Swiss champion Patrick Muller enjoys the “Belvedere”

(Photo Credits: Foto Bolgan)

28-03-2016

Team BMC’s perfect race leads Patrick Muller to success in the Italian classic surrounded by an impressive crowd. Italian Bagioli and Croat Rumac rounded out the podium.

Three years after Stefan Küng’s victory, American BMC Team led another Swiss rider to success in Villa di Cordignano (Treviso, Northern Italy). The 78th Giro del Belvedere’s outcome delighted Patrick Muller, the Swiss national champion turning 20 in a few days, who wrapped up in style the perfect race of his team with a powerful sprint on the slightly sloping finish.

The race sparkled up quite early, as the main move of the day happened very soon when 16 riders launched on attack after 30 km, three of whom managed to be in contention for the win until the final metres: Croatia’s Josip Rumac (third overall), Italy’s Stefano Ippolito and USA’s Taylor Eisenhart, Muller’s teammate at BMC, who was in the spotlights the whole day.

“Eisenhart was a perfect reference point for me – Patrick Muller explained – as well as the team, tirelessly working to bring me to the sprint at my best. I couldn’t hope for anything better”.

The Zalf-Euromobil team tried to setup Andrea Vendrame for an historical repeat, and went not that far from the goal, as the 2015 winner was one of the 13 riders contesting the decisive sprint, though his teammate Nicola Bagioli proved stronger on the day, taking second. Nevertheless, Zalf had a main role in successfully chasing the four survivors of the morning breakaway, after the two team riders among the escapees, Andreoletti and Rocchetti, could not hold up the pace.

The resiliency of the four leaders, caught back on the final climb on the Montaner slopes, paved the way to the Swiss champion who has to be grateful to his teammate Taylor Eisenhart. Team BMC surely has developed a special feeling with Giro del Belvedere, whose resounding success and massive prestige have been confirmed by the huge crowd surrounding the race in a cloudy but dry day.

78th Giro del Belvedere Results: 1. Patrick Muller (BMC, Sui) km 166 in 3h48’15”, media kmh 43,636; 2. Nicola Bagioli (Zalf-Euromobil, Ita) st; 3. Josip Rumac (Synergy Baku,Cro); 4. Andrea Marchi (Palazzago Amaru, Ita); 5. Andrea Vendrame (Zalf Euromobil, Ita); 6. Seid Lizde (Colpack, Ita); 7. Matteo Fabbro (Team Friuli, Ita); 8. Hart Tao Geoghegan (Axeon, Gbr); 9. Stefano Ippolito (Palazzago Amaru); 10. Hopplà Petroli Firenze). Starters 191, finishers 101.