Maria Giulia Confalonieri takes 3rd at Gent - Wevelgem

28 year old Maria Giulia Confalonieri takes 3rd place in the bunch sprint at Gent Wevelgem on Sunday.

On Sunday the 27th March Maria Giulia Confalonieri took 3rd place in the prestigious classic, Gent - Wevelgem In Flanders Fields. Confalonieri who has showed promise and her capabilities in the spring classics previously during her career continued her successful 2022 season with a podium finish after a strong sprint and a strong team performance all round.

After a superb ride from Marta Lach during the race being in the breakaway the former Polish champion was able to help Maria Giulia in the final kilometres for the bunch sprint.

In a fierce and fast sprint to the finish in Wevelgem and with a throw of the bike on the line, Confalonieri took 3rd place, behind world champion Elisa Balsamo and the 2021 winner of the race, Marianne Vos.

Speaking after the race, Maria Giulia said "In the end we were 40 riders more or less, and Marta really came back strong after the Kemmelberg after a while and really helped me all the way to Wevelgem and it was a super nice help also before the sprint. I took the sprint in the best position I could, Marianne and Elisa were just faster than me, and it was such a close sprint because I think with Lotte [Kopecky] it was less than half a wheel, so I can be pretty happy for this podium and thanks to all the girls and staff and I'm looking forward to the next classics."

Speaking of the moment Maria Giulia found out she'd finished 3rd she said "Actually I thought I was 4th, but then of course I was super when I discovered I got 3rd."