Jose Serpa, the Colombian climber from Lampre-Merida won the Trofeo Laigueglia after out sprinting his break away companion, Patrick Sinkewitz (Meridiana). Andrea Pasqualon (Aero Zero) won a small bunch sprint for 3rd.
Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung had clear intentions from the start as Dennis Van Niekerk, Adrien Niyonshuti and Songezo Jim were covering all the early moves in the hope of making the days break. Jim’s efforts proved successful as he got into a move with Robinson Chalapud (Colombia), Christophe Laborie (Bretagne – Seche) and Simone Petilli (Aero Zero). They would eventually stretch out a lead to just under 7 minutes.
Jim was pleased with his efforts. “The plan was to get into the break today and we did that. I was happy to be in the break and even managed 2nd in the KOM which was not too bad. My condition was okay today but I know I have to train really hard now for the coming races,” Jim said shortly after the finish.
The Italian teams were committed in bringing the break back and the race was all together before the final climb of the day. It was on this final climb that Serpa and Sinkewitz launched their race winning attack. The pair summited the Cima Paravenna with a minute’s advantage over a 24 man chase group and was able to maintain an advantage for the next 30km to the line.
Martin Reimer, Jay Thomson and Johann van Zyl all finished in the 2nd main group for Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung, 2’37” behind the Colombian victor. Unfortunately the team suffered some misfortune out on the route when Martin Wesemann had to abandon following a crash.
Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will now turn their attention to the next race on its calendar, Le Tour de Langkawi starting next week.
