2nd Giro della Provincia di Lucca - 2.3

Italy, October 3-6, 2000

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Stage 4 - October 6: Marina di Carrara-Lucca, 152 km

Petacchi wins overall

The final stage of the Giro di Provincia della Lucca ended in another mass sprint, meaning that Fassa Bortolo's Alessandro Petacchi held onto his lead to win the overall. He was second today to Fabrizio Guidi (Polti) and, after his nearest rival Oscar Freire abandoned, he took the GC with 10 seconds to spare from Christian Gasperoni (Cantina Tollo). Michele Bartoli (Mapei) also demonstrated his form again today, taking third on the stage.

The 152 kilometres from Marina di Carrara to Lucca was not easy, finishing on a 14.6 kilometre circuit that was ridden six times. Each lap contained a 4.1 kilometre climb at 4 percent and there were many attacks. Mapei's Manuel Beltran was particularly aggressive, but did not succeed in escaping for long. The final selection was made on the last climb of San Martino in Vingola with 14 kilometres to go,

Bartoli, Petacchi and Guidi contested the final sprint, starting from 700 metres out. Guidi was quickest, with Petacchi not far behind while Bartoli was content with third, showing that he is the man to lead the Italians in the World Championship Road Race next weekend in Plouay.

Yesterday's stage winner, Oscar Freire, abandoned shortly after the start, despite lying in second place before the stage. Freire has an excellent chance to win Paris-Tours on Sunday, and may have wanted an extra day's rest before the World Cup race.

Results

1. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) La Francaise des Jeux  3.47.14 (40.135 km/h)
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
3. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
4. Denis Zanette (Ita) Liquigas 
5. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
6. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Alessio
7. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
8. Mathias Kessler (Ger) Telekom
9. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2r-Prevoyance
10. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                   

Final general classification:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo    17.11.52
2. Christian Gasperoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo        0.10
3. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Alessio             0.11
4. Chris Peers (Bel) Lotto-Adecco               
5. Denis Lunghi (Ita) Polti                     
6. Igor Pugaci (Mda) Saeco                      
7. Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Liquigas               
8. Marco Serpellini (Ita) Lampre-Daikin         
9. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step         0.57
10. Mirko Celestino (Ita) Polti                   0.59