After a fierce battle on the Monte Berico circuit, the New Zealander Corbin Strong of the Israel-PremierTech team won the 87th edition of the Giro del Veneto on Wednesday afternoon, outmuscling Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and young Frenchman Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) in a sodden uphill sprint.

Continuous rain, combined with a demanding course that offered no respite, made the race more selective than expected. Immediately after a spectacular start against the backdrop of the Arena in Verona, seven riders broke away: Ben Granger (Mg.K Vis-Colors for Peace), Adne Holter (Uno-X Mobility), German Gomez (Polti Kometa), Nicolas Zukowsky (Q36.5), and Davide Baldaccini (Corratec-Vini Fantini). Soon they were joined by Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) and local rider Kevin Pezzo Rosola (General Store-Essegibi-F.lli Curia), who also won the intermediate sprint in Lonigo dedicated to the late Davide Rebellin.

At its widest, the gap from the breakaway to the peloton stretched to 2’40”. Jayco AlUla and then UAE Team Emirates did the bulk of the chasing, and the escapees were duly reeled in 48 km from home. The Monte Berico climb (1 km at 7.2%) was lined on either side by fans despite the bad weather - and every ascent thinned the peloton further before the race blew apart completely at the start of the penultimate lap.

On the final full ascent of Monte Berico, 15 km from the finish, Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) and Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) attacked, followed by home riders Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla) and Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan). Alpecin, though, would thwart that move, just as Giulio Pellizzari’s (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) late counter was snuffed out less than two kilometres from the line. Corbin Strong’s impressive recent results suggested that he was the fastest rider among the 15 members of the lead group on paper - and so in proved in practice as the 24-year-old stormed home for perhaps the most prestigious win of his pro career to date.

RESULTS

1) Corbin Strong (Israel-PremierTech) in 3h50’03”
2) Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) s.t.
3) Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) s.t.
4) Davide De Pretto (Jayco AlUla) +03”
5) Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) +04”
6) Mattia Bais (Polti Kometa) s.t.
7) Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché-Wanty) +05”
8) Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) s.t.
9) Davide Toneatti (Astana Qazaqstan) s.t.
10) Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) s.t.

REACTIONS:

Corbin Strong (winner): ”I had wonderful memories of last year’s race, and I was really keen to come back this year to try and get a good result and finish the season on a high. The first laps of the circuit were very tricky and there were a few crashes, but fortunately I managed to stay out of trouble. The team did a great job, I trusted my abilities, I started my sprint early and it worked out well. On Sunday I’ll finish my season with the Veneto Classic, which is a completely different race. If it rains, the final gravel climb at Diesel Farm will be really tricky. It might be too tough for me, but riding with this momentum, let’s see if I can do something good."

Xandro Meurisse (2nd place): ”I love the Italian classics, I always feel comfortable during this period, and of course I won the Giro del Veneto in 2021. This new course (he won in Padova, editor's note) suits me better because it opens up different possibilities. It can be good for attackers, but also for faster riders like me. The team played it perfectly, but on a finish like this, Strong was unbeatable. I’ll end my season on Friday with the Serenissima Gravel, and I’d love to do so with a great result."

Romain Grégoire (3rd place): “I was here to win, so I can’t be completely satisfied with my result. I tried to follow Hirschi, but the move didn’t stick, so I gave it a shot in the sprint, but there were two riders faster than me. It’s been a solid season for me, but I’ve only won one race, and I want to win more. Sunday at the Veneto Classic, for example, is another good chance."