Tirreno-Adriatico, Cat 2.1

Italy, March 12-19, 1997
Stages 1 to 4

21 teams from 8 countries will take part in the 32nd edition of Tirreno-Adriatico 12-19 March. Amore&Vita-ForzArcore, Asics, Brescialat, Cantina Tollo, Refin-Mobilvetta, MG-Technogym, Mapei-GB, Scrigno-Gaerne, Team Polti, Aki-Safi, Batik-Del Monte, Mercatone-Uno, Saeco-Estro and Kross-Montanari are the Italian teams. Casino, Cofidis and Festina (Fra), Telekom (Ger), Rabobank and TVM (Ned) are among the foreign teams.

Top riders starting will be Michele Bartoli, Francesco Casagrande, Fabrizio Guidi, Gabriele Colombo, Maurizio Fondriest, Andrea Tafi, Rodolfo Massi and Jan Ullrich (Ger).

The Stages (1222 km):

Wednesday 12 	Prologue Sorrento, 4. km
Thursday 13:	Stage 1	 Sorrento-Venafro, 180 km.
Friday 14: 	Stage 2	 Venafro-Pescasseroli, 131 km.
Saturday 15: 	Stage 3	 Pescasseroli-Narni, 213 km.
Sunday 16: 	Stage 4	 Terni-Circuito delle Marmore, 117 km.
Monday 17: 	Stage 5	 Ferentillo-Corinaldo, 187 km.
Tuesday 18: 	Stage 6	 Monte Urano-Monte Granaro, 168 km.
Wednesday 19: 	Stage 7	 Grottammare-S. Benedetto d. Tronto, 159 km.

Prologue, Sorrento, 4 km:

 1. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark) 	     4.38.93 
 2. Erik Dekker (Netherlands)       	0.01
 3. Maurizio Fondriest              	0.02
 4. Gabriele Colombo                	0.03
 5. Leon Van Bon (Netherlands)
 6. Gianluca Pianegonda             	both s.t.
 7. Frank Corvers (Belgium)         	0.04
 8. Roberto Petito  
 9. Paolo Savoldelli                	both s.t.
10. Michele Bartoli                 	0.05

11. Michael Andersson (Sweden) TVM              0.06
12. Franco Ballerini (Italy) Mapei              0.07
13. Andrea Tafi (Italy) Mapei                   s.t.
14. Michael Blaudzun (Denmark) Rabobank         0.08
15. Beat Zberg (Switzerland) Mercatone Uno      0.09
16. Bruno Boscardin (Switzerland) Festina
17. Rodolfo Massi (Italy) Casino
18. Andrea Ferrigato (Italy) Roslotto       
19. Fluvio Frigo (Italy) Kross              all s.t.  
20. Emmanuel Magnien (France) Festina           0.10
21. Biagio Conte (Italy) Scrigno           both s.t.
22. Mirko Gualdi (Italy) Polti                  0.11
23. Erik Breuking (Netherland) Rabobank     
24. Mirko Celestino (Italy) Polti 
25. Tobias Steinhauser (Germany) Refin
26. Marcel Wuest (Germany) Festina
27. Stefano Della Santa (Italy) Mercatone Uno
28. Michelangelo Cauz (Italy) Aki           all s.t. 
29. Jesper Skibby (Denmark) TVM                 0.12
30. Dimitri Konishev (Russia) Roslotto
31. Mirko Crepaldi (Italy) Polti
32. Chrstoph Bassons (France) Festina
33. Marco Villa (Italy) Brescialat
34. Marzio Bruseghin (Italy) Brescialat
35. Zbiginiew Spruch (Poland) Mapei
36. Rolf Aldag (Germany) Telekom            all s.t.

Prologue Report

Denmark's Rolf Sorensen, a double Tirreno-Adriatico winner who has lived in Italy for a decade, won the opening four-km individual time trial on a twisty course on Wednesday.

Dutch rider Erik Dekker was second fastest, a second behind, with Italy's Maurizio Fondriest another second back.

``I followed the progress of about a dozen riders to understand how they took the bends and what line they were taking,'' said the 31-year-old Dane, who won the Tirreno-Adriatico in 1987 and 1992.

The circuit around the picturesque southern seaside resort had 11 bends, some of them very tight, and an uneven surface that caused some problems.

Fondriest started well but the Dane was always going to be tough to beat in such time trials. ``Sorensen is a specialist, it's hard to do better,'' he said.

Thursday's first full stage, a 180-km ride from Sorrento to Venafro, should again favour the speed specialists.

