Marc Hirschi enjoys absolutely phenomenal autumn form: "I have luck on my side at the moment and I hope it can continue"

In the autumn of this season, as well as his stay at UAE Team Emirates, Marc Hirschi has found absolutely phenomenal legs. Since the Olympic Games which took place in early August, the Swiss champion has gone undefeated in five high-level classics in a row. His latest scalp has become the Memorial Marco Pantani.

The main selection was expected on the quintuple ascent of Diolaguardia (8.3 km at 3.6% with 1.5 km at 8.3%), but with 40 kilometers of flat roads on the Adriatic coast, it was likely that a rather large group would sprint for the victory on the day. And that's exactly what happened as a rather large group arrived on the city circuit in Cesenatico. Marc Hirschi, enjoying a strong support from his team, was able to outsprint Lorenzo Milesi and Vincenzo Albanese.

"It was a tough race which we controlled from the start," the Swiss champion recognized. With a strong lineup such as the one UAE Team Emirates selected for the race, it must've been clear to everyone they won't only wait for the final sprint.

Hirschi confirms it had been a tactic to try to reduced the peloton as much as possible on the hilly circuit to reduce as much threat as possible. That didn't work out and so the team tried to play it tactically, sending Filippo Baroncini in an attack to save legs of his teammates back in the main group.

"We opened the race up early with an attack from Baroncini which was a good situation for us. We tried to block a bit behind but unfortunately he came back in the final 500m and so I sprinted behind, following the right wheels and making the most of the headwind. It’s nice to continue this winning streak. I have luck on my side at the moment and I hope it can continue."

Hirschi will have another chance to extend his winning streak at the Trofeo Matteotti (1.1) tomorrow. But even if he fails, the series of victories at Clasica San Sebastian, Bretagne Classic, GP Industria, Coppa Sabatini and now Memorial Marco Pantani is a record to be proud of.