44th Tirreno-Adriatico - Stage Seven
A Young Guns Duel in San Benedetto del Tronto - Mark Cavendish and Tyler Farrar Battle for Line Honors. Michele Scarponi the Victor of the 44th edition the 'Race of the Two Seas"

Graphic courtesy Gazzeta della sport

Stage 7 San Benedetto del Tronto Circuit 169 km
Young Guns, Brit Mark Cavendish of Columbia Highroad and Garmin Slipstreams Tyler Farrar dueled for the line honors at the finish of the final stage on the San Benedetto circuit. As the last three escapees were caught in the final two kilometers of the 169 km race that started and finished alongside the Adriatic.

Today it was the Manxman who got his revenge for the tromping the state of Washington  native gave Cavendish on stage three. Ironically it was Farrar's compatriot George Hincapie that gave the final lead out to Mark Cavendish to set up his victory.

Rivals, Farrar and Cavendish at the finish.    Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

In the hotly contested skirmish the two fastmen gained two bike lengths on their nearest rival Australian Baden Cooke of Vacansoleil to give us an all English speaking podium on the final day of the 44th edition of the Tirreno - Adriatico. Liquigas' Daniele Bennati and Belorussian Yauheni Hutarovich (Francaise des Jeux) filled out the top five finishers.

“The other day I was beaten on the line, so I had a point to prove today,” Cavendish said. “I wasn’t out for revenge because I like to win every race I ride, but I wanted to prove I’m the fastest.”

“The team rode perfectly yet again. They kept the break under control and then I had the perfect lead out. Bennati went but I was able to get past him quite easily.”

Michele Scarponi Victorious
As expected the stage ushered in no change to the final general classification with Gianni Savio's Michele Scarponi locking up his most important career victory in the 44th edition of the Spring event for team Diquigiovanni Androni.

Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone/Moka Caffe) who animated the race from the start proved to be in excellent form finishing second on 25 seconds behind winner Scarponi. German  Andreas Kloden (Astana) filled out the podium at 1:07 most of which he lost on stage 5 where he missed the break that went on to win on the Montelupone.

Jersey Competitions
Young Gun Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia Highroad) finished the tour in 4th place and took home the Best Young Riders jersey and trophy after a strong performance this week. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) is well back on the comeback trail showing he will once again counted on to animate races; prehaps this weekend in the Milan - San Remo.

In the other jersey competitions, Euskaltel Euskadi's Egoi de Esteban Martinez  won the races climbers jersey, with Davide REbellin (Disquigiovanni) second and 21 year old Ermanno Capelli of Fuji/Servetto third.

In the points competition French youngster  Julien El Fares of Cofidis took home the points jersey with Daniele Bennati claiming 4th place today moving into second only two points shy of the Frenchman. Mark Cavendish made the jump into the top ten to finish third in the standings after today's win.

161 survivors of the 200 that started the tough seven day adventure toed the line for the final days event at the noon departure minus Failli of Acqua & Sapone and Gerrans of Cervelo Test Team. The riders left for a hilly inland circuit of 89.4 km to be followed by 7 - 10 kilometer pan flat circuits along the local marina with a backdrop of the blue Adriatic, beaches and sailboats at rest in the harbor.

Graphic courtesy Gazzeta della sport

Stage 7 San Benedetto del Tronto Circuit 169 km
The action got under way with Silence/Lotto's Olivier Kaisen and Vacansoleil's Wim De Vocht igniting the action and quickly joined by serial escapee Katusha's Mikhail Ignatiev in a break of three that grabbed two minutes and 40 seconds on the peloton in the next seven kilometers.

Olivier Kaisen leads Mikhail Ignatiev and Wim De Vocht as they start the climb.
 Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

A crash slowed the peloton, luckily with no serious consequence to the riders as the trio built their advantage to almost six minutes in the first hour.

Over the top of  the final KOM of the race at 53.5 kilometers Kaisen led Ignatiev and De Vocht over the summit; Davide Rebellin (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) led the peloton over the summit 7 minutes later to take the final points to move into second in the climbers classification.