More Prologue Reporting

Dane Rolf Sorensen, from Team Rabobank, won the Prologue of the 32nd edition of Tirreno Adriatico, which started yesterday. Sorensen became the leader at an average speed of 51.7 kms/hr, even considering the bad pavement and the eleven tight curves in the route. Sorensen said at the end of the Prologue that: "in the morning I was studying each one of those curves. I closely watched how the other riders took them while they were training to find the best way of doing it". About the Overall Sorensen said: "Now we are all very close, but the one I worry about is Maurizio Fondriest. He is in great form and I have seen the route book and many of the stages seem to have been designed for him". The thoretical favorite, German Jan Ullrich, finished in 54th place.

Rolf Sorensen has said clearly: I'm here to win my third Tirreno-Adriatico. In the Dane's way there are many Italians which defended themselves well. Starting with Maurizio Fondriest, who was third at 2": It was very hot and I suffered in the first kilometer - said Fondriest-. But I went very well at the end, I would have done better over a longer distance. Sorensen is in form, also Colombo and Bartoli have gone well. This was one of Gabriele Colombo's best time trial results. The king of Sanremo '96 is only 3" behind. The race result comforts me and I was feeling good throughout the race -Colombo said-. The interesting test will be in the coming days, specially with the finish at the climb of Pescasseroli.

Michele Bartoli did better than expected, considering the fact that he's suffering from an intestinal virus and is taking medicine for it. "I'm taking medicine, but I have gone rather well". Francesco Casagrande, the defending winner finished 77th at 16" he was reported to be suffering from a fever and lost a lot of time. Going worse was Fabrizio Guidi, who fell at the time trial, hurting his arm. The Tuscan had hurt his ribs previously, but radiographies hadn't shown fractures. This is his third fall in fifteen days.

Stage 1, Sorrento-Venafro, 192-km:

 1. Endrio Leoni 				4.47.54
 2. Nicola Minali 
 3. Mario Traversoni 
 4. Jan Svorada (Czech Republic) 
 5. Fulvio Frigo 
 6. Erik Zabel (Germany) 
 7. Biagio Conte 
 8. Sergio Previtali 
 9. Claudio Camin 
10.Sergei Outschakov (Ukraine) 			all s.t.

GC after Stage 1

 1. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark) 	   	     4:52.31 
 2. Erik Dekker (Netherlands) 			0.02 
 3. Gianluca Pianegonda  
 4. Maurizio Fondriest 				0.03
 5. Gabriele Colombo 				0.04
 6. Leon Van Bon (Netherlands)  
 7. Frank Corvers 				0.05 
 8. Roberto Petito 
 9. Paolo Savoldelli  
10.Michele Bartoli 				0.06
11. Andrea Tafi (Italy) Mapei                   s.t.
12. Michael Andersson (Sweden) TVM              0.07
13. Franco Ballerini (Italy) Mapei              0.08
14. Endrio Leoni (Italy) AKI                    0.09
15. Michael Blaudzun (Denmark) Rabobank         s.t.
16. Beat Zberg (Switzerland) Mercatone Uno      0.10
17. Bruno Boscardin (Switzerland) Festina
18. Rodolfo Massi (Italy) Casino
19. Andrea Ferrigato (Italy) Roslotto
20. Biagio Conte (Italy) Scrigno
21. Fluvio Frigo (Italy) Kross              all s.t.

Stage 1 Report

Italian Endrio Leoni, from Team AKI Safi, won the first stage of the XXXII Tirreno-Adriatico with a time of 4h.47:54, disputed between Sorrento and Venafro, with a 192 kms. route. Dane Rolf Sorensen, from team "Rabobank", who yesterday won the ITT Prologue, kept the leader's jersey and increased his lead by one second due to a bonus from an intermediate sprint.

Twenty-eight year old Leoni, who has suffered four operations -one in the leg and three in his back- in only two years won in a long sprint of almost 200 meters ahead of sprinters like Nicola Minali, Mario Traversoni and Jan Svorada. The second stage will be contested tomorrow from Venafro to Pescasseroli, over 131 kms.

More Reporting

Endrio Leoni, who had contemplated giving up cycling to work in his family's restaurant after two years of bad luck, was rewarded on Thursday with a Tirreno-Adriatico stage win.

The Italian, who underwent four major operations in two years after a serious fall in the 1994 Giro d'Italia, took the first 192-km stage from the picturesque southern seaside town of Sorrento in four hours 47 minutes 54 seconds.

The overall standings, including Wednesday's time trial, remained unchanged with Dane Rolf Sorensen two seconds ahead of Dutchman Erik Dekker and Italy's Gianluca Pianegonda.

