31st Giro Ciclistico d'Italia Internazionale U26 - 2.6

Italy, June 12- 24, 2001

Stage 12 - June 24: Adrano-Messina, 128 km

Frattini wins the Giro by a few seconds

Davide Frattini is the winner of the 2001 Giro d'Italia Elite Under 26. The rider from Varese, near Milan, and brother of former Telekom professional Francesco, won the overall classification today in Messina, Sicily. Frattini beat his Sintofarm team mate Andris Reiss by 22 seconds and Denis Bonderenko of the Resine Ragnoli team by 37 seconds.

Frattini set up his win in the 31st Giro d'Italia Elite by taking the third stage to Breganze under pouring rain and then by defending the pink jersey in the time trial to Prignano sulla Secchia near Bologna and the mountain finish to Prato di Campoli. He rode well in the time trial even though it is not his strong point and showed his talent as a leader on the big mountain stage.

In the final stages he rode carefully, defending his slim advantage over Reiss and Bonderenko. He was finally able to celebrate on the podium in Messina, with his proud parents watching him. "It's an incredible satisfaction," he said after pulling on the final pink jersey. "I want to dedicate the win to my team mates who were incredible, and my family, especially my brother Francesco, who always encouraged me even when I was thinking about giving up cycling."

The final stage of the Giro between Adrano and Messina over 120km, was won by Nicola Pavone (Ita, Podenzano Italfine). He beat Allan Davis (Australia) and Marco Menin (MG Boys Acqua) with a last gasp attack in the final kilometre.

The organisers of the Giro d'Italia can now take a break for a few days before organising the Giro d'Italia Femmenile which starts in Capo d'Orlando in Sicily next Sunday with the Antiprima Rosa. Along with the women's version of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia Femminile is considered the most important women's race of the season.

Results

1 Nicola Pavone (Ita) Podenzano Italfine      3.31.04 (37.808 km/h)
2 Alan Davis (Aus) Australian National Team
3 Marco Menin (Ita) MG Boys Aqua 
4 Graeme Brown (Aus) Australian National Team
5 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) S. Pellegrino Bottoli 
6 Enrico Grigoli (Ita) Trevigiani Mapei 
7 Sebastiano Scotti (Ita) Pagnoncelli 
8 Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Zalf Euromobil Fior 
9 Sergey Krushevskiy (Uzb) Uzbekistan 
10 Paolo Ciciani (Ita) Aran Cucine 

Final general classification

1 Davide Frattini (Ita) Sintofarm            40.21.48 (42.261 km/h)
2 Andris Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm                   0.22
3 Denis Bondarenko (Rus) Resine Ragnoli          0.37
4 Sergej Krushevsky (Uzbekistan                  1.10
5 Gianluca Cavalli (Ita) Vezza Brunero           1.32
6 Francesco Magni (Ita) Eternedile               1.33
7 Luca Solari (Ita) Sanpellegrino Bottoli        1.34
8 Damiano Giannini (Ita) Pagnoncelli             1.56
9 Emil Arnel (Swe) Podenzano Italfine            2.14
10 Wolodomir Starchik (Ukr) Parolin              2.33