Champagne and burgers for Metlushenko
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
American Team Wins Stage In Coppi e Bartali
33 year old Ukranian sprinter Yury Metlushenko (Amore e Vita McDonalds)
powered to a sprint win today in Finale Emilia to grab Stage 4 of the
Settimana Internazione Coppi e Bartali, a flat 162.8km race from Massa
Finalese to Finale Emilia on Friday. Metlu had a strong lead out sprint
win over Danilo Napolitano (Katusha) and Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas),
while former Giro d'Italia winner Damiano Cunego kept the Coppi e
Bartali lead ahead of Australian Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), just 28"
behind.
Metlushenko gets #11
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Nicknamed Metlu, the likeable Ukranian speedster with treetrunk legs
took his 11th career win Finale Emilia; the Amore e Vita McDonalds
rider had three wins in North America last season; the Lehigh Valley Classic and a stage of the Tour De Beauce in June and the Univest
Criterium in September.
Gaggioli all smiles after Metlushenko's win
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Today's win was a milestone of sorts for Amore e Vita McDonalds team
director Roberto Gaggioli, as the former terror from Tuscany, well know
to American bike racing fans for his prolific wins, took his first win as a team director for the Italo-American squad. Post-stage, a clearly
delighted Metlu told Italian TV "our team worked really well to put me
in postition to win in the final kilometers. Katusha did most of the
work to pull the break back, but thanks to God, I was able to win and
beat sprinters like (Napolitano & Chicchi). Metlushenko turned pro
in 2002 for the Landbouwkredit-Colnago squad and won his first pro
race, but a bad crash made the Ukranian sprinter a bit leery of the cut
and thrust in the race finale. Metlu rode as an elite in 2005 and
languished on small pro squads in 2006-7, but Gaggioli brought him onto
Amore e Vita McDonalds in 2008. Tomorrow's final stage of the Settimana
Internazione Coppi e Bartali, a twisting, hilly 178.5km race from
Scandiano to Sassuolo should see Cunego come under attack from his main
rival Cadel Evans.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Team Saxo Bank Switches to SRAM RED This Weekend
David Zimberoff, SRAM's Global Marketing Director, added: "The mating
of SRAM RED componentry to the Specialized S-Works frames, along with
Zipp wheels, will make the team's bikes amongst the fastest, most
comfortable, and most responsive in the peloton." Team Saxo Bank expects
to be racing fully SRAM RED-equipped bikes starting with the E3 Prijs
Vlaanderen-Harelbeke and the Criterium Internationale, on March 28.
Additionally, Saxo Bank will race on SRAM RED-equipped Specialized
S-Works Tarmac and Roubaix SL2's and time trial on on SRAM RED
-equipped S-Works Transitions.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Valverde Happy, For Now
With his second stage win at Vuelta Castille y Leon, Caisse d'Epargne
leader Alejandro Valverde was pleased wth his result. "Today was a good
finish for me and for Rojas", said Valverde post-stage. Originally,
Valverde had hoped to help his teammate Jose Joaquín Rojas, who
finished second today. "My idea was to lead him out and I was ahead in
the final kilometer, but I saw he was not on my wheel and things fell
apart. Once Ricardo Serrano jumped and I saw he might could win, I went
after him and was able to win."
For now, Valverde is happy for the wins & his good condition. "I've
had two wins, felt well on the climbs and I'm satisfied with my
performance. I got better every day, and good sensations all during the
race." However, the Italian Olympic Committee has not yet decided to
seek sanctions for suspected Epo use from 2008 and this sword of Damocles is still hanging over his head and could compromise the Caisse
d'Epargne leader's Tour de France participation.
Last Chance To Enter RBA Write And Win Sweepstakes
Tomorrow is the last day to tell us why you ride, send us a letter or just drop us an email and be
entered for a chance to win one of ten Silca SuperMini pumps. The
Silca SuperMini features a lifetime warranty, and carries the same
durability and functionality we have come to expect from Silca’s famous
floor pumps. The SuperMini weighs 125-grams and can inflate up 160-psi.
Visit www.silcapompe.it for more information.
Every two weeks, roadbikeaction.com will be giving away a new item to one or more lucky readers who submit a Why we ride
submission, sends us a letter or simply provides their name and email
address. Submissions must be received by Saturday, March 28th. Ten
winners will be announced Sunday, March 29th, 2009
E-mail your submissions and photos to rbamail@hi-torque.com
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