``I gave myself a year to sort out my life,'' said the 28-year-old Leoni, who last year was overweight, stressed and looking for a new team after his old one folded. He had undergone one operation on his leg and three on his back.

``Now if I don't have any more problems I think I'll go on for three or four more seasons,'' he said.

Sorensen, winner of the time trial, was suffering from a sore throat and had a quiet day. He finished the stage 30th but with the same time as Leoni.

``Tomorrow will be more difficult,'' said Sorensen, twice a Tirreno winner. ``But I don't think it will be a decisive stage. I have a lot of riders to keep an eye on but if my sore throat goes away, I won't be afraid of any of them.''

Friday's second stage is an arduous 131 kms in the central Abruzzi mountains from Venafro to Pescasseroli.

Stage 2, Venafro-Pescasseroli, 131 kms:

  1. Davide Casarotto (Ita) Scrigno           3.33.08 (36,878 km/h)
  2. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco                  s.t.
  3. Beat Zberg (Sch) Mercatone                + 0.02
  4. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik
  5. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Kross Montanari
  6. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo
  7. Gianluca Pianegonda (Ita) Mapei 
  8. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti                 all s.t.
  9. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco                + 0.15
 10. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom                  + 2.40

 11. Bo Hamburger (Den)                        + 2.43
 12. Glenn Magnusson (Swe)                     + 2.46
 13. Peter Van Petegem (Bel)
 14. Sergio Previtali (Ita)
 15. Martin Hvastija (Slo)
 16. Mario Traversoni (Ita)
 17. Mirko Celestino (Ita)
 18. Bert Dietz (Ger)
 19. Zenon Jaskula (Pol)
 20. Leonardo Calzavara (Ita)
  -------
 28. Rolf Svrensen (Den)                    all s.t.
 77. Jan Ullrich (Ger)                       + 10.16
119. Fabrizio Guidi (Ita)                    + 15.16

GC after Stage 2

  1. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco              8.25.39.
  2. Gianluca Pianegonda (Ita) Mapei          + 0.02
  3. Beat Zberg (Sch) Mercatone               + 0.08
  4. Davide Casarotto (Ita) Scrigno           + 0.15
  5. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Cantina Tollo + 0.17
  6. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik           + 0.17
  7. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Kross Montanari  + 0.19
  8. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti                  + 0.20
  9. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco               + 0.46 
 10. Rolf Svrensen (Den) Rabobank             + 2.46

 11. Erik Dekker (Ned)                        + 2.48
 12. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)                 + 2.49
 13. Gabriele Colombo (Ita)                   + 2.50
 14. Michele Bartoli (Ita)                    + 2.52
 15. Andrea Tafi (Ita)                        + 2.52

Stage 2 Report

Davide Casarotto, from the same town as soccer star Roberto Baggio, won the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico race on Friday as Italians staked claims for victory.

Compatriot Roberto Petito was second in the same time of three hours 33 minutes and eight seconds to take the overall lead.

Denmark's overnight leader Rolf Sorensen, who had been fighting a sore throat on Thursday, lagged two minutes 46 seconds behind to fall to 10th place.

The 131-km stage up into the heart of the mountainous Abruzzi national park in central Italy was the most demanding of the week-long coast-to-coast race and left five Italians in the top six as the big names faded unexpectedly.

Switzerland's Beat Zberg was the interloper, third in the stage and overall, eight seconds behind Petito.

The stage win was the second as a professional for Casarotto, 26, and he was under no illusions.

``I can hardly believe I have won the most important stage of the Tirreno,'' he said. ``The final standings? I don't hold much hope. I would be happy to finish fourth.''

More on Stage 2

Italian cyclist Davide Casarotto, from Team Scrigno, won the nine man sprint from his breakaway companions with a time of 3h 33:08., to take over the second stage of the XXXII Tirreno-Adriatico d'Ciclismo, which was disputed today between Venafro and Pescaseroli, with 131 kms.. Italian Roberto Petito, who came in with the nine men breakaway with a 2:46 advantage over the peloton along with Rolf Sorensen (previous leader), has become tne new overall leader. This was supposed to be the toughest stage of the race and from the start the battle began and little by little many of the important men dropped. On the ascent to Rionero Sannitico (1,051 metros), located at 45 kms. from the finish, there was a lot of struggle which originated the escape of Petito and Swiss Beat Zberg, who reached the top of the climb with almost a two minute advantage over their chasers. But Rolf Sorensen seemed not willing to give up his leadership and helped by a great descent and the Mapei Team, he was able to join the group with all the important riders. The decisive attack came a little later, again by Petito and Zberg, who together with seven other riders started to open a time gap on the climb leading up to the finish line. The gap increased little by little and the nine men strong group fought the sprint, which was won by Casarotto. The third stage will be contested tomorrow, between Pescasseroli and Narni, over 213 kms.

