Gran Piemonte: Dorian Godon sprints to victory despite teammate's crash on sketchy final corner

Dorian Godon (Netcompany Ineos) stormed to victory from the crash-marred sprint which decided the 110th edition of Gran Piemonte, coming back from being dropped on the final climb in the last 10km to fight for his seventh win in 2026 on Thursday.

Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) had hit the front in the sprint, but was overtaken by the Frenchman before the line, with Italy’s Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana) taking third.

Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) looked as through he was going to power to back-to-back solo victories at the Italian semi-Classic on Thursday, after his UAE team brought back the day’s early breakaway and paced hard for the majority of the 185km race, launching him into a first attack 18km from the finish.

The Mexican star dropped everyone on the key La Morra climb in the Langhe hills south of Turin, except for Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). Fighting through gritted teeth over the top, Del Toro did briefly leave his companion behind with 13km to go, with the large chasing peloton just 28 seconds in arrears. But on the descent towards Bra, Fisher-Black toiled away to get back on the Mexican’s wheel in the final 10km.

They worked together to try and stay ahead, but as Godon’s Ineos team and several others contributed to the chase, the two escapees were brought back with 1.5km to go.

As the wind up for a mass sprint started, the twisty roads heading into Bra saw an initial crash with 600 metres to go, and then a second crash around the final, dangerous corner.

Godon’s teammate Axel Laurance was the first to hit the deck in the crash that took down several riders, but the Frenchman managed to avoid the incident and deliver the win.

"I didn't have my best feeling, but the team did an amazing job to put me in a good position. Until the last 2km, I just followed Axel and he went super smooth, and I just gave everything after the final turn," said Godon after the finish.

"I was in third position, I went directly and I still had to recover, it was a super hard finish. I'm so happy, one more race in Paris-Tours and then holiday.

Godon has been one of the signings of the season and a huge gem for Ineos, impressing as a versatile puncheur and sprint option.

"I'm still young, 30 years old for me, and I'm on my best years. The team give 100% for me, so I have a lot more chances than other years, and when I have my chance, I think I'm good," he said, adding this title to previous Italian successes at the Giro del Veneto, Coppa Bernocchi, and Gran Premio del Lazio.

"I like it [in Italy], twisty finals, a bit chaotic, and like two minutes all out – I'm better to sprint with an effort before, [because] I'm more of a puncher than a sprinter. In Italy, all the towns are up the top of one hill, so all the finish lines are hard, and I like to race here at the end of the season. I'm happy to have another win here, a famous one."

Gran Piemonte not only signalled the final race before retirement for two Italian stalwarts of the peloton, Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) and Jacopo Mosca (Lidl-Trek), but it also wrapped up the build up to the final Monument of the season at Il Lombardia, the showpiece event of the Italian Autumn Classics this Saturday.

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