18/06/2023

Matej Mohoric wins final Tour of Slovenia stage as Filippo Zana resists attack to conquer overall classification

Filippo Zana survived the attack of Matej Mohoric and has won the overall classification, as the Bahrain - Victorious rider took the stage win.

The final stage of the race had an uphill start which saw a strong group going up the road including Embret Svestad-Bardseng, Martin Voltre, Marcel Camprubi, Alessandro Iacchi, Ziga Horvat, Samuele Zoccarato and Simon Pellaud. However the gap was steadily controlled and the GC riders soon understood they'd fight for the stage win.

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With the small gaps that existed before the start of the stage, tension was high and every second mattered. The final survivors of the breakaway were caught at the start of the final 1.7-kilometer climb, as the action quickly started.

Matej Mohoric launched an acceleration that was followed by a few riders, but on the very steep gradients soon the peloton began to blow to pieces. The Slovenian kept accelerating the pace, and soon only race leader Zana could follow. The two both looked very strong pushing the pace until the summit of the climb where the gap was significant to the first chasers.

Mohoric got a small gap in the descent, but dreams of the overall win faded as the Italian still had the legs and sprinted across the gap. The duo then worked together briefly, but with enough time on the Slovenian, Zana didn't let the pace lower and continued working all the way into the finish.

Without surprise Mohoric then outsprinted, dedicating the victory to Gino Mäder. Zana crossed the line in second to confirm the overall win, whilst Luka Mezgec sprinted to third place from behind.