Stage 3, Pescasseroli-Narni, 213 km:

  1. Michele Bartoli (Ita) MG                 4.48.52
  2. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Saeco
  3. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Batik
  4. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco
  5. Gianluca Pianegonda (Ita) Mapei
  6. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita) Cofidis
  7. Sergio Previtali (Ita) Scrigno         all s.t.
  8. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Roslotto          + 0.04
  9. Beat Zberg (Sch) Mercatone               + 0.06
 10. Stefano Della Santa (Ita) Mercatone        s.t.

Overall:

  1. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco              13.14.31
  2. Gianluca Pianegonda (Ita) Mapei             s.t.
  3. Beat Zberg (Sch) Mercatone                + 0.12
  4. Massimiliano Gentili (Ita)  Cantina Tollo + 0.23
  5. Davide Casarotto (Ita)  Scrigno           + 0.24
  6. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik            + 0.26
  7. Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Kross Montanari   + 0.35
  8. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti                   + 0.41
  9. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco                + 0.55
 10. Michele Bartoli (Ita) MG                  + 2.47

Stage 3 Report

Italy's Roberto Petito retained the overall lead in the Tirreno-Adriatico cycle race on Saturday after officials had done their sums.

The third 213-km stage from the Abruzzi mountain town of Pescasseroli to Narni was won by Italian Michele Bartoli in the same time as seven others, including fourth-placed Petito.

But bonus seconds picked up by riders complicated the standings, with Italian Gianluca Pianegonda gaining two seconds to level with Petito in the overall standings with an accumulated time of 13 hours 14 minutes and 31 seconds.

After going back to Wednesday's opening time trial in Sorrento, where times were measured in hundredths of a second, Petito was found to be 0.14 ahead of his rival.

The pack arrived in Narni almost all together after various attempts at breakaways had failed during the day.

``I'm happy because I'm hitting the right form at the right time. I'm just sorry that I beat Casagrande who is a great friend,'' said Bartoli, who finished just a fraction ahead of second-placed compatriot Francesco Casagrande.

Both men come from Tuscany and Bartoli dedicated the win to Casagrande's wife and his baby daughter who was born on Thursday.

Sunday's fourth stage is 117 km to Terni.

Stage 4, Terni-Circuito delle Marmore, 117 km:

 1. Giovanni Lombardi 				2.35.48 
 2. Jan Svorada (Czech Republic) 
 3. Glenn Magnusson (Sweden) 
 4. Robbie McEwen (Australia) 
 5. Marcel Wust (Germany) 
 6. Mario Traversoni 
 7. Martin Hvastija (Slovenia) 
 8. Elio Aggiano 
 9. Fabrizio Guidi 
10. Sergei Outschakov (Ukraine) 		all s.t.

Overall standings after Stage 4

 1. Roberto Petito 			    15.50.19  
 2. Gianluca Pianegonda 			s.t. 
 3. Beat Zberg (Switzerland) 			0.12  
 4. Massimiliano Gentili 			0.23  
 5. Davide Casarotto 				0.24  
 6. Francesco Frattini 				0.26  
 7. Vassily Davidenko (Russia) 			0.35  
 8. Luc Leblanc (France) 			0.41  
 9. Massimo Donati 				0.55  
10. Michele Bartoli 				2.47

Stage 4 Report

Italy's Giovanni Lombardi was a winner in the Tirreno-Adriatico cycle race on Sunday, taking a 117-km fourth stage that left the overall standings unchanged and two riders nursing their injuries.

Lombardi, the 1992 Olympic individual points champion who lives in Germany, clocked two hours 35 minutes 48 seconds in a fast stage dominated by foreigners, with Czech Jan Svorada third and Swede Glen Magnusson third.

They and the pack finished with the same time.

Italian Roberto Petito retained the overall lead, 0.14 of a second ahead of compatriot Gianluca Pianegonda.

Alberto Volpi had a heavy fall and cracked his helmet, suffering concussion and bruising, while fellow-Italian Mauro Radaelli was knocked over by a television motorbike. He suffered bruising to his back but crossed the finish line.

Monday's 187-km fifth stage is from Ferentillo to Corinaldo.