With the World Championships around the corner, it's traditionally the time of the many late season classics here in Italy. Today, we saw the 71st edition of the Coppa Agostoni.
And standing on the third row of the start line, we recognized Antonio Andolini,
though no longer in the Italian jersey. Since the Giro, he's only raced the National Championships. Without any explanation, he's suddenly back. This morning he didn't talk to the press.
To the race, now. The pace was controlled by a number of teams, working together to keep the break at a maximum distance of 4 minutes.
With 60 km to go, a chill went through the peloton as Antonio Andolini suddenly increased the pace and rode away from the peloton.
A very bold move, so far from the finish and that in his first race in a long time. We can assume he hasn't spend that time lying in his couch.
For about 10 km, the gap kept between 20 and 30 seconds. But when Boaro and Sepulveda made the leap up front, the gap went up to over 2 minutes.
The trio worked together for a while. When the gap was large enough, Boaro and Sepulveda decided to stop working. Andolini was left to keep up the pace for the final 10 km. Without as much as a shrug, he did so.
No moves were made in the final kilometers, and so it seemed the three riders would see who was the strongest in the sprint today.
The sprint was remarkably close, with all three still in the running with 10 meters to go!
But with the width of about a tire, it's Andolini who takes the flowers in his comeback race. With a bold move, he instigated the attack and he finished it off like a champion.
After the race, we managed to get our reporter near Andolini for an interview.
Congratulations, Antonio. All in all a good day, we reckon? Antonio Andolini: Yes. Everything worked out well in the end. I'm very happy to add this beautiful race to my palmares.
You attacked with over 60 km to go. What was the reason for this move?
We've got the World Championships next week and I need to get in race rhythm quickly. So sitting up until the final kilometer doesn't help me a lot. I needed the training.
We haven't seen the confirmed selection for the Italian team yet, will you be riding in Pau?
It's not my place to tell you, but given my season so far, it'd be a big mistake to leave me at home. I can contend for a medal in both the time trial and the road race. I have my mind set on them and I'll be ready for them.
You have the disadvantage of lacking race rhythm after such a long time out of competition.
Like I said, I'll be ready. Not everyone needs the Vuelta to be in good shape for the World Championships.
Another reporter asked Andolini about his long absence, but he refused to answer that question. For now, though, we should just be happy he's back. Today proves once again what he can bring to a race.
See you tomorrow for the second race in the Trittico Lombardia!
For Cattelan, it was an amazing Vuelta. Fontana won three sprint stages and Mollema won a mountain stage, coming very close to the leader's jersey halfway the race (2 seconds). Both Fontana and Mollema wore the points jersey at one point.
Edited by Ian Butler on 27-06-2017 21:14
Captain Bike Racer here. Today we continue our program about the World Championships. We have already discussed many favorites, today we talk about the enigmatic Antonio Andolini.
We should also say tomorrow is the World Championships Time Trial. Our show mainly focuses on the favorites for the road race, but it's not an accident I chose today to discuss Ando, since we'll also talk about his chances at the time trial.
10 Reasons why Antonio Andolini becomes World Champion
Reason 1. Because the guy is made of steel.
Reason 2. Because Antonio is a miracle worker.
Reason 3. Because the course is hilly - but not too hilly.
Reason 4. Because he's destined for a World Title and he's turned 25 a few weeks ago. Not getting any younger.
Reason 5. Because he's got fresh legs.
Reason 6. Because his opponents will be afraid of him.
Reason 7. Because the Italian team won't bring Nibali, everyone will work for Ando.
Reason 8. Because he's got that killer instinct, especially this season.
Reason 9. Because he'll give 110%
Reason 10. Because he's in top shape.
Ando has re-appeared but hasn't left Italy since. He's been racking up victories left and right on the local Italian scene. Let's see...
Coppa Agostoni
Coppa Bernocchi
GP Pantaloni
GP Industria Commercia Di Prato
In that last race, he even split up an entire peloton to be able to sprint with a smaller group.
If that's not a damn impressive set of wins, I don't know what is. Meaning that since the end of the Giro, this is how Antonio has raced:
10 Reasons why Antonio Andolini fails to become World Champion
Reason 1. Because he's missing race rhythm.
Reason 2. Because he's not the best hilly rider around. (or is he?)
Reason 3. Because Italy's not the strongest team.
