Oscar Onley battled to third place at Giro dell’Emilia after a combative 197km race in Italy.
The race came alive on the finishing circuits, with Onley repeatedly making the key moves as the front group was whittled down. The Scotsman followed attacks from Matteo Jorgenson (Visma Lease A Bike) and Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost) before Piganzoli went clear on the final descent with 4km to go.
Onley attacked with 500m remaining as Tom Pidcock (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) countered to take second place.
An early breakaway was brought back as the peloton hit the finishing circuit, with Michal Kwiatkowski putting in a big turn on the front for Netcompany INEOS. As the attacks continued, AJ August then joined a move of six, but the peloton kept the group within reach and the race came back together on the following ascent.
The decisive selection began to form on the third ascent of the finishing circuit. Jorgenson attacked, followed by newly crowned world champion Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), before Healy also made his move. Jorgenson, McNulty, Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates - XRG), Pidcock and Onley joined them to form a front group of favourites.
Behind, Thymen Arensman worked to disrupt the chasing moves, helping Onley maintain his position at the front as further attacks came.
With the front group swelling to 16 riders, Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) went clear before Jorgenson made another move on the penultimate ascent. Onley and Healy bridged across to form a trio with Jorgenson, while Pidcock and Piganzoli joined them over the top.
Healy and Jorgenson immediately attacked again, with Onley following the wheels, before Piganzoli launched his decisive attack on the final descent, opening a gap that he held to the finish.
Onley launched his sprint from 500m out, but Pidcock came around him with a late counterattack to take second, leaving Onley to secure a hard-fought third-place finish.