Julien El Farès (Cofidis) begins his sprint (Image credit: Riccardo Scanferla)
A two-man break managed to hold its advantage long enough to fend off a charging peloton in the opening stage one of the Tirreno-Adriatico on Wednesday in Capannori, Italy. Frenchman Julien El Farès (Cofidis) out-sprinted his breakaway companion Ukrainian Vladimir Duma (Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce) at the end of the 147-kilometre day, finishing just seconds ahead of the main group led by Daniele Bennati (Liquigas).
"It was an incredible day and I am very happy for this win. You have to attack if you want to win," said El Farès, who scored the only other win of his professional career while riding as a trainee for Cofidis in 2006, when he won stage one of the Tour des Pyrénées over Yann Huguet and wore the leader's jersey for one day.
"Duma's race was exemplary," said the pleased Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce team manager Roberto Marrone, who also noted his team took seventh place with Enrico Rossi contesting the following bunch's sprint.
