Kwiatkowski gives Sky Strade Bianche tonic
Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) claimed his second career Strade Bianche crown when he soloed to victory after 175km in Siena, Italy.
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Rome (AFP) – Michal Kwiatkowski gave the under-fire Team Sky a welcome boost on Saturday by winning the Strade Bianche one-day race for the second time in Tuscany.
Beleaguered Sky have been on the defensive as a UK anti-doping probe has exposed some questionable practices relating to their medical record-keeping.
But Poland’s Kwiatkowski gave Sky something to cheer as he escaped on his own 15km from the end of the 175km race that starts and finishes in Siena.
He held on to win by 15 seconds ahead of a group of three chasers, with Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) taking second and his fellow Belgian Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) in third.
“We started to play a game after the Sante Marie section,” he explained. “I didn’t feel so good there, but the cooperation wasn’t so strong among the group, so I thought the best thing was to go at my own pace.
“I didn’t think they’d cooperate well behind me and I could choose my own pace, my own tempo, and go to the finish. I’m so happy that it worked out.”
The last time Kwiatkowski won the prestigious Strade Bianche, in 2014, he went on to win the world title later in the year.
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2017 has started strongly for Kwiatkowski with a fine ride to second overall at the Volta ao Algarve and now a win at Strade Bianche, but 2016 was tough for the 26-year-old and he was quick to thank the team for the trust placed in him after his epic ride.
“I was thinking about last year when I crossed the line, and I feel so satisfied,” he said. “The team has put big trust in to me and all the hard work I’ve done in preparation for this season has paid off.
“It’s the second victory at Strade Bianche in my career – it’s just amazing. Coming into the final stages alone was an incredible feeling.”
Pre-race favourite and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne winner Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) was forced to abandon the race due to illness.
This year was the first time Strade Bianche is listed on the WorldTour calendar.
Results
- 1. Michal KWIATKOWSKI, TEAM SKY, in 4:42:42
- 2. Greg VAN AVERMAET, BMC RACING, at :15
- 3. Tim WELLENS, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :17
- 4. Zdenek ŠTYBAR, QUICK-STEP FLOORS, at :23
- 5. Tom DUMOULIN, TEAM SUNWEB, at 1:26
- 6. Luke DURBRIDGE, ORICA-SCOTT, at 1:26
- 7. Christopher JUUL JENSEN, ORICA-SCOTT, at 1:29
- 8. Tiesj BENOOT, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 2:20
- 9. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ, at 2:23
- 10. Scott THWAITES, DIMENSION DATA, at 2:52
- 11. José GONÇALVES, KATUSHA-ALPECIN, at 3:10
- 12. Quentin JAUREGUI, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 4:05
- 13. Fabio FELLINE, TREK-SEGAFREDO, at 4:05
- 14. Luis León SANCHEZ, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 4:41
- 15. Stefan KÜNG, BMC RACING, at 5:31
- 16. Vegard Stake LAENGEN, UAE TEAM EMIRATES, at 5:41
- 17. Gianni MOSCON, TEAM SKY, at 5:55
- 18. Ondrej CINK, BAHRAIN-MERIDA, at 6:22
- 19. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, DIMENSION DATA, at 8:15
- 20. Truls KORSÆTH, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 8:15
- 21. Matteo TRENTIN, QUICK-STEP FLOORS, at 8:41
- 22. Oscar GATTO, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 10:13
- 23. Jan BAKELANTS, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 10:15
