31st Settimana Ciclista Lombarda - 2.4

Italy, April 18-22, 2001

Stage 5 - April 22: Colzate - Clusone, 171.4 km

Ukrainian Sergey Gontchar (Liquigas) became the first rider in the event's 31 year history to win the Settimana Lombarda for two consecutive years. (Pavel Tonkov holds the record for most victories, with three in 1992, 1996, and 1998.)

Gontchar has held the lead since his stage three victory at the top of the Selvino and easily retained the leader jersey today, keeping ahead of Pascal Herve and Didier Rous.

Gontchar said, "My victory must be shared with all the team. In 2000 I had the advantage of surprise, but this time it was down to the dedication of everyone." Gontchar's next goal is the Tour of the Apennines, starting April 25.

Today's final stage saw the second success of the week for Italian Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo), who beat world champion Romains Vainsteins (Domo) and Giuseppe Di Grande (Tacconi) in the sprint. "I saw Vainsteins moving out and I waited until the last 200m. I like this type of finish, with a slight rise. My fellow team-mates gave me a great help by contributing to the failure of the breakaway."

Di Grande was the most aggressive rider in the closing stages, attacking with eight kilometres to go, but was chased down by Honchar's Liquigas squad, working to protect the race leader.

A disappointed Vainsteins immediately headed for his hotel after the podium ceremony.

Results

1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo           4.10.08 (39.195 km/h) 
2 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Domo-Farm Frites
3 Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Tacconi-Vini Caldirola
4 Franco Pellizzotti (Ita) Alessio
5 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Mobilvetta Design
6 Didier Rous (Fra) Bonjour
7 Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Ceramiche Panaria
8 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas  
9 Daniele De Paoli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Albacom 
10 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Cofidis
  
Final general classification
 
1 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas                    21.33.21
2 Pascal Hervé (Fra) Alexia Alluminio                   1.45
3 Didier Rous (Fra) Bonjour                             1.55
4 Franco Pelizzotti (Ita) Alessio
5 Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone
6 Beno”t Salmon (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance                   2.41
7 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              2.45
8 Mauro Zanetti (Ita) Alessio                           2.57
9 Rafael Mateos Perez (Spa) Team Colpack 
10 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone  3.04
11 Piotr Przydzial (Pol) CCC Mat                        3.28
12 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone      3.56
13 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                  4.06
14 Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin                4.36
15 Cadel Evans (Aus) Saeco Macchine per Caffe           5.12
16 Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Tacconi-Vini Caldirola 
17 Daniele De Paoli (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Albacom         5.22
18 Marco Magnani (Ita) Alexia Alluminio                 5.46
19 Faat Zakirov (Rus) Amore & Vita Beretta              6.31
20 Ramon Bianchi (Ita) Liquigas                         6.42
29 Ivan Gotti (Ita) Alessio                             8.29
47 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Domo-Farm Frites            13.59
73 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                            22.47