"It was quite impossible to overcome them" - Filippo Zana thwarted by the numbers game at the Veneto Classic
Cycling
Filippo Zana was forced to settle for third in his final race of 2023. The former Italian national champion looked well positioned but in the finale was outdone by a UAE Team Emirates double act.
“I’m happy to finish off my season with a podium," said Zana to the official website of Team Jayco AlUla in a post-race interview. The 24-year-old had looked good when he attacked on the gravelly climb at Diesel Farm and crested solo. On the descent though, he was joined by a pair of UAE Team Emirates riders in Davide Formolo and Marc Hirschi.
"I tried to go solo quite a few times, but the UAE riders were able to work as a double, and it was quite impossible to overcome them," Zana concluded his recap. "I knew the roads very well and gave it everything I had."
Nevertheless, it has been another impressive season for the Italian who became a Grand Tour stage winner earlier this year at the Giro d'Italia and took overall victory at the Tour of Slovenia. "Now I’ll look forward to a break, and to coming back for the new season refreshed and ready to go again!”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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🗣️ RACE RECAP 📰 "I’m happy to finish off my season with a podium. I tried to go solo quite a few times." Filippo Zana reacts to a super ride to 3rd at the #VenetoClassic🇮🇹 Report and quotes 🔊👉 bit.ly/VenetoClassic 📸 @SprintCycling
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