Ben Swift takes solo win on stage two to assume overall race lead in Settimana Coppi e Bartali in Italy
Ben Swift (Sky) took the win on stage two of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in Italy on Friday, and with it the overall race lead.
Swift attacked from a three-man escape to take his first victory of the season. The British rider’s former escape companions Matija Kvasina (Felbermayr) and Francesco Bongiorno (Bardiani CSF) came home for second and third.
Swift took the leader’s jersey from Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), and now leads Kvasina overall by 41 seconds, with Bongiorno in third at 54 seconds.
Ben Swift after winning stage two of Coppi e Bartali
Swift’s win came on the same day that British Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas won E3 Harelbeke, after Thomas also made the winning move from a three-man escape. Sky’s Porte also took the overall lead in the Volta a Catalunya in Spain.
Two stages of the UCI 2.1-ranked Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali remain, finishing in Pavullo on Sunday, March 29.
Swift’s Sky team-mate Peter Kennaugh won the race in 2014.
Ben Swift on the podium after winning Stage two of the 2015 Coppi Bartali