2nd Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente - 2.3

Italy, February 20-23, 2002

Stage 4 - February 23: Ligure circuit of Margherita, 156.6 km

Final podium
Photo ©: Sirotti

Bettini's double gives him the overall

Paolo Bettini (Mapei) secured the overall victory in the 2nd Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente after he won his second stage in a row in Santa Margherita Ligure today. The 27 year old beat Fabio Sacchi (Saeco-Longoni Sport) and Massimiliano Gentili (Acqua & Sapone) as the stage finished in a group sprint. In the overall classification, Bettini finished with 10 seconds advantage over Sacchi, who was disappointed that he could not turn the tables.

"Thanks to my teammates, I could avoid all the risks and I could play my cards with confidence, while seeing Bodrogi, Evans and Cioni at my side in the last kilometre. With 200m to go I was in front and all I had to do was to stop Sacchi's attack," said Bettini afterwards.

Bettini is aiming for Milan-San Remo in four weeks time, and will do the important Belgian races Het Volk and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne next weekend.

Photography

Paolo Bettini (Mapei) - leads Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) and Fabio Sacchi (Saeco)
Paolo Bettini - does it again, beating Fabio Sacchi and Massimiliano Gentili (Acqua e Sapone) in the final sprint
Final podium - Fabio Sacchi (Saeco), Paolo Bettini (Mapei) and Alberto Ongarato (De Nardi Pasta Montegrappa)

Results

1 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                  4.03.51 (39.762 km/h)
2 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco Longoni Sport
3 Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Acqua Sapone Cantina Tollo
4 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) De Nardi Pasta Montegrappa
5 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Index Alexia
6 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Mercatone Uno
7 Mauro Zinetti (Ita) Index Alexia
8 Fausto Dotti(Ita) Cage Maglierie
9 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Fassa Bortolo
10 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Panaria Fiordo


Final general classification

1 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 15.29.01
2 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco Longoni Sport                   0.10
3 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) De Nardi Pasta Montegrappa        0.14
4 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Alessio
5 Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Acqua Sapone Cantina Tollo    0.16
6 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Index Alexia
7 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Panaria Fiordo                   0.20
8 Ivan Gotti (Ita) Alessio                                 0.24
9 Sasa Gajicic (You) Mobilvetta Formaggi Trentini
10 Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Amore Vita Beretta