92nd Giro d'Italia - Stage 2 Just in
Alessandro 'Ale-Jet' Petacchi Dominates Fast Finish in Trieste

Stage 2 Jesolo - Trieste 156 km
Alessandro Petacchi rocketed to the finish taking the stage in Trieste. The LPR Brakes rider came around Maglia Rosa Mark Cavendish from third position and put in a sprint that left the Columbia/Highroad groping for empty air as he tried to catch the Italian's wheel after he launched his fast attack to the line. It was a definitive win for Petacchi announcing his return to his former top sprinting form.

Cavendish finished second with fellow Briton Ben Swift (Katusha) third. Allan Davis (Quick Step) and Tyler Farrar filled out the top five today; quite a day for the English speakers taking 4 of the top 5 slots in today's finish.

The day was marked by a day long break by ISD's Leonardo Scarselli who was caught on the second of the three finishing circuits in Trieste after leading the peloton by 8 minutes mid stage and riding as virtual race leader for most of the day.

Mark Cavendish and Columbia continue to lead the top 5 of the rankings.

Stage 2 graphic © 2009 Gazzetta dello Sport

198 riders took the start for the 156 kilometer journey north along the Adriatic coast to Trieste at about half past one this afternoon. The peloton arrived for the first intermediate sprint in Eraclea at which was won out of the bunch by Acqua & Sapone rider Alessandro Donati; which is hardly worth a mention other than ISD's Leonardo Scarscelli used the sprint to launch his solo attack on the bunch which was more than accomodating to let the lone rider take a minute in the first kilometer.

While Leonardo worked on his masterpiece on the front,  the peloton settled in for an easy ride and after the first hour Scarselli took over 6 minutes out of the group by 30 kilometers. Twenty km up the road with 106 km to go the rider got their attention as he stretched his advantage to0 7:20 and then with 90 km to go it went over 8 minutes...

But this would be as big as the gap would go as Columbia got some help at the front setting the pace; a rider or two from Quick Step, Lampre and Garmin took turns teasing the pace a bit faster on the front and then rotating back into the wide fomation as the peloton used both lanes of the scenic coastal rode perched on cliffs with the sea beow.

Scarselli showed no lack of resolve; and he never would today, but the pace started to cut into his advantage closing in to  5 minutes with 75 kilometers to Trieste. No matter. the rider would be the center of attention for the television coverage flying his sponsor's flag.

graphic © 2009 Gazzetta dello Sport

A determined Scarcelli continued to pound away at the front taking his gap back up to six minutes as the peloton dallied at the feed zone and it became a tug of war for some time with the gap stretching and rebounding from 3:50 to over 5 minutes. But with 38 kilometers remaining Garmin/Slipstream came to the front first with two riders and then 5 and started closing the distance to our lone adventurer... by Intermediate sprint of Miramare as Scarcelli started the first of three circuits through the streets of Trieste his gap was just over 3 minutes over a now fast moving peloton with Columbia/Highroad, Garmin/Slipstream, Rabobank and Quickstep forcing the pace.

Passing the finish line the first time, Scarselli's gap was down to 2:39 with Columbia's Michael Barry stretching out the bunch in a long line and the gap quickly fell to under 2 minutes by the start of the second lap Barry had the gap to 1:25 as riders lost grip of the now fast moving peloton on the climb of the 2.1 km climb of the Cat 3 Montebello. Scarselli held on to take the one Gran Prix Montana's point and the climbers jersey before being hunted down by the Garmin/Slipstream led peloton with one lap to go. Entering the circuit Matthias Russ crashed as he went wide into a curb crashing into spectators.

Immediately attacks went off the front with Thomas Voeckler ((BBox Bouygues Tele) and Andy Grivko (ISD) flew off the front on the descent opening a gap of six seconds. They were tamed and an attack of four followed led by Christian Vandevelde, and Jelle Vanendert... with 10 km to go the four were swept up by Columbia and Quick Step at the front.

A counter led by Philippe Gilbert and joined by  Filippo Pozzato and Enrico Gasparotto was lined out the chase. With 3 km to go the attacks were absorbed by the Garmin/Slipstream led peloton as the Columbia, Lampre, and LPR Brakes jockeyed for control for the final control of the peloton on the final corner.

Coming into the final 300 meters Petacchi in third position came off Cavendishes wheel to launch his sprint passing on the left... Cavendish responded but could not catch Ale-Jet's wheel as he powered to the clear victory at the finish .

Stage 2 Jesolo - Trieste
156 km - 3:43:07
1 Petacchi Alessandro Ita LPR Brakes  3:43:07 0:00 20"
2 Cavendish Mark Gbr Columbia/Highroad 3:43:07 0:00 14"
3 Swift Ben Gbr Katusha  3:43:07 0:00 8"
4 Davis Allan Aus Quick Step 3:43:07 0:00
5 Farrar Tyler Usa Garmin/Slipstream 3:43:07 0:00 4"
6 Gatto Oscar Ita ISD  3:43:07 0:00
7 Gavazzi Francesco Ita Lampre/NGC  3:43:07 0:00
8 Vigano Davide Ita Fuji/Servetto 3:43:07 0:00
9 Mori Manuele Ita Lampre/NGC 3:43:07 0:00
10 Devenyns Dries Bel Quick Step  3:43:07 0:00

General Classification After Stage 2
1 Cavendish Mark Gbr Columbia/Highroad 4:04:43 
2 Renshaw Mark Aus Columbia/Highroad  4:04:57 0:14
3 Rogers Michael Aus Columbia/Highroad  4:04:57 0:14
4 Lovkvist Thomas Swe Columbia/Highroad  4:04:57 0:14
5 Boasson Hagen Edvald Nor Thr 4:04:57 0:14
6 Farrar Tyler Usa Garmin/Slipstream 4:04:59 0:16
7 Petacchi Alessandro Ita LPR Brakes 4:04:59 0:16
8 Vandevelde Christian Usa Garmin/Slipstream  4:05:03 0:20
9 Wiggins Bradley Gbr Garmin/Slipstream 4:05:03 0:20
10 Armstrong Lance Usa Astana  4:05:10 0:27

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