4th Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale Coppi-Bartali - 2.3

Italy, March 24-28, 2004

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Stage 2 - March 25: Riccione-Faenza, 206.9 km

Mirko Celestino takes stage and jersey

Mirko Celestino (Saeco)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Mirko Celestino (Saeco) has taken the stage win and the outright lead in the Settimana Coppi & Bartali after the second day of racing, which finished in Faenza. Celestino beat Ruggero Marzoli (Acqua e Sapone) and Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) at the end of the long and gruelling 207 km stage.

"The more kilometres there are, the stronger I go," said Celestino. "I'm really satisfied, because I came out of San Remo with great condition and a big desire to redeem myself. The victory in this stage race is an important objective, but certainly not the only one in a season that I hope to gain a lot satisfaction from. I have fixed Flanders in my mind, but now I will defend this lead to the teeth. It's a good start to the season for me, and I hope to maintain my shape until the end of April to be a protagonist in Amstel and the Wallonian classics."

Daniele Contrini (LPR)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Third placed Giuliano Figueras was not happy with himself. "I am sick and tired of satisfying myself with nice words and compliments from placings," he said. "I went out into the wind too soon, but I will still try and win this race."

The stage was characterised by a long solo breakaway by Daniele Contrini (Team LPR), who spent 116 km in front. But an attack by 15 riders on the last lap of the Trebbio circuit succeeded in pulling back Contrini with 20 km to go. The final sprint saw Figueras lead out too soon, only to be passed by Celestino and Marzoli before the line.

Photo gallery

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

The peloton
Photo ©: Sirotti

Daniele Contrini (LPR)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Panaria
Photo ©: Sirotti

Climbing
Photo ©: Sirotti

The tempo
Photo ©: Sirotti

All lined out
Photo ©: Sirotti

The peloton
Photo ©: Sirotti

Yaroslav Popovych (Colnago-Landbouwkrediet)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Marzoli, Celestino and Figueras
Photo ©: Sirotti

Michele Scarponi (Domina Vacanze)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Michele Scarponi (Domina Vacanze)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Franco Pellizotti (Alessio-Bianchi)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Giuliano Figueras (Panaria)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Mirko Celestino (Saeco)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Mirko Celestino (Saeco)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Mirko Celestino (Saeco)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Mirko Celestino (Saeco)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Italian selector Franco Ballerini (L)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Mirko Celestino (Saeco)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Results

1 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Saeco                           6.07.14
2 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo
3 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi
5 Giuseppe Muraglia (Ita) Formaggi Pinzolo-Fiave
6 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Domina Vacanze
7 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Domina Vacanze
8 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo
9 Kyrylo Pospyeyev (Ukr) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo
10 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Saeco

General classification after stage 2

1 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Saeco                           8.28.31
2 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres        0.05
3 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Saeco                         0.10
4 Andrea Noè (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi                         0.11
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi
6 Massimiliano Gentili (Ita) Domina Vacanze                0.14
7 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres
8 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Domina Vacanze
9 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Domina Vacanze
10 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo      0.17