Andrea Guerra (Beltrami TSA Tre Colli), Filippo Agostinacchio (Biesse-Carrera-Premac), Kevin Biehl (General Store-Essegibi-F.lli Curia), Andrea De Totto (Gragnano Sporting Club), Lorenzo Ginestra (Swatt Club), Marco Fermanelli (Vega-Vitalcare-Dynatek), Maximilien Juilliard (Vélo Club Villefranche Beaujolais), Guillaume Bagou and Elia Blum (Elite Fondations).

This group of riders quickly builds an advantage of more than 1'40" and so at the Intermediate Sprint in Ronco Scrivia Blum beats Ginestra and Juillard with the main group led by Team Polti Visit Malta. The situation remains substantially unchanged even at the top of the Passo della Castagnola where Agostinacchio passes first at the KOM, followed by Bagou and Ginestra, while the main group is reported 2'20" behind.

The rider from Valle d'Aosta of Biesse - Carrera – Premac also takes the top of Passo dei Giovi where the main group arrives 1'52" down. The fast descent facilitates the approach of the chasers who, however, do not worry the breakaway riders who pedal in agreement even approaching the Intermediate Sprint in Pontedecimo won by Ginestra ahead of De Totto and Bagou.

On the road climbing towards Crocetta d'Orero, Fermanelli and Bagou suffer and lose contact with the breakaway, leaving seven riders to lead. At the KOM, Agostinacchio, Juilard and Blum crest in the first three positions.

Intermediate sprints follow one another and at Campomorone Blum passes first. Time to catch a breath and the road becomes steep again, Kevin Biehl (General Store - Essegibi - F.Lli Curia) takes advantage and breaks away from everyone, taking the lead solo. The Danish rider crests the KOM of Pietralavazzera with a few seconds advantage but shortly after the group comes back together.

At the foot of Madonna della Guardia, Balmer accelerates followed by De Cassan and Carollo. Then the cards are reshuffled and 28 kilometers from the finish, Domenico Pozzovivo (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) attacks followed by the Polti Visit Malta duo composed of Pesenti and Crescioli. The rider from Basilicata passes first at the top of Madonna della Guardia with the Tuscan on his wheel and slightly further back the Emilian Pesenti. Shortly after the trio regroups, passes the Intermediate Sprint in Bolzaneto, heading swiftly towards the finish line resisting the comeback attempt by Ponomar and the group.

To be updated