Davide De Cassan won the 40th edition of the Giro del Medio Brenta international UCI class 1.2 race. The 24-year-old Veronese rider from General Store Essegibi F.lli Curia left behind Frenchman Dario Giuliano from Polti VisitMalta and Luca Covili from Bardiani CSF 7 Saber. Spanish rider Tercero from Polti VisitMalta finished just off the podium.

THE RACE. A total of 154 riders started from Villa del Conte (Pd). The opening phase of the race was extremely fast with the peloton allowing space for the day's brave attackers, a group of nine athletes. Thomas Rigamonti (Swatt), Simone Gardani (Beltrami), Julia Bortolami (Solme Olmo), Luca Martin (Maxsolar), Melsan Idrizi (Uc Trevigiani), Tommaso Tasca (Gaiaplast Bibanese), Davide Basso (Beltrami), Kevin Bertoncelli (Sc Padovani) and Kevin Pezzo Rosola (General Store) traveled in agreement, managing to build a maximum advantage of 4'00" over the main group. However, when the race exited the initial circuit, the MBH Bank riders moved to the front of the group to lead the chase, reducing the gap and neutralizing the breakaway on the first climbs of the day.

The home team's aggressive pace reduced the leading group to around thirty riders who continued in agreement on the Gallio circuit: on the second passage over the Stoccareddo climb, Tommaso Dati (Ukyo) and Alessandro Fancellu (MBH Bank) made their move. The two attackers managed to gain 30" over the rest of the group and with this advantage they entered the final uphill section towards the Ski Area Le Melette. It was precisely the final four kilometers of climbing that reshuffled the cards with Dati and Fancellu surrendering to their pursuers, making way for the attacks from Luca Covili (Bardiani CSF) and the Polti VisitMalta pair composed of Fernando Tercero and Dario Giuliano. Davide De Cassan (General Store) also held on with them, showing his skill in waiting for the right moment to launch his winning attack and secure his second victory of the season. Joining him on the podium were Frenchman Dario Giuliano (Team Polti) and Luca Covili (Bardiani CSF 7Saber).

STATEMENTS - At 24 years old, a Veronese climber by nature with a background as a professional with Eolo Kometa and Polti VisitMalta, Davide De Cassan (General Store Essegibi F.lli Curia) confirmed his comeback at the finish line of the Giro del Medio Brenta: "I really wanted to perform well today because this course suits my characteristics. The team did excellent work to keep me up front during the critical phases, then I waited for the final climb and my legs responded well to the attacks from the others. When I realized I couldn't drop them, I decided to give everything in the final 300 meters and it was the winning choice. A victory that was needed, that fills me with pride, that I want to dedicate to my girlfriend because today is her birthday".

Satisfied, 21-year-old Frenchman Dario Giuliano: "It was a very demanding race but the team raced perfectly, supporting us at our best. We tried to launch Tercero but his attack didn't work out. So in the final it was up to me to try in the sprint but I couldn't beat De Cassan, but it's a second place that satisfies me".

A touch of disappointment for Bardiani CSF 7Saber, who after the victories of Giulio Pellizzari and Filippo Turconi were aiming for a hat-trick: "The team raced well, in the final we closed on Fancellu and Dati. On the final climb I tried to attack several times but didn't find great collaboration. A third place remains that satisfies me and allows me to look ahead with confidence" commented Luca Covili after the finish line.

FINAL STANDINGS

1st Davide De Cassan (General Store Essegibi Fratelli Curia)
who completed the 175 km in 4h16'33" at an average speed of 40.928 km/h
2nd Dario Giuliano (Team Polti VisitMalta) at 1"
3rd Luca Covili (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber)
4th Fernando Tercero (Team Polti VisitMalta) at 3"
5th Nicolò Garibbo (Team Ukyo) at 11"
6th Alessandro Verre (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) at 13"
7th Luca Bagnara (Vega Vitalcare Dynatek) at 19"
8th Valerio Conti (Team Solution Tech Nippo Rali) at 24"
9th Tommaso Quaglia (Sc Padovani Polo Cherry Bank)
10th Vicente Rojas Naranjo (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber)