U23
Tour de Bretagne: Magagnotti sprints to opening victory
Perfect start for the Red Bull -- BORA -- hansgrohe Rookies at the Tour de Bretagne: Alessio Magagnotti secured victory on the first stage from Redon to Pipriac and also took the overall lead.
Alessio Magagnotti has won the opening stage of the 60th edition of Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste (category 2.2) and thus celebrated his second victory of the season. After a cohesive team performance and a strong finish, the Italian won the sprint in 3:29:31 hours ahead of Liam Van Bylen (Belgium, Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team) and Aubin Sparfel (France, Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team). Magagnotti thus also took the overall lead in the French stage race.
My team-mates gave me incredible support in the final kilometres. The lead-out was ideal, I was able to sprint for about 300 metres out of the last bend.
The race was characterised by high speed and hectic racing situations right from the start. Nevertheless, everything went according to plan in the finale: on the final lap, the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Rookies put their Italian sprinter in an optimal position. The team's unity was particularly evident in the final kilometres, before a perfect lead-out by Sebastian Putz (Austria) and Michiel Mouris (Netherlands) laid the foundation for victory.
"That was a very intense race - also because it was really warm for the first time," said Magagnotti at the finish. "We were tactically perfect today. My team-mates gave me incredible support in the final kilometres. The lead-out was ideal, I was able to pull off my sprint over about 300 metres from the last bend. I'm super happy about the win and would like to thank the whole team and the staff."
The plan was to take control in the final and prepare everything for the sprint with Alessio. The boys implemented this 100 per cent.
Gregor Gazvoda, Sporting Director on site, was also highly satisfied with the start: "The plan was to take control in the final and prepare everything for the sprint with Alessio. The boys implemented this 100 per cent. We knew that it could be chaotic - all the stronger for how united we were. The victory is a well-deserved reward."
With the opening victory behind them, the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rookies are now confident going into the upcoming stages of the tour. The Tour de Bretagne ends on 1 May in Dinan.