- 24. Floris DE TIER, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO, at 10:16
- 25. Giovanni VISCONTI, BAHRAIN-MERIDA, at 10:20
- 26. Brent BOOKWALTER, BMC RACING, at 10:20
- 27. Petr VAKOC, QUICK-STEP FLOORS, at 10:20
- 28. Sébastien REICHENBACH, FDJ, at 10:21
- 29. Andrey AMADOR BIKKAZAKOVA, TEAM MOVISTAR, at 10:24
- 30. ANDREY GRIVKO, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 10:29
- 31. Nathan HAAS, DIMENSION DATA, at 10:29
- 32. Fabio ARU, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 10:30
- 33. Salvatore PUCCIO, TEAM SKY, at 10:30
- 34. Julien VERMOTE, QUICK-STEP FLOORS, at 10:30
- 35. Primož ROGLIC, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO, at 10:36
- 36. MICHAEL VALGREN ANDERSEN, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 10:41
- 37. Tao GEOGHEGAN HART, TEAM SKY, at 10:41
- 38. Moreno MOSER, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 10:44
- 39. Nils POLITT, KATUSHA-ALPECIN, at 10:49
- 40. Jasper STUYVEN, TREK-SEGAFREDO, at 10:51
- 41. Iuri FILOSI, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI, at 10:51
- 42. Hugo HOULE, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 13:37
- 43. Damiano CARUSO, BMC RACING, at 13:37
- 44. Vincenzo NIBALI, BAHRAIN-MERIDA, at 13:38
- 45. Maxime MONFORT, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 13:38
- 46. Tomasz MARCZYNSKI, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 13:38
- 47. Marco MARCATO, UAE TEAM EMIRATES, at 13:38
- 48. Mike TEUNISSEN, TEAM SUNWEB, at 13:38
- 49. Georg PREIDLER, TEAM SUNWEB, at 13:38
- 50. Matteo MONTAGUTI, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 13:38
- 51. Nans PETERS, AG2R LA MONDIALE, at 13:38
- 52. Enrico BATTAGLIN, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO, at 13:38
- 53. Marcus BURGHARDT, BORA-HANSGROHE, at 13:38
- 54. Tiago MACHADO, KATUSHA-ALPECIN, at 13:45
- 55. Marco CANOLA, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI, at 13:46
- 56. Christoph PFINGSTEN, BORA-HANSGROHE, at 13:46
- 57. Simon CLARKE, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC, at 13:46
- 58. Richard Antonio CARAPAZ MONTENEGRO, TEAM MOVISTAR, at 13:46
- 59. Michal GOLAS, TEAM SKY, at 13:49
- 60. Gregor MÜHLBERGER, BORA-HANSGROHE, at 13:49
- 61. Jack HAIG, ORICA-SCOTT, at 13:49
- 62. Matthieu LADAGNOUS, FDJ, at 13:51
- 63. Antwan TOLHOEK, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO, at 13:54
- 64. Rigoberto URAN URAN, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC, at 13:54
- 65. Mattia FRAPPORTI, ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-SIDERMEC, at 13:56
- 66. Daniel OSS, BMC RACING, at 14:01
- 67. Jérémy ROY, FDJ, at 14:08
- 68. Sam BEWLEY, ORICA-SCOTT, at 14:23
- 69. Simone ANDREETTA, BARDIANI-CSF, at 14:38
- 70. Manuel QUINZIATO, BMC RACING, at 18:54
- 71. Jay MCCARTHY, BORA-HANSGROHE, at 18:54
- 72. Fausto MASNADA, ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-SIDERMEC, at 18:55
- 73. Alex HOWES, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC, at 18:55
- 74. Ivan GARCIA CORTINA, BAHRAIN-MERIDA, at 18:55
- 75. Toms SKUJINS, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC, at 18:55
- 76. Chad HAGA, TEAM SUNWEB, at 18:55
- 77. Paul MARTENS, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO, at 19:00
- 78. Simone VELASCO, BARDIANI-CSF, at 22:38
- 79. Kiel REIJNEN, TREK-SEGAFREDO, at 22:52
- 80. Matej MOHORIC, UAE TEAM EMIRATES, at 22:52
- 81. David PER, BAHRAIN-MERIDA, at 22:52
- 82. Ivan SANTAROMITA, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI, at 22:52
- 83. Diego ROSA, TEAM SKY, at 22:52
- 84. Cesare BENEDETTI, BORA-HANSGROHE, at 22:52
- 85. Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU, TREK-SEGAFREDO, at 22:52
