2nd Giro della Provincia di Lucca - 2.3

Italy, October 3-6, 2000

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Stage 2 - October 4: Fornaci di Barga - Marina di Massa, 187 km

Petacchi bests Zabel

Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) made his impression on national selector, Antonio Fusi, today after he won stage two of the Giro di Provincia della Lucca. Petacchi beat World Cup leader, Erik Zabel, in a bunch sprint, with Selle Italia's stagiaire Mikhailov Khailov taking third.

The 187 kilometre stage was from Fornaci di Barga to Marina di Massa, and the first 50 kilometres were fairly calm. Then, Bettini, Di Luca and Piccoli attacked in order to test their condition, before a small group got away containing Marco Magnani (Alessio), Dario Andriotto (Alexia) and Diego Ferrari (Amica Chips). They gained two minutes but were caught on the last climb of the Foce.

The average speed for the last 20 kilometres was quite high, with Telekom, Mapei, and Francaise des Jeux the main drivers. At the arrival in Marina di Massa, Pettacchi took advantage of the Telekom train to jump with 400 metres to go, winning his 8th race of the year and getting one over Zabel, who is aiming for the Paris-Tours World Cup race this Sunday.

The Italian team for the World Championships will be decided after this race, and Petacchi and Barbero have certainly done their chances no harm.

Results

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo             4.17.57 (43.50 km/h)
2. Erik Zabel (Ger) Deutsche Telekom-ARD
3. Mikhailov Khailov (Ukr) Nectar-Selle Italia
4. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) La Française des Jeux
5. Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
6. Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco-Valli&Valli
7. Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
8. Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step

General classification after stage 2:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita)  Fassa Bortolo Bortolo   8.01.30
2. Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux       
3. Sergio Barbero (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                    0.03
4. Christian Gasperoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo               0.04
5. Christophe Mengin (Fra)  La Francaise des Jeux        0.05