There was no better way to celebrate National Union anniversary than waving three coloured, even though was the French instead of Italian one. Today in Bezzecca, French National champion Thomas Voeckler won in style the 35th Giro del Trentino stage2 placed just ahead of  the two king-stages with top-finish on Fai della Paganella (tomorrow, Thursday) and Madonna di Campiglio (Friday). Voeckler was perfectly on-time on the hilly last kilometres to take initiative, but same Michele Scarponi did jumping on his wheel quickly. Oddly enough, when the race was some 30 km to go, Scarponi had come closer to French champion warning him: “I know you’re the strong man today, I’m keeping an eye on you”, the Italian rider said. “Apparently I was right”, Michele jocked.

Voeckler’s supremacy in the two-man sprint was straight, but Scarponi felt happy as well dressing the overall leader jersey, once Andreas Kloden had given up on the last climb, joining the finish line in Bezzecca over five minutes delayed. Scarponi regained with interest rate what he had lost from Vincenzo Nibali at the opening time-trial, and now is 15” ahead of Sicilian rider. “Apart from any head-to-head between us, I’m here to check my good shape first. Giro del Trentino is my ultimate dress rehearsal towards Giro d’Italia”, Scarponi explained.

Today’s race was mostly under four-man (Krivtsov, De Maria, Torosantucci and Zagorodny) early breakaway: they got up to  5’ gap until big guns came on the front line once the course started to uphill towards Valle di Ledro.

However the 35th Giro del Trentino’s main course  is still coming soon: tomorrow’s top-finish in Fai della Paganella (with last 12 km hill to climb twice) and Friday in  Madonna di Campiglio. Scarponi and Nibali are the main favourites undoubtely now, but some big upset is also expected. Maybe Voeckler  himself, he’s not a climber but being him at maturity to enjoy his best campaign, never say never…

35th Giro del Trentino, Stage 2 results (Dro-Bezzecca, km 184): 1. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar, Fra) 4h47’51”, kmh 38,353; 2. Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD, Ita) st; 3. Przemyslaw Niemec (Lampre-ISD, Pol) a 25”; 4. Steve Morabito (BMC, Sui) st; 5. Fortunato Baliani (D’Angelo&Antenucci, Ita) a 26”; 6. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) st; 7. Luca Ascani (Ita) st; 8. Jose Serpa Perez (Col) st; 9.Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) st; 10. Fabio Taborre (Ita) st.
Overall: 1. Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD, Ita); 2. Tiago Machado (RadioShack, Por) a 14”; 3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale, Ita) a 15”; 4. Luca Ascani (D’Angelo&Antenucci, Ita) a 16”; 5. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar, Fra) a 19”; 6. Steve Morabito (Sui) a 31”; 7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) a 33”; 8. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) a 40”; 9. Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) a 43”; 10. Charles Wegelius (Gbr) st.