Modolo earns win in sprint finish in Croatia

dubai — UAE Team Emirates’ duo Sacha Modolo and Jan Polanc won first and second place respectively in the final stage of Tour of Croatia putting Polanc in fifth place in the general classification while Vincenzo Nibali cinched overall victory in the GC with Jaime Roson (CajaRu-ralSeguros RGA) and Jan Hirt (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) finishing off the podium.

For Modolo, the Tour of Croatia is an important step towards the Giro d’Italia, the first of the Grand Tour races. “I’m happy that I completed a very good performance with the team, Jan and I achieved an impressive double. The final was not easy, it was necessary to have both power and stamina. My morale for the Giro is high,” he said.

The Tour of Croatia tested the team as they suffered several crashes over the six-day event. Meanwhile at the fourth Monument race in Brussels, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, UAE Team Emirates’ Rui Costa came 14th with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) claiming the top podium position, Dan Martin (Quick Step Floors) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) in second and third respectively.

Sporting Director Marco Marzano praised Costa’s performance. “Rui’s determination allowed him to be in the main group in the finale and he was close to the top 10 in the classification. His training has been focused on the Giro d’Italia and the race played out differently to how it has in the past, however he’s great in giving his best during the competition.”