Visconti powers to GP Insubrica victory

Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli) confirmed he is in excellent early season form by winning the GP Insubrica raced in southern Switzerland and northern Italy on Saturday.

Visconti won the uphill finish in the centre of Varese ahead of Jure Kocjan (Team Type 1-Sanofi Aventis) and fellow Italian Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale).

Matteo Montagutti (AG2R La Mondiale) and Philipp Mamos (Amore & Vita) formed the early break of the day, with Montagutti winning the special prime awarded in memory of the late Aldo Sassi in Valmorea.

The break was caught before the last lap of a finishing circuit in Varese. Local resident Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) made a strong attack but then Visconti took control and won with his arms in the air.

“I'm happy. The work that I have done in Qatar and Oman is paying off," said Visconti. "Despite the change in temperature (from 28-30C of Qatar to 8-10C of Insubrica), I felt good and I was able to finish off the work done by the team, who put me at the front for the finale. The uphill finish was perfect for me.”

Visconti is now confident about his chances of Tirreno-Adriatico, his first big goal of the season.

“This victory arrived at the best possible moment, because it gives me confidence for the next step up in the season, for the RCS Sport organised races,” he said. “They’re my real big goals of the season.

“I have to dedicate this success to my family, who I really missed during the 22 days in Qatar and Oman, and to the team. We are a wonderful group, and if we have won races, it’s for this reason.”

Visconti will ride the GP Lugano on Sunday and then get ready for the Strade Bianche race on the dirt roads of Tuscany and then Tirreno-Adriatico.

“Next Saturday it’s time for Eroica. I want to do something there, then in Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan – Sanremo. I can't deny it, but I don't want to make any promises either. We’ll see what happens during the races,” he said.