Tirreno-Adriatico stage 6 wrap

Bertagnolli comes home free all

Leonardo Bertagnolli was a long suffering gregario for Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego at Team Saeco, but eventually took his leave to sign a good contract with rich French squad Cofidis. In 2005, Bertagnolli had a pretty lousy year with Cofidis with the exception of one stage win in Cordoba during last year's Vuelta Espana, as he suffered all season with irregular form due to thyroid problems. But today Bertagnolli held his cards close to the chest and made just the right move at the right time to take his second win of the 2006 season in Torricella Sicura.

The stage was animated by a lengthy breakaway but the Rabobank team of race leader Thomas Dekker worked hard to control and eventually neutralize it. With 6km to go the peloton was back together. On the last steep climb with 800m to go, Bertagnolli made his move and no one could bring him back. Behind, a brilliant Petacchi was runner-up in the uphill sprint, followed by neo-pro Riccò, Pozzato and Astarloa.

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