Moser escapes to victory in 2013 Strade Bianche
Italy's beautiful and famed Chianti region laid ground for today's exciting 2013 edition of the Strade Bianche race, which presented the peloton with a scenic gravel and pave route taking the riders from Gaiole to Siena.
Team Cannondale Pro Cycling's Moreno Moser became the first Italian to win the Strade Bianche. Moser secured his victory by attacking in solo fashion on the gravel roads about 17 kilometer from the finish line.
Moser then managed to keep away a visciously chasing breakaway group which featured riders such as Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R), last year's winner Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team), Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling), Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha Team), and Moser's teammate Peter Sagan, who would eventually cross the finish line in 2nd place - one second ahead of Nocentini.
Commenting on his surprise attack, Moser explained "My attack was instinctive. In races like this, there isn't time or room for too many tactics. I saw the pace drop for a moment and attacked. Sagan was the rider everyone felt they had to watch and I exploited that."
"In the final kilometers I had to risk losing it all. None of the riders who were with me would give me any help. They were probably right declining to help. When I saw the group arrive from behind, I was afraid, but I didn't panic. I kept cool because I knew that of the riders in the group behind me, Peter (Sagan) would certainly have won the race. So it was about the team today."
"I've always thought this race suited me. Even in the youth categories. In this sense I can say I resemble my uncle Francesco Moser [The 1977 World Champion and classics legend]."
Moser told Roadcycling.com he is now focused on winning the 2013 Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He will prepare for these classics by taking part in Tirreno-Adriatico followed by Milan-San Remo.
