After having managed to place two riders in the top-10 of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, including Quebecer Guillaume Boivin (ninth), the Israel Start-Up Nation team continued its good streak. Tuesday, at the Three Valleys Varesines event, their color bearer Alessandro De Marchi was the first to cross the finish line at the end of the 197 kilometers separating Busto Arsizio and Varese.
Quebecers James Piccoli and Robin Plamondon, both of Israel Start-Up Nation, did not finish the race in the rain, where only 41 runners of the 168 starters reached the finish line. Promoted to the World Tour team for a few races at the end of the season, Plamondon joined the leading group after 30 kilometers to then be dropped with 115 kilometers to go.
De Marchi, who wore the pink Giro jersey for two days last spring, attacked from the leading group with ten kilometers to go. Davide Formolo (UAE-Team Emirates) then jumped on his wheel and the two Italians played cat and mouse in the last kilometer, but it was De Marchi who had the best sprint.
The day before, at the Coppa Bernocchi, James Piccoli had taken 46th place.
It should be noted that this was the 100th edition of the Trois varésines valleys. The 2012 edition was won by Quebecer David Veilleux.
