Trofeo Melinda, Cat 1.3

Preview:

Michele Bartoli tried hard to win the Tour of Veneto but not at all costs. In the end he competed hard but it was clear he was riding within himself not the least because his teammate, Filippo Simeoni was in the leading quartet. The opinion was that Bartoli had supported the Tour of Veneto and rode it to prepare to the Trophy Melinda today. The race will run from Malé to Cles over 200 kms. It leaves Malè (in the north of Italy) at 10.15 and the peloton rides through Dimaro, Malè, Cagnò, Brez, Romeno, Taio, Rocchetta, Cunevo, Talao, Tuenno, Cles. Once they get to Cles, they do 7 laps of a circuit encompassing Cles, Tassullo, Nanno, Tuenno, Talao, and Cles. The finish is predicted at 15.15.

Of the 130 riders who have registered for the race, Bartoli is the favourite. Other fancied contenders are Rebellin, Faresin, Simeoni and Ongarato - the winning quartet of the Tour of Veneto. Moreover Baldato, Serpellini, Figueras, Gontchenkov, Celestino, Camenzind, all active in the Tour of Veneto will also be there at the finish.

Race Report:

Rodolfo Ongarato was the surprise winner of the Trophy the Melinda with Baronti and Frigo taking minor placings - rewards for a great breakaway. Ongarato won in the last km. His first victory as a professional was memorable because it came in a contest full of cut and thrust and also with a very distinguished field of riders present.

The first part of the race was characterised by a long escape, starting at the the 65 kms mark - with Sandro Giacomelli and Simone Borgheresi succeeding in building up a maximum gap of 4.45. Borgheresi was dropped first and then Giacomelli hoisted the white flag after remaining in the front for 75 kms. Michele Bartoli's team brought them back. With 50 kms to go, the decisive winning move was made by Rebellin, Ongarato, Camenzind, Gasperoni, Baronti, Fois and Frigo, with Frigo promoting the breakaway. 7 riders from 7 different teams, and Bartoli not represented personally or by a teammate. This was the attack against the race favourite. How would he react?

The group worked well together and understood that they had locked the leader of the World Cup out of the race. Bartoli, like in the Tour of Veneto, could not get any collaboration from within the peloton and preferred to minimise the damage with a small group of chasers. As the front bunch approached the end, it splintered with Frigo going off the front, then Baronti, then Ongarato. A successful attack from three riders who were not among the fancied choices. Three without history - as the Italian commentators put it.

A smiling Ongarato at the end said: "While sprinting, I did think about that pedal again. Frigo went from a long way out. I just jumped onto his wheel without any problem.

Ongarato had never won until today, and within the last two days, without his bad luck, could have made it two victories in two days. He is a neo professional and until June 1 had raced less than 20 races. After they left the amateurs they remain protected for a year. Ongarator said: "I have been learning the trade and gaining form up to this time. I still intend to race all the remaining Italian races, and also Paris-Brussels and Paris-Tours. I have dedicated this first win to my girlfriend who I will marry in October. I have shown I can ride well on all terrain and I am fast enough. But I have never raced a large one-day race nor a stage race. From the amateurs, I bring 20 victories of which 2 were in the Tour of Friuli. I have been retained by Ballan for another season. I have dreams of the blue shirt of the National Team.

Baronti said afterwards: "Ongarato was too strong at the end. The race and my form has allowed me to take some pressure off myself. Today, I have to go to Bologna with my lawyer for an acoustic test. I have to demonstrate that it was not my voice on a telephone call talking about banned drugs."

3rd placed Dario Frigo said: "With the last km in sight I was alone and I tried to think of how Rebellin would finish the race off by attacking. Unfortunately they came onto me, first Baronti and then Ongarato. Patience. I will be the number one rider for Saeco in the Vuelta in the absence of Gotti. So I will have my opportunities. My dream A place in the national team for the worlds."

Rebellin was again in great form (1st in Veneto, 5th Cles) as were Gasperoni, Camenzin and Fois. The attitude of Bartoli was puzzling though. He was passive in Veneto and worked his team hard in the Trophy Melinda but then acquiesed. It seems that he is only focusing on the World Championships at Valkenburg on October 11.

Malé - Cles, 200 kms:

 1. Rodolfo Ongarato (Ita) Ballan 			     4.49.50 (41.362)
 2. Alessandro Baronti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 3. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco
 4. Cristian Gasperoni (Ita) Amore e Vita    			1.00
 5. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti
 6. Oskar Camenzind (Sch) Mapei-Bricobi
 7. Valentino Fois (Ita) Vini Caldirola
 8. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei-Bricob               		1.36
 9. Alexander Gontchenkov (Rus) Ballan        			1.42
10. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina
11. Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
12. Andrea Paulan (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave
13. Alberto Elli (Ita) Casino
14. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Asics-CGA
15. Gianluca Valoti (Ita) Polti
16. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco
17. Stefano Checchin (Ita) Mercatone Uno
18. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas
19. Marco Vergnani (Ita) Kross-Selle Italia
20. Guido Trenti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
21. Davide Casarotto (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne
22. Alessandro Calzolari (Ita) Ros Mary
23. Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas
24. Alessandro Varocchi (Ita) Ros Mary
25. Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Vini Caldirola				s.t.

Started: 135
Finished: 43

Past Winners

1992:

 1. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) 195 kms in 5.32.12
 2. Gianni Bugno (Ita)
 3. Vjatcheslav Ekimov (Rus)

1993:

 1. Stefano Della-Santa (Ita) 198 kms in 5.19.11
 2. Mauro Gianetti (Swi)
 3. Wladimir Belli (Ita)

1994:

 1. Massimo Podenzana (Ita) 245 kms in 6.06.35
 2. Francesco Casagrande (Ita)
 3. Gianni Faresin (Ita)

1995:

 1. Pascal Richard (Swi) 196 kms in 5.10.00
 2. Felice Puttini (Swi)
 3. Gianni Faresin (Ita)

1996:

 1. Andrea Tafi (Ita) 209 kms in 5.19.10
 2. Massimo Podenzana (Ita)
 3. Filippo Casagrande (Ita)

1997:

 1. Michele Bartoli (Ita) 196.6 kms in 4.55.49
 2. Wladimir Belli (Ita)
 3. Stefano Checchin (Ita)