91st Copa Bernocchi - Just In
Acqua & Sapone rider Luca Paolini wins the last leg of the Trittico Lombardia in Legnano.  Lampre's Mauro Santambrogio takes the diamond prize after the three Lombard Summer classics....

The riders throw their bikes at the line but it is Luca Paolini whose wheel crosses the finish first to take a close victory over Hondo in the center and Gasparotto to the right. Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

The 91st edition of the Coppa Bernocchi - 34th GP Banca di Legnano
The 2009 Coppa Bernocchi once again played its prestigious role as the final race Trittico Lombardia final decider of the grand prize of a diamond.  Although the race name changes this year restarting its clock in a new first edition,  it stayed true to its classical past with a demanding parcours over 199.3 kilometers. The race is broken into a opening 30 km to the entrance to the 5 -16.7 circuits with the climb of the Morazzone Caramamma (Piccolo Stelvia - 410 metres) on each lap followed by a rolling transition and a fast finish on the pan flat 5 circuits in Legnano of 5.6 kilometers each.

Luca Paolini of Acqua & Sapone won the Italian late summer classic in a sprint finish over Danilo Hondo (PSK Whirlpool) and Lampre/NGC's Enrico Gasparotto. 2008 winner, Barloworld's Steve Cummings led his British compatriot and team mate  Geraint Thomas to the finish to claim the 4th and 5th place.

The peloton on the Piccolo Stelvia climb. Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Mauro Santambrogio finished in 24th place today but good enough to take the diamond prize as winner of the Trittico LLombardia with a 14 point lead over ISD/Neri's Giovanni Visconti and Diquigiovanni's Alessandro Bertolini.

The above 5 were part of an eight man group that included Enrico Magazzini (Lampre/NGC), 21 year old Mauro Finetto  (CSF Group-Navigare) and Alessandro Proni  ISD/Neri.

The eight escapees were the survivors of a group of 34 riders who attacked on the second lap of the Valle Olona circuit on the climb of the Caramamma. The gruppo was further reduced as the group split with survivors, Paolini, Hondo, Gasparotto, Proni, Magazzini, Mauro Finetto and the two Brits Cummings and Thomas getting a gap on the penultimate climb on the circuit.

The eight opened a gap of a minute as Alessandro Proni fell back to help his ISD leader Giovanni Visconti. in his campaign to win the Trittico Lombardia. The seven leaders continued to work well together with Paolini driving the pace with Barloworld and Lampre riders. The seven had two minutes as they entered the final 5 circuits in Legnano. Behind n the lead chase group of 9 with ISD/Neri on the front in pursuit was followed by the peloton at 5 minutes all but abdicating any role in the top placements in the race.

Paolini Celebrates! Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Paolini took every measure to best Hondo in the final coming around the German to throw his bike ahead to take the win. Proni led the first chase group of 8 to the finish, two minutes and 23 seconds later. The remains of the peloton finished with Yuri Metlushenko leading at 05:23 after the sprint between Hondo  and Paolini decided the winner.

Alessandro Petacchi greets Franco Ballerini before the start of the stage.
Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

The day was another warm one with the attrition high, but not quite as bad as yesterdays race with 72 abandons to day out of the 187 starters. Of course once again the riders were attempting to catch the eye of national selector Franco Ballerini who is working on his short list of riders to include in the Italian team for the Worlds in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

2009 - 91st Copa Bernocchi Podium: DaniloHondo, Luca Paolini, and Enrico Gasparotto Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

91st Copa Bernocchi - 34th GP Banca di Legnano
199.3 km - 4:23:28 - 45.33 km/h
1 Luca Paolini   Acqua & Sapone/Caffè Mokambo
2 Danilo Hondo  PSK Whirlpool
3 Enrico Gasparotto  Lampre/NGC
4 Steve Cummings  Barloworld
5 Geraint Thomas   Barloworld
6 Enrico Magazzini  Lampre/NGC
7 Mauro Finetto  CSF Group-Navigare

Luca Paolini - thats one fine trophy.
 Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

8 Alessandro Proni  ISD/Neri   02:23
9 Giovanni Visconti ISD/Neri
10 Diego Caccia Barloworld
11Ruggero Marzoli Acqua & Sapone/Caffè Mokambo
12 Daniele Colli Carmiooro A-Style
13 Jure Kocjan  Carmiooro A-Style
14 Daniele Calligarini  Centro Della Calzatura
15 Ivan Santaromita  Liquigas
16 Evgeny Petrov  Katusha 

Luca Paolini is congratulated by his wife. Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

17 Yuri Metlushenko Amore & Vita/Mc Donalds  05:23
18 Bernardo Riccio  Ceramica Flamina/Bossini Docce
19 Roberto Ferrari  LPR Brakes/Farnese Vini
20 Zolt Der Centro Della Calzatura
Starters 187 - Abandons 72

Winner of the Trittico Lombardia - Mauro Santambrogio with his prize diamond given by the Legnano diamond dealers. Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Trittico Regione Lombardia
1. Mauro Santambrogio Lampre/NGC 27 15 12 - 44
2. Giovanni  Visconti ISD/Neri  15 15 - 30
3. Alessandro Bertolini    14 6 8 - 28
4. Francesco Masciarelli  0 12 12
5. Alexander  Botcharov  10 10
6. FraVentoso 10 10
7. Gorazd  Stangelj  8 8
8. Chavez  Rubiano  8 1 7
9. Marco Marzano  7 7
10. Michele Scarponi 6 6

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