Stage 1, Carate Brianza - Seregno, 146 kms:
Although the 1st stage should have suited us none of the riders were really firing today. Baden Cooke and Sean Sullivan were in the first significant attack of the day but when it came back we struggled to make the consequent breaks. A group of 26 formed in the closing kilometers and the Aussies all finished in the main group. Don't expect much from the boys tomorrow but we'll try to come away with a result on the last day.
1. Thomas Pezzo (Ita) Brescialat 3.20.12 2. Alesso Girelli (Ita) Podenzana 3. Flavio Borgonovo (Ita) Pagnoncelli 4. Gorgio Bosisio (Ita) Zoccorinese 5. Daniele Zerbetto (Ita) Sanpelligrino .. 45. John Pollock (Aus) National 1.23 59. Baden Cooke (Aus) National 1.23 97. Daniel Trinne (Aus) National 1.23 98. Sean Sullivan (Aus) National 1.23 GC is the same.
Stage 2, Carate Brianza - Piano Rancio, 135 kms:
Today's stage was as hard as I've seen for a while. There were 3 mountains of around 1200 meters. The field finishd in groups of one. Baden Cooke gave himself a chance by going away in an early break and got to the 1st climb with over 3 minutes. He went over the top with the 1st group but wasn't able to maintain that position. Daniel Trinne rode well to run 33rd. John Pollock abandoned the race at around the halfway mark. Gianluca Tonetti was very impressive with his win after attacking the front group on the 2nd climb.
1. Gianluca Tonetti (Ita) Brunero 3.42.48 2. Domenico Romano (Ita) Pasta Montegrappa 1.39 3. Fabio Bulgarelli (Ita) Sintofarm 1.43 4. Claudio Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola 2.27 5. Igor Pugaci (Mld) Brescialat 3.30 .. 33. Daniel Trinne (Aus) National 16.10 93. Baden Cooke (Aus) National 26.00 94. Sean Sullivan (Aus) National 26.00 GC after Stage 2: 1. Gianluca Tonetti (Ita) Brunero 7.03.00 2. Domenico Romano (Ita) Pasta Montegrappa 1.39 3. Fabio Bulgarelli (Ita) Sintofarm 1.43 4. Claudio Sironi (Ita) Vini Caldirola 2.47 5. Igor Pugaci (Mld) Brescialat 3.30 .. 33. Daniel Trinne (Aus) National 17.33 87. Baden Cooke (Aus) National 27.23 88. Sean Sullivan (Aus) National 27.33
Stage 3
The stage finished with a full bunch sprint after being controlled by the leader's team all day. Small breaks got away but were always recovered. Baden Cooke again showed that he is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the sprints with a 6th place. The GC stayed the same.
1. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti 28.08 (29.858) 2. Valentino Fois (Ita) Vini Caldirola 0.43 3. Mirko Celestino (Ita) Polti 0.50 4. Andrea Patuelli (Ita) Amore e Vita 1.04 5. Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Vini Caldirola 1.05 6. Marco Vergnani (Ita) Kross-Sella Italia 1.31 7. Rodolfo Ongarato (Ita) Ballan 1.35
Zarate broke away with four laps to go, after staying in a group of four cyclists - Cassio, his teammate Hernandes Quadri Jr and Colombian Israel Ochoa. The other three preferred not to follow, thinking the attack wouldn't last long. A big mistake. Cassio and Ochoa also escaped, but the Colombian gave no help, staying behind the wheel of Cassio.
The Mexican completed the course in 5 hours, 11 minutes and 24 seconds, one minute and six seconds better than Cassio and Ochoa, with an average of 38.535 km/h. Proving that the Brazilian strategy worked well, Hernandes were fourth, Marcio May fifth and Daniel Rogelin sixth, beating riders from Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Equador, Venezuela, Cuba and USA.
Elite Road Race, 200 kms
1. Jesus Zarate (Mex) 5.11.24 2. Cassio Freitas (Bra) 1.06 3. Israel Ochoa (Col) 4. Hernandes Quadri Jr. (Bra) 5. Marcio May (Bra) 6. Daniel Rogelin (Bra)
Earlier on Saturday morning we had the Under-23 Road Race of Panamerican Championships at Americana. It was the same story as yesterday - heat, and the same hilly circuit that the women had to contend with but this time the Under-23's had to ride 17 laps (170 kms long). Brazil was represented by its best squad, led by Luciano Pagliarini, who is a very good sprinter. Working for him were Valdir Lermen, Murilo Fischer, Glauber de Souza, Elivelton Pedro and Daniel Gonçalves.
Our squad controlled the action until the sixth lap. At that point Colombian Marlon Perez made the decisive attack. Mexican Carlos Hernandez jumped to the second spot and Pagliarini kept his third place until the end.
He told the press: I had no problems winning this race. When I attacked, nobody followed me, so it had became an easy task." The winner was also a gold medalist in the Centroamerican Games, held at Venezuela. Pagliarini, in his fourth race at this championships, felt a little tired. He said: "The Colombians arrived here just on Friday and worked especially for this race. I have been racing since the beginning. Anyway, I underestimated him".
Under 23 Road Race, 170 kms
1. Marlon Perez (Col) 4.24.23 2. Carlos Hernández (Mex) 4.26.59 3. Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) 4.27.00Final Medals Tally
Total Gold Silver Bronze 1. USA 21 12 7 2 2. Argentina 13 4 5 4 3. Colombia 9 1 3 5 4. Brasil 6 1 1 4 5. Mexico 4 1 3 0 6. Cuba 2 0 0 2 7. Venezuela 1 0 0 1South Australian Road Cycling Championships, Williamstown
Graham Fowler, who keeps me updated on racing in South Australia reports on the Road Titles there which were held over the past weekend.
Men 184 kms: 1. Kristen Lewis (Norwood) 2. Corey Sweet (Norwood) 3. Matt Hancock (Norwood)Report:
After catching an early break by a lone rider mid race, Kristen Lewis counter attacked, opening up a break of 2 minutes. A chase group headed by Corey Sweet disintegrated with just 20 seconds gap to the lone breakaway. This left virus weakened Sweet to chase on his own. Lewis opened up the gap again crossing some 3 minutes ahead of Sweet. Hancock finished some minutes behind Sweet. A great victory for Lewis who has never won a State Championship as it was always dominated by SASI or AIS riders.
Women 88 kms: 1. Kerin Kelly (Adelaide CC) 2. Symeko Johinke (Norwood CC) 3. Sue Peter (Central Districts)Report:
A handful of women braved the glorious sunshine today. The group seemed happy to ride together for the first 5 km until riders climbed the notorious Yeti Rd Hill. This descimated the field leaving only 3 riders together at the top. The women worked very well together at a good pace until the 50 km mark when Johinke attacked during a undulating section. Sue Peter who anticipated the move easily bridged the gap with Kelly following closely behind. With 2 of the 12.5km laps remaining Johinke attacked once more but this time up Yeti Rd Hill. This open up a 50 gap to Kelly who struggled on the hill this time. With Johinke and Peter swapping turns they opened up about 300m on Kelly. To Kelly's credit she never gave up and caught the two after Johinke failed to roll through on one occasion. An inexperienced Peter failed to produce the sprint required to match Kelly and Johinke, dropping the rear as a jubilant Kerin Kelly threw her hands up in victory narrowly defeating reigning Australian Road Champion Symeko Johinke.