89th Giro dell'Emilia - 1.HC

Italy, October 7, 2006

2005 Results Results Past winners

Azzurri top Emilia - Rebellin over Di Luca

By Gregor Brown

Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) collected a win in the 89th Giro dell'Emilia, making up for his strong work in the world championships and near-miss in Zurich. The 35 year-old from Veneto won the Bologna classic by narrowly out-sprinting Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) after the selection was made on the final ascent of the Santuario di San Luca.

The race's first selection was made along the climb of Monzuno, at 94km to go. The climb, topping out at 623m, gave way for Russian Alexandr Arekeev (Acqua & Sapone) to pound clear with Cédric Vasseur (Quick-Step), Fränk Schleck (Team CSC), Volodimyr Gustov (Team CSC), Emanuele Sella (Panaria-Navigare), Gabriele Missaglia (Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni) and Raivis Belohvosciks (Universal Caffè-CB Immobiliare).

The escape, losing Vasseur, was never able to build enough of a time gap, reaching only a maximum of 1'25". And by the time the race hit Bologna's centre, Schleck and Arekeev were barely clinging to a lead, with a small 12" gap over the scattered remnants.

In store for the riders were four ascents of the Santuario di San Luca (268m), with the final providing the finish to the race. After the first ascent, all the favourites were back together for the final shoot out.

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step)
Photo ©: Sirotti

The Killer, Di Luca, upped the rhythm to force a selection. Following in the Liquigas rider's wake were Tin-Tin Rebellin, Di Grande, Santo Anzà (Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni) and Simone Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone). Anzà followed the push of Di Luca but without any success; and was quickly seen going out the back door.

It was appropriate that Rebellin, along with Di Luca, who showed show much support for caption Paolo Bettini in the world championships, was awarded with a fine win. Tin-Tin edged out Di Luca in a two-up sprint, with a strong Di Grande coming in some seconds behind.

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step), in his first race back since the death of his brother, pulled out of the race before the finish.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) rides first race after death of brother
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) leads final charge up to finish
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) takes close win in front of Di Luca
Podium (L-R) Danilo Di Luca, Davide Rebellin and Giuseppe Di Grande
It has been an emotional time for Bettini, after losing his brother to an accident.
World champion Bettini looks exhausted.
Bettini in gold shorts. Bling bling.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) didn't look too happy with the weather, but won anyhow.
The peloton got cold and wet.
Frank Schleck (CSC)
Bettini takes the wet turn carefully - so as not to soil his champion's jersey.
It's been an eventful few weeks for the world champion.
Bettini did some damage before pulling out of the race.
CSC's Frank Schleck
An attack from Liquigas
Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) abandoned the race.
An attack from Milram
Bettini and Di Luca line up for the Giro dell'Emilia
Fans look down on the charging peloton.
Thumbs up for Rebellin!
Concentrate on what you want and you may achieve it.
Rebellin takes the sprint over a disappointed Di Luca.
Rebellin can't believe it.
Rebellin gives post-race interviews.

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) rides along in all white worlds kit and gold Olympic shorts
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) takes tight sprint over strong Di Luca

Results - 196.6 km

1 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                           4.55.15 (39.953 km/h)
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas                                       
3 Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Miche                                  0.02
4 Santo Anza (Ita) Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni          0.10
5 Riccardo Ricco' (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                      0.15
6 Simone Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua e Sapone                         0.21
7 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                               
8 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Saunier Duval-Prodir                             
9 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare                   0.30
10 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Acqua e Sapone                       0.33
11 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                              0.38
12 Alexander Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank                              0.46
13 Alexandre Bazhenov (Rus) Naturino-Sapore Di Mare                   
14 Alexander Arekeev (Rus) Acqua e Sapone                         0.51
15 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Miche                                 1.01
16 Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R Prevoyance                         1.05
17 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC                                   1.18
18 Juan Mauricio Soler (Col) Acqua e Sapone                       1.43
19 Theo Eltink (Ned) Rabobank                                     1.57
20 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Team Milram                              2.08
21 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC                                    2.31
22 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC                                      
23 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC                                      
24 Manuele Spadi (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia                          2.42
25 Leonardo Giordani (Ita) Naturino-Sapore Di Mare                    
26 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare         
27 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare                 2.47
28 Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ukr) Team L.P.R.                                
29 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner                                  
30 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Acqua e Sapone                              2.51
31 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                                 2.54
32 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Acqua e Sapone                       3.00
33 Andrea Noe (Ita) Liquigas                                          
34 Sylwester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre-Fondital                              
35 Marco Osella (Ita) Team Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi           
36 Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                           
37 Marlon Alirio Perez Arango (Col) Team Tenax Salmilano          3.16
38 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic                         
39 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Team Tenax Salmilano                      3.28
40 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank                                      
41 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Naturino-Sapore Di Mare                   3.41
42 Jamie Burrow (GBr) OTC Doors-Lauretana                             
43 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                           4.21
44 Paolo Bailetti (Ita) Team Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi         
45 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner                              4.34
46 Niklas Axelsson (Swe) Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni    5.56
47 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir                       6.42
48 Luca Solari (Ita) Team Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi            
49 Pedro Arretiunadia (Spa) Barloworld                            7.13

