Mauri Vansevenant took his first professional victory at the GP Industria & Artigianato, beating Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic).
In the penultimate lap, among others, Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali attacked, but that attempt, including Dries Devenyns, did not last. On the last climb, the decisive leading group broke away: Nairo Quintana and Mauri Vansevenant were the instigators and were joined by Bauke Mollema and Mikel Landa. The four crossed the top of the climb with a lead of half a minute and headed downhill towards the finish.
Because it came to a standstill at the front, Ide Schelling (BORA-hansgrohe) from a chasing group managed to catch the attackers in the final kilometer. The Dutchman hoped to go up and over the leading group, but was retrieved by Landa. Mollema then started the sprint first, but he was outsprinted by Vansevenant in the final meters.
For the 21-year-old Vansevenant, it is his first professional victory. He joined Patrick Lefevere’s team halfway through last season and already made an impact last fall. On Wednesday in the Trofeo Laigueglia Vansevenant finished third.
