Italian sprinter hits back at critics after Italy returns from Olympics empty-handed
Sacha Modolo (Colnago-CSF Inox) sprinted to victory in the Coppa Bernocchi, the first race in the unofficial Trittico Lombardo, in the city of Legnano, to the north west of Milan, Italy. The Italian sprinter was led to the line by his team, and launched by leadout man Sonny Colbrelli, who held on to take second place, ahead of Argentinian Mauro Richeze (Team Nippo).
Modolo aimed a gesture at the media that criticised the Italian Olympic team, which came home from London empty handed.
"We did everything perfectly, even if the finale was not easy since no one cooperated; that’s why I threw myself into an escape on the last lap,” said Modolo, according to tuttobiciweb. “We are young, when we get angry when we do bad things... The gesture? I’ve been criticised and I wanted to show that I’m not finished. At the Olympics it didn’t seem that the Italian national team rode so badly and so didn’t deserve such criticism.
If I were to leave I would shed a tear, because here at Colnago-CSF Bardiani we live as a family. Tomorrow? The [Coppa] Agostoni is tougher than last year, but I want to try."
The 200km race, which included six laps of a 16.7km circuit based on the climb of the ‘Piccolo Stelvio’, was dominated by a solo break from Alexandre Pliuschin (Leopard Trek). The Moldovan was chased down, and joined, by Davide Rebellin (Meridiana-Kamen), Christian Cominelli (Team Idea), Vincenzo Garofalo (Team Nippo), Angel Madrazo (Movistar), Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia-Coldeportes), Yonathan Monsalve (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela), Sander Armee (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) and Anthony Charteau (Europcar).
The group was just 54 seconds clear with 25km to go but, despite putting up stiff resistance, was caught by the Colnago-CSF Inox and Lampre-ISD led peloton with 16km to go; just before the race hit the two laps of a flat, 5.6km finishing circuit around the city of Legnano.
On the corners of the urban circuit there was an attack from Luca Dodi (Team Idea), who managed to get a few seconds clear, and was still out front at the bell. He was pulled back with just over three kilometres to go though, only for Madrazo to escape for a second time.
The Movistar rider was pulled back before he could reach the line however, as Lampre-ISD joined the chase, and Colbrelli led Modolo to the line for his fourth victory of the season.
"Today we did a great train,” said Colbrelli to tuttobicisport. “I told Sacha to stick to my wheel because I felt good and we nothing wrong. I am very happy after a bit of a difficult period, we hope to continue. Almost thought that the breakaway would make it, we collaborated a bit, then we and the Farnese [Vini-Selle Italia] sewed it up.”
Result Coppa Bernocchi
1. Sacha Modolo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox
2. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox
3. Mauro Richeze (Arg) Team Nippo
4. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela
5. Andrea Palini (Ita) Team Idea
6. Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
7. Enrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar Team
8. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team