First sprint, first podium: Lonardi takes 3rd in the final stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana

First sprint of the year, first podium for Giovanni Lonardi, who finished 3rd behind Milan and Stewart in the only stage suited for pure sprinters at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana!

This result in the final raceday is both an individual boost and a demonstration of team strength. Despite being reduced to five riders due to Samuele Zoccarato’s withdrawal (struggling with stomach issues throughout the week) Team Polti VisitMalta protected Davide Piganzoli’s 14th place in the GC from the crosswinds of Albufera Natural Park — despite a puncture suffered by Davide Bais — and then guided their sprinter into the regional capital. Mirco Maestri and the excellent Fran Muñoz led him up to the final kilometer. Notably, captain Maestri never stopped pushing and came close to a top-10 finish.

Lonardi himself recounted what happened: “After the great work from my teammates, I positioned myself at the back of the Lidl-Trek train and tried to stay as sheltered as possible. Beating Milan was impossible, but maybe I could have finished second instead of third if I had taken less wind. In any case, it was the first opportunity of 2025 and it went quite well!”

Sports director Stefano Zanatta: “The wind made for a tense day, but Polti VisitMalta worked perfectly together and controlled the situation. Seeing our efforts rewarded with a third place, at the end of a week where we performed well on a demanding course, is truly satisfying.”