Tirreno-Adriatico - Stage 4

Scarponi strikes in Chieti

Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) took advantage of some excellent teamwork at Tirreno-Adriatico to win the first of two 240km stages in the central Apennines and move closer to the overall race lead.

Scarponi won alone in the centre of Chieti, with new teammate Damiano Cunego taking second, after the two rode an intelligent race on the two-kilometre climb to the finish.

Cunego controlled rivals Danilo Di Luca (Katusha), Cadel Evans (BMC), Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) while Scarponi surged clear and tried to gain as much time as possible on the twisting roads in Chieti. He faded on the steep section near the finish but hung on to win, just as he did during last year’s Tirreno-Adriatico.

Cunego then completed a double for the team, pointing at Scarponi in celebration, with Evans a strong third. Basso was fourth at two seconds, while Danilo Di Luca (Katusha) showed himself for the first time this season after returning from his ban for doping.

Robert Gesink (Rabobank) finished sixth at 12 seconds. He was slightly off the pace when the attacks exploded but with the sprinters and previous race leader Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) distanced, he pulled on the blue leader’s jersey and the white jersey as best young rider. However he has now lost most of the gap he gained when Rabobank won the opening team time trial and has shown that he could be vulnerable on Sunday’s second 240km stage.

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Michele Scarponi (Lampre - ISD) wins stage 4 at Tirreno-Adriatico
Photo: © Roberto Bettini