1st Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente - 2.4

Italy, February 21-24, 2001

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Stage 2 - February 22: Genua-Genua, 144.7 km

ZaZa tops them in stage 2

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Zanini happy
Photo: © Roberto Bettini

Stage 2 of the Giro Rivera Ligure Ponente has ended with Mapei's Stefano Zanini taking the honours, his first win of the season. The Mapei strong man beat home Russian Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) and Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) in the 145 kilometre stage that started and finished in Genoa. The five were part of a leading group of approximately 30, and Zanini took over the overall race lead.

The hardest job that Mapei had to do was to capture Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) who had attacked after just 8 kilometres. After the climbs of the Scoffera, Masso and Ruta di Camogli, the final 15 kilometres of the race were quite nervous. However, Zanini managed to take advantage of the Fassa Bortolo lead out as he sprinted side by side with Konyshev for the last 250 metres to eventually pip the Russian on the line.
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Head to head
Photo: © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Zanini's victories tend to be few, but normally in big races. He won't forget the win on the Champs Elysees last year in the Tour de France, but he also won stages in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and Tour de Suisse in 2000. He has won stages in the Giro d'Italia, Tirreno-Adriatico, and important one day races such as the Amstel Gold Race, Milano-Torino, Milano-Vignola, Coppa Sabatini, Coppa Bernocchi and Paris-Bruxelles.

He said that he "hopes to be a protagonist" in Tirreno-Adriatico this year, and of course dreams of Milan Sanremo.

Results

1 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step         3.47.09
2 Dmitri Konychev (Rus) Fassa Bortolo 
3 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco Macchine per Caffe
4 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola
5 Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Alessio
6 Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
7 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Mobilvetta
8 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
9 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack
10 Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step         7.45.04 
2 Dmitri Konychev (Rus) Fassa Bortolo              0.04 
3 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco Macchine per Caffe      0.06 
4 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola 0.10
5 Massimo Giunti (Ita) Cantina Tollo