Sagan outsprints Paolini in Prato

Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) won Sunday's GP Industria & Commercio di Prato in a two-up sprint against Luca Paolini (Katusha) and confirmed he's on splendid form one week prior to the road race world championship in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"I wanted to test the legs prior to the Worlds" said Sagan. "Liquigas-Cannondale had so many alternatives to establish itself today and my first thought was not to take too many risks. The rain affected the race finale, unfortunately, for [teammate Vincenzo] Nibali who deserved better luck.

"In the last few kilometres I immediately thought of who to mark. When Paolini went I followed him without hesitation because I realized that the move could be good.

"I'm happy with what I have achieved so far but there is no need to celebrate. On [next] Sunday I expect an important test which I look to with great ambition. I know I'm younger than most for Copenhagen and it won't be the only Worlds I'll take part in, however I'm enjoying very good condition and to not make the most of it would be a sin."

The race also provided confirmation of form to Paolini, who'll represent Italy in one week's time at the road race world championships.

"I'm a little disappointed, being overtaken with 20 metres to go is quite sad," said Paolini. "I'm sorry I missed the victory today, especially for the team who worked really well despite the difficult weather conditions.

"Anyway, I consider this race an important test to check my condition after three hard weeks in the Vuelta and just seven days to the world championships. I proved I'm in good shape, so I can say I'm satisfied with my performance."

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Full Results
1Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale4:09:43
2Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:04
4Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:10
5Oscar Gatto (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli0:00:12
6Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago - CSF InoxRow 5 - Cell 2
7Daniele Colli (Ita) Geox-TMCRow 6 - Cell 2
8Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Fabio Taborre (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Daniele Bennati (Ita) Italian National TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Geox-TMCRow 10 - Cell 2
12Giuseppe De Maria (Ita) De Rosa - Ceramica FlaminiaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Italian National TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Alessandro Donati (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 14 - Cell 2
16Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli0:00:22
17Riccardo Chiarini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli0:00:27
18Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Italian National Team0:00:44
19Sacha Modolo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox0:00:50
20Fabio Felline (Ita) Geox-TMCRow 19 - Cell 2
21Oleg Berdos (Mda) De Rosa - Ceramica FlaminiaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Davide Ricci Bitti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 21 - Cell 2
23Alessandro Proni (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:01:25
24Antonio Santoro (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 23 - Cell 2
25David Gutierrez Gutierrez (Spa) Geox-TMCRow 24 - Cell 2
26Diego Caccia (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 25 - Cell 2
27Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Katusha TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni GiocattoliRow 28 - Cell 2
30Carlos Alberto Betancourt Gomez (Col) Acqua & SaponeRow 29 - Cell 2
31Federico Canuti (Ita) Colnago - CSF InoxRow 30 - Cell 2
32Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 32 - Cell 2
34Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 33 - Cell 2
35Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 34 - Cell 2
36Noè Gianetti (Swi) Geox-TMCRow 35 - Cell 2
37Simone Ponzi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 36 - Cell 2
38Egor Silin (Rus) Katusha Team0:03:32
39Davide Vigano (Ita) Italian National TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Daniele Ratto (Ita) Geox-TMCRow 40 - Cell 2
42Angelo Pagani (Ita) Colnago - CSF InoxRow 41 - Cell 2
43Francesco Ginanni (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 42 - Cell 2
44David Tintori (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 43 - Cell 2
45Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 44 - Cell 2
46Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri SottoliRow 45 - Cell 2
47Giuseppe Di Salvo (Ita) Miche - GuerciottiRow 46 - Cell 2
48Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Vladislav Borisov (Rus) Amore & VitaRow 48 - Cell 2
50Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 49 - Cell 2
51Alexander Zdanov (Rus) d'Angelo & Antenucci - NippoRow 50 - Cell 2
52Alberto Contoli (Ita) Colnago - CSF InoxRow 51 - Cell 2
53Francesco Di Paolo (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 52 - Cell 2
54Fausto Fognini (Ita) DSLRow 53 - Cell 2
55Krzysztof Szczawinski (Pol) Miche - GuerciottiRow 54 - Cell 2
56Carlos José Ochoa (Ven) Androni GiocattoliRow 55 - Cell 2
57Matteo Di Serafino (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 56 - Cell 2
58Claudio Corioni (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 57 - Cell 2
59Giampaolo Cheula (Ita) Geox-TMCRow 58 - Cell 2
60Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Colnago - CSF InoxRow 59 - Cell 2
61Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr) Amore & VitaRow 61 - Cell 2
63Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Italian National TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Edoardo Girardi (Ita) De Rosa - Ceramica FlaminiaRow 63 - Cell 2
65Leonardo Pinizzotto (Ita) Miche - GuerciottiRow 64 - Cell 2
66Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Federico Rocchetti (Ita) De Rosa - Ceramica FlaminiaRow 66 - Cell 2
68Davide Rebellin (Ita) Miche - GuerciottiRow 67 - Cell 2
69Davide Torosantucci (Ita) d'Angelo & Antenucci - NippoRow 68 - Cell 2
70Gianluca Randazzo (Ita) Miche - GuerciottiRow 69 - Cell 2

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