Italy’s Alessandro Tonelli takes historic victory in 75th VCV premiere
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Doblete del conjunto italiano VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè gracias al segundo puesto de Manuele Tarozzi en la meta ubicada en Castellón.
Castellón. 31 January 2024. The VCV – Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Gran Premi Banc Sabadell has started this Wednesday with the victory of the Italian Alessandro Tonelli at the finish line in Castellón. A historic victory for the humble VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè team, which has also added a double thanks to the second place of Manuele Tarozzi, which also allows them to lead the team classification. A great day for the Italian armada in a premiere of the 75th VCV in which Oier Lazkano, Movistar Team’s Spanish champion, also shone, and in which the breakaway managed to reach the finish despite the final efforts of a peloton led by Matej Mohoric, whose efforts on the descent of the Desert de les Palmes were not enough to fight for the final stage win.
The morning started with the usual signing control, which took place at the Carrer del Clot in Benicàssim. Cycling fans in the province of Castellón were able to get up close, have their photos taken and, in short, meet the best cyclists in the international peloton. A signing control in which tribute was paid to Paco Soliva, a fundamental figure in understanding cycling in Benicàssim. A recognition by the organization of the 75th VCV to a person who has dedicated his life to develop the sport of cycling through the Peña Ciclista de Benicàssim and who was a pioneer in the development of future elite cyclists.
Once the signature control was finished, the race kicked off. The first ribbon cutting of the 75th VCV was attended by the mayoress of Benicàssim, Susana Marqués; the provincial deputy for sports, Iván Sánchez; the delegate of the Consell, Susana Fabregat; the deputy general manager and eastern territorial director of Banco Sabadell, Fernando Canós; the director of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, Juan Miguel Gómez; and the general manager of the 75th VCV, Ángel Casero.
The climb to the Desert de les Palmes, the highlight of the day, was to decide the fate of this first stage of the 75th VCV – Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Gran Premi Banc Sabadell. And that’s when the two Bardiani riders launched their bid. They were the only two who shared the team in the breakaway and they made it count with a joint attack 500 metres before the start of the climb. Both have distanced themselves from the breakaway and started a battle for victory with a dramatic finish.
Tarozzi got confused at a roundabout in the last metres and left the victory on a plate to Tonelli, who waited for his teammate to enter the finish line together and commemorate a historic day for a humble Italian team that debuted in this 75th VCV with a spectacular double. Oier Lazcano, Movistar’s Spanish champion, attacked on the descent of the Desert de les Palmes and managed to gain a few seconds on the favourites for the overall victory, taking the white jersey of the best young rider and showing that he is ready for important things in this 75th VCV. Gorka Sorarrain, from Caja Rural Seguros, led the first two climbs of the day and scored on the Desert de les Palmes, which earned him the mountains jersey.