72nd Giro di Toscana, Cat 1.3

1998 Results     Past Winners     Report The long awaited clash between Marco Pantani and Andrea Tafi this weekend did not eventuate and it was Massimo Podenzana who triumphed at the GP Larciano on Saturday and Luca Scinto at the Giro di Toscana on Sunday. Both are powereful riders and both won alone. It was the 7th victory for Podenzana and the 4th for Scinto. While meagre one has to understand that they usually work for their captains. Scinto for Michele Bartoli and Podenzana for Marco Pantani. After winning on Saturday, Podenzana went to Arezzo and was active all day. Always there to protect Pantani. He said after the race: "In a sprint I am worth nothing and therefore to win I have to breakaway on my own. When will I quit racing? The day when I am no longer motivated and when I cannot compete. This race is my last before the Giro. Luca Scinto also had a good weekend. He was 3rd at Larciano and first at Arezzo. The Giro di Toscana didn't get going until the riders reached the final circuit (15 kms to be done 5 times and including the climb of Scopetone). Up until that point there had been little to write about. The Mercatone Uno-Bianchi team had controlled the race through Podenzana then with Forconi, while Pantani pedalled in a small group at the front. There were many attacks on the first 4 finishing laps and then just as they were starting the final lap with 15 kms to go Scinto attacked like nothing else. He has already raced 39 times since the season began and is due for some rest. He said he will return to racing at the end of the month in Germany. "My program is aimed at arriving at the Tour de France in great shape in order to help Bartoli and Tonkov. Personally I am also hoping to race in the Italian team at the worlds in October." On the final laps, he was chased by Miceli, who was strong on the climb, while Spezialetti was the most prominent. He had a good weekend too - 4th in Larciano and 3rd in Arezzo. The crowd were expecting big things from Pantani and Tafi. The pirate never tried any attacking moves and gave the impression to all that he was pedalling very easily indeed. He had the goals of improving his rhythm and pedal smoothness. He is now in great shape just prior to the Giro. He has also said he will not risk anything at this stage. Tafi, instead, appears to be tired after his great win at Roubaix. He didn't ride well on the Tuscan climbs. He ended at the back at Larciano and was dropped at Arezzo and then withdrew. He needs a rest. Arezzo, 199 kms: 1. Luca Scinto (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 5.18.10 (37.565 km/h) 2. Nicola Miceli (Ita) Liquigas-Pata 0.54 3. Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave 0.58 4. Massimo Donati (Ita) Vini Caldirola 1.04 5. Oscar Mason (Ita) Liquigas-Pata 1.04 6. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Ballan Alessio 1.04 7. Riccardo Forconi (Ita) Mercatone Uno Bianchi 1.04 8. Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale 1.04 9. Amilcare Tronca (Ita) Amica Chips-Costa Almeria 1.04 10. Roberto Sgambelluri (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia 1.15 11. Filippo Baldo (Ita) Ballan Alessio 1.21 12. Enrico Zaina (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi 1.21 13. Marco Magnani (Ita) Cantina Tollo-Alexia 2.08 14. Niklas Axelsson (Swe) Navigare-Gaerne 2.08 15. Paolo Valoti (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave 2.08 16. Massimo Podenzana (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi 2.08 17. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno Bianchi 2.08 18. Simone Borgheresi (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi 2.08 19. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Lampre-Daikin 13.05 20. Renzo Ragnetti (Ita) Mobilvetta-Northwave 13.05 Started: 112 Abandoned: 92 Finished: 20 Past Winners 1984 Baronchelli 1985 Moroni 1986 Corti 1987 Piccolo 1988 Ron Kiefel (USA) 1989 Maurizo Fondriest (Ita) 1990 Marco Saligari (Ita) 1991 Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) 1992 Giorgio Furlan (Ita) 1993 Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) 1994 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) 1995 Massimo Podenzana (Ita) 1996 No event 1997 Sergio Barbero (Ita) 1998 Francesco Secchiari (Ita) Scrigno-Gaerne 175 kms in 5.11.00 1999 Luca Scinto (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 199 kms in 5.18.10 (37.565 km/h)