GUARDINI WHIZZES AT QINGHAI LAKE: WINNING SPRINT IN STAGE TEN!
“I TOOK OFF A WEIGHT, I WISH COULD BE THE SPRINGBOARD FOR A GREAT SEASON FINALE”
Bardiani-CSF finds the way back to success thanks to Andrea Guardini. The Italian rider today has been the fastest in the bunch sprint of stage ten of Tour of Qinghai Lake (Jingchang-Wuwei, 116 km) beating Van der Kooij (Monkey Town) and Cima (Nippo-Fantini-Faizanè).
“The adrenaline transmitted by a victory is like oxygen for a sprinter. Being again on the highest step of the podium is a weight off my mind, ” said Guardini. “My season so far did not respect my expectations. I lacked continuity of results and that unique feeling that only success can give. Now, wherever we race in the world, the level of competition is always higher. We must face every challenge always at the top and never give up, even when the results don’t come. Today I found myself again. Now let’s keep high our concentration: I wish could be the springboard for a great season finale. “
So far in China Guardini had struggled to express himself at the maximum, above all for the altitude. “It has always been my weak point, but I also knew I was well prepared for this race. It was necessary to hold on and wait for the right chance, as happened today”.
“We named Grosu’s wheel the best option for the sprint. Albanese did a great job keeping me attached to his train and allowing to save precious energies. I passed the last corner at 600 meters from the finish line in fourth position. That was great, but the risk of a too long a sprint was high. I waited, then Balkan moved to anticipate and I immediately launched myself in his wake. Time to catch my breath and I launched the winning sprint “.
In addition to the joy for the success (the second both for rider both for Bardiani-CSF in 2019, after stage 3 of Istrian Spring Trophy), the thought of Guardini is for teammate Alessandro Tonelli, victim of a bad accident in the sixth stage and still recovering in the hospital. “Dedicating this victory to him is the least I can do. Cycling is beautiful sport, but it can also leave a deep mark. Alessandro is a tough guy, he will come back stronger than before ”.
For Guardini this is the fourth winning sprint in the Chinese race, after the three scored in 2012 with Farnese-Selle Italia. In his career he has reached 45 victories.
Tour of Qinghai Lake will now face its last three stages which, on paper, will have again sprinters as protagonists.