Enrico Rossi wins the Giro di Padania opener
Enrico Rossi of Team Meridiana Kamen won the opening stage of the Giro di Padania on Monday. He took a total time of 1 hour, 55 minutes and 12 seconds to complete the 83 kilometre race and restricted his major opponents.
Massimo Graziato of Team Lampre-ISD, Filippo Baggio of Team Utensilnord Named, Fabio Taborre of Team Acqua & Sapone and Elia Favilli of Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia achieved the next four positions respectively.
Alessandro Petacchi was looking good throughout the race but his slight hesitation in the final slippery turn was enough for Rossi to take the lead.
“Petacchi was slow into the final corner, so I moved up ahead of him,” Rossi explained. “I knew in these conditions that it would be difficult to pass me out as there were only 150 metres from there to the finish line”.
Rossi was suspended by Team Ceramica Flaminia earlier in 2010 after his arrest during a police operation was taken out by NAS anti-drug squad.
A total number of six arrests were made by the police including a nurse, a pharmacist and an amateur cyclist as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.
35 other people were arrested after the police carried out numerous different searches across the Northern part of Italy.
Rossi won the Dwars Door Drenthe and finished sixth in the Paris-Brussels 2010 before he was busted by the police.
The final decision on the “Operation Cobra-Red” has still not been made, which is really frustrating for the young Italian.
“With the time justice takes, it will go on a long time, But I find myself in the same situation as other athletes, not just in cycling,” Rossi said.
Enrico currently leads the stage 1a overall classifications with a healthy lead of 2 seconds over Massimo Graziato of Team Lampre-ISD.
Filippo Baggio of Team Utensilnord Named is further 2 seconds at the third spot with Fabio Taborre, Elia Favilli, Tim Mertens and Maximiliano Ariel Richeze securing the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh positions in the respective order.
Rossi is now eyeing the remaining stages of the Giro Di Padania and is determined to continue dominating the overall classifications and he is desperately in need of a victory.
Tags: