Garzelli snags T-A, Boasson Hagen wins finale

By Agence France Presse

Italy’s 2000 Giro d’Italia champion Stefano Garzelli won the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race after Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen prevailed in the seventh and final stage on Tuesday.

Garzelli, who rides for the Acqua e Sapone team, was placed second in the overall standings going into the final day, two seconds behind his compatriot Michele Scarponi.

Defending titleholder Scarponi, who had taken the lead last Saturday, was pipped at the post by the bonus sprint points picked up by 36-year-old Garzelli during the stage.

Garzelli finished third in both sprints, picking up one second each time, placing him level pegging in the standings, but he was awarded victory courtesy of his better placings over the course of the race.

“It’s crazy, you’d never believe it, it’s like a film, but I had nothing to lose, and today I was rewarded for my two runner-up places in the sprints,” said Garzelli.

Scarponi for his part added: “This is the first time this has happened to me, and it doesn’t give me a great deal of pleasure.”

Preliminary stage 7 results:

• 1. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN (NOR) Team Sky in 3;52;36
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C at 0
• 3. Sacha MODOLO (ITA) Csf Group-Navigare at 0
• 4. Bernhard EISEL (AUT) HTC – Columbia at 0
• 5. Mattia GAVAZZI (ITA) Csf Group-Navigare at 0
• 6. Tyler FARRAR (USA) Garmin – Transitions at 0
• 7. Robbie MCEWEN (AUS) Team Katusha at 0
• 8. Baden COOKE (AUS) Team Saxo Bank at 0

FINAL GC standings

• 1. Stefano GARZELLI (Italy) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo in 30:51:36
• 2. Michele SCARPONI (Italy) in 0
• 3. Cadel EVANS (Australia) Bmc Racing Team in 12
• 4. Maxim IGLINSKY (Kazakhstan) Astana in 22
• 5. Robert GESINK (Netherlands) Rabobank in 27
• 6. Michael ROGERS (Australia) HTC – Columbia in 29
• 7. Domenico POZZOVIVO (Italy) Csf Group-Navigare in 33
• 8. Vincenzo NIBALI (Italy) Liquigas Doimo in 42

FILED UNDER: News / Race Report / Road TAGS: Tirreno-Adriatico