‘Emotional finish’ for Matteo Trentin at Tour de France 2019
The Italian rode away from the breakaway to claim Mitchelton-Scott’s fourth stage win


Matteo Trentin celebrated an “emotional finish” as he crossed the line alone on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
The Mitchelton-Scott rider notched a fourth stage win for his team in the 2019 race and his first in the Tour for five years.
Trentin was the best of a 30-rider breakaway on stage 17 as the race transferred to the Gap on a nailed-on breakaway day via two categorised climbs.
After attacks broke up the escape, Italian Trentin broke free from his rivals a kilometre before the final third category climb.
Speaking after the stage, the 29-year-old said: “It was an emotional finish because I’ve only won two races in my career alone, and doing it in the Tour de France on this finish, with this super strong group is amazing.
“Today was definitely my last chance before three days in the Alps that are extremely demanding.
“This solo win has a special taste after two that I got through bunch sprints. I was getting top-10 in all kind of stages, finally I won.
“It’s a great moment.”
Trentin won his first Tour de France stage on his debut in the race back in 2013, when riding for Quick-Step, going on to win stages in all three Grand Tours including four in the 2017 Vuelta.
The European champion was a consistent top-10 finisher in the bunch sprints at the 2019 Tour de France, but never seemed a danger to his faster rivals.
Trentin opted to take the sprint out of the equation on stage 17, riding clear of the big threat Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) and riding the final 14km alone.
>>> Chris Froome already back on the indoor trainer and pedalling with just his good leg
He added: “My mentality helped me win even more than my legs, I never would have imagined I would win solo.
“I attacked two or three times, trying to go solo before the climbing, bearing in mind that I’m more able to ride at my pace at the front, rather than try and follow attacks uphill.”
Mitchelton-Scott arrived at the Tour with general classification ambitions for Adam Yates, but as that dream crumbled the Australian outfit have bounced back with four stage victories, all from breakaways – Daryl Impey on stage nine, Simon Yates on day 12 and 15, and now Trentin.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
Five talking points from stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
It was a long, hot, and fast day from Parma to Genoa
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Can a classic steel race bike beat a modern superbike?
We fit power meter pedals to a Colnago C68 and a Colnago Master Olympic and ride them back to back to find out what 30 years of progress translates to in the real world. As it turns out? 14 seconds.
By Simon Smythe • Published
-
Simon Yates to target stage wins after ending general classification challenge at Giro d'Italia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider to hunt stage wins in final two weeks
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I just tried to go as fast as possible' — Simon Yates on his Giro d'Italia time trial win
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider beat Mathieu van der Poel by three seconds
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Simon Yates aims for podium at Giro d'Italia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco build team around Briton as he chases top-three again
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Kaden Groves sprints to victory on stage two of Volta a Catalunya as crosswinds and crashes impact race
BikeExchange-Jayco win second stage in a row but Simon Yates loses time after crash
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Michael Matthews storms to victory on opening stage of Volta a Catalunya
Australian wins for a second time in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, outsprinting Sonny Colbrelli
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'If you don't try then you never know': Simon Yates after final day win at Paris-Nice
BikeExchange-Jayco rider attacked on Col d'Èze to take stage eight and seal second overall
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mikel Nieve drops out of WorldTour to return to former team Caja Rural in 2022
The Spanish mountain domestique will be embarking on his 15th professional season
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Leaked contract shows Manuela Fundación tried to buy Mitchelton-Scott for €7 million
The failed takeover of the Australian squad, now called Team BikeExchange, caused confusion in June last year
By Jonny Long • Published