Cycling: Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale) has clinched his first pro win. The 24-year-old won the 47th edition of the Tour de Vendée on Saturday. This weekend, Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) and Soren Kragh Andersen also had reasons to celebrate.
Nico Denz manages the perfect end to the season
You never forget the first win of your career. Therefore will Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale) the Tower of Vendée Keep 2018 in positive memory forever. The 24-year-old German was able to secure his first success as a professional in his last race of the season. On the 206,4 kilometer route, he initially broke away from the peloton together with 16 companions. Despite Nacer Bouhanni in his own ranks, Cofidis was unable to provide the necessary pace in the peloton, so the breakaway group had the best chance of getting through. Finally, with Nico Denz, Lennert Teugels (Cibel-Cebon) and Gian Friesecke (Vorarlberg-Samsis), three professionals from the leading group pulled away. This trio was not recaptured. So there was an exciting triple sprint on the home stretch, which Nico Denz won.
Nico Denz:
"I've been waiting for this win for a while. I've been a pro for three years now. That is great satisfaction. I felt good all season, but there was always something missing.”
Alessandro De Marchi's courage is rewarded
The Italian was also allowed on Saturday Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) raise their hands in celebration. The 32-year-old celebrated at the 101st edition of the Giro dell'Emilia his second win of the season after winning the eleventh stage of the Vuelta a Espana won. The northern Italian autumn classic led the drivers over 207,4 kilometers around Bologna. Unfortunately, the weather was not kind to the pros, as most of the route had to be completed in the rain. This seems to suit Alessandro De Marchi in particular, because he also celebrated his stage win in Spain in the rain. Around 30 kilometers from the finish, Alessandro De Marchi broke away from a leading group. After his lead was sometimes almost a minute, he collapsed shortly before the finish. Ultimately, however, he was able to save eight seconds from Rigoberto Uran (EF-Education) at the pilgrimage church of Madonna di San Luca.
No sprint at Paris-Tours
There was still cycling on Sunday – and again a breakaway prevailed. On the last kilometers of the one-day race Paris Tours were with Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb), Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors) and Benoit Cosnefroy (AG2R La Mondiale) three riders in a promising position. However, they were no longer in agreement when no one threatened to catch up from behind. Finally, Sören Kragh Andersen took advantage of the situation around ten kilometers from the finish and attacked his two companions. As so often in cycling, they only looked at each other afterwards - and the day's victory was awarded. 25 seconds later, Terpstra won the two-man sprint ahead of Cosnefroy.
Bauke Mollema wins the Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli
A conciliatory end of the season also has Build Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) laid on the asphalt. The Dutchman won the on Sunday afternoon Gran Prize Bruno Beghelli. He completed the hilly course with start and finish in Monteveglio after just under four and a half hours ahead of Carlos Barbero (Movistar) and Manuel Bellettini (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec). After his success in the second stage of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali at the end of March this year, victory in the Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli was his second of the season. While things didn't go so well for Bauke Mollema in the 2018 Grand Tours, he can now look forward to a decent end to the season.