VAN KERCKHOVE TAKES IT ALL IN RIOMAGGIORE

Seff Van Kerckhove laid down the law and, in the demanding second stage of the day, claimed his first stage victory at the Giro della Lunigiana, moving into the overall lead.

The Belgian rider made the most of his national team’s tactics, attacking on the descent of Foce alongside teammate Sander Willems and Austria’s Michael Hettegger.

Thanks to Willems’ pace-setting, Van Kerckhove and Hettegger approached the Biassa climb, the toughest ascent of the day, with a 20-second advantage over the first chasers, Pezzo Rosola, Rodriguez, De Smet and Gugnino. The gap remained intact over the following kilometres.

Inside the final kilometre, which was entirely uphill towards Riomaggiore, Hettegger tried to surprise Van Kerckhove, but the Belgian left him no chance in the two-man sprint.

Vic De Smet, who mounted a strong comeback, completed the stage podium at 9 seconds, with Pezzo Rosola fourth at 12 seconds and Gugnino fifth at 15 seconds.

Van Kerckhove is therefore the new leader of the general classification with one stage to go: the Castelnuovo Magra – Casano di Luni, which will bring the Giro della Lunigiana’s grand finale back to where it all began in 1975.