Reason 4. Because he's too eager to win.
Reason 5. Because everyone will be looking at him.
Reason 6. Because of the pressure.
Reason 7. Because Sagan wants revenge for the Amstel Gold Race.
Reason 8. Because he can't keep winning forever.
Reason 9. Because the World Championships are a strange race.
Reason 10. Because Pau is not in Italy.
Ando has a few things going against him. Where has he been all these months? His Giro was monsterous and then he was gone. It seems he's back in business now and we can't say he's lost his appetite, but it's still strange and the lack of rhythm might get him over the 200 km.
Why Antonio Andolini can also win the Time Trial
Ando has won several time trials this season. Yet in the past we've seen he always finishes behind the real top time trialists. To some it seems evident Ando will once take the title, to others it seems he'll always finish 5 - 10, maybe one day a podium, but never win.
All I will say is this: if Antonio Andolini has a good day, even Eddy Merckx would've shat his pants.
Pre-race: Very excited to be here today. I missed a lot of good races in July and August so I'm here to make up for that. I've been racing in Italy the last few weeks and I've been performing very well. Although the field wasn't always WT level, they weren't a bunch of pancakes either. Today it's all about focus. Keep your concentration,
keep those pedals going round to keep the wheels spinning.
Race: I was off to a fairly slow start. At the first intermediate checkpoint I was in 6th position, already a good 15 seconds behind. At the second checkpoint, I was still behind, I had lost even more time.
In a time trial, your mental ability is the most important thing of all. Besides being able to ride a bike hard, that is. I was able to make the switch and step up my pace. My finish was quite good, the fastest time in the final 10 km of the entire field. I crossed the finish line a provisional 2nd. I wouldn't win gold today, that much was certain...
It was a strange Championship race today, with several names totally out of shape. Martin was not up to his usual standards, Dumoulin was not good, De Gendt, on the other hand, rode a magnificant time trial, finishing 7th. Kämna rode the race of a lifetime to finish 4th today. Rohan Dennis was the absolute boss, though, and will be wearing the Rainbow Stripes for a year!
As for myself, I profited off some of the weaker performances from some of the favorites to take my first Medal in a World Championships on the road! A bronze medal!
If you think I'd be disappointed with this, you're wrong. I'm very proud of this achievement and a bronze medal at a Worlds is an amazing thing. It's almost as good as winning today. It feels wonderful and it gives me a big boost for Sunday's big road race. Could I have done better today? Perhaps. But there's a big gap between me and n°2 and myself and n°4. So I'm exactly where I belong.
Let's see what I can do this Sunday. There only one color counts, though. No bronze, no silver. I'm going for Gold!
Welcome to the World Championships Cycling. Today we have the main event, the Men's Road Race. A full 255 km profile with a tough middle section, a hill they'll have to climb no less than sixteen times! Favorites include local Julian Alaphilippe, Tim Wellens and Peter Sagan. We look towards Antonio Andolini to bring the Rainbow Jersey back to Italy since Ballan, who took it in... Yes, Varese, ladies and gentleman.
This could be fate!
At the start line, early this morning. The first half of the race was fairly uneventful, so there's nothing much to say about it.
Only a three-men group managed to get ahead and they'd spend over 5 hours ahead of the peloton as the breakaway of the day. Their names: Boara , Carth, Bernas.
The French took their responsiblity with one of the favorites among their troops and the home turf to their advantage.
So far the summary of the early part of the race. There are 60 km left to go and we now go live to Pau!
(...)
Welcome, ladies and gentleman! The breakaway are still 3 minutes ahead of the peloton, now being lead by the Belgian squad. They have confidence in their man Wellens, winner of Liège - Bastogne - Liège and Flèche Wallonne this year.
(...)
Only 2 laps from the finish, now. We're at the penultimate climb, the 15th time up this tough little hill. It's starting to weigh down on the riders. And it's Moscon who leads the troops, with Andolini in his wheel! Andolini in second position, is something about to happen? The other favorites will have to be attentive now!
Moscon with a brutal pace! We see gaps appearing! A trio has broken free, followed by a group of about 8 or 9 riders. By the looks of it, it's Moscon, Andolini and ... Alaphilippe.
Only Boaro is still up ahead now. The last remaining breakaway rider comes into play for team Italy perfectly now to bridge the flat section. Three riders for Italy, one for France! But they have only a limited lead to a chasing group, who's trying to get organised now!
