1st Settimana Coppi-Bartali - 2.4

Italy, March 27-31, 2001

Stage 2 - March 28: Cento-Montese, 214 km

Ruslan Ivanov triumphs in stage 2

Ivanov too good
Photo: © Fotoreporter Sirotti

The longest stage of the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali was run today over 214 kilometres, between Cento and Montese. The eventual winner and new wearer of the leader's jersey was Moldavian Ruslan Ivanov (Alessio). Ivanov beat breakaway companion Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo), with Serguei Yakovlev (Cantina Tollo) taking third at six seconds behind.

After just 5 kilometres, Alessio's Andrea Ferrigato and Pietro Caucchioli went on the attack, and built up a steady lead which got to a maximum of 12'40 at kilometre 75. The pair were averaging close to 40 km/h, while the bunch ambled along for the first part of the race.

The first time Ferrigato and Caucchioli reached Montese, they had a lead of 11'12 and the peloton was some 18 minutes behind schedule. Caucchioli beat Ferrigato for the first mountain sprint at Montagna di Castelluccio, but the lead had come down to 8'50 by this stage.

With 75 kilometres to go, Panaria took up the chase as Francesco Casagrande and Enrico Degano abandoned. This had the effect of reducing the gap to 3'15 the second time the riders passed through Montese. Marco Velo, Angelo Lopeboselli and Marco Savoldelli tried to conter-attack but were not successful.

However, Pavel Padrnos (Saeco), Simone Bertoletti (Lampre), and Aleksandr Shefer (Alessio) managed to reel in first Ferrigato and then Caucchioli after the second GPM, but the peloton was back together at Corona (km 173).

With 16 km to go, Serguei Yakovlev attacked and got a 20 second lead, causing panic in the bunch. Frigo, Ruslan Ivanov, and Freddy Gonzales Martinez countered at 11 kilometres to go, eventually catching Yakolev. With 700m to go, Ivanov made his move and Frigo responded, but was not able to come round the Moldavian on the line.

Results

1 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Alessio                         5.45.55 (38.1 km/h)
2 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
3 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone    0.06
4 Freddy Gonzales (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific
5 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe         0.52
6 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo       0.58
7 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Fassa Bortolo                   1.11
8 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas-Pata
9 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
10 Aleksandr Sheffr (Kaz) Alessio
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Alessio                         9.45.51 (38.5 km/h)
2 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                        0.02
3 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone    0.10
4 Freddy Gonzales (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific             0.11
5 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe         0.57
6 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo       1.03
7 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Fassa Bortolo                   1.16
8 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas-Pata                  
9 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                   
10 Aleksandr Sheffr (Kaz) Alessio                        1.36
 
Points classification
 
1 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Alessio  
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Freddy Gonzales (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific