Italian climber retakes jersey with dominant solo victory
Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) seized back control of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali with a dominant solo victory in stage 3 between Casalecchio di Reno and Gaggio Montano. The climber from Vicenza escaped breakaway companion Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF Inox) on the second of three 8.1km finishing circuits, based on the steep climb to the finish on Gaggio Montano. Pirazzi held on to take second place on the stage, 35 seconds behind Sella, with Italian champion Goiovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli) crossing the line 53 seconds back, just ahead of a group of three riders.
After 45km of the 155km stage, Matteo Fedi (De Rosa-Ceramica Flaminia), Christian Meier (UnitedHealthcare), Juan Villegas (Colombia es Pasion-Cafe de Colombia) and Simone Campagnaro (D’Angelo & Antenucci-Nippo) got away. The four riders quickly managed to build an advantage of 3’40” over the lethargic peloton
After 100km, on the climb to the intermediate sprint in Montese, Angel Vicioso (Androni Giocattoli), Filippo Savini (Colnago-CSF Inox) and Fortunato Baliani (D’Angelo & Antenucci-Nippo) escaped in pursuit of the leaders. Meanwhile, up front, Campagnaro found the pace set by his companions too hot and dropped away from the lead group.
Baliani and Vicioso dropped Savini, and within a few kilometres had caught up with the three remaining leaders. They now led the peloton by just 53 seconds though, and they were caught with just over 25km to go.
As the race entered the finishing circuit Jose Rujano attacked on the first climb to the line at Gaggio Montano; the Colnago-CSF Inox team led the peloton led the chase, 12 seconds behind the Venezuelan.
On the first circuit though, Sella and Pirazzi got clear and the peloton was unable to stop them from drawing away. Sella did not need his companion for long though and dropped Pirazzi on the climb to the finish line.
As he crossed it for the third time, with 1 lap to go, Sella led Pirazzi by 8 seconds; Rujano led the rest over the line 1’01” behind his teammate. During the final lap Sella increased his advantage over Pirazzi, while the much reduced peloton made a little progress on the breakaways.
Sella crossed the line alone, with Pirazzi 35 seconds behind him and Visconti a further 28 seconds back.
With his stage victory Sella takes back the race lead that he lost to teammate Roberto Ferrari in yesterday’s sprint stage.