Thumbs up from victor Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Doimo).(Image credit: Sirotti)
The Colnago - CSF Inox team was active throughout the day.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Doimo) is congratulated following his victory.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Doimo) is metres away from winning the Memorial Marco Pantani.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Doimo) outsprinted Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Androni Giocattoli) and Manuel Belletti (Colnago - CSF Inox) for the victory.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Neo-pro Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Doimo) won the Memorial Marco Pantani from a 22-rider group.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Manuel Belletti (Colnago - CSF Inox) on the podium for his third place finish.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Runner-up Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez on the podium.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Memorial Marco Pantani winner Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Doimo)(Image credit: Sirotti)
Elia Viviani lets loose with the bubbly.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Third place finisher Manuel Belletti (Colnago - CSF Inox)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre - Farnese Vini) attacked the lead group 15km from the finish in an attempt to win solo.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Neo-pro Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Doimo) takes his third victory of the season.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Members of the Itera - Katusha squad await the start.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Memorial Marco Pantani started in Cesena.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The riders begin the Memorial Marco Pantani.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Colnago - CSF Inox teammates Manuel Belletti and Marco Frapporti made the race winning selection.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The 22-rider lead group sprints to the line.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Podium (l-r): Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez, 2nd; Elia Viviani, 1st; Manuel Belletti, 3rd(Image credit: Sirotti)
Memorial Marco Pantani podium (l-r): Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez Androni Giocattoli), Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Doimo) and Manuel Belletti (Colnago - CSF Inox)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
First year professional Elia Viviani gave the Liquigas-Doimo team its 35th victory of the season by taking the Memorial Marco Pantani with a powerful sprint finish.
Viviani sparked the early breakaway that decided the race and then won the sprint thanks to some work from teammate Tiziano Dall'Antonia. He beat Jose Serpa (Androni Giocattoli) and local hero Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF) in the sprint, hitting the front with 150 metres to go.
Viviani only turned professional in April after an impressive amateur career on the track. He used his sprint skills to take his first win at the Presidential Tour of Turkey.
"After studying the course yesterday, I thought there'd be a split and that's why I really tried to make the early break," Viviani said.
"Thanks to everyone working hard, we made it to the finish and I got on Belletti's wheel, which was the right one. I went past him with 150 metres to go and I was able to do it thanks to the great work done by my teammate Dall'Antonia.
"When I first turned professional I was scared it'd be a big step up but it was happened quicker than I thought. I've worked really hard to be physically stronger and be on form for the end of the season. I feel good and despite winning two races, I'm not going to ease up. My next goal is the Circuit Franco-Belge."
The Memorial Marco Pantani is held every year to remember the late Italian climber who won the 1998 Giro d'Italia and Tour de France but who died tragically after a cocaine overdose.
The race was held on Pantani's training roads near Cesenatico on the Italian Adriatic coast and Viviani sparked the break after just 29 kilometres of racing. He was quickly joined by other riders until a group of 26 formed and worked closely together.
The peloton tried to chase the move but the break was determined to stay away and the peloton sat up after 122km of fast racing. The peloton was eventually pulled out by race officials worried about the road safety.
Dutchman Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) attacked alone on the key climb of the hilly main circuit but was caught as the break headed back to Cesenatico for the final flat finishing circuits. Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre-Farnese Vini) tried a solo move but the work of Dall'Antonia brought the race back together and set up Viviani for his winning sprint.
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Full Results
1
Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
4:23:31
2
Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli
Row 1 - Cell 2
3
Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox
Row 2 - Cell 2
4
Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
Row 3 - Cell 2
5
Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) ISD - Neri
Row 4 - Cell 2
6
Matteo Montaguti (Ita) De Rosa - Stac Plastic
Row 5 - Cell 2
7
Alessandro Proni (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
Row 6 - Cell 2
8
Cristiano Fumagalli (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia
Row 7 - Cell 2
9
Pasquale Muto (Ita) Miche
Row 8 - Cell 2
10
Volodymyr Starchyk (Ukr) Amore & Vita - Conad
Row 9 - Cell 2
11
Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
Row 10 - Cell 2
12
Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin - Transitions
Row 11 - Cell 2
13
Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
Row 12 - Cell 2
14
Alessandro Donati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
Row 13 - Cell 2
15
Francesco Tizza (Ita) Carmiooro NGC
0:00:01
16
Luca Solari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
Row 15 - Cell 2
17
Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
Row 16 - Cell 2
18
Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
0:00:03
19
Marco Frapporti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox
0:00:05
20
Simone Ponzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
0:00:08
21
Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
0:00:15
22
Alan Marangoni (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox
0:00:32
23
Diego Alejandro Tamayo Martinez (Col) Carmiooro NGC
0:08:48
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