Giro Ciclistico della Provincia di Cosenza - 2.6

Italy, May 28-31, 2003

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Stage 1 - May 28: Scigliano - Fiumefreddo Bruzio, 118 km

Australian Team Report

By Brian Stephens, AIS U23 manager

We have the AIS Australia Mapei Aqua team in the south of Italy for the Giro Cosenza. The tour is over four days over very hilly terrain, except the last stage which looks like it should suit the sprinters. The team here consists of Peter Dawson, Aaron Kemps, Gene Bates, David Kemps, Brendan Cato and Bernard Sulzberger.

Stage 1 started in torrential rain and was raced over hilly, twisty roads with some ordinary road surfaces. The Aussies were pretty conspicuous with Gene Bates starting the action early inciting the 1st break. In the final 20 kilometres, Gene Bates slipped into the front group but was dropped before the top. Dawson, Cato and Kemps came to his aid and drove the 2nd group to regain all but a few riders who had gone off the front. The final 3km was uphill to the finish and Gene was our best in 19th place. The stage was won by Federico Berta from Podenzano. The GC is the same.

Results

1 Federico Berta (Ita) Podenzana                       3.16.25
2 Alessandro Conti (Ita) Promo Ciclo 
3 Antonio Quadranti (Ita) Pagnoncelli 
4 Stelvio Michero (Ita) Calzatura 
5 Massimiliano Maistro (Ita) Podenzano                    0.03
...
19 Gene Bates (Aus) AIS Australia Mapei Aqua              0.54
30 Brendan Cato (Aus) AIS Australia Mapei Aqua            1.28
43 Peter Dawson (Aus) AIS Australia Mapei Aqua            3.09
52 Aaron Kemps (Aus) AIS Australia Mapei Aqua             3.41
78 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) AIS Australia Mapei Aqua     16.50