@Ian: I don't think there's any need of doing that when Puccio isn't racing these months. But in the next monthly review i can assure you that that the "Team-mate of the month" award will be back

Pre-Tactics
This is my first race after a long break. But that doesn't mean i'm in bad shape at all. Actually i feel quite well after some successful training sessions. I'm here in a a free role, but i don't expect to do anything crazy out there today. After all i just want to know where i stand after my long break of racing.

Geraint Thomas is our leader, and due to a fine shape, against a relatively weak startlist, he should be able to end near the top of the table, especially with a little help from his team-mates.

	T. Dekker
	F. Masciarelli, S. Spilak
	O. Zaugg, X. Florencio, G. Thomas

We're starting at the final part of the race, 12 km from the finish line. Barry has been in the morningbreak all day long, and still eyes an opportunity for victory before the final climb, with a 50' gap.



The Astana and Liquigas rider seemed too tired to keep the pace high enough. Therefore Barry and Franzoi went on alone, increasing their lead to the pack leaded by Garmin and Katusha.



But when going into the final climb, Barry and Franzoi got caught again. Both Kennaugh, Thomas and Puccio quickly got to the front to increase the pace further, to avoid attacks from other riders, since we were believing in Thomas' sprinting abbilities.



Kennaugh and Puccio managed to keep the pack together, and Puccio could therefore lead Thomas out for the final sprint, who took the inner corner of the last turn with Florencio, Dekker and Wegmann beside.



As the 4 riders in front slowly began to seperate themselves from the followers, Puccio discovered that he was actually able to keep his pace going, after sending off Thomas. With few metres to the line, he therefore decided to give his all to bring home a top-10 finish.



Thomas did a strong sprint, but the final slope percentages was probably what seperated him from the win. He finished 3rd, as Florencio and Dekker took the two first steps on the podium.
Puccio also did great and only just managed to get over the line in front of Zaugg, finishing 6th.

1	Xavier Florencio	Katusha Team	5h12'25
2	Thomas Dekker	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.
3	Geraint Thomas	Sky Procycling	+ 12
4	Fabian Wegmann	Garmin - Sharp	+ 23
5	Simon Spilak	Katusha Team	s.t.
6	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+ 39
7	Oliver Zaugg	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
8	Francesco Masciarelli	Astana Pro Team	+ 53
9	Michel Kreder	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.
10	Alessandro Proni	Acqua & Sapone	s.t.

I'm actually quite surprised about my own result. When not having raced for a long time, it's difficult to know where you stand and if your training sessions have worked out properly. But something tells me that they did.

The team worked well today, and Thomas almost nails the win. Nevertheless it's a great result, and we'll have a go again tomorrow at the second part of the Trittico Regione Lombardia, namely at the Coppa Agostini.

Thanks everybody, Puccio and the team did well, and if the startlist for the Coppa Agonstini seems reasonable, he may be able to get his own chance

Pre-Tactics
Second race of the Trittico Regione Lombardia is about to start. It's a tough route with lots of hills, so i'm looking forward to ride in the terrain. We're riding for Geraint Thomas again, and this time he should have a great chance winning the race. I'm in a free role, so if i spot my chance i'll certainly take the opportunity.

	X. Florencio
	G. Thomas, Z. Stybar
	S. Ponzi, M. Ignatiev, B. Swift

As yesterday, we're starting directly in the final of the race. With 30 km left, a breakaway with 4 riders is in front with about 1'30 to the pack, while Salvatore Puccio attacks. A very risky move by the Italian.



Puccio quickly overtook the breakaway and went fully solo at the front, while passing the exhausted morning escapees with 15 km to go.



When getting free of the forrest, Puccio reached the open and straight flatlands, the most difficult time to be alone in the front. He had about 1 minute to the pack, while Tiralongo and one of the morning escapees sat in between those two parties.



Slowly the pack began to reel in Puccio with Katusha in front. With 8 km to go, it was dangerously close to him, even though he gave his all.



But it seemed like the pack suddenly slowed a little down due to some disagreements. Puccio was therefore able to ride under the 5 km left gate with a fine gap to the pack.



But the pack got organized again, and when the sprint started, Puccio was unfortunately reeled in. Due to Puccio in front, the rest of the team had had time to dedicate themselves fully to protect Thomas, and it seemed to have worked, since he started a strong sprint in the front.



Thomas immediatly went past everybody, and even though the other sprinters tried to go after him, it seemed to be too late.



Florencio and the others weren't able catching Thomas and hereby the briton took an amazing victory. None were near catching him in his solo sprint, it was a massive domination!



Even though he had hoped for success, Puccio ended a long way off. But the victory of Thomas seemed to be enough for the young Italian to forget all about his own breakaway which went wrong, as he crossed the finish with the arms towards the sky.

1	Geraint Thomas	Sky Procycling	5h12'01
2	Xavier Florencio	Katusha Team	s.t.
3	Simone Ponzi	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
4	Zdenek Stybar	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	s.t.
5	Yury Trofimov	Katusha Team	s.t.
6	Ben Swift	Sky Procycling	s.t.
7	Alberto Losada	Katusha Team	s.t.
8	Giampaolo Caruso	Katusha Team	s.t.
9	Eros Capecchi	Liquigas - Cannondale	s.t.
10	Bert-Jan Lindeman	Vacansoleil	s.t.
...
62	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	s.t.

What a race! I did my best to hold off the pack, but i have to realize that it probably wasn't very possible at all when taking off solo with such long way to the finish. But nevertheless it has increased my confidence a lot, since you have to have some sort of power to do such as i did.

Thomas was amazing today. At the morning meet he said he wanted to win this race, and what did he end up doing? I'm so happy on his behalf and i think he really deserves this win. I'm looking forward for tomorrow and the Coppa Bornechi, where we have a serious chance of winning again. The route is much flatter, and with Swift and Thomas in the lineup, we can't go all wrong.