Michele Scarponi holds on to jersey but slim lead is cut
Fabio Duarte (Geox-TMC) won the third stage of the Giro del Trentino between Ledro Molina and Fai della Paganella, after outsprinting the rest of a small group at the top of the mountain finish. The Colombian finished just ahead of Portuguese Tiago Machado (RadioShack); race leader Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) finished just three seconds behind them, having been aggressive on the 12km climb to the finish.
“I am thrilled for this victory,” said Duarte, who will be one of the most important riders for the team at next month’s Giro d’Italia, alongside Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre. “I felt good during the race and I always managed to keep up with the best riders. We rode the Paganella climb twice, and the first time around I tried to keep cover and follow the leaders, in order to study the last few kilometres properly. I noticed that the route was slightly flatter in the last two kilometres, only to gain in steepness in the final 400 metres. I decided to attack exactly at that point the second time around, and my choice paid off.”
Missing from the start line was stage 1 time trial winner Andreas Klöden (RadioShack), reportedly due to a gastric complaint.
After just 19km of the 170km stage Anthony Charteau (Europcar), Adrian Honkisz (CCC Polsat-Polkowice) and Stefano Borchi (De Rosa-Ceramica Flaminia) escaped and quickly became the break of the day. By the 50km mark they had managed to open up a gap of 6’20”. This was to be as good as it got for the trio though, as by the they had climbed and descended the first mountain of the day, to Andolo, it had reduced to six minutes and continued to reduce from there.
As the three breakaway riders reached the base of the climb to Fai della Paganella for the first time they had managed to pull the lead back out to 5’50” again. On the steep 12km climb though, it continued to drop.
8km from the top of the climb Alexandre Pliuschin (Katusha) and Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia es Pasion-Cafe de Colombia) counter attacked and were soon joined by Miguel Rubiano (D’Angelo&Antenucci), making a trio of riders chasing the three riders up front.
At 4km from the top the leading trio led by just 2’18”. Rubiano was the last of the chasing group, who was just a few metres ahead of the peloton with Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Colombia es Pasion-Cafe de Colombia) for company.
As the leaders approached the top Honkisz decided that the time had come to go it alone and he dropped the other two. He crossed the finish line, with just the 33km finishing loop to do, 41 seconds ahead of Charteau and 1’11” ahead of Borchi; the peloton was now just 1’34” behind. On the descent to the foot of the climb Pliuschin, Hector Paez and Wilmar Perez (both Colombia es Pasion-Cafe de Colombia) joined up with Charteau; as they reached the foot of the final climb though it all came back together again under pressure from the De Rosa-Ceramica Flaminia team.
As the climb began Liquigas-Cannondale came to the front, with Vincenzo Nibali working for Valerio Agnoli; the first attack came from Jose Rujano (Androni Giocattoli) though, who had a ten second advantage with 8km to go.
With 6km to go Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF Inox) was trying to get away to join Rujano but the peloton would not allow it. The increase in pace though put Nibali and Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) in trouble.
At 4km to the top a big acceleration from Scarponi pulled Robert Kiserlowski (Astana), Machado, Duarte, Steve Morabito (BMC Racing) and Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF Inox) with him. The six riders quickly caught and passed Rujano, who tried vainly to get back on terms.
In the final few hundred metres Duarte put in a final burst of acceleration that only Machado could match; the Colombian’s sprint was the strongest though and he crossed the line just ahead.
The victory was Duarte’s first of the season; his previous best result was a second place finish behind Ivan Basso in February’s GP di Lugano.
“I always tried to do my best and give everything I had in every race I rode,” he said. “I came close to a win various times and finally the first win of the season arrived. It’s an important victory, both for me and for the whole team. It boosts our confidence and morale for the upcoming Giro d’Italia”.
Although Machado managed to take three seconds out of Scarponi on the line and two seconds in time bonuses, the Italian holds on to his lead in the overall standings; Machado is now just seven seconds behind Scarponi though, with one stage remaining.
Result stage 3
1. Fabio Duarte (Col) Geox-TMC
2. Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack
3. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD @ 3s
4. Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing
5. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox
7. Jose Rujano (Ven) Androni Giocattoli @ 8s
8. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale @ 15s
9. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha
10. Luca Ascani (Ita) D’Angelo & Antenucci-Nippo @ 17s
Standings after stage 3
1. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD
2. Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack @ 7s
3. Luca Ascani (Ita) D’Angelo & Antenucci-Nippo @ 33s
4. Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team @ 34s
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox @ 35s