From Caserta to Naples, 192 kilometers for a great comeback. The Giro di Campania, back on the calendar after 25 years, was won by Eric Antonio Fagúndez. The Uruguayan from Burgos Burpellet BH beat in a sprint the Frenchman Alexandre Delettre from TotalEnergies who was classified second after consulting the photo finish. Third place for the Ukrainian Andrii Ponomar who, after spending an entire day in a breakaway, delivers a prestigious podium to General Store - Essegibi - F.Lli Curia. Fourth position for a combative Einer Rubio, today racing with the Movistar development team and then, fifth at 36" behind the winner Gorka Corres: the Spanish rider controlled the chasing group which also included Alessandro Fancellu (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort), sixth, Andrea Vendrame (Team Jayco AlUla), seventh, and Ludovico Crescioli (Team Polti VisitMalta), ninth. 

RACE REPORT - After the transfer from the Royal Palace of Caserta to KM0, the peloton remained compact for a long time. A mix of sustained speed and attacks immediately blocked by the pack characterized the first forty kilometers of racing, then five riders broke away: Luca Colnaghi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), the Vicenza native Matteo Ambrosini (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort), the Ukrainian Andrii Ponomar (General Store - Essegibi - F.Lli Curia), the British George Wood (Mg.K Vis Costruzioni e Ambiente) and the Como native Thomas Rigamonti (Swatt Club). Around the 71st kilometer of the race, Rigamonti lost the wheels of his breakaway companions and was soon caught by the main group.

Remaining four, the escapees continued to pedal with a strong comeback, their advantage began to diminish when approximately 70 kilometers remained to the finish under the pressure of the Team Jayco AlUla men who were leading the chase.

At the foot of the Agerola climb,  Luca Colnaghi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) was the first to be caught by the main group which then reached all the other early escapees.  The race then climbed with Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) courageously attacking solo and going on to win the KOM.

The subsequent technical descent favored a new attack and so at the front there were four riders Antonio Fagúndez (Burgos Burpellet BH) followed by a brilliant Andrii Ponomar (General Store - Essegibi - F.Lli Curia), Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) and Einer Rubio (Movistar Team). Despite attempting several times to organize the chase, the riders behind the leading quartet failed to reach their objective and so the escapees arrived in the heart of Naples. Andrii Ponomar tried to surprise his breakaway companions by changing pace a couple of times but as they approached the finish line we witnessed a head-to-head battle between Fagúndez and Delettre. After crossing the finish line the two contenders remained in doubt for a couple of minutes and then came the photo finish verdict: fifth professional victory for the Uruguayan who will be seen again in a week at the World Championship race in Montreal.

to be updated

FINISHING ORDER

1 Fagúndez Eric Antonio Burgos Burpellet BH 04:21:48

2 Delettre Alexandre TotalEnergies ,,

3 Ponomar Andrii General Store - Essegibi - F.Lli Curia ,,

4 Rubio Einer Movistar Team Academy ,,

5 Corres Gorka Caja Rural - Seguros RGA 00:36

6 Fancellu Alessandro MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort ,,

7 Vendrame Andrea Team Jayco AlUla ,,

8 de la Calle Hugo Burgos Burpellet BH ,,

9 Crescioli Ludovico Team Polti VisitMalta ,,

10 Delbove Joris TotalEnergies ,,