Michael Woods and others follow a moto the wrong way in Tre Valli Veresina conclusion
Canada's David Veilleux claimed Tre Valli title in 2012
Michael Woods’ build up to Saturday’s Il Lombardia continued on Tuesday with Tre Valli Veresina in Lombardy, where a farcical situation saw him, Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali taken out of contention when they followed a moto in the wrong direction. A imperious Primož Roglič added the Tre Valli title to his Giro dell’Emilia win on Saturday. Only two other riders have won both races in the same season, with Fausto Coppi doing so twice. In 2012 Canadian David Veilleux won Tre Valli while riding for Europcar.
Here’s the forced error.
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) October 8, 2019
The Course
After an opening route, the riders would face two different circuits around Varese. Five 12.9-km loops led to two 25-km laps, each with a 1.5 km, 8.5 percent climb. The last 5 km were at 3.5 percent.
Just 10mins out from Tre Valli Varesine getting underway… a reminder of what is in store for the guys today! ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/W3ehmEzzLm
— NTT Pro Cycling (@NTTProCycling) October 8, 2019
By the time the race entered the larger circuit, there were three breakaways left from the day’s escape. Roglič’s Jumbo-Visma led the chase.
The new world champion, Mads Pederson, has been touring his new rainbow duds, but as in last Saturday’s Tour de l’Eurométropole, he did not finish Tre Valli Veresine.
#TreValliVaresine @Mads__Pedersen has still not fully recovered from the cold he was fighting last week and has abandoned the race. Rest up, Mads! pic.twitter.com/3SWcfbATrR
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) October 8, 2019
After the fugitives were brought to heel with 39 km remaining, several surges came from the peloton, creating a 20-strong leading group that contained Woods and Spanish champion Alejandro Valverde.
?? Michael Woods @EFprocycling is on the attack with a select group at #TreValliVaresine with 28 km to go in the Italian autumn classic! pic.twitter.com/rSAYC8cbHY
— Canadian Cycling Mag (@CanadianCycling) October 8, 2019
Going into the last lap, the Woods-Valverde group was only slightly ahead of the peloton. Astana’s LL Sanchez had enough of the group’s indecision and bolted.
Incredibly, with 13.4 km to go, the chase followed a moto the wrong way at a roundabout, adding a kilometre to their Tre Valli. Sanchez was licking his lips.
#TreValliVaresine – Race is probably over for Nibali, Valverde, Ulissi and Formolo group as moto of the organization took the wrong turn in the roundabout. 42'' for main peloton with Jumbo-Visma pulling for Roglic.
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) October 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/ProCyclingStats/status/1181573470385254405
However, Sanchez would soon be gritting his teeth as Ineos led a streamlined group behind him. It was desperately close. At the red kite, Sanchez had five-seconds, but he couldn’t hold off his pursuers. A huge push from Roglič wrecked the others, as the dominant Slovenian simply rode them off his wheel.
?? #TreValliVaresine
It's not only his second victory in a semi-classic this week. It's also his second victory in a one-day race in his career. @rogla #samenwinnen pic.twitter.com/3vt9DcPxPc— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) October 8, 2019
Last season’s winner Toms Skujiņš placed third.
Milano-Torino, where Woods was runner-up in 2016, is tomorrow and can be viewed on FloBikes.
2019 Tre Valli Veresina
1) Primož Roglič (Slovenia/Jumbo-Visma) 4:40:46
2) Giovani Visconti (Italy/Neri Sottoli-Selle Italia-KTM) +0:03
3) Toms Skujiņš (Latvia/Trek-Segafredo) s.t.