Well, there goes Boaro. He's been at the front since km 0, so it's no surprise he only lasted a few kilometers at this pace. Moscon is giving 100% for his leader now. His job is probably to deliver Andolini at the foot of the final climb. Then it's up to him. The gap is growing and the trio now have over 30 seconds on the chasing group, where there is disorder! The chase is falling apart, they're just letting these guys ride away, such drama in the final round!
Here we see the chasers. It's attack after attack, but they can't get away and then they keep their legs still! They're losing the race! We see Benoot, Sagan, Wellens, Arredondo. This is terrible for the chasing group!
Oh what's this? The camera's picked up Moscon, he's emptied! That means his job is over and we have two leaders now! Where are they?
On the climb, nothing happens. Andolini keeps the pace high and Alaphilippe has no intention to attack when the pace is this high...
Are we heading for a royal sprint? It could well be...
Wait! Andolini blasts away from Alaphilippe! He leaves the Frenchman to eat his dust from the saddle! Oh what a powerful acceleration, from the saddle, reminding us of Fabian Cancellara in the days!
He takes a few seconds. The downhill section is his specialty, but Alaphilippe can handle a bike just as well!
The Frenchman summons all his remaining strength, but Antonio Andolini goes into time trial position and steadily increases his lead. He's just playing with the opposition. Here he comes. We're ready for an Italian World Champion, the 20th title for Italy, the first since Alessandro Ballan in Varese! Ladies and gentlemen, here is the World Champion Road Race 2017: Antonio Andolini!
His face shows exhaustion, but who wouldn't after such a race! Andolini with his first World Title! And you can be sure it won't be his last after what he's shown us today!
Alaphilippe was the only one remotely able to make a stand against Andolini. He takes silver under loud applause from his home crowd.
And Tiesj Benoot is a surprising third after a great race. Italy, France, Belgium. It couldn't be a more traditional podium!
We have Gianni Moscon with us here, an essential piece of Antonio's victory here. Gianni, what can you tell us about the race? Gianni Moscon: It's just amazing! It's unbelievable, I can't believe we did it! We knew Antonio was good, but to do this, it's just unbelievable.
On the penultimate climb, the two of you distanced most of the other favorites.
Was it a planned action?
No. We were constantly near the front but then, just before hitting the climb, Antonio pushed me forward and gave the order to turn up the heat, full gas, he said! I was a bit surprised we had that gap, it wasn't very big, actually. I was keeping my legs still out of habit, because nobody would try to keep that gap with still about 20 km to go against a group containing those riders, but Antonio said: what are you doing? Ride! Ride! Ride!
You played an essential part in the victory today. You even end up 7th. I think you could've gotten on the podium today.
Maybe. I had a great day. But Antonio is a true leader, and it's not difficult to work for someone who can finish it off like him. He was our man today. I am proud to have played a part in that, that's all.
Thanks, Gianni. Here he comes, wearing his brand new jersey. Antonio Andolini,
World Champion. Antonio Andolini: Yeah. Feels strange, doesn't it?
Looks good, though, don't worry. A word about the race?
It was fantastic. I felt good today and I knew I shouldn't wait for the last climb, because then you can't get rid of guys like Wellens or Sagan. We got a little gap and I thought: okay, let's go for it. All or nothing. Moscon was just amazing. I honestly couldn't have done it without him. This is his title, too.
Weren't you worried about Alaphilippe, sitting on your wheel?
A little bit, but I tend to rely on my own strengths, not my opponents. After we lost Moscon, though, he still refused to work and that's when I thought I couldn't take him to the sprint like that. It'd be too risky. I needed to get rid of him somehow. So I kept the pace high on the climb, but accelerated slightly at the very top, it surprised him.
An entire year in the Rainbow Jersey.
Amazing, isn't it?
Will we see the jersey in action this season?
I hope so. I want to ride Lombardia and Paris - Tours. But there's one race I just need to be with this jersey, though it'll be tricky...
Your home race: Tre Valli Varesine.
Yes.
But that's tomorrow...
It is. That's the tricky part.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
Antonio Andolini
Julian Alaphilippe
Tiesj Benoot
Julian Arredondo
Peter Sagan
Rui Costa
Louis Meintjes
