Filippo Conca surprises everyone and takes the tricolor jersey

In Gorizia, the site of the finish of the in-line test of the Italian Road Cycling Championships, the name you don&#8217t expect emerges: it is Filippo Conca of ASD Swatt Club (a team of the UCI Continental minor circuit) who won the sprint to the short-length, thus going for the tricolor jersey. Second place for Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates XRG), third Thomas Pesenti (Soudal-Quick Step).

Completing the Top 5 are Giovanni Aleotti of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Mattia Gaffuri, the winner&#8217s teammate at ASD Swatt Club. Determining the quintet that arrived to play for success all the way to the finish line was the last climb of the circuit, toward San Floriano del Collino, which robbed riders such as Jonathan Milan (however, very good at playing it up to that point) and Davide Formolo (protagonist despite himself in a crash along with Luca Cretti) of the chance to arrive in Gorizia with a chance of success.

Just before the last climb Filippo Ganna also raised the white flag, and thus failed to reach among the leaders after the 228.8-kilometer route. The next appointment for the Verbanese rider, who nevertheless leaves the week dedicated to the Italian Championships with a victory in the time trial, will be the Tour de France, where he will attempt the assault on the yellow jersey in the first days of the race.

The spotlight, however, is all on Filippo Conca, who at the age of 26 became champion of Italy, succeeding Alberto Bettiol, winner in 2024. Today&#8217s is the fourth professional victory for Conca, winner of the Giro del Valdarno in 2019, the Extragiro in 2020, as well as the Tour de la Provence in 2021.

The spotlight is all on Conca.