Colnago CSF dominates Italian stage race
Sacha Modolo took a sprint win for his Colnago CSF team on the fifth and final stage of the Brixia Tour. The Italian talent beat Bernardo Riccio (D’Angelo & Antenucci) and Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel Euskadi) in the bunch sprint into Verona. Riccio’s teammate Fortunato Baliani took home the overall win, with the comfortable margin of two minutes over Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago CSF) and Diego Ulissi (Lampre).
Modolo had the luxury of a free sprint. “I was able to go early, while Belleti was stuck at the wheel of Guardini,” said Modolo. “When I jumped with 450 meters to go I immediately knew that I would be able to win. What a great feeling to triumph in Italy and a nice moment that I want to relish.”
Modolo is on a roll. “This is my third win in less than 20 days, I feel like a different rider.” Modolo took stages five and nine of the Tour of Qinghai Lake. “We from Colnago dominated the Brixia Tour, with four stage wins,” Modolo said.
Baliani was somewhat breaking into the Colnago phalanx. “To see my name alongside great champions who preceded me here in the winner’s list is really motivating,” Baliani said. “I can say that the win today means as much to me as the Tour [de France] to [Cadel] Evans, who won the Brixia Tour in 2001.”
After ten kilometers, Wynants, Kreder, Felline, De Marchi, Bazzana and Pinizzotto took off and build up a lead of ten seconds,but were brought back by km 36. A promising move developed at km 62 with nine riders. Their gap went out to 1’02, but the peloton reeled them in at km 73.
At km 76, Ginanni and Bertogliati went and build a lead of 2’56 (km 92). They lasted until km154, then it was gruppo compatto again. The sprinters’ teams then took over, not allowing any more breakaways.
Final general classification
1. BALIANI Fortunato DAN 20h04’52″
2. POZZOVIVO Domenico COG 02’00″
3. ULISSI Diego LAM 02’19″
4. RASMUSSEN Michael TST 02’27″
5. REBELLIN Davide MIE 02’33″
6. POSSONI Morris SKY 02’35″
7. PARDILLA BELLON Sergio MOV 02’37″
8. OCHOA Carlos Jose AND 03’22″
9. TOROSANTUCCI Davide DAN 03’58″
10. SELLA Emanuele AND 04’25″
The category winners:
Maglia azzurra Colnago (overall): Fortunato Baliani (D’Angelo&Antenucci-Nippo)
Maglia rossa GSport (points): Daniele Colli (Geox-TMC)
Maglia verde Carrera (KOM): Fortunato Baliani (D’Angelo&Antenucci-Nippo)
Maglia gialla Matellese Assicurazioni (intermediate sprints): Alessandro Bazzana (Team Type 1)
Maglia bianca Maniva Ski (young rider): Diego Ulissi (Lampre-ISD)
Maglia arancio Bossini Docce (teams): D’Angelo&Antenucci-Nippo
Stage four: Concesio – Passo Maniva (158,50 Km)
On the tough uphill finish in stage four, Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago – CSF Inox) prevailed by seven seconds over Fortunato Baliani and by 13 seconds over Diego Ulissi. Atop the 1900-meter finishing climb, Michael Rasmussen was fourth. Baliani kept his overall lead.
Pozzovivo won the race 12 months ago, but since then has been winless. “Finally the joy of victory, for me that is a great liberation,” said Pozzovivo. The final 40km were going uphill. “The ascent was not easy, Baliani went very strongly.”
A four-man move went after 37km and built a three-minute lead. Four more riders joined to form the break of the day, which had a maximum gap of five minutes. The lead group contained Team Type 1 rider Valeriy Kobzarenko, who sprinted for the points in order to protect the sprints classification lead of teammate Alessandro Bazzana.
The peloton clawed its way back in the end. “As we got to the final climb the peloton caught us, and it was pretty clear that those guys had a lot of very strong climbers who wanted the stage win,” said Kobzarenko. “I felt good with the work I did on Saturday and rode in at a decent pace. My form for the second half of the year is a lot better than the first half, because I broke my hand in February. I’ve lost some weight, trained at home, and come back to the race calendar with more speed for the rest of the year,” Kobzarenko added.
Stage three: Brescia Buffalora – Prevalle (211.5 km)
Manuel Belletti (Colnago – CSF Inox) sprinted to victory on stage three,ahead of Daniele Colli (Geox). Baliani stayed in the overall lead. The Colnago team took control of the race in the last 40 kilometers. “I took advantage of my optimal form. Together with [Sacha] Modolo we did the last two of the five laps all out.”
Belleti then was confident in the sprint. “I went from far,about 300 meters to go, but I knew I was in great shape. With this result I hope to secure a spot in the National team for the next Worlds.”
Stage two (afternoon): Brescia ITT (10.4 km)
The results of the time trial were annulled due to the dangerous conditions of the course.
Stage two (morning): Pisogne – Brescia (135.5 km)
Geox celebrated a double win with Fabio Felline leading home Daniele Colli on the bunch sprint into Brescia. “I knew that the finish suited my characteristics,” said Felline. “I dedicate this victory to the whole team, which had absolute confidence in me and assisted me in the many difficult moments this season.” Fortunato Baliani took over the lead in the general classification. “I have the intention of defending this at all costs.”
Five riders (Colli, Caccia, Giorgio Brambilla, Bazzana and Merlo) took off at kilometer one and built up a maximum lead of 7’45 at km 57. A few counters came from the peloton, but at km 118 everything was together for the bunch sprint.
Stage one: Ponte di Legno – Edolo (158 km)
Marco Frapporti (Colnago – CSF Inox) won a two-up sprint against Fortunato Baliani to take over the GC lead in the Brixia Tour. The duo was 1’46 ahead of the peloton.
It was a strong team effort. “We from Colnago decided to make the race hard right from the start,” said Frapporti. They were eyeing the overall for Pozzovivo. “I tried and with Baliani it was optimal. I was dead in the final kilometers, but I knew that if I could stay with him that on paper I could beat him in the sprint.”
Baliani and Frapporti took off at km 42 and never looked back. Their maximum lead was 4’55 over a 43-man chase group and 6’55 over the peloton at kilometer 100.