BriefWith Pavel Tonkov and Sergei Gontchar in attendance it was surprising when Marco Velo rode the fastest time to win the Coppa delle Nazioni-Memorial Fausto Coppi Time Trial.Coming of Giro d'Italia in top condition, the trusted Lieutenant from Mercatone Uno-Bianchi was too strong for all the favourites and took 42 seconds out of German Uwe Peschel, and 57 seconds from the Under-23 winner Luca Sironi (Vini Caldirola). Sergei Gontchar at 1.19 could only manage 5th. He had won the last ITT between Mendrisio and Lugano the weekend before in the Giro, and probably is thinking about the Giro dell'Apennino which is a Cat 1.2 event the following day. For Velo, the Junior Champion in 1992 in Greece, last won during the 1997 Tour of Trentino. In the two Giro Time Trials he improved from 11 (Trieste) to 4th (Lugano). And yesterday, on the roads of the Champions (we speak of Fausto Coppi and Costante Girardengo) he has shown how strong a time-trialler he is. His average speed - a little under 50 - was excellent considering that the roads were rough in the beginning. Novi Ligure, 32.8 kms:1. Marco Velo (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi 39.27 (49.550) 2. Uwe Peschel (Ger) Estepona 0.42 3. Luca Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Longoni Sport 0.57 4. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Brescialat-Liquigas 1.00 5. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Cantina Tollo 1.19 6. Jonathan Hall (Aus) Australian Team 1.39 7. Mirko Gualdi (Ita) Polti 1.43 8. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 1.46 9. Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Australian Team 1.48 10. Massimo Gimondi (Ita) Amore e Vita 1.53 |