Lorenzo Rota: "I’m satisfied that I was in the mix for the podium"

Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux had a strong outing today at Trofeo Laigueglia with Domenico Pozzovivo showing good form, but above all with Lorenzo Rota who was not far from a brilliant performance that had him within a shot of the win.

"Thanks to the initiative of our road captain Jan Bakelants we managed to explode the peloton and to be present in a leading group of around twenty riders with almost the entire team. Théo Delacroix, Quinten Hermans and Simone Petilli first increased the pace on the Testico climb before the local laps. They continued to put pressure on the other teams downhill and split the peloton. It truly was a team effort and therefore I really want to thank my teammates. They made the race very hard and created the conditions in which I perform best," Rota said after the race, praising the efforts of his teammates.

Despite an impressive performance, Rota only managed to finish Trofeo Laigueglia in fourth place as he was swarmed by the UAE Team Emirates squad. He was a part of the decisive move alongside teammates Jan Bakelants and Simone Petilli, and resisted the attacks dealt on the climbs and technical descent, later on having to pace his way up the final ascent all by himself with his rivals in the wheel. In the run-up to the line Rota also did well in not allowing neither Covi or Ayuso to use their numerical advantage, however when a third UAE rider came from behind in Jan Polanc and surprised, there was little Rota could do.

"I’m satisfied that I was in the mix for the podium in my first races of the season, three high-level semi classics, especially knowing that I just got back from an altitude camp in Colombia. I can’t wait for the next races!"

With Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico coming up shortly, the Bergamo native will have some more good opportunities to show off his good form.