March 20/12 11:34 am - Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali: Stage 1, Routley 5th

Posted by Editoress on 03/20/12
 

Will Routley of Team SpiderTech powered by C10 finished fifth after a stage-long breakaway Tuesday in the opening stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali Tuesday.

Routley, of Whistler, B.C., has a great feel for the race and peloton interactions and made it into an early breakaway that stayed away to the very end as the peloton misjudged the catch.

Italian rider Andrea Palini of Team Idea was the fastest of the day, winning the sprint after 140 km of racing between Misano Adriatico and Riccione.

“We knew that the beak would go and go very early,” said Team SpiderTech directeur sportif Michael Carter. “With narrow, bumpy and twisty roads on the 15-km circuit with a short climb, everyone expected an early break. Will executed as we discussed before the race – but Panali, who won both the KOM and the stage, was very strong.”

Racing resumes tomorrow with two stages – a 99.5-km road race in Gatteo and a 14.9-km team time trial — the first-ever for Team SpiderTech.

“We have a very hard day ahead of us tomorrow: the first race in the morning is a 99.5 km race with two very hard climbs – the last KOM line is about 35 km from the finish and the 20 km technical descent will be a factor as splits are likely to be made in the descent. The afternoon stage is a 14.9 km team time trial on a fairly flat, rectangular course and as always with these time trials, smooth efficiency will be key. We have our work cut out for us tomorrow and we have a lot to race for.”

Report courtesy Team SpiderTech powered by C10

Full results from today's first stage of Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali.