Betancur triumphs at Giro dell'Emilia

Carlos Alberto Betancur received an early 22nd birthday present in Bologna when he won this year's Giro dell'Emilia, finishing 24 seconds ahead of Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) and Rigoberto Uran (Team Sky) on the tough uphill finish of the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca.

The Acqua e Sapone Colombian could celebrate his first professional victory atop the San Luca after making an important move in the closing laps, his dare paying off and delivering Acqua e Sapone a vital victory on home turf.

After 18km a group of five riders - Stefan Denifl (Leopard Trek), Davide Ricci Bitti (Farnese Vini – Neri Sottoli), Sergio Laganà (De Rosa – Ceramica Flaminia), Luca Solari (Androni Giocattoli – Cipi) and Alexander Zdanov (D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo) - got away and built themselves a lead of 8:26 after 47km of racing.

Under the impetus of Liquigas-Cannondale, which was working for Vincenzo Nibali, the quintet was eventually caught, with Denifl the last to surrender at the beginning of the second of five finishing circuits. It was then time for Gianluca Brambilla (Colnago - CSF) to go it alone, which he did for a lap before being joined by Robert Kiserlovski (Astana), Betancur and Oliver Zaugg (Leopard Trek).

As the bell rang for the last lap - and the final 10km - the leading group split as Brambilla and Kiserlovski lost contact, while Zaugg continued with Betancur, the pair deciding to go for broke on the final climb. For the latter the plan worked to perfection, holding strong to take a solo win ahead of the quality field.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Full Results
1Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) Acqua & Sapone5:05:05
2Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:24
3Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingRow 2 - Cell 2
4Davide Rebellin (Ita) Miche - GuerciottiRow 3 - Cell 2
5Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDRow 4 - Cell 2
6Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team0:00:28
7Riccardo Chiarini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli0:00:31
8Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF InoxRow 7 - Cell 2
9Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Leopard Trek0:00:33
10Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:39
11Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Team Garmin-Cervelo0:00:40
12Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col) Geox-TMCRow 11 - Cell 2
13Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky Procycling0:00:42
14Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team0:00:47
15David De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Geox-TMC0:00:53
16Fabio Taborre (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:00:54
17Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Pro Team Astana0:01:02
18Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Pro Team Astana0:01:15
19Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col) d'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo0:01:18
20Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Miche - Guerciotti0:01:19
21Daniel Martin (Irl) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 20 - Cell 2
22Fabio Felline (Ita) Geox-TMCRow 21 - Cell 2
23Federico Canuti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox0:01:35
24Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 23 - Cell 2
25Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 24 - Cell 2
26Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Pro Team AstanaRow 25 - Cell 2
27Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 26 - Cell 2
28Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox0:02:17
29Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 28 - Cell 2
30Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek0:02:59
31Alexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Pro Team Astana0:03:18
32Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:04:49
34Mathieu Perget (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 33 - Cell 2
35Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 35 - Cell 2
37David Gutierrez Gutierrez (Spa) Geox-TMCRow 36 - Cell 2
38Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 37 - Cell 2
39Peter Stetina (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 38 - Cell 2
40Rafal Majka (Pol) Saxo Bank SungardRow 39 - Cell 2
41Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 40 - Cell 2
42Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Pro Team AstanaRow 41 - Cell 2
43Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46David Lelay (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:05:36
47Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJRow 46 - Cell 2
48Laurent Didier (Lux) Saxo Bank Sungard0:06:08
49Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard Trek0:09:22
50Rémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJRow 49 - Cell 2
51Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 50 - Cell 2
52Damiano Margutti (Ita) De Rosa - Ceramica FlaminiaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJRow 53 - Cell 2

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews