Conti takes podium at Giro Dell’Appennino

Valerio Conti registered his first podium of the season with 2nd place from a heavily reduced group in the finish of the Giro Dell’Appennino (1.1) today in Italy.

Conti formed a strong chase group along with Diego Ulissi, Jan Polanc and Juan Ayuso which pursued lone leader Ben Hermans (Israel Start Up Nation), with the former Maglia Rosa wearer able to outsprint the rest of the group to take the runner-up spot on the 192km from Pasturana to Genoa.

It was a dominant performance from the Emirati squad with Jan Polanc and Diego Ulissi completing the top ten with 5th and 7th respectively.

Juan Ayuso impressed on his first outing in UAE colours: taking flight with Gianni Moscon (Ineos-Grenadiers) and the eventual winner Hermans on the final climb to Madonna della Guardia.

Valerio Conti: “Today was a tough day with some very challenging climbs. Right in the last ascent we fought and together with my teammates we tried to stop Hermans who was simply the strongest today. In the final I had good sensations and so at the last kilometer I realized I had something left in the tank and I gave everything in the sprint second”.

Final ranking:
1.Ben Hermans (Israel Start Up Nation) 4h50’22 ”
2.Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) +30″
3.Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani-CSF) s.t.
5.Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) +31″
7. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.