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Davide Villella snags first professional win at Japan Cup

A plan perfectly executed by Cannondale-Drapac delivered Davide Villella to his first professional victory at the Japan Cup Cycle Road Race in Utsunomiya on Sunday

Villella attacked on the steepest climb on the final lap of the 14-lap circuit race to solo across the line.

“I have missed a victory all season, so I’m really happy to get the win here today,” said Villella. “The teamwork – all of the teammates and all of the staff – was amazing.”

“I want to say a very big thank you for the team that believed in me and helped me all the day,” Villella added. “We had a great group here, and I could not do it alone.”

Cannondale-Drapac lined up for the Japan Cup Cycle Road Race with a single objective and a clear pathway to achieve it. Sport director Eric van Lancker had tasked his team of five with putting one man in the early breakaway and keeping the rest of the team around Villella until the Italian would launch what was hoped to be the race-winning move.

“We started with one leader in Villella because we knew he has really good shape,” said Van Lancker. “He’s trained well since Lombardia, where he came in fifth place. We wanted to bring him in good condition into the final.”

Matti Breschel flew the green argyle flag in the early breakaway, freeing up his teammates to focus exclusively on their team leader. The breakaway was caught with two laps (20km) still to race.

The tough circuit had done damage, and only 25 riders remained in the peloton.

“The idea was that Villella would attack on the steep hill just past the finish line at the start of the last lap,” explained Van Lancker. “We wanted him to go full gas from the bottom. He couldn’t wait until the top. Attacking from the bottom would give him a bigger gap.”
                                        
“When I attacked, I thought: ‘This is how I can win this race’.” said Villella. “I felt sure if I attacked that I could win. I’m in really good shape at the end of my season.”

Villella’s confidence proved warranted. He summited the top of the climb with a 10-second advantage over six chasers, and he held his gap all the way to the line.

The 25-year-old said the Japanese fans gave him extra motivation on his solo lap.

“I love the Japanese fans,” Villella said. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. They were crowded on the circuit, and they were so excited. It was really an amazing thing.”

Van Lancker expressed pride in his five-rider squad that closed out the season with the win.

“Everything was planned, and everything we planned came out the way we planned it,” Van Lancker said. “It’s not often that it happens like this.”

“I have to say thank you to the entire team,” he added. “Not everyone is staying in the team for next year, and it’s not always evident that you can make a good team from a group where some are staying and some are leaving. Full credit to all five for doing an incredible job today and all the other days. I saw great teamwork, great cooperation and great morale bring us the win.”

Davide Villella snags first professional win at Japan CupDavide Villella snags first professional win at Japan CupDavide Villella snags first professional win at Japan Cup
Davide Villella snags first professional win at Japan Cup