Santambrogio wins Tre Valli Varesine

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Italian Mauro Santambrogio (Lampre) won the Tre Valli Varesine today in Campione d'Italia, Italy, from an escape group of 12 riders. He made his winning attack with 250 metres remaining on the final climb. Italy's Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) and Russia's Alexandre Botcharov (Katusha) lost ground and finished second and third, respectively.

"Today I had a huge desire to win," said Santambrogio. "The Tour of Portugal didn't go my way and I wanted to do something here.

"It has been five years since my last win. It is an emotional win, near my home in Como where there are lots of people who love me."

Today's 186-kilometre race started in Luino and the escape group rode free of the main field 29 kilometres later. Santambrogio and Marco Marzano (Lampre-NGC), Masciarelli and Luca Paolini (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Botcharov, Gorazd Stangelj (Liquigas), Leonardo Bertagnolli (Diquigiovanni), Cristiano Salerno (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini), Maurizio Biondo (Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce), Filippo Savini (CSF Group-Navigare), Alessandro Proni (ISD) and Giampaolo Cheula (Barloworld) formed the group.

Italian Davide Torosantucci (Centri della Calzatura) chased solo between the 12 riders and the main group for most of the day.

Knowing there was a three-kilometre climb to the finish Proni attacked with 15 kilometres remaining. Paolini and Bertagnolli counter-attacked separately to join and form an all-Italian trio.

The other escapees caught the trio with four kilometres remaining and before the start of the final climb. Salerno, Bertagnolli, Santambrogio, Masciarelli and Botcharov rode free on the climb. Masciarelli forced the final three-man selection and led when Santambrogio started his winning move at 250 metres remaining.

"Up until the final 15 kilometres I was going well. Once the final climb started I really started to feel it," said Masciarelli.

Botcharov was pleased to secure his best result thus far of the 2009 season. "I'm happy for my first podium in 2009. In the finale our directeur sportif Serge Parsani told me about the riders from my group with the best condition and gave me good advice. On the final climb it was reduced to just three, but Santambrogio proved to be more powerful at the finish line."

The Trittico Lombardo continues tomorrow with the second of three races, the Coppa Agostoni. Coppa Bernocchi concludes the August race series on Thursday.

Santambrogio became a professional in 2004 with team LPR and switched to team Lampre in 2006. His last and first win was near Campione d'Italia, the 2004 Giro del Lago Maggiore in Switzerland.