Coppi e Bartali Photos Mar 22 - 26

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After 8 laps of a 10 km course with a 80m hill each lap, we have a sprint finish in Riccione	FDJ in the middle really leaning into it	Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF Inox) makes extra certain with a bike throw
2nd Andrea Grendene (Ita) Team Type 1 Sanofi Aventis, 1st Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago Csf Inox and 3rd Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr) Amore & Vita	No time for a double-armed 'V' victory salute so we have a team 'X' victory salute instead	Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF Inox) gets his second win of the year after winning earlier this year at Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria
Getting ready for the podium	Your stage 1a winner wins in his home province of Romagna	2nd Andrea Grendene (Ita) Team Type 1 Sanofi Aventis, 1st Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago Csf Inox and 3rd Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr) Amore & Vita
3.5 hours after the morning's stage 1a, the riders hit the ramp for the 1b team time trial. The narrow ramp meant each team started in two rows.	The two row start ramp wasn't ideal for quickly falling into a tight formation	The narrow start wasn't handled well by all riders
Androni Giocattoli looked good and posted the best time of the day, 18.32,39 for the 15.6 km course (50.5 kmh)	Lampre-ISD less Damiano Cunego who did not start the day due to an ear-infection was second (+ 00.04,84)	Sandy Casar led FDJ to third (+ 00.05,14)
The stage 1a winner, Manuel Belletti (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox, only got to wear the leader's jersey for less than five hours. Team Colnago was fourth (+ 00.13,30)	Liquigas-Cannondale crashed in the final km with all but one rider hitting the deck. They finished dead last (+ 01:37)	Androni Giocattoli celebrating their TTT win
Emanuele Sella is the new race leader	Selle and his team manager were all smiles, but the travesty Selle made of the 2008 Giro d'Italia still makes people cringe

Stage 2:   Rovigo → Rovigo, 194 km  Full Results and Report

A gorgeous day for bike racing at the start of stage 2	The morning sign in at the plaza in Rovigo	Androni Giocattoli driving the peloton on the cobbled Rovigo circuits
With 40m to go, Claudio Corioni (Ita) Acqua e Sapone has already started his victory salute. Great Acqua e Sapone teamwork sprung him in the final km.	But, Andrea Guardini (Ita) of Farnese Vini didn't give up	Claudio Corioni transitions from a victory salute to a casual bike throw
back into victory salute mode	Your stage 2 winner, Claudio Corioni (Ita) Acqua & Sapone	Stage 2 podium: 2nd Andrea Guardini (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli, 1st Claudio Corioni (Ita) Acqua & Sapone and 3rd Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
With his 3rd place bonus seconds, Roberto Ferrari (Ita) of Androni Giocattoli is the new race leader

Stage 3:  Casalecchio di Reno → Gaggio Montano, 156 km  Full Results and Report

Another gorgeous day for racing in the Emilia-Romagna region this time starting in Casalecchio di Reno	The rollout from Casalecchio di Reno	The peloton climbing Pavullo nel Frignano in the central Apennines near the half way point of the stage
Funny to see the race leader at the front but his Androni Giocattoli team knows he isn't the GC man	Spring hasn't sprung yet on this section of the climb	Androni Giocattoli launched or marked every move today. D'Angelo e Antenucci's Fortunato Baliani launching an attack with Androni Giocattoli's Angel Vicioso sitting at the back
Green grass always Springs first	Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) ate up the hilly Gaggio Montano circuits with a winning move on second of three laps	Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox caught Selle and the two extended their lead on the field
Sella dropped Pirazzi on the final descent to the line	3rd on the road, Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli, leading the chase group about 1 minute back	Another cool Visconti descent shot
Androni Giocattoli was in control of this stage from start to finish	An impressive win by Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	And boy was he happy ;-)
	Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox crossed second (+ 35s). Another rising star in Italian cycling.	The Italian National Champ, Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli. was 3rd (+ 53s)
4th Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre - ISD (+ 59s)	Big smiles in the Androni Giocattoli camp post stage	Your stage 3 podium: 2nd Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox, 1st Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 3rd Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
Italian national team coaches (present and past), Paolo Bettini (left) and Alfredo Martini (right), where on hand to congratulate Emanuele Sella, the ex-doper who made a charade of the 2008 Giro d'Italia. He says he's learned his lesson.

Stage 4:  Crevalcore 14.3 km ITT  Full Results and Report

Getting personal in the start house/plaza	Unitedhealthcare's Max Jenkins down the ramp	Adriano Malori (Lampre Isd) won the 14.3 km TT in 16'37” (51,635 km/h). That's over 1 kmh faster than Androni Giocattoli's winning TTT time on Tuesday.
Luca Ascani (D'Angelo & Antenucci Nippo) was second (+ 8”)	Rory Sutherland (Unitedhealthcare Pro Cycling) was third (+ 9”)	Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini Neri Sottoli) was 7th (+ 19”) and slipped 3 spots on GC
Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago Csf Inox) finished out of the top 10 (+ 45") and slipped to third on GC	Race leader Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) could have used the rest of his team. He lost over a minute in just 14.3 km finishing was 17th (+ 1'01”) and barely retains his lead	Adriano Malori (Lampre Isd) had the right moves today. The 23 year-old said post-stage, "I gave everything, knowing that there were no stars [in the race]."
Your stage 4 podium: 2) Luca Ascani (D'Angelo & Antenucci Nippo) + 8”, 1) Adriano Malori (Lampre Isd) 16'37” (51,635 km/h) and 3) Rory Sutherland (Unitedhealthcare Pro Cycling) + 9”	One more shot of the bell tower in Crevalcore	Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) now has many riders within one minute of his race lead including two Lampre riders within 43s who will certainly be ready to attack in tomorrow's final (mountain) stage

Stage 5:  Fiorano Modenese → Sassuolo, 173 km  Full Results and Report

Miche rider and former Tour de France ITT stage winner/doper, Stefan Schumacher during the morning sign in for the final day of racing	Jersey leaders and Androni riders Jose Rujano and Emanuele Sella looking relaxed	Start panoramic
Race director Adriano Amici enjoying the nice weather and scenery on the final day of racing	Androni Giocattoli at the front of the peloton	The early break formed after 30km
Peloton panoramic in the Apennine hills	This race loves the narrow roads	Race leader, Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli)
The big climb of the day, Montegibbio (430m) climbed twice at the end of the stage	The terrain and narrow roads produced lots of aggressive racing captured here by the RAI crew	Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) attempting to keep the race together
Fans at the top of the Montegibbio climb in the Apennine hills. Narrow roads, beautiful racing	Picturesque	The descent to the finish
Bunch sprint and an early victory salute by Giovanni Visconti's Farnese Vini teammate	Italian champ Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini) wins ahead of 2nd Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocattoli) and 3rd Gianni Meersman (FDJ)	Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini) gets his first stage of the week on the last stage
A pack finish by the race leader, Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) wraps up the overall win	Your stage 5 winner and his kid	The Italian champ should get a win at a 2.1 race; Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini) wins on the final day
The final podium...	2011 Coppi e Bartali final podium: 2) Diego Ulissi (Lampre - ISD) + 0'30”, 1) Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) and 3) Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago - CSF Inox) + 0'32” while Jose Rujano wins the points competition	Emanuele Sella celebrates