Third time trial title for Pinotti

Marco Pinotti of Team High Road was not surprised to win his third Italian time trial championship on Sunday, covering the 33-kilometre course in Montichiari in 39'30 minutes, nearly a minute and half better than the second place finisher Luca Celli.

"To be honest, I can't say I was too surprised because I've never finished outside the top three of this particular event in the last five years," he said on the team's website, highroadsports.com. "After finishing the Giro d'Italia, I'd continued to stay focused, doing a couple of races in Germany and then going training in the Alps with [High Road team-mate Kanstantsin] Siutsou.

"The course was quite technical, with a small climb about a kilometre-long half-way through, and there were some long straights at the end, which helps to explain my high average speed," the 32 year-old said. He averaged 50.278 km/h. "I found the heat was a real factor in this race – 35 degrees celsius. It wasn't easy to concentrate."

Pinotti had previously won the title in 2005 and 2007, and said that "The first was definitely the most special." However, he added, "I think I can say that after taking the Giro time trial win [on the final stage] and then this one, I know I really can't get any better in my own race against the clock." (SW)