A six-man sprint, victory for Paul Lapeira and the world champion finishing in second place: this is the verdict of the 79th Coppa Agostoni Giro delle Brianze, the classic that opened today's Lombard Trittico. The Decathlon CMA CGM rider, claiming his ninth career victory and second of the year, was the protagonist of a great race and proved to be the most skilled in the sprint, after Swiss rider Mauro Schmid was the first to attack on the finishing straight. Second place for Brandon McNulty, third position for Andrea Raccagni Noviero, fourth for Schmid, followed by Maisonobe and Fortunato who completed the six riders that made the history of the race.

THE RACE

After the first kilometers covered at high pace but in compact formation, at kilometer 50 Paul Lapeira (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Filippo Turconi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saiber) and Nicola Conci (XDS Astana) break away from the group. The five, however, are granted at most forty seconds by the peloton and with ease, guided by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, after about twenty kilometers they are brought back into contention. At this point, the cards are reshuffled, with Brandon McNulty, Jhonatan Narvaez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Francesco Busatto (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM), Pepijn Reinderink, Filippo Zana (Soudal Quick-Step), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Nicola Conci, Lorenzo Fortunato, Thomas Silva (XDS Astana), Gorka Corres (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis) and Andrea Mifsud (Polti VisitMalta) aggregating to the men at the front before, however, the peloton definitively neutralizes the attempt.

After a few kilometers of calm, at the third passage over Colle Brianza Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Francesco Busatto (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM), Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Soudal Quick-Step), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana), Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis) and Mattia Bais (Polti VisitMalta) attack. The eight quickly build more than 1'30" between them and the group from which, about sixty kilometers from the finish, Filippo Agostinacchio (Biesse Carrera) and Kyrylo Tsarenko (Solution Tech NIPPO Rali) break away, remaining for a long time unable to close the gap with the race leaders.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Lapeira Paul (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) in 03:51:24
2. McNulty Brandon (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
3. Raccagni Noviero Andrea (Soudal Quick-Step)
4. Schmid Mauro (Team Jayco-AlUla)
5. Maisonobe Sam (Cofidis)
6. Fortunato Lorenzo (XDS Astana Team)
7. Conci Nicola (XDS Astana Team) + 54
8. Champoussin Clément (XDS Astana Team)
9. Verstrynge Emiel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) + 01:05
10. Vinokurov Nicolas (XDS Astana Team)

The two, at the fourth passage through Lissolo, are caught and dropped by a rampaging Tom Pidcock who, bringing with him Jhonathan Narvaez and Adam Yates (UAE), Carlos Canal (Movistar), Nicola Conci (XDS Astana) and Filippo Zana (Soudal Quick Step), selects the main group, eating a minute from the fugitives who, however, at the top of the day's final climb, still maintain 1'15". This margin, especially once Pidcock's push is exhausted, increases further on the descent and flat section returning to Lissone where, behind the six men at the front, nine riders are chasing the race leaders.

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