After a gruelling edition of the Giro dell’Emilia last weekend, the second classic in the Italian autumn block was on the programme for Team Visma | Lease a Bike today: Coppa Bernocchi. The first edition of the Coppa Bernocchi took place in 1913 and last year, it was won by Wout van Aert. So the Dutch team started as defending champion in Legnano.

It soon became clear that Team Visma | Lease a Bike had travelled to Italy with big plans. Lemmen, who has been in good shape in recent weeks, was part of the early breakaway. With thirty kilometres to go, the Dutchman even rode solo at the front of the race. His attack stranded one kilometer from the finish when Lemmen was caught by a chasing group of six riders. In the end, Lemmen sprinted to a creditable fifth place.

“I really believed I could make it. I rode really hard. Maybe I was left alone a bit too early, because thirty kilometres is still quite a distance. Unfortunately, the finish line was a kilometre too far for me today. They worked well together behind me. It’s really unfortunate to get caught like that at the end, but that’s cycling too”, Lemmen puts things into perspective.

Sports director Marc Reef is proud of the 28-year-old rider. “Bart really did everything right. We knew in advance that the breakaway could make it to the finish today. Bart turned out to be the strongest in the breakaway and then you have to make the choice to go solo at one point. It’s a shame that he just didn’t make it. That would have been the icing on the cake for a very good first year with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. It didn't lead to a victory today, but that win will definitely come in the future."

"This was one of my best days of the season”, Lemmen says. "I'm in great shape. It was a close call and I almost got my first victory. I still have a good feeling and a nice result after today. This Saturday, another great race awaits: Il Lombardia. Afterwards my off-season starts."