Clean sweep for Viviani at Challenge Calabria

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Elia Viviani (Liquigas Cannondale) won his second stage win and the overall at the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria, today in Italy.

The sprinter held off Daniele Colli (Team Type - Sanofi) and Maximilian Richeze (Team Nippo) to comfortably wrap up the two-day race. It was Viviani’s first GC win of his career and he leads the way this season with five wins – one more than Tom Boonen and Andre Greipel.

"The goal of the day was to be among the first to the finish to bring home first overall," said Viviani. "The second stage victory was the icing on the cake, thanks to the splendid work of my teammates. This double success makes me happy, makes me even more pleased with the increased level of my conditioning."

Stage 2 began in cold and wet conditions but a number of attacks kept Liquigas attentive at the front of the field.

Davide Ricci Bitti (Farnese Selle Italy), Vegard Stake Laengen (Team Type - Sanofi), Paul Bailetti (Utensilnord named), Hideto Nakane (Team Nippo) and Enrico Rossi (Meridiana Kamen Team), formed a group after 18 kilometers and built up a lead of just over a minute.

After 45 kilometers and with the lead over 4 minutes Liquigas began to move the front, clearly confident that Viviani would again deliver. The chase quickly took effect with a minute shaved off and Nakane dropping back from the break due to fatigue.

A counter move came from within the pack but Liquigas were clearly the strongest team. With 30 kilometers to go they reeled in the remnants from the break, their pace so strong that no further attacks were made.

All that was left was for Viviani to once again deliver and the Italian duly obliged.