Irishman holds Tour of Poland form to escape in uphill final kilometre
Daniel Martin (Garmin-Transitions) won the 90th edition of the Tre Valli Varesine – the three valleys of Varese – after attacking his breakaway companion Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF) in the last kiometre of the final climb to the finish. The Irishman, who recently won the Tour of Poland, finished 6 seconds ahead of Pozzovivo, with Jerome Baugnies (Topsport Vlaanderen) outsprinting the rest of the chase group after 12 seconds.
“In the early stages of the race I didn’t feel at all well,” said Martin after his victory, “probably because I had a bit of a party on Saturday; but then something changed in the final three laps.
“I love Italy,” he continued, “as an amateur I won two stages of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta. The fans here are the most intelligent, the most respectful of the riders.”
Martin is the nephew of Irish legend Stephen Roche, who won his triple-crown while riding for Italian team Carrera.
“My uncle Stephen?” he continued. “He was a great. In 19X7 he won the triple of Giro, Tour and Worlds, but believe me when I tell you that we almost never talk about cycling. He’s a great uncle, I always know he’s there to give me a hand if I needed one; but in this team I have everything I need.”
After the start in Bissone Arco, the race followed a hilly 132km circuit, taking in the shores of the Lago di Lugano and Lago Maggiore before arriving in the city of Varese, the venue of the 2008 World Championships. The final 68km of the race was made up of seven 9.7km laps around the city, with a tough 2.5km climb to the finish line.
On the final lap Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) attacked the remainder of the peloton with 5km to go. The Italian time trial champion was unable to sustain his attack to the end though and was caught at 2km to go, when Pozzovivo made his own move.
On the tough climb Martin was the only one able to follow the Italian, and when the Irishman countered as they reached the last kilometre Pozzovivo could only watch him go.
Martin finished alone, with Pozzovivo managing to hold off the rest, who were led over the line by Baugnies.
Result Tre Valli Varesine
1. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Transitions
2. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF @ 6s
3. Jerome Baugnies (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator @ 12s
4. Kristoff Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
5. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
6. Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas-Doimo
7. Giovani Visconti (Ita) ISD-Neri
8. Mauro Santombrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team
9. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
10. Mauro Finetto (Ita) liquigas-Doimo