Equipo Kern Pharma secured a one-two finish at the sixth edition of the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes. Crossing the finish line on the uphill finale of the French classic were Ibon Ruiz and Ivan Ramiro Sosa who, delivering an excellent climbing performance, caught young Frenchman Leo Bisiaux (who finished third) within the final kilometer and dropped the ever-impressive Domenico Pozzovivo (fourth) in style: in doing so, the two teammates gifted their squad an unforgettable sixth victory of the season.

THE RACE

After the day's breakaway, which had started some twenty kilometers from the Puget-Théniers start and comprised Alexander Konijn (Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur), Théo Delacroix (St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93), Raphaël Pottier (AVC Aix Provence Dole), Lennard Sternsdorff (BIKE AID) and Giuseppe Sciarra (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali), was reeled in 65 kilometers from the finish, the peloton approached the Col de la Couillole, a climb where the pace set by the Decathlon and TotalEnergies teams caused several riders to lose contact over the 15.8-kilometer ascent.

With just under twenty riders remaining in the main group, the race's leading contingent tackled the short descent and rapid climb to the Valberg finish line before plunging downhill toward Guillaumes and the foot of the concluding climb (14.4 kilometers at 6.1%). Here, after less than 3 kilometers, Leo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM) was the first to make a move, quickly gaining around twenty seconds on his pursuers from whom, 9 kilometers from the finish, Clement Berthet (Groupama-FDJ) also escaped.

The situation at this point, aside from the progressive difficulties of several riders in the main group, remained static until 4.8 kilometers from the finish when Domenico Pozzovivo (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali), Fausto Masnada (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort), Ibon Ruiz and Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Equipo Kern Pharma) caught up to Berthet.

The new attack launched 3.8 kilometers from the finish by the latter led to Berthet and Masnada cracking and the formation of a trio that, joining forces and being pulled along by the relentless pace of the South American rider, progressively closed the gap on an exhausted Bisiaux until catching the Frenchman 400 meters from the line.

It was then that, delivering a new acceleration, Sosa and Ruiz almost simultaneously dropped Pozzovivo and distanced the young Frenchman, quickly setting up a triumphant finish sealed by the Spaniard's first place (his maiden professional victory) and the former INEOS rider's second place. Behind them, Bisiaux, with a show of pride, fended off Pozzovivo's assault for third place, relegating the Italian to fourth position—a result absolutely not to be dismissed that once again confirmed the quality of his return to racing.

Special mention deserves the only other Italian able to finish in the top ten, Fausto Masnada, who was long prominent in the action in the first chase group and did well in the finale to secure his best result since the 2023 Coppa Bernocchi (where he finished fifth).

FINAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Ibón Ruiz (SPA/Equipo Kern Pharma) - 4:17:12

2. Iván Ramiro Sosa (COL/Equipo Kern Pharma) - s.t.

3. Léo Bisiaux (FRA/Decathlon CMA CGM) at 0:11

4. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) at 0:14

5. Clément Berthet (FRA/Groupama-FDJ United) at 0:48

6. Fausto Masnada (ITA/MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) at 0:58

7. Simon Guglielmi (FRA/St Michel-Preference Home) at 1:04

8. Thomas Champion (FRA/St Michel-Preference Home) at 1:25

9. Jamie Meehan (IRL/Cofidis) at 1:28

10. Fernando Tercero (SPA/Polti VisitMalta) at 1:43