This race may have lost it's Pro Tour status but that doesn't mean that it hasn't attracted some major stars.
Former winner and local favourite Valverde is the main favourite however Gilbert, Kirchen, Kessler, Gianni Efimkin, Nocentini and even Gil and Marquez are going to ensure that the local fans are not let down.
I haven't mentioned Fredrigo, Paolini, Ventoso and Bertagnolli who are also up there in the bookmakers odds.
Beautiful day today as the riders set off, however with wind speed touching 50km/hour we may see some interesting results.
We eventually have a group of four riders off the front.
Tenorio, Grippo, Medina and Perez Rodriguez
Mass attacks mean they don't last long
A group of 11 forms, but I will wait until they establish themselves before naming them.
The 11 survive, although are joined by to more to give a 13 man break
Perez Rodriguez, Lewis, Leipheimer, Medina, Rodrigues Silva, Giling, Fuglsang, Grippo, Van Zandbeck, Mazzanti, Scarponi and Duran
Going over the central hill the lead is 4'11". There are still 130km to go.
Mazzanti fell and was left by the break
17 riders go off the peleton when the wind splits it.
However the gap is quickly closed
Another split with 100km to do, the wind speed is now almost 70km/h
This one is more dangerous as it is 30 riders including Bertagnolli, Gilbert, Nocentini, Ignatiev Gianni, Effimkin and Valverde
The break still has 3 1/2 minutes
The main pack is lead by the helpers of Kirchen and Vicioso who both missed the split.
The favourites group splits again leaving plenty of riders behind, however it was Vespa's pace which caused the split and Gianni missed it so it will probably come together
A couple of Vespa riders go back to help but most seem satisfied to rest at the back of the first group as the gap hovers at 30 seconds for several kilometres
There are now 75km to go and the break only has 1'39" of their advantage left.
The two leaders groups merge when Santander become the only team leading the first group
Over the top of the first major climb the break can look back and see the whole peleton spread out over ten km of road.
The break hits the bottom of the main climb 1 minute ahead of the chase group.
Halfway up the, now depleted, leaders group catches the break, no major casualties yet.
27 riders crest together with no one prepared to attack.
Amazingly Kirchen, Gil and Vicioso have almost caught the lead group, only 55 seconds back, at one point they trailed by over three minutes.
On the decent the lead group drops to 19, no leaders missed the split but all the back markers will make it exceedingly difficult for the chasers the catch up.
Playing to his strengths Ignatiev attacks on the flat
Gilbert Medina and Bertagnolli go after him
Ignatiev gives up but Valverde decides to go for it.
When they hit the final climb they are still struggling to get clear
Efimkin and Gianni go after Valverde as Bertogliatti runs out of steam
Nocentini is next
And over the top those four are the leaders
30 seconds back are Froome, Gilbert, Ignatiev and Bertagnolli
Somehow Ignatiev is the fastest down the hill and he manages to close the gap
Unfortunately his teammate, Froome, cracks and takes him and Bertagnolli with him
Bertagnolli just about bridges up
with 2.3km to go Valverde leads out Gilbert, Efimkin, Nocentini and Gianni
Under the 1km banner and no one has made a move, they are cycling into the teeth of the wind so one can understand staying tucked in as long as possible.
700m and Gilbert pulls out
500m to go and it's a two horse race, can the home crowd cheer Valverde to a repeat victory
YES, Gilbert fades towards the end and Valverde takes it
Efimkin is third with Gianni 4th and Nocentini 5th
Ignatiev is 6th followed by Bertagnolli
Froome solos into 8th
and Bernucci and Bosisio round out the top ten of a very strong ride by Vespa
