Michael Woods cracks Alejandro Valverde and wins Milan-Turin – Cycling – Milan-Turin

Last year, he had done an admirable job for his leader Thibaut Pinot, who had thanked him by raising his arms alone. But this Wednesday, in the absence of the Franc-Comtois, David Gaudu could cut down his personal card, and the young Habs (22 years old) played the blow thoroughly: in the second climb to Superga, justice of the peace of the half Italian classic Milan-Turin, the climber of the Groupama-FDJ multiplied the offensives in a nice group of contenders including Michael Woods, Alejandro Valverde, Egan Bernal, Adam Yates, Tiesj Benoot and Bauke Mollema.

It was at the spot where he had fallen last year that Gaudu placed one of his most marked attacks, before putting it back 500 meters from the line, his face marked by effort. But his perseverance was not enough, the fault especially Woods, who has never lost his wheel and finally fly in the last hectometres. Even Valverde, yet untouchable on this type of climb (4.9km to 9.1%), was not able to resume it: the Spanish veteran cut the line in second place, just ahead of Yates. Gaudu finished fifth, between Benoot and Bernal, the winner of the last Tour de France, who was not an actor at the end of the race.

By winning in this way, the Canadian, who had never won a classic before, becomes a serious underdog for the Tour of Lombardy, Saturday, where Primoz Roglic, winner of the Tour of Emilie and the Three Valleys Varesines , will make figure of great favorite.