Spanish fiesta at the Tour of the Alps for Juan Pedro Lopez

An uncertain and hotly-contested edition of the Tour of the Alps found its worthy conclusion on Friday, April 19th, in Levico Terme, Trentino. For the second time in the history of the race organized by GS Alto Garda, a Spaniard earned the honors as overall winner.

A Basque, Mikel Landa, had broken the ice in 2016 in what was then the Giro del Trentino. Eight years later, an Andalusian, Juan Pedro Lopez, claimed his first career overall win at the Tour of the Alps, just days after taking his first pro success in stage three in Schwaz. The fact that the Melinda Green Jersey resembles the colors of “his” Betis Sevilla Team was only and additional motivation to grit his teeth and never let it go.

Lopez’s leadership wasn’t certainly unchallenged, with plenty of attacks hoping to upset the GC of the 47th edition of the Euroregional event in the final effort, 118.6 km around Levico Terme, in Valsugana, Trentino. The circuit in the Bernstol/Valle dei Mocheni, including a double ascent to Palù del Fersina (cat. 1) was where Bahrain Victorious tried to launch their attacks with Wout Poels and Antonio Tiberi.

While he couldn’t get a much-awaited success, the Italian will head to the Giro d’Italia carrying a beacon of hope for Italian cycling. Tiberi was third overall, 42” behind Lopez, and only four shy or runner up Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-Ag2r). The Australian looked solid throughout the whole week in the Euroregion but could never find the decisive move.

Decathlon-AG2R can take solace in Aurelien Paret-Peintre’s success in the final stage in Levico Terme: the Frenchman outsrptined Tiberi and his younger brother Valentin in a reduced group’s sprint. Rounding out the top-5 of the day were another Frenchman, Bardet (Team DSM), and Poels (Bahrain Victorious).

LOPEZ: “DEDICATED TO LUCA GUERCILENA”

In the post-race press conference, Lopez had a special thought for his Team Manager. “I am happy and full with emotions. This is for my family, my friends, my team, and especially for Luca Guercilena, who is not going through the best of times. This victory is for him,” he said. “We knew from the start that it would be tough, but today my team showed all its value, displaying great cohesion on the climbs. Compared to 2022 when I took the pink jersey, I am a stronger rider now.”

“The Tour of the Alps is a race I will always remember, not only for these special first times. I found fantastic territories and beautiful landscapes here, training here must also be a joy. This race has won my heart, I hope to return next year to defend the title.”

PARET-PEINTRE: "THRILLED FOR THIS VICTORY"

“I am very happy with this victory, it has been a really challenging week, but the team behaved in the best way,” said Aurelien Paret-Peintre. – “When in the final I looked around, I realized I could be among the fastest riders, and I timed my sprint perfectly.”

“As a team, we may have some regrets for Thursday’s stage: without the crash, O'Connor could have taken the jersey in Borgo Valsugana. We were coming from a high-altitude training camp on the Etna, and in this race, we were perhaps the strongest on the mountains. Our team loves this race, we like the environment, organization, and technical formula: our rundown to the Giro will pass through here next year too.”

HOW IT UNFOLDED

In the flat stretch after the start from Levico and before the Bernstol/Mocheni Valley circuit, the race was controlled by the EF-Education EasyPost team at a very high pace: over 50 km/h average in the first hour.

However, as soon as the road started to rise towards Palù del Fersina, Thomas (INEOS-Grenadiers) and Pellizzari (VF-Group Bardiani) shook things up with a move, joined shortly after by Carthy (EF-Education). The trio reached the KOM with a 45” advantage, that didn’t prove enough to hold back the return of the peloton, led by Lidl-Trek.

On the second time up towards Palù del Fersina, it was Tiberi who accelerated, but even the Italian was brought back by Lidl-Trek, before Poels took his shot. The Dutch managed to open a gap of about 30 seconds before the KOM.

At this stage, Lidl-Trek found collaboration by Decathlon to chase down the Dutchman, who was also reeled in back in the valley. On the Tenna ascent, the last climb of the #TotA, Tiberi, Pellizzari, and Bardet tried one after the other, but at that point it was nearly done for Lopez. Approaching the last kilometer, Bahrain tried to set up Tiberi for the sprint for stage victory, but Paret-Peintre proved to be the fastest to the finish line in Levico Terme.

In addition to the third place overall, Antonio Tiberi claimed the Würth White Jersey as best young rider, as the likes of Bernal, O’Connor and Arensman did before him. The Gruppo Cassa Centrale KOM blue jersey went to Simon Carr (EF-Education EasyPost), while the DAO Conad points classification red jersey and the Subito breakaway king ochre jersey were won by Tobias Foss (INEOS Grenadiers) and Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling), respectively.

THE REGIONS PRESIDENTS’ REACTIONS

“Together with the competition between some of the best cyclists in the world, this edition of the Tour of the Alps has shown what beautiful landscapes our territories have to offer, and that they are perfectly suited to cycling as a sport, as a healthy lifestyle and as a practical and sustainable means of transportation," said Arno Kompatscher, President of Bozen/Bolzano Autonomous Province, and current President of the Tirol-Südtirol/Alto Adige-Trentino Euroregion.

“As current president of the Tirol, Südtirol/Alto Adige, and Trentino Euroregion, I believe that the Tour of the Alps is one of the best ways to showcase the quality of this cross-border cooperation project between Innsbruck, Bozen/Bolzano and Trento through the Euregio".

“The Tour of the Alps is not only a very important international sports competition that follows in the wake of the historical Giro del Trentino, but also a highly significant event: the unity of the three Euregio territories sharing across the borders the same natural Alpine space and a common history and culture”, said Maurizio Fugatti, President of the Autonomous Province of Trento.

“I firmly believe that nothing more than sport, and cycling in particular, can represent the values of cooperation and the common goal of our communities. It was a great stage race, an event that gave many excellent athletes, including some from Trentino, the opportunity to compete. I am sincerely proud of the level of recognition that the Tour of the Alps has achieved and congratulate everyone on this result”.

"The Tour of the Alps unites Tirol, Südtirol/Alto Adige,and Trentino through its route and is therefore a symbol of the success of cross-border cooperation in the Euregio," said Anton Mattle, President of Tirol.

“This year, the Tour of the Alps has crossed Tirol’s Silberregion Karwendel, showing the world its impressive landscapes and overcoming the difficulties presented by adverse weather. I would like to congratulate all the winners and participants who have once again provided an exciting and high-caliber competition"

“This year, the Tour of the Alps has crossed Tirol’s Silberregion Karwendel, showing the world its impressive landscapes and overcoming the difficulties presented by adverse weather. I would like to congratulate all the winners and participants who have once again provided an exciting and high-caliber competition"