Pinotti wins GP Stresa time trial

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Marco Pinotti (Columbia-HTC) ended his year on a high note on Sunday when he powered to a convincing victory in the GP Citta di Stresa time trial. Pinotti completed the 33.8-kilometre course 1:05 ahead of Alessandro Raisoni (CarmioOro - A-Style) while Ivan Basso (Liquigas) finished third 1:29 behind Pinotti.

"It was a good win," Pinotti said. "The time trial course was simple. It went out and back alongside a lake, so I really gave it everything on the second half. That's where I made the difference.

"Taking a victory on home soil in Italy as a way to round off the year is a nice feeling. It's a good way to start my winter holidays!"

Pinotti recognised that finishing well over a minute ahead of his closest rival was "a big gap. But a lot of the guys did the Giro di Lombardia the day before, and maybe that affected them. I myself was worried after not performing so well there, but things went completely the other way for me today and I managed to win."