Trusov with impressive second

Nikolai Trusov scored an important moral boost by finishing second behind Italian Alessandro Petacchi in the opening stage of the Regio Tour Wednesday afternoon. The 22 year-old Russian signalled his continued emergence as sprint force that was first seen on a big stage during the Giro d'Italia last May.

"This placing is an honour and it is almost like a success for our team," said Tinkoff Credit Systems Directeur Sportif Orlando Manini. "To arrive second behind Petacchi is a truly important result, above all for a young rider like Trusov."

Trusov made his way through the 2007 Giro d'Italia while placing himself well in the sprints. The most visible day for him happened to be part of the maxi-caduta ('large crash') at the end of stage 11 to Pinerolo. The sprinter was the first one to lose control on the wet finishing straight that saw many top favourites scrabbling across the ground.

The team will work to give Trusov a chance to score his season's first victory in the following four days of the Regio Tour, which concludes Sunday. The team in Germany consists of Elio Aggiano, Daniele Contrini, Steffen Weigold, Mikhail Ignatiev, Alexander Serov, Vasil Kiryienka and stagiaire Alexander Gottfried.