Coppa Bernocchi win aids Paolini's cause

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Italian Luca Paolini (Acqua & Sapone) won the Coppa Bernocchi today in Legnano, Italy, ahead of German's Danilo Hondo (PSK Whirlpool) and Italy's Enrico Gasparotto (Lampre-NGC). Brit Steve Cummings (Barloworld) finished fourth in the sprint ahead of teammate Geraint Thomas.

"The race was fast and uncontrolled from the start, but we took it in hand," said Paolini. "Thanks to the team, they believed in me to the end. To win near home is nice, where I have lots of friends."

The 91st edition of the Coppa Bernocchi, 199.3 kilometres, started and ended in Legnano. It featured five climbs up the Morazzone.

The winning escape went free on the penultimate climb with Cummings and Thomas, Gasparotto and Enrico Magazzini (Lampre), Hondo, Paolini, Mauro Finetto (CSF Group-Navigare) and Alessandro Proni (ISD).

Thomas worked for teammate and last year's winner Cummings in the final kilometres, but Gasparotto and the others marked him. Hondo then initiated the final sprint that Paolini successfully closed for the win.

The race is an important race for selection in Italy's World Championships team. Team director Franco Ballerini will select the team September 14, 13 days before the race.

It was Paolini's second win of the season, after a stage in April's Settimana Lombarda.

Mauro Santambrogio (Lampre-NGC) won Tuesday's Tre Valli Varesine and finished second in yesterday's Coppa Agostoni, the first two of three races that make up the Trittico Lombardo. He won the overall classification thanks to his results.