"It's the end of the season, a lot of guys are tired" - Alessandro Covi pounces on surprise Giro del Veneto opportunity to upset UAE at Italian classic
Cycling
Alessandro Covi upset the odds at the end of the 2026 Giro del Veneto to surge to victory in the Italian one-day classic. Upsetting his former team, UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the Jayco AlUla rider admits tired legs could've led to his big win.
A first victory for the Australian team after joining this season, he breaks an 18-month spell without a win after shooting out from Brandon McNulty's lead-out inside the final 400 metres.
Launching an impressive sprint, he held off a surging Anthon Charmig as well as UAE's chosen sprinter Benoit Cosnefroy in a convincing finale in Vicenza. Speaking after the victory, the 28-year-old was delighted to take the win.
"Yeah, you never know, it's difficult to win. Also, if I arrive in October, it's still a big victory. I mean, it's a victory," he said in his post-race interview.
"Also, it's a nice race, I did it already a few times. And it's the end of the season, a lot of guys are tired, me too. But it's nice to win, to win with a new jersey. [It has been, Ed.] Ten months to arrive at this victory, but still, it's a super nice feeling."
Alessandro Covi wins the 2026 Giro del Veneto
Covi given opportunity mid-race
However, at the beginning of the one-day race, Covi's job wasn't to sprint at all as the team favoured Andrea Vendrame. However, his teammate wasn't on a good day as the team switched focus to Covi and he received support from his compatriot.
"In the plan, [Andrea] Vendrame was the guy for the sprint, but in the middle of the circuit, he came to me and said 'I don't feel super good, stay calm, don't move, just wait for the sprint'.
"In the end, I did exactly what he said, I never moved. I always stayed in the first group, I just tried for the sprint, and then I won. So, it's super nice also from Andrea to give me this chance, it's super nice for me."
Veneto classic opportunity remains
Covi's season isn't over yet as he lines up for the Veneto Classic on Sunday, With a win under his belt another big opportunity for victory, could he emerge as a favourite?
He added: "I think I took already a lot of energy for the final season. I'm very tired, but yes, why not? We race Sunday with motivation, and you never know."
Covi's sprint denied UAE on Wednesday, who had featured prominently at the front throughout the race. Attacking with Brandon McNulty with 15 kilometres to go, they switched tactic in the finale when things came back together.
As McNulty set a hard pace inside the final kilometre, the lead-out for Cosnefroy also proved to be a launchpad for the Italian as he took advantage of the pace to hit out for victory.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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