Jan Polanc snatched victory for UAE Team Emirates at the Trofeo Laigueglia, catching the leading trio that included teammates Alessandro Covi and Juan Ayuso in the final kilometre and then jumping away to win alone.
Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) looked the strongest in the front trio but as they eased, Polanc got back on with Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers). When he kicked, Rota didn’t move and Rodriguez looked tired, surrendering victory.
In the sprint to the line Ayuso and Covi completed a UAE Team Emirates podium, with Rota finishing fourth.
“I felt good during the race. We knew that Covi was the fastest and so we worked for him. But I wanted to do all I could for the team with two laps to go, so I attacked,” Polanc said after the finish.
“That’s why I suffered on the final lap and was dropped but I didn’t give up. I saw they’d eased up, so I thought I’d go for it and attack them. It worked out.”
UAE Team Emirates set-up their dominance on the descent to the finishing circuits with 50km to go, placing six riders in the split of just 22.
“We knew the long descent to the start of the finishing circuits was dangerous so we went for it and rode on the front. We saw we’d got a gap and so we worked with Intermarché to make sure we stayed away.
“This win is for my family. I’m a domestique and so don’t win very often. But when I do, it’s emotional and so something to celebrate.”