Trentin top-10 in season opener at GP Marseillaise

Photo: William Cannarella

Matteo Trentin began his UAE Team Emirates career in promising fashion with a solid but frustrating 7th place in the Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise (1.1) in France.

The race was an undulating 171km which saw the peloton whittle down to a select group entering the finish in Marseille.

UAE Team Emirates were well represented with young Alessandro Covi confidently controlling the peloton with team debutants Ryan Gibbons and Matteo Trentin well placed behind for the sprint.

Trentin hit-out early with around 350m to go which proved costly as the slight incline allowed riders to come from behind to pass the Italian strongman.

Frenchman Aurelien Paret-Peintre (AG2R – Citroen) was quickest to the line to claim the win.

 
Matteo Trentin : “The whole team rode an excellent race, they did just the right amount of work to get us in the right position. Covi and Gibbons did great work in the finish with Covi especially doing an amazing job in chasing everything down.
I started sprinting with around 350 metres to go which was too soon and I misjudged it. It’s a pity because the legs were good and it was a shame to waste that by opening up too early. I hope to have a chance again very soon to do better.”

Results

1.Aurelien Paret-Peintre (AG2R – Citroen) 4:24:29
2.Thomas Boudat (Arkea Samsic) s.t
3.Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels) s.t
7. Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) s.t

 
The team will now turn their attention to the next races on the calendar : Tour de la Provence (11-14 Feb) and the Clasica de Almeria (14Feb).