Stage victory for Angelo Pagani. Enrico Battaglin wins the overall

34th Giro delle Regioni ended with an italian trimph. On the finish line in Acquapartita, a fraction of Bagno di Romagna place on the top of a 6 kms climb, Angelo Pagani won the final stage with a great solo effort. The rider of team Italy A rode the 154.1 kms of today's stage in 4h08'12" and his average speed was 37,252 km/h. Born in Cesano Maderno 20 years ago, Pagani attacked on the descent of Monte Fumaiolo and for several kilometers he's been virtual leader of the race. He lost some seconds on the final climb, so he wasn't able to reset the 1'04" gap he has this morning from GC leader Battaglin.

The rider from Veneto completed in the best way the italian trimph: 2nd place in the stage, 27" behind Pagani, but first in the overall with 7" on slovenian Tratnik and 37" on Pagani. Fifth place of Luca Benedetti is another proof of the good job made by italian coach in this fifth event of the Nations' Cup. Only 63 athletes, of the 130 started, concluded 34th Giro delle Regioni.

Here's what the protagonist of the race said after the stage
Angelo Pagani: «I'm very happy because it's my first vicotry of the season and this is a very important race. In the final 20 kms I was hoping also to win the overall but I'm very happy anyway. This victory is for all the team and I dedicate it to my girlfriend»
Enrico Battaglin: «The Giro delle Regioni is one of the most important races and it means a lot. I tried to control Tratnik because I was near in the GC and he was very dangerous. It's an exciting victory and I dedicate it to everybody, to the Zalf Désirée Fior, my trade team, to Faresin and Rui, my sports directors, to the national team here in the Giro and obviously to my parents»
Italian Under 23 coach Marino Amadori: «In the first kilometers frech riders were combative and we suffered a little bit but after that the long breakaway of Pagani helped us very much and things went in the best way. Both our teams were strong: Benedetti had a great run, Mammini was very generous, while guys like Bongiorno and Dall'Oste had a great experience that can help them in next races. A lot of compliments go to Primavera Ciclistica for the route they've chosen: beautiful and technically efficient».

Results (complete results):
1. Angelo Pagani (Italy A) km 154.1 in 4h08'12" (average 37,752 km/h)
2. Enrico Battaglin (Italy B) a 27"
3. Siarhei Papok (Belarus) s.t.
4. Luca Benedetti (Italy A) s.t.
5. Nélson Oliveira (Portugal) s.t.
6. Romain Bardet (France) a 33"
7. Jan Tratnik (Slovenia) s.t.
8. Frederik Verkinderen (Belgium) a 54"
9. Thomas Damuseau (France) s.t.
10. Clément Penven (France) a 1'11"

General classification (complete results):
1. Enrico Battaglin (Italy B) km 293.6 in 7h26'39" (media 39,440 km/h)
2. Jan Tratnik (Slovenia) a 7"
3. Angelo Pagani (Italy A) a 37"
4. Siarhei Papok (Belarus) a 38"
5. Luca Benedetti (Italy A) a 1'04"
6. Nélson Oliveira (Portugal) s.t.
7. Thomas Damuseau (France) a 1'05"
8. Romain Bardet (France) a 1'10"
9. Christopher Juul Jensen (Denmark) a 1'24"
10. David Rösch (Germany) s.t.

Points classification: Enrico Battaglin (Italy B) points 45
KOM classification: Luca Benedetti (Italy A) points 10
Under 21 classification: Jan Tratnik (Slovenia) in 7h26'46"
Intermediate Sprints classification: Matteo Mammini (Italia B) points 9

2nd stage race log
2nd stage photogallery
High resolution photos to download © Tonino Giuliani
All complete classifications