Leonardi wins stage 2

Image 1 of 4

Italy's Gianluca Leonardi (Marchiol) won the 168km second stage of the Girobio, the Under 23 men's version of the Giro d'Italia.

Leonardi was part of a breakaway of 20 riders that formed early during the stage between Serravalle Scrivia and Salsomaggiore Terme. The race covered the first two hours at over 50km/h and the bunch failed to organise a serious chase with so many teams represented up front. Leonardi then attacked on the final short climb, four kilometres from the finish, to win alone.

Andrea Di Corrado (De Nardi) finished second and Davide Gomirato (Zalf Desiree) was third, a few seconds behind.

Thanks to his stage victory, Leonardi is also the new overall leader and will wear the red and white jersey race leader's jersey during stage three from Salsomaggiore to Ghedi, near Bologna, on Sunday.

Lucchini Unidelta team expelled before the start

Before the stage began, the race was rocked by the decision by the organisers to expel the whole Lucchini Unidelta team for breaking the strict rules of the race. On Friday Omar Lombardi of Lucchini Unidelta won the first stage and was due to start two as race leader. He was also sent home, along with former professional and now team directeur sportif Bruno Leali.

Race director Giancarlo Brocci revealed in a video message that on Friday evening the Italian NAS police, that look after public health much like the Food and Drug Administration in the USA, searched the riders, staff and vehicles of the Lucchini Unidelta team as part of an ongoing police investigation.

Brocci did not reveal what was found but a report on the website of the La Repubblica newspaper indicated that drugs and syringes were discovered in the riders' room and in team vehicles.

Under the rules of the Girobio, riders are only allowed to take any kind of medicine or even vitamin supplements. Riders have to hand over all their required medicines before the race and the doctors decide if and when they can be taken. The idea is to eliminate any form of medicinal culture during the race. For similar reasons, all the riders sleep together in large hostel style accommodation and have no contact with their directeur sportif away form the stages.

The news of the expulsion of the Lucchini Unidelta has sparked a debate about the running of the Girobio and their fight against doping. However the race organisers are determined to continue to run the race under their own strict rules.

Full Results