Cyclingflash
Impressive Pidcock is too strong for Johannessen and Roglič in Milan–Turin

Impressive Pidcock is too strong for Johannessen and Roglič in Milan–Turin

Tom Pidcock has won Milan-Turin. The Brit demonstrated his strength on the final climb of the Colli di Superga. Tobias Halland Johannessen finished second, Primoz Roglic took third. Giulio Pellizzari and Cian Uijtdebroeks completed the top five.

This year’s Milan-Turin route again had two distinct phases. After a long flat approach, a very challenging finishing circuit had to be completed twice. This local loop included the Colli di Superga (4.9 km at 9.1%). The finish line was also placed atop this iconic climb.

In the flat opening phase, a breakaway of six riders formed. Adrien Maire from Unibet Rose Rockets was accompanied by Patrick Konrad (Lidl-Trek), Valentin Ferron (Cofidis), Alessandro Milesi (Biesse-Carrera-Premac), Andrea Pietrobon (Polti VisitMalta), and Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies).

Roglic attacks early
The six gained just under two minutes on the peloton, where Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe was controlling the pace. The German team had two contenders in their ranks: Giulio Pellizzari and Primoz Roglic. Later, UAE Emirates XRG and Pinarello-Q36.5, the teams of Jan Christen and Tom Pidcock respectively, joined efforts to keep the escapees within striking distance.

At the foot of Superga for the first time, the gap was already less than a minute. Pietrobon resisted the longest on the climb but was eventually caught as well. A strong but steady pace was maintained until Primoz Roglic accelerated in the final kilometer before the summit. Initially, only Jefferson Alexander Cepeda could follow, then Tom Pidcock bridged across together with Cian Uijtdebroeks.

Boichis creates a gap
The four crested the climb together, but on the descent, eight more riders bridged up. These included Jan Christen, Alex Baudin, Carlos Verona, Simone Gualdi, Adrien Boichis, Lorenzo Fortunato, and two of the top favorites: Giulio Pellizzari and Tobias Halland Johannessen. On the descent, Roglic then left a gap behind for his Red Bull teammate Boichis. The Frenchman quickly gained twenty seconds on the chasers.

Meanwhile, the chase group grew back into a large peloton. For Uno-X Mobility, Jonas Abrahamsen and Magnus Cort rejoined. They drove the pace at the front to support Tobias Halland Johannessen, causing Boichis' lead to evaporate quickly. At the start of the climb, the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider was caught again.

Movistar rides for Uijtdebroeks
Movistar then took up the front to support Uijtdebroeks. The high tempo set by Natnael Tesfatsion caused immediate gaps. Pellizzari was too far back but managed to reconnect with the other favorites. Those favorites stayed grouped for a long time. About three kilometers from the finish, Uijtdebroeks launched the first attack, but it had no immediate effect. Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda, the nephew of Jefferson Alexander Cepeda, took up the pace for Movistar once again.

At 1.7 kilometers from the finish, Uijtdebroeks attacked again. Jefferson Alexander Cepeda responded and then went on the offensive himself. Five riders broke clear. Alongside Cepeda and Uijtdebroeks were Pidcock, Johannessen, and Roglic. The latter then increased the pace. Uijtdebroeks dropped back but fought his way back just before the line. Pellizzari, Sebastian Berwick, and Lorenzo Fortunato nearly rejoined too.

Pidcock wins convincingly
Uijtdebroeks saw this happen and launched an attack himself. Roglic neutralized it but then had no answer to an impressive surge from Pidcock. The Brit kept pushing on the pedals and shook off all his rivals. Johannessen stayed closest and secured second place, with Roglic shortly behind in third. Fourth and fifth positions went respectively to Pellizzari and Uijtdebroeks.