Rossi wins Padania opener

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Enrico Rossi (Merdiana-Kamen) won the opening stage of the Giro di Padania in pouring rain in Bondeno, beating Massimo Graziato (Lampre-ISD) and Filippo Baggio (Utensilnord-Named) in a bunch finish.

Rossi, brother-in-law of the banned Riccardo Riccò, showed considerable nous in the final kilometre to drift into the perfect position to launch his winning sprint. After first following Danilo Napolitano (Acqua&Sapone), Rossi latched on to the Lampre-ISD train after Napolitano skidded in the greasy conditions.

Alessandro Petacchi was assigned to lead out Graziato, but when he hesitated on the final, slippery bend, Rossi seized his opportunity. “Petacchi was slow into the final corner, so I moved up ahead of him,” Rossi explained. “I knew in these conditions that it would be difficult to pass me out as there were only 150 metres from there to the finish line.”

Rossi was arrested by Italian police in 2010 following a search of his house during the “Operation Cobra-Red” doping investigation. He was suspended by his then Flaminia team and the inquiry has yet to come an end. “With the time justice takes, it will go on a long time,” Rossi said. “But I find myself in the same situation as other athletes, not just in cycling.”