UAE Team Emirates’ Sacha Modolo places sixth at legendary Tour of Flanders

Monday, 03 April 2017, United Arab Emirates: Italian Sacha Modolo, UAE Team Emirates, crossed the finish line at the 101st Tour of Flanders amongst the top ten alongside Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina), Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Merida), John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) and Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie). Modolo was in great form, garnering a significant sixth place as Philip Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) was victorious. 

“For me it is as if I had won; I am very pleased with my placement,” says Modolo. “After coming in fourth at the Milan-San Remo in my professional debut, people were expecting great things from me, but for one reason or another I couldn’t continue performing at that level. I had lost some self-confidence and started thinking that perhaps I wasn’t suited to these types of races, even though everyone close to me, continued to encourage me to keep the faith. With today’s race, I am finally back achieving good results and I hope to continue along this road.”

The 101st edition of the race of the walls (Tour of Flanders) started from Antwerp after 19 editions in Bruges, covering 260 km. The first 116 km were flat followed by 18 murrs (walls) called this because of the steep, short incline, before reaching the finish line in Oudenaarde.

Oliviero Troia, who had turned pro earlier in 2016, also had an enthusiastic debut. The 22 year-old was a key player from the outset in a breakaway move with seven other riders that lasted no less than 192 km. 

Reflecting on the race Troia said: “today I experienced an incredible feeling. To break away for nearly 200 km in the middle of two sides of a continuing tide of cheering crowds was something that had never happened to me before.” 

Troia continued: “When I got caught I tried to give what I had left to set up the race final as best I could for Sacha Modolo; then I had to raise the white flag because I was exhausted. I’m sure that in a few years I will come back here to figure as a major player all the way to the end.” 

Top Ten Race Results for the Tour of Flanders

1    Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors             6:23:45
2    Greg Van Avermaet, Bmc Racing                      0:00:28
3    Niki Terpstra, Quick-Step Floors                        0:00:28
4    Dylan Van Baarle, Cannondale-Drapac               0:00:28
5    Alexander Kristoff, Katusha-Alpecin                   0:00:52
6    Sacha Modolo, UAE Team Emirates                  0:00:52
7    John Degenkolb, Trek-Segafredo                       0:00:52
8    Filippo Pozzato, Wilier-Triestina                         0:00:52
9    Sylvain Chavanel, Direct Energie                       0:00:52
10    Sonny Colbrelli, Bahrain-Merida                        0:00:52