4th Mercatone Uno - Memorial Pantani - 1.1

Cesenatico, Italy, June 9, 2007

2006 Results Results Past winners

Pellizotti packs a punch

Franco Pellizotti was too fast
Photo ©: Sirotti

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) has won the fourth edition of the Mercatone Uno - Memorial Pantani by out-sprinting his breakaway companion Luca Mazzanti (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) in the final metres on the slightly uphill run-in to the finish.

The memorial race is held each year in the vicinities of Cesenatico and Cesena, where Marco Pantani lived most of his life. This area next to the Adriatic sea offers plenty of good riding, and climbs like the one up nearby San Marino ensure good training grounds for a climber like Pantani was.

Before the race got underway Pantani's parents, several locals, including kids from the Pantani racing club, and Danilo Di Luca put down flowers in front of the Pantani memorial in Cesenatico that honours his life.

The race, which was held under perfect weather conditions, started with lots of attacks early on, and eventually a break of 24 riders formed. At km 130 attacks from within whittled down the group to eleven riders, including the two Liquigas favourites, Franco Pellizotti and Vincenzo Nibali.

Di Luca congratulates
Photo ©: Sirotti

The decisive move came with 20km to go, when Pellizotti attacked on the slopes of the Montevecchio. Only Luca Mazzanti could follow the vicious acceleration and the two crested the top together with a good advantage over the breakaway group.

They were working well together and reached the finishing straight in Cesena with a lead of more than half a minute. Mazzanti did not have a chance in the two-up sprint against the experienced Pellizotti.

Pasquale Muto (Miche) got the last remaining podium spot, 38 seconds back, while Nibali finished in sixth, a little over two minutes back. Danilo Di Luca did not finish the race and managed to get to the finishing area before the sprint so he could cheer on his teammates.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) signs on for the Memorial Pantani.
Anywhere else you want me to sign?
The memorial to Marco Pantani in the town of Cesenatico.
Di Luca and the Pantani memorial.
Di Luca signs autographs for young Pantani fans.
Young fans of Pantani with maglia rosa Di Luca.
Di Luca poses with Marco Pantani's mother in front of the memorial to her son.
The parents of Marco Pantani with Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca.
Racing past another dedication to 'Il Pirata'.
The race passes through the military airbase of Pisignano.
An unusual backdrop for a bike race.
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) on the attack.
Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital).
Pantani's name still adorns the roads around Cesenatico.
The break hits the climb of Montevecchio.
A memorial to Pantani on the Montevecchio climb.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) launches his race-winning attack on the slopes of Montevecchio.
Pellizotti flies away from the break on Montevecchio.
Only Luca Mazzanti (Ceramica Panaria Navigare) could hold Pellizotti's wheel.
Pellizotti's move demolished most of the breakaway group.
Mazzanti follows Pellizotti on the Montevecchio.
Pellizotti and Mazzanti crest the summit of Montevecchio.
The two leaders approaching the finish in Cesena.
Pellizotti and Mazzanti battle out the final few metres.
Franco Pellizotti was too fast for Luca Mazzanti in the sprint.
Franco Pellizotti wins the Memorial Marco Pantani.
Pellizotti looking remarkably fresh after 176 kilometres of racing.
Danilo Di Luca (in pink) didn't finish the race but was on hand to celebrate team-mate Pellizotti's win.
Di Luca congratulates his team-mate at the finish.
Franco Pellizotti with his trophy and Marco Pantani's father.
The race podium (l-r): Luca Mazzanti (Ceramica Panaria Navigare), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) and Pasquale Muto (Miche).

Results

1 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas                                 4.17.15
2 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Ceramica Panaria Navigare                           
3 Pasquale Muto (Ita) Miche                                           0.38
4 Jure Golcer (Slo) Tenax                                             0.50
5 Massimo Giunti (Ita) Miche                                              
6 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                      2.10
7 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni Selle Italia    
8 Luca Solari (Ita) Team L.P.R.                                           
9 Luca Pierfelici (Ita) Aurum Hotels                                      
10 Massimiliano Maisto (Ita) OTC Doors Lauretana                          
11 Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Tenax                                          
12 Manuele Spadi (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia                              9.27
13 Gianluca Coletta (Ita) Cinelli Endeka                                  
14 Hubert Krys (Pol) Ceramica Flaminia                                    
15 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                                
16 Marco Fabbri (Ita) Aurum Hotels                                        
17 Eddy Serri (Ita) Miche                                             9.30
18 Santo Anza (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni Selle Italia             
19 Marco Osella (Ita) Kio Ene-Tonazzo-Dmt                                 
20 Francesco Tizza (Ita) OTC Doors Lauretana                              
21 Alessandro Maserati (Ita) Team L.P.R.                                  
22 Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) Tenax                                           
23 Vladislav Borisov (Rus) Team Universal Caffe' - Ecopetrol         12.00
24 Yuri Metlushenko (Ukr) Mapamap-Bantprofi                               
25 Benjamin Baumgartner (Swi) Atlas-Romer's Hausbackerei             13.00

Past winners

2006 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
2005 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre Caffita
2004 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Saeco