Giovanni Visconti wins final stage of Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda by Bergamasca 2011
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli team’s Giovanni Visconti won the mass sprint of the fourth and final stage of Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda by Bergamasca 2011 on Saturday, September 3. Thibaut Pinot took the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Gorle and ended in Bergamo. The 28-year-old Italian professional road racing cyclists took a total of 3 hours, 13 minutes and 45 seconds to cover the distance of 147.4 kilometres.
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia team’s Guiseppe De Maria was runner-up with same timing as the Italian. Simone Stortoni of Colnago - CSF Inox was in third place ahead of Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez.
In the final kilometres, the 30 cyclists went away but the Farnese team delivered. Visconti increased his pace and used his sprint skills. A group of 6 cyclists made the first breakaway lead including, Manuel Fedele, Edoardo Girardi, Daniele Colli (Geox-TMC),
Laszlo Bodrogi, Boy Van Poppel (UnitedHealthcara Pro Cycling) and Danilo Napolitano (Acqua & Sapone).
With 41 kilometres to go, Napolitano increased his pace and took the first intermediate sprint. The group gained an advantage of 3 minutes and 45 seconds. With a few kilometers to go, Girardi launched an attacked to take the second and third sprint.
In the start of the climb, Girardi showed his powerful skills ahead of Colli and Van Poppel. A group of 32 cyclists managed to stay away to the finish. However, in the final kilometers, Visconti crossed the finish line ahead of the other cyclists.
Recently, Visconti took first place in National road race champion and Gran Premio dell’Insubria-Lugano. He also took overall third place in Tour of Oman and overall fourth place in Coppi e Bartali.
Thibaut Pinot took the overall lead with the timing of 16 hours and 35 seconds while Simone Stortoni of Colnago-CSF Inox was in second place with 19 seconds down to Pinot.
Davide Rebellin of Miche – Guerciotti finished third with difference of 33 seconds ahead of Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Androni Giocattoli). The stage winner Visconti was in 22nd place with a difference of 2 minute and 7 seconds.
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