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Pello Bilbao of Team Bahrain Victorious won a sprint for second place behind stage winner Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R Citroën Team) in the opening round of the 45th Tour of the Alps yesterday.
The Frenchman had been part of the initial breakaway which built up a lead of 7’45”, before the first climb, the category 2 Passo Brocon. It was
Bahrain Victorious who were active at the front and pulled the peloton, reducing the gap to 4 minutes at the first KoM.
🗣 @PelloBilbao1990 : “We showed that we can do great things in this race” @Tourof_TheAlps
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) April 18, 2022
👊👊👊#RideAsOne #TotA #LiveUphill pic.twitter.com/AizEs46uFj
Bouchard was all alone at the front of the race by the top of the day’s other categorised climb, the third cat Passo Gobbera, and with Ineos Grenadiers helping, there were 5 TBV riders pushing the pace as the leader’s advantage fell to 2’30”. It was down to a minute when the race entered its denouement – a 13.5k lap around Fiera di Primiero, including a kick to the finish with maximum gradients of nine per cent.
Bahrain Victorious were once again dominant in the chase, and although Bouchard managed to hold on for victory, five seconds behind, Bilbao came around and through a big group, passing five riders to take the sprint for second place ahead of rivals including Romain Bardet, Pavel Sivakov, Miguel Angel Lopez and Richie Porte.
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