Molano closes season with 2nd in Guilin

On the 6th and final stage of the Tour of Guangxi (Guilin-Guilin 168.3 km) a Colombian from UAE Team Emirates battled with Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) for the stage win.

However it was not Fernando Gaviria to fight for the sprint, but his compatriot Sebastian Molano. Gaviria was forced to hit the brakes and to slow down coming into the last corner at 300 meters from the finish, as a crash fragmented the head of the group on the wet run-in.
At that point, Molano was quick to read the situation and step-up to contest the sprint.
Ackermann hit-out strong but Molano hitched on to the wheel of the German, managing to overcome Timo Roosen (Jumbo-Visma) and cross the finish line in second position behind Ackermann.

Molano commented: “I was focused on the task of launching the sprint for Gaviria. Along with Ferrari and our other teammates we fought to be in the top positions, but there was the fall and on the radio they told me to go for it.
I did my best to try and get a good result, second place satisfies me, it’s a nice way to end the season.”

The Tour of Guangxi, final race of the World Tour 2019 calendar, ends the year for UAE Team Emirates with an impressive tally of two stage victories (two from Gaviria) and two second places (Riabushenko and Molano).
In the overall ranking, 20th place for Aleksandr Riabushenko, at 1’15 “from the winner Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quick Step).

Stage 6 results
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-hansgrohe 3h38’10”
2 Sebastian Molano (Col) UAE Team Emirates s.t.
3 Timo Roosen (Ned) Jumbo-Visma s.t.

Final general classification
1 Enric Mas (Esp) Deceuninck-Quick Step 22h42’42”
2 Daniel Martinez (Col) Ef 5″
3 Diego Rosa (Ita) Team Ineos 14″
20 Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr) UAE Team Emirates 1’15”