Cycling: Matteo Badilatti (Israel Cycling Academy) has celebrated the biggest success of his career so far. The 26-year-old Swiss finished the Tour du Rwanda in third place overall today. With two stage wins, Merhawi Kudus clinched the next overall victory for Team Astana.
Badilatti drives straight onto the podium in his first professional season
Matteo Badilatti (Israel Cycling Academy) is a late starter. The Swiss rider is having his first professional cycling season in 2019 at the age of 26. Last year he was still under contract with the Austrian team Vorarlberg - Santic before he was allowed to drive up to the Israeli professional team as a trainee - and was able to convince. A few weeks ago he drew attention to himself at the Tour Colombia when he climbed to 18th place on the sixth stage up to the Alto de Las Palmas. At the Tour du Rwanda, in his second outing, he made it straight onto the podium. Behind overall winner Merhawi Kudus (Astana) from Eritrea and Purely Taaramäe (Direct Energie) from Estonia, the Swiss was visibly pleased with his result.
Kudus continues Astana's strong season opener
Despite the narrow lead of ten seconds at the end, the overall victory of Merhawi Kudus be described as clear and deserved. The man from Eritrea also won two stages. He also lost part of what was actually a larger lead due to a fall and a defect on the sixth stage. This means that Team Astana has already won 15 games this season and is the most successful team on the WorldTour. The African drivers also presented themselves very successfully at the Tour du Rwanda. In addition to Merhawi Kudus were also allowed Biniam Girmay Hailu and Yakob Debesay Abreham celebrate a stage victory from the Eritrea national team.
Matteo: “I wanted more then 3rd but I suffered from cramps in the end”. First podium for a first year rider as a pro. Congratulations to Matteo Badilatti for a fine ride today. #TDRwanda19 pic.twitter.com/xzmij3Dfgi
— IsraelCyclingAcademy (@yallaACADEMY) 26. February 2019
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