Ascoli Piceno hosts the first hilly criterium of the Trofeo Circolo d'Italia. A short climb with a maximum slope of 11.7% will favor the puncheurs for sure.
David Vitoria and Metinvest's 1-2-3 were the opener's highlight, without any question. Some valuable points, as Vitoria is capable of doing well in the hilly races as well.
He faces some tough competition from Italy: Salerno (Cisco), Iannetti (ING) and RocchettiE (Farnese) feature the list of top-favorites.
Eibegger (Vorarlberg), Preidler (VW) and Vitoria's compatriot Schurter (Sauber) can do something, too.
Elia Viviani (Farnese), Nicola D'Andrea (ING), Andrea Zordan (Italy U25) and Stefano Pirazzi (Amore) attacked early and build a first breakaway just as they enter the climb up the "Monte Rocco" for the first of six times.
The group was allowed to go and halfway through the race, Metinvest and Cisco show their colors at the front of the bunch.
The gap is around 2'00" and this two teams start the pursuit now.
A few moments later, a second group of 3 riders tries to break clear from the bunch:
Jiriakov (Colnago), Preidler (VW) and Felline (Idea)!
Definitely a dangerous attack, but it's still 21km to go.
Zoidl (Vorarlberg) tries to catch up to the group as well. And another lap later, he managed to bridge the gap.
So with 15km to go and the chasing group closing up to the early escapees, the peloton's still on the chase with 55" in arrears.
And on the penultimate climb, the top-favorites make their move:
yesterday's winner David Vitoria (Metinvest)
Cristiano Salerno (Cisco)
and Federico Rocchetti (Farnese)
are the first to attack out of the bunch, which cut the gap down to 40" with now 9km to go!
The three riders overtake the leading group easily, led by Rocchetti.
Salerno and also Vitoria manage to hang on. It's a perfect setup for a thrilling final lap!
The early escapees can't follow and so a new chasing group of 5 riders tries to pull group Salerno back:
Ianetti (ING)
Schurter (Sauber)
Facci (Farnese), who already scored 4 points yesterday
Eibegger (Vorarlberg)
and Bongiorno (WIT)
build a strong chasing group, facing a 32"-gap on the leading three. Do they work together to fight back?
They did! But just as they were narrowing the gap - 15" with 3.5km remaining - the leading group accelerates once again!
But wait.. Schurter managed to jump into this group:
E1 (4)/ Rocchetti, Vitoria, Schurter, Salerno
E2 (4)/ Eibegger, Iannetti, Facci, Bongiorno at 0.15
E3 (1)/ Possoni at 0.31
P (49)/ with Preidler, Felline, Zoidl at 1.01
Group Vitoria/Salerno reaches the kite with still a 16"-gap, so it seems this four can battle for today's win.
Vitoria has the worst position, kicking off the sprint as first, while Schurter tries to come fast from behind.
500 meters to go..
..Rocchetti seems to struggle, as Schurter catches up to Vitoria and Salerno, who now accelerates and takes the leading position..
..and it looks like an easy sprint for Salerno, who drops a now suffering Vitoria easily!
Schurter on 2nd now, and also Rocchetti is not too far behind.. the chasing group still has a small gap to close though.
Cristiano Salerno takes out the second race, a nice win for Cisco Cycling! He dominated this sprint, gaining 16" on the other three and is a well deserved winner.
Nino Schurter finishes 2nd ahead of Federico Rocchetti, who came back strong after struggling earlier in the climb.
Yesterday's winner David Vitoria still has reasons to cheer, as his 4th place is another sign of strength and makes him defend the GC.
30" behind Francesco Bongiorno wins the sprint of the chasing group, ahead of Markus Eibegger, Mauro Facci (who adds 6 more points for 10 in total) and Massimo Iannetti.
Another 20" later Moris Possoni and Fabio Fellini complete today's Top-10.. tomorrow's flat race in Avezzano should be easier than the first flat. But anything can happen.
David Vitoria and Metinvest's 1-2-3 were the opener's highlight, without any question. Some valuable points, as Vitoria is capable of doing well in the hilly races as well.
Italy: Salerno (Cisco), Iannetti (ING) and RocchettiE (Farnese) feature the list of top-favorites.
Eibegger (Vorarlberg), Preidler (VW) and Vitoria's compatriot 
