Trofeo Melinda, Cat 1.2

Italy, September 2, 1999

1998 Results     Past Winners

Report:

Swiss rider Mauro Gianetti, who had a bad fall during the Tour of Romandy in 1998 won the Trofeo Melinda in great style - solo and strong. The last to succumb to his relentless pressure was Carlo Finco (Ballan-Alessio) with teammate Andrea Ferrigato (Ballan-Alessio) winning the sprint for 3rd.

The race is held around the orchards of the Val di Non and Mauro Gianetti knows the area well. Mauro Gianetti, a teammate of Francesco Casagrande, prefers to wait until the race is well underway before making any impression. He likes to get the feel of who is strong. He is now aiming for the Worlds.

The weather was warm (33 degrees celsius) and sunny for the race. The race began in earnest when 3 riders attacked at the 90 kms mark. Patuelli went away and he was joined by Moreno Pezzč and Mauro Zanetti. 19 others went across including Kokorine, Petito, Scinto, Gianetti, and Caucchioli. The group built an advantage of around 1 minute when Team Polti began to organise the chase. In the first of 6 laps on the circuit at Cles the average speed was 45 km/h. With 130 kms gone the lead blew out to 1.50.

A group of 17 withFerrigato, Vainsteins, Honchar, Veil, Konyshev, Simoni were organising behind. The list of abandons started to grow with Casagrande going after 150 kms and then Gotti, Savoldelli, Figueras, Barb, Celestino, Basso. In the final 30 kms Petito helped Gianetti to make his move. Carlo Finco went along too. The three gained a lead of 0.20 before Petito was dropped with 11 kms to go. Gianetti then put pressure on Finco. He said: "When I saw Finco lose the wheel on the descent I knew that I should put the pressure on and take the risk on my own."

In the final 3kms, Gianetti dropped Finco and went on to win alone. 35-yaer old Gianetti came 2nd in the 1996 Worlds at Lugano but then seemed to disappear. He said: "I am still around. I have an unbridled passion for cycling. I have learned never to say you are finished." This last statement was in reference to the health problems that Gianetti encountered after a fall in the 1998 Tour of Romandy. He nearly died in the Lausanne Hospital and was linked to doping as a results. He said it was a case of food poisoning. The incident ruined the 1998 season. This season he has already won the GP Wattenberg.

Gianetti said he was looking to the worlds: "At present Rebellin and Casagrande are the best riders heading into the worlds. The Swiss riders are also in form. Camenzind, the two Zbergs, and hopefully myself... And Vandenbroucke is coming back strongly."

Malé - Cles, 197 kms:

AVS: 38.215 km/h

 1. Mauro Gianetti (Swi) Vini Caldirola                      5.09.06
 2. Carlo Finco (Ita) Ballan-Alessio                            0.10
 3. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Ballan-Alessio                       0.16
 4. Romans Vainsteins (Lit) Vini Caldirola                      0.16
 5. Marco Velo (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                      0.16
 6. Luca Scinto (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                          0.16
 7. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale                       0.16
 8. Gianmario Ortenzi (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi               0.22
 9. Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Amica Chips-Costa Almeria           0.27
10. Gianluca Tonetti (Ita) Selle Italia                         0.31
11. Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Navigare-Gaerne                         0.42
12. Sergui Honchar (Ukr) Vini Caldirola                         0.53
13. Mirko Puglioli (Ita) Amore e Vita                           0.53
14. Uros Murn (Slo) KRKA                                        0.59
15. Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                     0.59
16. Dmitri Konyshev (Rus) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                 0.59
17. Vitali Kokorine (Rus) Saeco-Cannondale                      0.59
18. Sergei Lelekin (Rus) Mobilvetta-Northwave                   0.59
19. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Telekom                            0.59
20. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Ballan-Alessio                        0.59

Started: 120
Finished: 30

Past Winners

The Trofeo Melinda (Malé - Cles) which began in 1992 was previously known as the "Giro dell' Umbria" (1919-91). 

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)

1998:

 1. Rodolfo Ongarato (Ita) Ballan 200 kms in 4.49.50 (41.362)
 2. Alessandro Baronti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 3. Dario Frigo (Ita) Saeco
Past winners are from Mario Stiehl, Berlin