Rebellin wins Tirreno-Adriatico by a quarter-second
Davide Rebellin of Italy won the Tirreno-Adriatico cycle race here Wednesday after what amounted to a photo-finish with countryman Gabriele Colombo. Rebellin was given the same overall time of 29hr 41min 09sec for the eight-stage race as Colombo, but was adjudged the winner by a fraction of a second and on better stage placings. The final stage over 161km along the Adriatic coastline went to another Italian, Endrio Leoni who clocked 4hr 28min 57sec. Rebellin, who grabbed the leader's white jersey in the seventh stage Tuesday, said that he never felt confident of winning the race until
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By VeloNews Interactive — Copyright AFP2001
Davide Rebellin of Italy won the Tirreno-Adriatico cycle race here Wednesday after what amounted to a photo-finish with countryman Gabriele Colombo. Rebellin was given the same overall time of 29hr 41min 09sec for the eight-stage race as Colombo, but was adjudged the winner by a fraction of a second and on better stage placings.
The final stage over 161km along the Adriatic coastline went to another Italian, Endrio Leoni who clocked 4hr 28min 57sec. Rebellin, who grabbed the leader’s white jersey in the seventh stage Tuesday, said that he never felt confident of winning the race until he actually crossed the finish line. He will now go on to be one of the favorites for the first classic of the year on Saturday, Milan – San Remo. “I know I have a chance as I have never been in such good form lately. I am certain I will have a go,” he said.
A disappointed Colombo said it was infuriating to have lost by just 00.27 seconds. “That kind of thing is all right in skiing, but not in cycling.
“I just do not understand how they can decide the final victory by such a miniscule margin. It’s just not fair.”
Copyright AFP2001
Results
Copyright AFP2001
Eighth stage:
1. Endrio Leoni (Ita) 4:28:57,
2. Miguel Angel Meza (Spa) s.t.,
3. Erik Zabel (Ger) s.t.,
4. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) s.t.,
5. Stefano Zanini (Ita) s.t.,
6. Steven De Jongh (Ned s.t.,
7. Marco Zanotti (Ita) s.t.,
8. Jan Svorada (Slo) s.t.,
9. Nicola Minali (Ita) s.t.,
10. Gabriele Balducci (Ita) s.t.
Final overall standings:
1. Davide Rebellin (Ita) at 29:41:09,
2. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) at s.t.,
3. Michael Boogerd (Ned) at at 3sec,
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) at 6,
5. David Plaza Romero (Spa) at 8,
6. Roberto Petito (Ita) at 13,
7. Oskar Camenzind (Swi) at 27,
8. Beat Zberg (Swi) at 28,
9. Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) at 34,
10. Ruslan Ivanov (Mol) at 35.
