Dorian Godon Claims Victory at Gran Piemonte Amidst Teammate's Crash

Dorian Godon (Netcompany Ineos) sprinted to victory at the 110th Gran Piemonte, overcoming a crash that marred the sprint finish. Godon made a comeback after being dropped on the final climb within the last 10 kilometers, securing his seventh win of 2026 on Thursday.

Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) initially took the lead in the sprint but was overtaken by Godon just before the finish line. Italy's Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana) finished in third place. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) looked poised to claim back-to-back solo victories after his team successfully bridged the early breakaway and aggressively paced the race.

Del Toro attacked 18 kilometers from the finish following a dominating performance by his team throughout the 185-kilometer race. He dropped his rivals on La Morra, a key climb situated in the Langhe hills south of Turin, leaving only Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in close pursuit. However, by the top of the climb, Del Toro had created a gap of approximately 28 seconds to the chasing peloton.

As they descended toward Bra, Fisher-Black worked diligently to rejoin Del Toro. The duo attempted to maintain their distance from the peloton, but collaboration from Godon’s Ineos team, among others, led to both riders being caught with just 1.5 kilometers remaining.

As the field set up for the mass sprint finish, a first crash occurred 600 meters from the line, followed by a second crash in a dangerous final corner. Godon's teammate Axel Laurance was the first to crash, but Godon skillfully avoided the incident to clinch the victory.

After the race, Godon remarked, "I didn't have my best feeling, but the team did an amazing job to put me in a good position. Until the last 2 kilometers, I just followed Axel, who was super smooth, and then I gave everything after the final turn. I went directly from third position and had to recover—it was a super hard finish. I'm so happy, one more race in Paris-Tours and then holiday."

Having established himself as one of the standout signings for Ineos this season, Godon has proven a valuable asset, showcasing his skills as both a sprinter and a versatile puncher. He expressed joy in his victory, highlighting the challenging nature of racing in Italy, where steep finishing climbs often herald intense races.

Gran Piemonte also marked the end of the road for two prominent Italian riders, Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) and Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek), as they approach retirement. The race served as the final lead-up to the prestigious Il Lombardia, set to take place on Saturday.