Ridolfo shows form as race splits early on final stage in Provence

Headwinds and early attacks on the third and final stage of the Tour de la Provence caused splits and echelons over the opening kilometers and cracked the peloton in two with Italian Filippo Ridolfo reading the race well for Team Novo Nordisk.

The longest stage of the race at 211km was in pieces from the off with a strong pace set over an eraly climb and from the resulting front spilt formed a 10 rider breakaway that stayed out front for the entirety of the stage.

A combination of winds and low temperatures added to a disorganized chase from the peloton to create an ideal situation for the leaders who went on to contest the stage win. 

Ridolfo had made the early splits on the right side of the race and remained part of the first peloton chasing behind the leaders and showing his early season form to be good.

“Another really hard day today,” said Ridolfo. “It was bitterly cold once again and a lot of us have really suffered these last three days and  I think also underestimated just how cold it was going to be.”

“The weather is part of racing at any time of the year and you have to try not to let it affect you as best you can. Despite the conditions I’m happy with my form for the first race of the season, aside from yesterday’s mountain stage we’ve had two decent results in tough conditions.

“Once it was clear that the break wasn’t comning back in the last kilometers I tried to hold a good position in the group and with around 500m to go I was at the limit and top 20 was as it good it got today.”