- 86. Jorge ARCAS PEÑA, TEAM MOVISTAR, at 22:52
- 87. Ángel VICIOSO ARCOS, KATUSHA-ALPECIN, at 22:52
- 88. Maxim BELKOV, KATUSHA-ALPECIN, at 22:52
- 89. Raffaello BONUSI, ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-SIDERMEC, at 22:52
- DNF Gediminas BAGDONAS, AG2R LA MONDIALE
- DNF Hubert DUPONT, AG2R LA MONDIALE
- DNF Alexandre GENIEZ, AG2R LA MONDIALE
- DNF Marco BENFATTO, ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-SIDERMEC
- DNF Davide BALLERINI, ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-SIDERMEC
- DNF Luca PACIONI, ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-SIDERMEC
- DNF IVAN RAMIRO SOSA CUERVO, ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-SIDERMEC
- DNF Dmitriy GRUZDEV, ASTANA PRO TEAM
- DNF Manuele BOARO, BAHRAIN-MERIDA
- DNF Domen NOVAK, BAHRAIN-MERIDA
- DNF Kanstantsin SIUTSOU, BAHRAIN-MERIDA
- DNF Nicola BOEM, BARDIANI-CSF
- DNF Mirco MAESTRI, BARDIANI-CSF
- DNF Stefano PIRAZZI, BARDIANI-CSF
- DNF Alessandro TONELLI, BARDIANI-CSF
- DNF Luca WACKERMANN, BARDIANI-CSF
- DNF Edoardo ZARDINI, BARDIANI-CSF
- DNF Jean-Pierre DRUCKER, BMC RACING
- DNF Ben HERMANS, BMC RACING
- DNF Peter SAGAN, BORA-HANSGROHE
- DNF Maciej BODNAR, BORA-HANSGROHE
- DNF Pawel POLJANSKI, BORA-HANSGROHE
- DNF Alberto BETTIOL, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC
- DNF Dylan VAN BAARLE, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC
- DNF Sebastian LANGEVELD, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC
- DNF Sep VANMARCKE, CANNONDALE-DRAPAC
- DNF William BONNET, FDJ
- DNF Tobias LUDVIGSSON, FDJ
- DNF Steve MORABITO, FDJ
- DNF Anthony ROUX, FDJ
- DNF Sean DE BIE, LOTTO SOUDAL
- DNF Bart DE CLERCQ, LOTTO SOUDAL
- DNF Nikolas MAES, LOTTO SOUDAL
- DNF Jurgen ROELANDTS, LOTTO SOUDAL
- DNF Carlos BARBERO CUESTA, TEAM MOVISTAR
- DNF Jose ROJAS, TEAM MOVISTAR
- DNF Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, TEAM MOVISTAR
- DNF Nuno MATOS, TEAM MOVISTAR
- DNF Antonio PEDRERO LOPEZ, TEAM MOVISTAR
- DNF Nicola BAGIOLI, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI
- DNF Eduard Michael GROSU, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI
- DNF Yuma KOISHI, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI
- DNF Alan MARANGONI, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI
- DNF Kohei UCHIMA, NIPPO-VINI FANTINI
- DNF Roman KREUZIGER, ORICA-SCOTT
- DNF Alexander EDMONSON, ORICA-SCOTT
- DNF Jens KEUKELEIRE, ORICA-SCOTT
- DNF Svein TUFT, ORICA-SCOTT
- DNF Gianluca BRAMBILLA, QUICK-STEP FLOORS
- DNF Bob JUNGELS, QUICK-STEP FLOORS
- DNF Davide MARTINELLI, QUICK-STEP FLOORS
- DNF Maximiliano Ariel RICHEZE, QUICK-STEP FLOORS
- DNF Bernhard EISEL, DIMENSION DATA
- DNF Mark RENSHAW, DIMENSION DATA
- DNF Daniel TEKLEHAIMANOT, DIMENSION DATA
- DNF Jay Robert THOMSON, DIMENSION DATA
- DNF Johann VAN ZYL, DIMENSION DATA
- DNF Marco MATHIS, KATUSHA-ALPECIN
- DNF JHONATAN RESTREPO VALENCIA, KATUSHA-ALPECIN
- DNF Mads Würtz SCHMIDT, KATUSHA-ALPECIN
- DNF Bert-Jan LINDEMAN, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO
- DNF Juan Jose LOBATO DEL VALLE, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO
- DNF Alexey VERMEULEN, TEAM LOTTONL-JUMBO
- DNF Ian BOSWELL, TEAM SKY
- DNF Owain DOULL, TEAM SKY
- DNF Wilco KELDERMAN, TEAM SUNWEB
- DNF Ramon SINKELDAM, TEAM SUNWEB
- DNF Laurens TEN DAM, TEAM SUNWEB
- DNF Albert TIMMER, TEAM SUNWEB
- DNF Eugenio ALAFACI, TREK-SEGAFREDO
- DNF Marco COLEDAN, TREK-SEGAFREDO
- DNF Mads PEDERSEN, TREK-SEGAFREDO
- DNF Boy VAN POPPEL, TREK-SEGAFREDO
- DNF Przemyslaw NIEMIEC, UAE TEAM EMIRATES
- DNF Kristijan ÐURASEK, UAE TEAM EMIRATES
- DNF Sacha MODOLO, UAE TEAM EMIRATES
- DNF Edward RAVASI, UAE TEAM EMIRATES
- DNF Oliviero TROIA, UAE TEAM EMIRATES