30th Settimana Ciclista Lombarda - 2.4

Italy, April 12-16, 2000

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Stage 1 - April 12: Osio Sotto-Osio Sotto, 172 km

Da Cruz in a late attack

Frenchman, Carlos Da Cruz (Big Mat Auber 93) took all the favourites by surprise in the first stage of the Settimana Ciclista Lombarda when he and seven others succeeded in a long breakaway. Eight riders, including Da Cruz, Palumbo (Amica Chips), Loda (Fassa Bortolo), Baldo (Mobilvetta), Wojciechowski (Mroz), Belovoischiks (Lampre), Sauberborn (Ger) and Tombak (Cofidis) escaped at the 18 kilometre point, gaining a maximum lead of 7:41.

Although they were all but caught at the finish, Da Cruz surprised the rest by attacking under the red kite, with one kilometre to go and held off Tombak and Palumbo for the win.

"I seized the opportunity well. In our team, we are all strongly motivated and in excellent condition. We were involved in a road accident on returning from Paris-Roubaix which prevented us from training on Tuesday, and personally I did not do much in the last two days," said Da Cruz afterwards.

Da Cruz is a track rider, winning a bronze medal in the 1997 teams pursuit at the World's, and said that the team will continue to be aggressive in the race.

Tomorrow's stage two takes the riders from Boario to Darfo, a distance of 182 kilometers.

Results

1. Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Big Mat Auber 93             3.55.08 (43.890 km/h) 
2. Janeh Tombak (Est) Cofidis                     	0.01
3. Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Amica Chips-Tacconi Sport
4. Dariusz Wojciechowski (Pol) Mróz-Supradyn Witamin
5. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco-Valli&Valli                
6. Enrico Degano (Ita) Panaria Gaerne
7. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas Pata
8. Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
9. Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre Daikin
10. Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Mobilvetta
 
General classification after stage 1:

1. Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Big Mat Auber 93      	     3.54.57
2. Janeh Tombak (Est) Cofidis                  		0.03
3. Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Amica Chips-Tacconi Sport	0.08
4. Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo			0.10
5. Dariusz Wojciechowski (Pol) Mróz-Supradyn Witamin    0.12
6. Enrico Degano (Ita) Panaria Gaerne
7. Giancarlo Raimondi (Ita) Liquigas Pata
8. Nicola Loda (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
9. Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre Daikin
10. Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Mobilvetta