Starters: 159
Classified: 49

Past winners

2005 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita
2004 Ivan Basso (Ita) CSC
2003 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) iBanesto.com     
2002 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 
2001 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom 
2000 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre
1999 Michael Boogerd (Ned)
1998 Mirko Celestino (Ita) 
1997 Alexandre Gontschenkov (Rus)
1996 Michele Bartoli (Ita)
1995 Davide Cassani (Ita)
1994 Francesco Casagrande (Ita)
1993 Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)
1992 Gianni Bugno (Ita)
1991 Davide Cassani (Ita)
1990 Davide Cassani (Ita)
1989 Dimitry Konychev (Rus)
1988 Tony Rominger (Swi)
1987 Jean-Francois Bernard (Fra)
1986 Hubert Seiz (Swi)
1985 Acacio Da Silva (Por)
1984 Ezio Moroni (Ita)
1983 Cesare Cipollini (Ita)
1982 Pierino Gavazzi (Ita)
1981 Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) 
1980 Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita)
1979 Francesco Moser (Ita)
1978 Bernt Johansson (Swe)
1977 Mario Beccia (Ita)
1976 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
1975 Enrico Paolini (Ita)
1974 Francesco Moser (Ita)
1973 Franco Bitossi (Ita)
1972 Eddy Merckx (Bel)
1971 Gianni Motta (Ita)
1970 Franco Bitossi (Ita)
1969 Gianni Motta (Ita)
1968 Gianni Motta (Ita)
1967 Michele Dancelli (Ita)
1966 Carmelo Preziosi (Ita)
1965 Michele Dancelli (Ita)
1963 Italo Zilioli (Ita)
1962 Bruno Mealli (Ita)
1961 Diego Ronchini (Ita)
1960 Pierino Baffi (Ita)
1959 Ercole Baldini (Ita)
1958 Diego Ronchini (Ita)
1957 Bruno Monti (Ita)
1956 Bruno Monti (Ita)
1955 Nino Defilippis (Ita)
1954 Nino Defilippis (Ita)
1953 Gino Bartali (Ita)
1952 Gino Bartali (Ita)
1951 Luciano Maggini (Ita)
1950 Luciano Maggini (Ita)
1949 Virgilio Salimbeni (Ita)
1948 Fausto Coppi (Ita)
1947 Fausto Coppi (Ita)
1946 Adolfo Leoni (Ita)
1943 Nedo Logli (Ita)
1942 Adolfo Leoni (Ita)
1941 Fausto Coppi (Ita)
1940 Osvadlo Bailo (Ita)
1939 Serafino Biagioni (Ita)
1938 Carrado Ardizzoni (Ita)
1937 Cesare Del Cancia (Ita)
1936 Giuseppe Olmo (Ita)
1935 Aldo Bini (Ita)
1934 Marco Cimatti (Ita)
1931 Glauco Servadei (Ita)
1930 Mario Bonetti (Ita)
1929 Allegro Grandi (Ita)
1928 Alfonso Piccin (Ita)
1927 Domenico Piemontesi (Ita)
1925 Constante Girardengo (Ita)
1924 Pietro Linari (Ita)
1923 Michele Gordini (Ita)
1922 Constante Girardengo (Ita)
1921 Constante Girardengo (Ita)
1920 Giovanni Brunero (Ita)
1919 Constante Girardengo (Ita)
1918 Constante Girardengo (Ita)
1917 Angelo Gremo (Ita)
1914 Ezio Corlaita (Ita)
1913 Alfonso Calzolari (Ita)
1912 Ugo Agostoni (Ita)
1911 Clemente Canepari (Ita)
1910 Luigi Ganna (Ita)
1909 Eberardo Pavesi (Ita)


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