Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM) won yesterday’s Tour de Vendée road race, featuring the roads of the Grand Depart of this year’s Tour de France. It was the Italian’s first win of the season after numerous close calls. It was also the finale in the season-long competition for the French Cup, and Tony Gallopin (Cofidis) confirmed the win in that competition ahead of Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil-DCM).
It was Team Europcar that was expected to feature on home roads, giving the home crowd a final chance to see heroes Thomas Voeckler and Pierre Rolland before the book on the 2011 season is closed. Playing tactics, Europcar sent Anthony Charteau up the road in a 15-man breakaway that also included Marcato. When it became clear that the group would stay away, Charteau tried his luck several times, but it was Marcato who was the fastest to the line. He bested Pello Bilbao (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Maxime Bouet (Ag2R-La Mondiale) in the sprint to the line.
“I am really happy with this beautiful win after so many close calls,” Marcato enthused at the finish. “Now that I have won once I hope this confidence grows for future finishes.”
Known for being a handy all-rounder, Marcato has been close to numerous victories throughout a long season, but he used his combined speed and climbing skills to take yesterday’s finish. “The sprint was slightly uphill, so I was able to make the difference,” Marcato added.
As his team has risen to ProTour status, Marcato has been one of the most visible and most successful riders on the team. But in his third season with the Dutch squad, the Tour de Vendée is surprisingly Marcato’s first win in Vacansoleil-DCM colours. Prior to his first win, Marcato has seen the podium numerous times in 2011, in what has been a long season for the Italian. He began his campaign in early February, when he placed second overall at the Etoile de Bessèges. After riding nearly all the Classics in the spring, Marcato came back for the Tour de Suisse, the Tour de France, and the Tour of Poland before another run of racing now in the fall.
Hilaire Van Der Schueren, Vacansoleil-DCM team director at the Tour de Vendée, expressed obvious pleasure at seeing Marcato finally reach a finish line first. “This is just great, over three years this rider has done a lot for this team and he really deserved the win,” he said after the race.
“Marco is a rider who is in shape for almost the complete season and often battles for the win. For example in 2011 he was second on February 5th [stage four of Etoile de Bessèges], was in the front group on the top of the Poggio at Milan-Sanremo, and was there in April. After that he showed himself in the Tours of Switzerland, France and Poland. He is a top rider and he has some plans for the coming races.”
Marcato is on his team’s startlist for next weekend’s Paris-Tours classic, a race in which he finished 86th last year, also his last of 2010. Though he may choose to finish there again this year, it should come as no surprise if the versatile Italian chooses to take on the typical favorites at this year’s Giro di Lombardia as well.