Victory does not arrive but still finishes in the top ten at the Tour of Malopolska 2026 for Giacomo Ballabio. In the final stage of the Polish stage race .2, the Brianza native of Team Voralberg was unable to defend the overall classification leadership conquered on the second day thanks to his victory in the Chelm stage and, finishing yesterday his effort in tenth position with 1'24" of delay, concluded his week of racing in eighth place in the final standings, consoling himself however with the victory in the points classification.

For Ballabio the outcome of the Malopolska was much less bitter than it may seem because triumphing on the uphill finish at Przehyba and rising to the top of the standings was his teammate Colin Stüssi who, making the difference in a rather clear manner, appropriated the yellow jersey with 44 seconds margin over the prologue winner, as well as white jersey for best young rider, Alberto Monti (ATT Investments) and 47" over the former Trek and CCC rider Riccardo Zoidl (now at Hrinkow Advarics).

Stüssi, a thirty-three-year-old Austrian from Glarus with a past in Amore & Vita – Prodir, confirmed that Team Voralberg (capable in Poland of placing three men in the top ten in the queen stage) is experiencing an excellent moment of form and confidence given that in the last eight days, in addition to the three victories at the Malopolska, there have also been the performances of Kilian Feurstein and Dominik Röber at the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt.

STAGE RESULTS

1. Colin Stüssi (Team Vorarlberg) 3:52:15

2. Riccardo Zoidl (Hrinkow Advarics) +0:21

3. Alberto Monti (ATT Investments) +0:25

4. Philipp Hofbauer (Team Vorarlberg) +0:25

5. Georg Rydningen Martinsen (Lillehammer CK Continental Team) +0:30

6. Jakub Kaczmarek (Voster Team) +0:47

7. Piotr Pękala (ATT Investments) +0:49

8. Filip Surdyk (Spica Solutions Team) +1:13

9. Jaka Primožič (Hrinkow Advarics) +1:21

10. Giacomo Ballabio (Team Vorarlberg) +1:24

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Colin Stüssi (Team Vorarlberg) 10:09:30

2. Alberto Monti (ATT Investments) +0:44

3. Riccardo Zoidl (Hrinkow Advarics) +0:47

4. Philipp Hofbauer (Team Vorarlberg) +0:58

5. Georg Rydningen Martinsen (Lillehammer CK Continental Team) +1:00

6. Jakub Kaczmarek (Voster Team) +1:23

7. Piotr Pękala (ATT Investments) +1:25

8. Giacomo Ballabio (Team Vorarlberg) +1:33

9. Filip Surdyk (Spica Solutions Team) +1:38

10. Jaka Primožič (Hrinkow Advarics) +1:48

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Giacomo Ballabio (Team Vorarlberg)

Mountains classification: Paweł Bernas (Voster Team)

Best young rider classification: Alberto Monti (ATT Investments)

Best team classification: Team Vorarlberg

Photo credit: Team Voralberg