Antoine Lavieu wins third stage as Nikita Novikov retains lead in Giro Ciclistico 2011
French team’s Nikita Novikov showed his tremendous performance in the third stage of Giro Ciclistico Della Valle D’Aosta 2011 on August 25. Second stage winner’s Nikita Novikov managed to retain his overall leader’s jersey.
The race started in La Salle and ended in Valgriensche. In the final kilometres, the French cyclists showed his powerful skills and took the total of 4 hours, 30 minutes and 14 seconds to cover the distance of 155.6 kilometres.
Joseph Dombrokswki of the USA National team was runner-up with 39 second behind Lavieu. Omega Pharma Lotto Davo team’s Steve Bekaert was in third place with the difference of 1 minute and 4 seconds.
The Mattia Pozzo showed his tremendous sprinting skills and managed to gain points in the two intermediate sprints. With 81.4 kilometres to go, the group of three cyclists managed to make their breakaway lead including, Mattia Pozzo (Viris), Mattia Barabesi
(Hoppla Truck It. Mavo Valdarno Pr) and Francesco-Manuel Bongiorno (G.S. Zalf Desiree Fior).
All of them working well together built an advantage of a few seconds over the peloton but Pozzo took the first climb of the day with 5 points. With 108 kilometres to go, the trio was caught but Bongiorno maintained his pace and took part in the next group
of four cyclists and Steve Bekaert took the second climb.
Steve increased his pace and easily beat Bongiorno in the next climb. In the last kilometres, the two cyclists Bekaert and Dombrokswki launched an attacked but failed. Lavieu controlled the situation and increased his pace and crossed the finish line ahead
of the other cyclists.
The four cyclists including, Dmitry Ignatyev (Itera – Katusha), Brian Bulgac, Alessio Marchetti (Cerone Rodman) and Xabier Zabalo (Orbea Continental) were disqualified.
Itera-Katusha team’s Nikita Novikov retained his overall standing with the timing of 12 hours, 24 minutes and 14 seconds. Fabio Aru of Palazzago was runner-up with 2 minute and 3 seconds down to Russian.
The stage winner’s Lavieu was in third place with the difference of 2 minutes and 23 seconds ahead of Donato De leso.
The next stage will start in Rivara and all the cyclists will cover the distance of 167.1 kilometres.
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