Rabottini wins Under 23 road race
Chasers round out the podium





Matthew Rabottini (VC Aran - Cogem - BLS) won the Under 23 men's Italian road championship in Imola on Saturday. Alfredo Balloni (AGI Neri Nuova Comauto), who was the fastest of a small chase group, finished in second place Gianluca Brambilla (Zalf Desirre Fior) was third.
With one kilometer to go on the final climb, Rabottini put himself into a solo break. About 30 seconds behind him, four riders chased for the remaining podium positions. Alfredo Balloni (A.G.I. Neri Nuova Comauto) beat Gianluca Brambilla (G.S. Zalf Desiree Fior) in a sprint for second and third. Moreno Moser (Lucchini Arvedi Unidelta A.S.D.) and Diego Zanco (U.C. Trevigiani) soon followed in fourth and fifth.
"I went on the offensive in the decisive parts of the race," said Rabottini. "I won here a month ago, and I remember well the characteristics of the area and the roads."
"I tried to follow him," said Brambilla of the winner Rabottini. "But there was nothing to be done, even with Balloni helping to chase. "
Trained as a master mechanic, Rabottini had started college, but withdrew to race his bike. "If you want to do this job, you need to make a choice. My dad always told me that if you want to get to the top, you have to make sacrifices. I've been training with Danilo Di Luca and Ruggero Marzoli."
| 1 | Matteo Rabottini (V.C. Aran - Cogem - BLS) | 4:01:00 |
| 2 | Alfredo Balloni (A.G.I. Neri Nuova Comauto) | 0:00:32 |
| 3 | Gianluca Brambilla (G.S. Zalf Desiree Fior) | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| 4 | Moreno Moser (Lucchini Arvedi Unidelta A.S.D.) | 0:00:34 |
| 5 | Diego Zanco (U.C. Trevigiani) | 0:00:35 |
| 6 | Paolo Locatelli (Bergamasca Colpack Denardi) | 0:00:44 |
| 7 | Sacha Modolo (G.S. Zalf Desiree Fior) | 0:00:49 |
| 8 | Federico Masiero (Marchiol Site Liquigas) | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| 9 | Cesare Benedetti (De Nardi - Daigo-Bergamasca) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
| 10 | Fabio Felline (De Nardi - Daigo-Bergamasca) | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| 11 | Tomas Alberio (Bottoli Ramonda Nordelettrica) | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
| 12 | Davide Cimolai (Marchiol Site Liquigas) | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
| 13 | Andrea Piechele (U.C. Trevigiani) | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
| 14 | Davide Appollonio (Team Hoppla' Seano Bellissima) | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
| 15 | Gabriele Tassinari (G.S. Zalf Desiree Fior) | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
| 16 | Enrico Battaglin (G.S. Zalf Desiree Fior) | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
| 17 | Mirko Tedeschi (G.C.Feralpi A.S.D.) | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
| 18 | Mirko Battaglini (A.G.I. Neri Nuova Comauto) | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
| 19 | Antonio Doneddu (Palazzago Elledent Rad) | 0:00:50 |
| 20 | Mauro Vicini (Aurora Named - M.I. Impianti) | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
| 21 | Marco Di Leo (Aurora Named - M.I. Impianti) | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
| 22 | Giacomo Calzoni (Us Boltiere Fiorenzo Magni) | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
| 23 | Matteo Gozzi (S.C. Virtus Villa Ass. Sport. Dil.) | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
| 24 | Vincenzo Puca (V.C. Aran - Cogem - Bls) | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
| 25 | Stefano Borchi (Mastromarco Chianti Sensi Mapoo) | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
| 26 | Mario Giannetti (Futura Team - Matricardi) | 0:00:51 |
| 27 | Luigi Miletta (Petroli Firenze - Gragnano Sc) | 0:00:52 |
| 28 | Patrick Facchini (Lucchini Arvedi Unidelta A.S.D.) | 0:00:56 |
| 29 | Matteo Mammini (Team Hoppla' Seano Bellissima) | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
| 30 | Efrem Salvi (Bergamasca Colpack Denardi) | 0:00:58 |
| 31 | Stefano Locatelli (Bergamasca Colpack Denardi) | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
| 32 | Angelo Pagani (Bottoli Ramonda Nordelettrica) | 0:01:02 |
| 33 | Mattia Barabesi (Team Hoppla' Seano Bellissima) | 0:02:18 |
| 34 | Pietro Tedesco (S.C. F.W.R. Bata (A.S.D.)) | 0:04:03 |
| 35 | Mario Sgrinzato (Team Molino Di Ferro - Giorgione) | 0:05:00 |
| 36 | Tommaso Salvetti (Brunero-Camel-Pedalando In Lang) | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
| 37 | Nicolo' Martinello (U.S. F. Coppi Gazzera Videa) | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
| 38 | Roberto De Patre (V.C. Aran - Cogem - Bls) | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
| 39 | Thomas Tiozzo (S.C. F.W.R. Bata (A.S.D.)) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
| 40 | Edoardo Zardini (Mantovani Puros - Fapu) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
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