Armitt soars into the breakaway in Sardegna

Scottish second-year professional Hamish Armitt lit the touch paper for Team Novo Nordisk on stage one of the Giro di Sardegna, sparking the initial breakaway and driving the move on.

190km of hilly racing started out of picturesque Castelsardo on the Northeastern coast and headed south towards Bosa. 

Armitt was the first to attack out of the peloton over the opening kilometers, staying solo out front before being finally joined by four other riders eventually gaining five minutes over the bunch.

“Incredible day really,” began Armitt. “After having a difficult time in Valenciana I’m happy to be feeling good again and to be able to start the Giro di Sardegna by getting into the breakaway on the first stage is really positive. We get to show ourselves in the best way possible.”

“Today really opened the legs up with the hilly terrain and even though there as good collaboration in the group, I think towards the end I began to regret pulling so much. When the attacks started to come from behind, I should have sat on a bit more but it’s easy to say that now. It’s another step forward and I’m happy with how the day went.”

With around 50km to go the race defining attacks came from behind Armitt’s group and  as the chasing peloton split on the final climbs, so did the lead group with a quartet going on to fight for the win and Armitt finishing in the second bunch.