Gilberto Simoni leads, Bertolini and the Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli squad with race leader Michele Scarponi in escort on the climb. Ivan Basso and Liquigas were close at hand.  Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

With only 20 km to go to the finishing circuits the chase heated up and the gap slowly started to dissolve as they entered the first of the seven beachside circuits the optimists had 5:50 on the chase as Columbia Highroad and Française des Jeux took to the front and started eating away at the gap taking a minute out almost two minutes in the first lap.

By the end of the second lap the outriders held on to 2:45 as De Vocht took the max points of the penultimate meta volante followed by breakmates Kaisen and Ignatiev. Ignatiev tore off the front of the trio as they passed thorough the final contest as Kaisen and DeVogt tried survive the rush of the chase behind. Kaisen caught on as they ended lap 5 the duo led De Vocht 55 seconds. Wesley Sulzberger  led  the sprinters teams as they closed in at one minute.

Mikhail Ignatiev attacks with Olivier Kaisen on his wheel in the final three laps.
 Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Belgian Wim De Vocht was swept up on the sixth lap with Ignatiev and Kaisen stubbornly resisting the group with 57 seconds... Ignatiev was down flat on the bike in time trial mode with Kaisen along for the ride on his wheel. Alas as the Borg say, "Resistance is futile," and on lap eight Kasin lost Ignatiev's wheel as the Liquigas and LPR led peloton swept him up as Ignatiev held on to a mere 18 seconds... with 2500 meters and just over two circuits left Ignatiev was caught after 157 kilometers with his nose in the wind.

Ciolumbia takes a pull at the front to bring back the lead trio.
 Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

"Pipo' Pozzato attacked almost immediately but the sprinters teams were reeled him in and went into hyper mode on the way to the final two km to set up the sprint finish.

Under the 1 km flag it was Columbia in control as Cavendish got the perfect lead out from his team mates with George Hincapie launching the Manxman clear of the other sprinters...  when Daniele Bennati started his sprint early, Cavendish jumped on the Liquigas rider's wheel and accelerated past him with Tyler Farrar accelerating to take second followed by Cooke and Bennati.

The Sprint (Left to right) Daniele Bennati, Yauheni Hutarovich, Marco Cavendish, Angelo Furlan, AurélienClerc, Allan Davis, Koldo Fernandez and Luca Paolini Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

44th Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 7 Results
San Benedetto del Tronto Circuit
169 km - 4:09:46 - 40.597 km/h
1.  Cavendish Mark G Gbr Thr Columbia/Highroad 4:09:46 - 10
2. 1 Farrar Tyler G Usa  Garmin - Slipstream - 6
3.  Cooke Baden Aus Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Tea - 4
4.  Bennati Daniele Ita Liq Liquigas
5.  Hutarovich Yauheni Blr Fdj Française Des Jeux
6.  Furlan Angelo Ita Lam Lampre - Ngc
7.  Clerc Aurélien Sui Alm Ag2r La Mondiale
8.  Napolitano Danilo Ita Kat Katusha
9.  Paolini Luca Ita Asa Acqua & Sapone - Caffe. Moka
10. Davis Allan Aus Qst Quickstep

44th Tirreno-Adriatico
2009 General Classification Final
1101 km -  27:37:22 - 39.854 km/h
1.  Scarponi Michele Ita Sda Diquigiovanni - Androni  27:37:22 
2.  Garzelli Stefano Ita Asa Acqua & Sapone - Caffe. Mok  0:25
3. 34  Kloden Andreas Ger Ast Astana 27:38:29 1:07
4.  Lovkvist Thomas  G Swe Thr Columbia/Highroad  1:10
5.  Basso Ivan Ita Liq Liquigas 27:38:35 1:13
6.  Rebellin Davide Ita Sda Diquigiovanni - Androni Gioc.  2:06
7.  Gerdemann Linus Ger Mrm Milram  2:32
8.  Hesjedal Ryder Can Grm Garmin - Slipstream  2:33
9. Sivtsov Kanstantsin Blr Thr Columbia/Highroad  2:41
10.  Nibali Vincenzo G Ita Liq Liquigas  2:54

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