Visconti takes second career Italian title
Giovanni Visconti (ISD-Neri) arrived solo to win the Italian national championships today in Conegliano, repeating his 2007 victory.
“What can I say?” Visconti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “All of my sacrifices have paid off.”
Sicily’s Visconti, 27, came to the line the line with enough time to wave an Italian flag to the fans waiting in conditions of 32°C. Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas-Doimo) and former world champion, Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing) came in soon after to round out the podium.
The win was a triumph for Visconti, whose Professional Continental team did not receive an invitation to the Giro d’Italia last month. ISD-Neri helped him battle such stronger teams as Liquigas-Doimo (for Vincenzo Nibali) and Lampre-Farnese Vini (for Damiano Cunego).
“My team doesn’t lack anything. They delivered me and all I wanted to do was throw my hands in the air, for a victory salute.”
Visconti won the Italian championship in Genova three years ago, 2007, and held the leader’s jersey at the Giro d’Italia for eight days in 2008.
“Even if you do not talk much about me, I have won many times this year and I am the European circuit leader.”
Visconti finished ahead of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to win a stage of the Tour de Luxembourg early this month. He continued his good form by finishing second overall in the Tour de Slovénie.
In April, he won two stages and the overall of the Tour of Turkey.