Paolini wins final, Pietropolli tops Lombarda
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Apr. 5, 2009
Luca Paolini (Acqua e Sapone) sprinted to his first victory of the 2009 season in Sunday’s sixth and final stage at the 39th Settimana Lombarda.
Paolini out-kicked last year’s Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (ISD) and Miguel Angel Rubiano (CZP) in a photo finish out of a four-up sprint to claim the win in the 153km stage from Montello to Bergamo and conclude the week of racing across northern Italy.
Italian Daniele Pietropolli (LPR) finished safely in the main pack at 24 seconds back to claim overall victory. Pietropolli inherited the leader’s jersey from LPR teammate Alessandro Petacchi in Saturday’s decisive climbing stage. LPR won the opening team time trial on Tuesday and the team held the leader’s jersey from start to finish.
Juan Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) proved he’s back in fighting shape after an injury-plagued 2008 campaign by finishing second overall at 29 seconds adrift. Davide Rebellin (Diquigiovanni) slotted into third at 36 seconds in what’s another strong performance for the veteran Italian ahead of the Ardennes classics.