11th Trofeo Melinda - 1.2

Italy, August 29, 2002

2001 Results Results Past winners

A win for Dufaux as Casagrande and Rebellin settle for podium

Laurent Dufaux
Photo: © Sirotti

Swiss rider Laurent Dufaux (Alessio) beat breakaway companions Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) to win the 11th Trofeo Melinda. The 33 year old capped off a good 10 days, where he finished third in the Tre Valli Varesini and second in the Giro del Veneto.

The race was held over a selective 194 km parcours in Trentino, Gilberto Simoni's locale. The Saeco rider also had a solid ride, finishing 10th and hoping his form continues to improve for the Vuelta Espana.

The race was decided on the last of three 31 km finishing circuits, which included the climbs of Ronzone and Revo, before the final ascent to Fondo. Casagrande made a strong attack together with Rebellin and Franco Pellizotti (Alessio), and the trio were caught on the Ronzone by Dufaux and Nardello. Pellizotti set the tempo for his teammate Dufaux, forcing Casagrande to attack again for the win. However, he could only get rid of Nardello and Pellizotti, and after another attempt, was easily beaten by Dufaux in the sprint.

Photography

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Laurent Dufaux (Alessio) pulls off a convincing win
Laurent Dufaux looks for the winner's podium after his win
Laurent Dufaux salutes the crowd from the podium
Yes, I enjoy winning!
Laurent Dufaux lets the celebration begin
Some familiar faces lately on the Italian podiums (left to right: Casagrande, Dufaux, Rebellin)

Results

1 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Alessio                             4.55.58 (39.322 km/h)
2 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
3 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
4 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei Quick Step                     0.12
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio                             0.23
6 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                          1.14
7 Gianni Faresin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                           1.16
8 Massimo Giunti (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantine Tollo           1.21
9 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Tacconi Sport - Vini Caldirola     2.01
10 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco Longoni Sport
11 Ruggero Borghi (Ita) Tacconi Sport - Vini Caldirola
12 Massimo Codol (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
13 Hernan Buenahora (Col) Cage Maglierie
14 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Fassa Bortolo
15 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Mobilvetta Design-Formaggi Trentini
16 Uros Murn (Slo) Mobilvetta Design-Formaggi Trentini
17 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner
18 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Mercatone Uno
19 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Fassa Bortolo
20 Leonardo Giordani (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro
21 Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantine Tollo         2.44
22 Simone Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantine Tollo
23 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Saeco Longoni Sport             3.15
24 Fausto Dotti (Ita) Cage Maglierie                          3.33
25 Massimo Donati (Ita) Tacconi Sport - Vini Caldirola
26 Matteo Gigli (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro
27 Fabio Bulgarelli (Ita) De Nardi Pasta M.Grappa
28 Mauro Radaelli (Ita) Tacconi Sport - Vini Caldirola
29 Jamie Burrow (GBr) Amore & Vita - Beretta
30 Davide Frattini (Ita) Alessio
31 Marius Sabaliauskas (Ltu) Saeco Longoni Sport
32 Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) CCC Polsat
33 Luca Scinto (Ita) Mapei Quick Step
34 Marcell Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner
35 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro
36 Devis Miorin (Ita) De Nardi Pasta M.Grappa
37 Radoslav Rogina (Cro) Perutunia-Ptuj-Krka Telekom
38 Jan Bratkowski (Ger) Cage Maglierie
39 Hector Mesa Mesa (Mex) Mobilvetta Design-Formaggi Trentini
40 Remmert Wielinga (Ned) De Nardi Pasta M.Grappa
41 Simone Bertoletti (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
42 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Lampre-Daikin
43 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Acqua & Sapone-Cantine Tollo
44 Davide George (RSA) CCC Polsat

Starters: 145
Classified: 44

G.P. Montagna Palbox

Marius Sabaliauskas (Ltu) Saeco Longoni Sport

G.P. Montagna Europlast

Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo

TV Quotidiano Trentino

Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo

Memorial Franco Mealli (most combative)

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio

Grappe Arnoldi

Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Saeco Longoni Sport

Past winners

2001 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
2000 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Liquigas-Pata
1999 Mauro Gianetti (Swi) Vini Caldirola 
1998 Rodolfo Ongarato (Ita) Ballan
1997 Michele Bartoli (Ita)
1996 Andrea Tafi (Ita)
1995 Pascal Richard (Swi)
1994 Massimo Podenzana (Ita) 
1993 Stefano Della-Santa (Ita)
1992 Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)


Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com