BiciRace.com :: 2006 GP di Lugano

2006 GP di Lugano, Report

GP di Lugano, Switzerland

26 February, 156.6K

Bettini Controls Lugano

Bettini Controls GP di Lugano, photo: Quick-Step

The Olympic Champion, Paolo Bettini, stamped his authority on the 60th GP di Lugano. Trailing in one minute behind the Quick-Step rider was Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile). The win by Bettini caps off a successful weekend, Bettini in Lugano, Nuyens in Kuurne and yesterday Remmert in Chiasso.

The Livornese threw down the hammer with an attack on the climb of Carona. By the top of Carona he had 40", at the bottom he was up to one minute and nearing the finish it was close two minutes over Kirchen before Bettini backed off to celebrate. Aleksandr Kuschynski (Ceramica Flaminia) won the group sprint for third.

"I am feeling good and I wanted to show it," said the Livornese, who two weeks earlier won a stage of the Vuelta a Mallorca. Bettini seemingly was without any rivals in Lugano, his speed could not be matched. Other Italians, like Davide Rebellin and Pietro Caucchioli, were left speechless by Bettini's power today.

From here it will be Tirreno-Adriatico and then the big-one, Milano-Sanremo. The 2003 winner looks in superb form for a repeat victory but he will also be racing with his teammate, and World Champion, Tom Boonen. Stay Tuned!

Results: 4:18'31"
1 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick-Step
2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile 0.52
3 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Ceramica Flaminia
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
5 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
6 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
7 Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Tenax
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
9 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Panaria-Navigare
10 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner
11 Massimo Giunti (Ita) Naturino-Sapore di Mare
12 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis
13 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis
14 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
15 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Crédit Agricole
16 Raffaele Illiano (Ita) Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni
17 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Crédit Agricole
18 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
19 Francesco Bellotti (Ita) Crédit Agricole
20 Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) Tenax
21 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Team Barloworld
22 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 1.03
23 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis 1.09
24 Przemyslaw Niemec (Pol) Miche 2.54
25 Andreas Dietziker (Swi) Team LPR
26 Ivan Fanelli (Ita) Amore & Vita-McDonald's 3.11
27 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
28 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Liquigas
29 Christophe Rinero (Fra) Saunier Duval-Prodir
30 Sergio Barbero (Ita) Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni
...