Giro del Trentino - Ciclismo

Alessandro Petacchi has thrown away his unique opportunity. He won the massive sprint in Trento but took second. Just few metres ahead of him, Alessandro Bertolini enjoyed the special feeling to win at home, he had never succeded so far.

Jumping off Vigolo Vattaro climb, 39-year-old Trentino’s rider pounced Trento downtown back to host the race from 1990. Bertolini courage was stronger than awareness of chasing riders breathing down his neck, and finally Alessandro saved a narrow 2” margin. “I cannot express all my joy as I’m finishing my career and there was no better way and place to win than here, on home soil. After having already got a Giro d’Italia stage, I wouldn’t wish anything better”.

Bertolini seems not to care of his age, unlike his friend Gilberto Simoni whose career is really close to the end. Just on the last Giro del Trentino’s day, Gilberto will receive a special tribute riding the ultimate stage like on a time-machine. The race starts from Arco (where Simoni got first win in his professional career, passing through Palù di Giovo (his and Francesco Moser’s native village) and finally uphill to Alpe di Pampeago, the special place where he won Giro d’Italia’s pink jersey, one of his favourite souvenirs.

Nowadays, Gilberto cannot hit to the victory because of many riders having much more chances, first and foremost Alexandre Vinokourov, still holding leader jersey even though he continously repeated to be focuses on Sunday’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege. “Vino”’s main opponents remain Riccò, Scarponi and Basso, all packed within few seconds’ delay. “I’m expecting a big show – Francesco Moser predicted  – everyone need itchy legs to hit the overall”.

Departure from Arco (10,30 am), to ride 172,1km with Andalo and Cembra climbs as a warm-up. Then Alpe di Pampeago, time for rendering of accounts: “rumours” said Ivan Basso pawing the ground to repeat his 2009 Giro del Trentino win. Whatever race’s outcome comes, whoever the winner is, a heavy verdict is coming soon.

34° Giro del Trentino stage 3 result (Fiera di Primiero-Trento, km 158): 1. Alessandro Bertolini (Androni.Diquigiovanni, Ita) 4h02’04”, km/h 39,163, bonus 10”; 2. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese, Ita) a2”, bonus 6”; 3. Roberto Ferrari (De Rosa-Stac, Ita) st, bonus 4”; 4. Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita); 5. Simon Clarke (Aus); 6. Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ukr); 7. Daniele Ratto (Ita); 8. Daniel Oss (Ita); 9. Simon Geschke (Ger); 10. Krzysztof Szczawinski (Pol).

Overall standing: 1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana, Kaz) 9h05’06”; 2. Riccardo Riccò (Flaminia, Ita) a 26”; 3. Michele Scarponi (Androni-Diquigiovanni, Ita) a 29”; 4. Ivan Basso (Ita) a 37”; 5. Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) a 38”; 6. Evgeny Petrov (Rus) a 55”; 7. Tadej Valjavec (Slo) a 1’06”; 8. Robert Kiserlovski (Hrv) a 1’07”; 9. Vladimir Miholjevic (Hrv) a 1’10; 10. Tomaz Nose (Slo) a 1’12.

Photo: (from left) Charini, Vinokourov, Bertolini, Baliani and Caruso