Fischer wins European Tour

Brazilian Murilo Fischer (Naturino Sapore di Mare) has finished on top of the European Continental Tour rankings, which were finalised last Friday. Fischer had a great end of season, winning the Giro del Piemonte, Milano-Vignola (GP Beghelli), Gp Industria & Commercio Di Prato, Trofeo Citta Di Castelfidardo, as well as two stages in the Uniqa Classic and a stage in the Tour of Qinghai Lake. Other highlights included a fifth in the World Championships, second in the Giro del Lazio and International Uniqa Classic, and third in the GP Industria & Artigianato and Coppa Bernocchi.

The next best rider on the European Tour was nearly 250 points behind the flying Brazilian: Stefan Van Dijk (MrBookmaker.com). Belgian Nico Eeckhout (Chocolade Jacques) was third, while Ruggero Marzoli (Acqua e Sapone) and Stefan Schumacher (Shimano-Memory Corp) round out the top five.

In the teams rankings, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare finished on top, ahead of ProTour candidates Ag2r-Prevoyance and Comunidad Valenciana. Italy was the best nation, well ahead of Spain and The Netherlands.

Fischer, together with some of the other winners of the Continental Tours, was presented with his trophy at a the ProTour gala dinner on Saturday night after the Giro di Lombardia.

Final European Continental Tour rankings