From Brazil comes the new king of "Il Lombardia U23". It is indeed Henrique Bravo who inscribes his name in the honor roll of the prestigious international classic held in Oggiono, conquering the 98th edition at the end of a performance interpreted by a true champion.

The twenty-year-old from Nova Lima, racing for Soudal Quick-Step Development, built his success with an extraordinary solo action born on the slopes of Colle Brianza, where he completed a long comeback on the breakaway leaders before dropping everyone and flying towards the finish line. A demonstration of strength, class and personality that confirms the value of one of the brightest talents in the global Under 23 scene.

For the Brazilian, born in 2006, this is yet another seal on an exceptional season that has already seen him triumph at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, the Tour of Antalya and the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt in Austria, as well as securing third place at the Giro d'Italia Next Gen and fifth at the Tour de l'Avenir. A palmares of absolute prestige that finds in the triumph on the Lombard roads a further and prestigious international consecration.
At the Oggiono finish line, Bravo preceded Danish Otto Schultz Jolving by 55" and by 1'05" an excellent Matteo Scalco (XDS Astana Development) protagonist of an incredible finale.

THE RACE
The first noteworthy action is recorded at the end of the first of four laps of Ello, when Belgian Veneechoutte (Lotto Group Wanty), Forlin (Movistar Academy), American Makohon (EF Education Aevolo) and Danish Troelsen (Team ColoQuick) break away. The four manage to gain up to 30 seconds on the group before being reabsorbed.

The race ignites again at the beginning of the fourth lap, when Polish Goszczurny (Visma Lease a Bike Development), French champion Coudiere Cantin (Vendée U Primeo Énergie), Belgian champion Marivoet (Lotto Group Wanty), Belgians Tirry (DL Chemicals Experza) and Servranckx (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team), Frenchman Basset (XDS Astana Development), Spaniard Lajarin (Equipo Finisher), Sesana (Vertematese), Dutchman Luiten (Coppi BO.Buro) and Anastasia (Technipes #InEmiliaRomagna-Caffè Borbone) attack. A group of attackers that impresses a high pace on the race and further selects the group of the best.

Towards the Ghisallo, the decisive action of the day takes shape. Taking advantage are Frenchman Coudiere Cantin (Vendée U Primeo Énergie), Danish Jolving (Team ColoQuick), Leonardo Vesco (Biesse Carrera Premac) and German Benjamin Benz (Lidl Trek Future Racing) who will later lose ground. The four find great understanding immediately and manage to carve out an important gap, bringing their advantage to over two minutes against pursuer Martini (Technipes #InEmiliaRomagna-Caffè Borbone) and more than three minutes on the group. Behind them, Brazilian Henrique Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) tries to react, exiting the group with determination in an attempt to catch up with the breakaway leaders. The South American reaches and passes Martini (Technipes #InEmiliaRomagna-Caffè Borbone), continuing his progression towards the Ghisallo. At the Gran Premio della Montagna of Madonna del Ghisallo, however, it is Leonardo Vesco (Biesse Carrera Premac) who passes first, while Bravo crests with a delay of 1'07" from the leading trio, nevertheless confirming a brilliant comeback. In the subsequent descent, the situation behind the breakaway leaders becomes animated again. Alessandro Cattani (Technipes #InEmiliaRomagna-Caffè Borbone) first closes on Henrique Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team), author of a brilliant comeback action. Shortly after, German Benjamin Benz (Lidl Trek Future Racing) catches up with the two, giving life to a new pursuing group in an attempt to reduce the gap from the fugitives and reopen the race in view of the decisive phases.

It is, however, on the slopes of Colle Brianza that Henrique Bravo signs the masterpiece of the day. The Brazilian from Soudal Quick-Step Devo completes his comeback by catching up with the breakaway leaders and, without giving his opponents a moment's respite, immediately relaunches the action. With a powerful and irresistible acceleration, he breaks away in a counterattack, leaving Danish Jolving (Team ColoQuick) and Frenchman Coudiere Cantin (Vendée U Primeo Énergie) in his wake, flying solo towards the finish line and demonstrating a condition superior to that of all his rivals.

RESULTS

1. Henrique Bravo (Bra-Soudal Quick Step Devo) 177 in 04h02’03 media/h 4,875; 2. Otto Schultz Jolving (Den-Team ColoQuick); 3. Matteo Scalco (Ita-XDS Astana Development) 1’05; 4. Ludovico Mellano (Ita-XDS Astana Development); 5. Yann Dubois (Fra-Groupama FDJ United Continental); 6. Remi Arsac (Fra-Decathlon CMA-CGM Development); 7. Clement Sanchez (Fra-Vendee U Primeo Energie); 8. Vincent Bodet (Fra-Vendee U Primeo Energie); 9. Allessando Cattani (Ita-Technipes Caffè Borbone); 10. Duarte Marivoet (Bel-Lotto Group Wanty)