Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali: Manuel Belletti wins stage 1a

Image 1 of 10

Manuel Belletti (Southeast-Venezuela) won the opening stage 1a at Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali on Thursday. After a 95.9km race, the Italian won the bunch sprint to the finish line in Gatteo, beating compatriots Matteo Pelucchi (Italian National Team) and Mattia Gavazzi (Amore & Vita).

Belletti now leads the overall classification into the afternoon's stage 1b 13.3km team time trial from Gatteo a mare to Gatteo. He has a two-second lead over Pelucchi and four seconds over Gavazzi.

Four riders escaped from the group at kilometre 34 that included Vitaly Buts (Kolls), David Pacchiardo (GM Europe Sheep), Martin Weiss (Tirol Cycling Team) and Elchin Asadov (Synergy Baku), but they were caught by a field charged for a bunch sprint with 10km to go.

The team time trial, held in the afternoon, will be unique, whereby each team will split into two squads with four riders each.

Full Results