16 Apr 2025

Zoccarato, KOM leader at the Giro d’Abruzzo

Giro d'Abruzzo (2.1)

Stage 2: Tocco da Casauria - Penne (138km)

Great stage for Team Polti VisitMalta on the second day of the Giro d’Abruzzo. The shortest day was at the same time explosive and had the constant protagonist of the Italian team, which climbed the podium as KOM leader,

It was difficult to form the breakaway of the day, but after 30 kilometres Samuele Zoccarato managed to take the lead with Petilli (IWA). Both of them faced the climb to Forcella di Acciano, where the Polti VisitMalta rider was the first to cross the climb.

The gap of around 2 minutes left no margin, and Zoccarato set a superior pace on Forca di Penne to hold on to the lead and secure his KOM jersey. Even his team-mate Crescioli behind him kept a watchful eye on the counter-attacks to defend the team’s interests, in the fight to form a new breakaway.

With less than 30 seconds and the main group pressing behind, the Italian rider was neutralised with 15 kilometres to go, at which point Team VisitMalta took the lead of the main bunch. The finish to Penne promised a battle, with the team’s riders tightening the group. However, they were unable to finish with a good result at the finish. Fernando Tercero (11th) is the best placed rider in the general classification.

Samuele Zoccarato: “It was a short, explosive stage, with the hardest climb in the middle part. I tried to be in the breakaway, I was in the break that was the protagonist and I fought for the KOM jersey. Afterwards, the team has shown a solidity as a block, with several riders still in the fight for the overall. I’m happy and we’ll keep fighting to defend the jersey we won today”.

Stefano Zanatta, sport director: “The attitude of the team was fantastic, with Zoccarato in the fight for the breakaway and winning the mountains classification, as well as the team setting the pace on the approach to the finish. We worked well, but we couldn’t contest the finish. Tercero is still ahead in the overall without losing time and with that situation, we have options to do well tomorrow”.

Tomorrow the Giro d’Abruzzo faces the third stage and the queen day. There will be 160 kilometres with a summit finish in Roccaraso (Aremogna), a climb of 16 kilometres at 5% but with several sections with ramps above 7.5%.