Gasparotto eyes second Italian title

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Enrico Gasparotto wants to take his first win of the season this Sunday at the Italian National Championships in Imola. Four years on from his first national title, he has even stronger team support with Lampre teammates Damiano Cunego and Alessandro Ballan.

"My goal is the Italian Championship, Sunday the 28th – it is the objective," he told Cyclingnews. "I am convinced to be able to have a good race and I go better in one-day races than stage races."

Gasparotto said the team will decide tactics on the day of the race. Depending on how the race develops he could have his chance to win. He also noted the strong form and desire of Cunego, who placed second in the Tour de Suisse stage to Crans-Montana Saturday.

Gasparotto won Suisse's overall sprint classification jersey thanks to a consistent ride over nine days of racing. He gained the majority of his points on the stage to Lumino, where he was part of a four-man escape group for most of the day.

"It would have been more important to win a sprint, but the sprint classification is better than nothing."

He had four wins in 2008 when he rode for Barloworld, this year he has zero. Explaining this apparent change in fortunes is his participation in more important races and often at the services of teammates, such as Cunego during the Ardennes Classics. Gasparotto helped Cunego finish in the top ten of the Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

"It is such an important and great team, a team where I would also like to contribute with wins."

Gasparotto started his season February 7 at the GP Etruschi and will conclude the first phase with Sunday's championships. After a break, he will return with the Tour of Poland or Portugal.

"I want to have a good finale to the season. If there is one specific race I want, it is Giro di Lombardia."