"I want to give the team another victory" - Vincenzo Albanese has unfinished business in EOLO-Kometa before his transfer next season

Wout Van Aert cleverly won the Coppa Bernocchi on Monday, completing the excellent work of his Jumbo-Visma teammates. EOLO-Kometa's Vincenzo Albanese finished in second place, which felt like a victory for the Italian.

Albanese was no longer able to pass Van Aert in the sprint, but that didn't bother him much. "I am happy, actually even a bit enthusiastic, with this podium place next to a phenomenon like Van Aert. When you finish second behind him, it almost feels like a victory. It was a difficult race, even more difficult than expected, but the legs were fine."

Ultimately, nine riders remained at the front, including Albanese. "I was the only one who had no teammates left, so it was important to chase the other guys and then aim for my sprint. That was my only option," he said in a press release from his team.

Albanese will leave EOLO-Kometa for Arkéa Samsic at the end of this year. "I keep repeating that I want to give the team another victory, to thank them for the past three years. There are still a few races left, but I will keep trying," said the Italian, who has been riding very consistently all season. However, he was unable to win, despite almost twenty places in the top ten.