Anders Foldager put in a powerful performance to put Team Jayco AlUla onto the podium at the Coppa Sabatini.
The Danish rider, who claimed his first-ever professional win earlier this year, kept calm in an aggressive race to take third place after Swiss rider Marc Hirschi rode to a solo win.
Team Jayco AlUla fielded a young squad with plenty of promise at the Italian one-day race. With a relentlessly hilly parcours, the peloton was quickly whittled down but Foldager, and fellow WorldTour debutant, Davide De Pretto were among the around 20 riders still remaining in the main bunch.
As the day’s breakaway loomed into sight inside the final 40 kilometres, Hirschi launched his attack. Behind, there were attempts from several riders, including Foldager and De Pretto, to bridge the gap but the Swiss stayed away.
Foldager ultimately made it into a four-rider chasing group, while De Pretto kept a watchful eye in the bunch behind. The uphill finale was well suited to the Dane, and he put in a big sprint to claim a strong third-place finish.
Anders Foldager:
“After the big split in the peloton, Davide and I worked well together to follow the moves and I slipped into a good group behind Hirschi, who was too strong today. The last 20km were hard in the front as we were trying to come back to Hirschi. But in the end, I’m happy with the podium. I raced the race aggressively from the front, and that’s what I like to do.”
2024 Coppa Sabatini results
1. Marc Hirschi 04:53:00
2. Gregor Mühlberger +28
3. Anders Foldager (Team Jayco AlUla) +28
Photo: Sprint Cycling
