Samuele Battistella closes out 2021 season with a stunning win for Astana – Premier Tech
Samuele Battistella of Astana – Premier Tech claimed a remarkable victory in Bassano del Grappa, marking a sensational end to the challenging 2021 season. Battistella rode a stellar race, leading from the front for a significant portion of the race.
The race, which covered over 200 kilometers from Venice to Bassano del Grappa, featured a demanding circuit in its second half. The Astana – Premier Tech team demonstrated exceptional teamwork, controlling the race right from the start. As the race entered its final laps, Battistella made his move at the front alongside two other riders, while Alexey Lutsenko maintained a strong pace in the chasing group.
However, a crash involving Matteo Trentin caused Battistella to take the lead solo with less than 20 kilometers to go. Despite the chasing group’s efforts to close the gap, Battistella powered through to secure a well-deserved victory, finishing five seconds ahead of his competitors.
Battistella’s teammate, Alexey Lutsenko, also had an impressive end to the season, finishing in the top five.
“It is my first victory as a professional and it feels like a rebirth as the season started not in the way I wanted as I struggled with health issues. The last days I worked for Alexey and today he worked for me as a return. The last kilometres were on home soil, I train here a lot and the fans were amazing and pushed me. Also, a huge thanks to my team, it was pure teamwork. The plan was that I start and Alexey would finish it off but at the end we changed and I went ahead with Luts also taking a top result. It is the perfect way to finish our season.” – Samuele Battistella
“Already on Friday, when Lutsenko took the win, it was pure joy but today’s win was just perfect. Today, I bet on Battistella to win, even if we weren’t riding for him and he needed to work but you could see the previous days that he was getting stronger and stronger. I am so happy for the team and it was the best way to finish the season and also to take these emotions into the off-season, already being motivated for the upcoming one. I hope this victory will be a good sign for 2022.” – Giuseppe Martinelli
Photo credit: ©Gettysport
