The Ukrainian Andrii Ponomar was not this Wednesday at the exit of the Laigueglia Trophy (Italy) with the Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattolibut his national champion shirt with the legend “No War”, a request from the Italian team in solidarity with its runner.
For the test that opened the Italian classics, Ecuadorian Alexander Cepeda’s squad presented its seven riders with the Ponomar jerseyUkrainian champion 2021.
The gesture was in solidarity with the runner and a personal story, since Ponomar’s father is on the front line of the military conflict with Russiaand the broker has not had any news for five days, according to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
In the presentation of the teams for the test this Wednesday, all Drone Hopper riders wore the white jersey with the Ukrainian flag and the legend “No War” (No to war), a fact that was applauded by the cycling fans.
“A symbolic gesture that of Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli, who above all wants to show his closeness to Andrii Ponomar at this difficult time. Andrii, who during the competitive season lives in Italy, in the Ukraine, in fact, has all the dearest affections,” the team said in a statement.
“We have expressed all our solidarity with Andrii Ponomar and his nation. We consider Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shameful. We hope that this absurd war ends as soon as possibleso that the Ukrainian people can return to live in peace and freedom”, he commented. Gianni Savio, sporting director of the team.
Podium for the UAE
The race result it left three UAE-Team Emirates riders on the podium. Slovenian Jan Polanc took the victory, after 5 hours 2 minutes 25 seconds, in which he completed the route of 202 kilometers of this one day race.
To Polanc He was accompanied by the Spanish Juan Ayuso as second best placed and Italian Alessandro Covi in third placewith teamwork that swept away their rivals.
Of the participation of the Andronithe best placed was the Eritrean Natnael Tesfatsion, in position 24 of the general, while Cepeda did not finish the tourlike the Colombian Didier Merchán.
This was the first competition in which the International Cycling Union applied sanction for Russian and Belarusian teams for the invasion of Ukraine, which marked the absence of the Gazprom-RusVelo. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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