Quebecer James Piccoli (Israel Start-Up Nation) had a ringside seat to see Irishman Dan Martin in action for one last time, he who retired from road cycling at the end of the Tour of Lombardy on Saturday in Italy.
Piccoli’s teammate finished at 38and rank, 5 minutes 36 seconds from the leader.
At 35, Martin retires with a sense of accomplishment, thanks in particular to victories in the Tour of Poland in 2010 and the Tour of Catalonia in 2013. He also won two stage victories in the Tour de France in 2013 and in 2018.
As for Piccoli, he was unable to complete the race, like three other of his teammates. Only 107 of the 175 participants were able to complete the 239 km route between the Italian cities of Como and Bergamo.
It was the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Emirates), winner of the most recent Tour de France, who won, for the first time in his career in Lombardy. He sprinted ahead of the Italian Fausto Masnada (Deceuninck-Quick Step).
Britain’s Adam Yates (INEOS Grenadiers) took third place (+51 seconds), in a small group of cyclists that also included Ontario’s Michael Woods (9andIsrael Start-Up Nation).
