Uruguay’s Eric Fagúndez won the Giro di Campania by the narrowest of margins in Naples on September 20. The historic one-day race was back on the calendar after 25 years.
The 64th edition began at the Royal Palace of Caserta and ended in Piazza del Plebiscito. Officials had to study the photo finish before confirming Fagúndez, of Burgos Burpellet BH, as the winner. France’s Alexandre Delettre of TotalEnergies was second, with Ukraine’s Andrii Ponomar third.
Route through Campania’s showpieces
The course, of roughly 190km, took riders through Benevento, Avellino and the Salerno hinterland before reaching the Amalfi Coast. It passed through Vietri, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Atrani and Amalfi. From there it climbed to Agerola, then dropped towards Castellammare di Stabia. The final stretch ran along the Vesuvian coast through Pompeii, Herculaneum and Portici.
Founded in 1911, the race has honoured champions such as Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Francesco Moser and Giuseppe Saronni. A memorial stele to Coppi stands on the Agerola climb.
Regional sport councillor Fiorella Zabatta said the day marked a homecoming. “Today Campania has embraced its Giro once again,” she said. “After 25 years this race is crossing our streets again.”
Decisive move on Agerola
The race was decided on Agerola, a 14km climb averaging 6%, with its summit 47km from the finish. Colombia’s Einer Rubio, of Movistar, attacked and crested the top with a small lead. Fagúndez bridged across with Delettre and Ponomar, and the four built a gap of more than 30 seconds.
In the final sprint, Delettre launched first, but Fagúndez edged him on the line. The group behind, led by Italy’s Alessandro Fancellu, crossed 36 seconds later. Fancellu finished sixth, Andrea Vendrame seventh and Ludovico Crescioli ninth.
Fagúndez said the win had extra meaning after four years with his Spanish team. “I wanted to close this fine four-year spell at Burgos with at least one victory,” he said.
