3rd Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale Coppi-Bartali - 2.3

Italy, March 26-30, 2003

Main Page Results Previous Stage Next Stage

Stage 3 - March 28: Nonantola - Nonantola, 154 km

Quaranta doubles Saeco success

Ivan Quaranta
Photo: © Sirotti

Saeco's Ivan Quaranta has triumphed in the third stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi & Bartali which finished in Nonantola. Quaranta beat home Alberto Loddo (Lampre) and Uros Murn (Formaggi Pinzolo) in a bunch sprint, claiming his second win of the season. His teammate Mirko Celestino finished safely in the bunch, and kept his blue leader's jersey.

"The stage was extremely flat and so the Saeco and Lampre teams controlled the stage," Quaranta said. "The team worked perfectly: In the last few kilometres we completely took over on the front. Fabio Sacchi led me out with 350 metres to go. I came off his wheel with 250 metres to go and won quite easily."

"I have to dedicate it to them [my teammates] after how they helped me, they were perfect today. I can't forget the work of the team staff either, they're real professionals as well," he added.

Quaranta also spoke about his form: "I'm finally starting to improve even if I'm not a 100%. For the real Ivan Quaranta you'll have to wait for the Giro d'Italia" he said.

Quaranta will head to Belgium next week for the Driedaagse van De Panne (April 1-3). "It's a special kind of race but I won a stage three years ago," he said. "I'll be riding with riders like Pieri and Zanini who are more suited to that kind of racing but if there's a big bunch sprint I won't be afraid to get stuck in."

Photography

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Ivan Quaranta (Saeco) raises his arms as he wins the third stage
Ivan Quaranta (Saeco) beats Alberto Loddo (Lampre) to the line to win stage 3
Ivan Quaranta (Saeco) moments after his winning ride
Ivan Quaranta (Saeco) on the podium after his win
Ivan Quaranta (Saeco) gets a kiss on the podiuma after winning stage 3 of the Settimana Coppi-Bartali
The stage podium (L to R): Alberto Loddo (Lampre, 2nd), Ivan Quaranta (Saeco, 1st) and Uros Murn (Formaggi Pinzolo, 3rd)
Ivan Quaranta (Saeco) unleashes the bubbly
Stage winner Ivan Quaranta and Saeco teammate and race leader Mirko Celestino on the podium
Mirko Celestino (Saeco) enjoys the support of Ivan Quaranta on the podium

Results

1 Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Team Saeco                        3.14.17 (45.088 km/h)
2 Alberto Loddo (Ita) Lampre
3 Uros Murn (Slo) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé
4 Ruben Daniel Bongiorno (Arg) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
5 Oleg Grishkine (Rus) Navigators Cycling Team
6 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators Cycling Team
7 Zoran Klemencic (Slo) Tenax
8 Mario Manzoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Scanavino
9 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio
10 Ivan Fanelli (Ita) Amore & Vita-Beretta
26 Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Scanavino
39 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Team Saeco

General classification after stage 3

1 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Team Saeco                      11.53.30 (39.304 km/h)
2 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Lampre                         0.04
3 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Domina Vacanze-Elitron            0.08
4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio                           0.12
6 Angelo Lopeboselli (Ita) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Télépho    0.14
7 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Alessio                         0.16
8 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo            0.20
9 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron             0.22
10 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Lampre                            0.46
11 Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Scanavino              0.54
12 Marco Velo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                           0.55
13 Médéric Clain (Fra) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone      0.56
14 Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone
15 Cristian Gasperoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Scanavino         0.57
...
23 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio                          1.31
43 Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                          10.38