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The 3rd Gran Premio Costa degli Etruschi is an unofficial race in terms
if UCI points but is now considered the opening of the Italian racing
season. It will be staged in the town of Donoratico, under the watchful
eye of the National Cycling Coach Alfredo Martini.
There are over 200 riders registered for this year's event including all the major hitters in Italian cycling. The start is programmed for San Vincenzo, at 11.35am. After a nine kilometer neutral promotional ride, the race will cover 159 kms, doing 3 laps of a 25kms circuit and 8 laps of a 10.5 kms circuit. Some of the teams and featured riders include:
Mapei-Bricobì- Bugno, Museeuw and Zanini. Saeco-Cannondale - Cipollini who will decide on the day whether to race. Polti - with 1996 winner Guidi Scrigno-Gaerne with 1997 winner Conte and Casarotto. Riso Scotti - Minali and Baldato. Rabobank - Boogerd and Van Bon Ballan - Gontchenkov, Colombo, Ugrumov and Leoni. Brescialat-Liquigas - Zaina and Piccoli. Asics-CGA - Malberti. Mobilvetta-Northwave - Colagè and Tebaldi. Amore e Vita - Magnusson.Brief For the last two years Mario Cipollini has not been seen at this race. But this year he was finally persuaded to race in the GP Costa degli Etruschi, the first race of the Italian year, to the delight of the 25,000 spectators. The crowd sensed a showdown - Cipollini versus Nicola Minali. When it came down to action Super Mario scored his 114th career victory. He finished the race in typical fashion - his arms up high and then he was mobbed by the fans. Mark Lotz and Jans Koerts from the Rabobank team had a bad fall in the traditional opening race for the Italian season and are in a hospital in Estruschi. Lotz, a neo-pro has concussion while Koert is thought to have in damaged some vertebrae in his back. An early attack by Beat Zberg from Switzerland saw him stay away from over 100 kms and he held a maximum gap of 9.50. When it came down to business, it was Super Mario who had the pace yet again. In the last 200 metres, Cippollini's train was working efficiently, with Fagnini giving him the sit into a headwind. Cipo said: Things were finished at 200 meters, I owe it to Fagnini, who has set up me up very bravely. I took it from Minali, who involuntarily threw the sprint. I sensed that there was a problem, maybe the 53x11 gearing or the headwind". Cipollini had anticipated this victory after six thousand kilometers of training. "I'm satisfied because I don't know how at the start of the season I've been able to make such a strong effort. Now I start thinking about Milano-San Remo, like I do every year. Will it be my turn to win?" Nicola Minali, second at a bike's length to Cipollini was satisfied though: "I was able to hold on to his whee but Mario delayed the decisive action and at 200 meters I tried but the sprint was too short and I couldn't pass him". San Vincenzo - Donoratico, 159 kms:
1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale 3.48.00 (avs 41.842) 2. Nicola Minali (Ita) Riso Scotti 3. Leon van Bon (Ned) Rabobank 4. Mirco Rossato (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne 5. Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Krka-Telekom 6. Stefano Dante (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Longoni 7. Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank 8. Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne 9. Luca Cei (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne 10. Marco Zanotti (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Longoni all s.t. |