Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali (2015) Photos March 26 - 29

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Rusvelo preparing to hit the stage prior to the start of Stage 1a in Gatteo	Rusvelo during the morning sign in	National Italian Cycling director, Davide Cassini, on scene to monitor his young cyclists
Amore e Vita checking out the road book	The start scene in Gatteo
	La Cioca, the first of two climbs mid stage	Passo delle Siepi, the next climb
Solo break. Gianfranco Zilioli (Androni Giocattoli) on Passo delle Siepi	As usual for this stage, there was a large bunch sprint back in Gatteo. Manuel Belletti (Southeast) wins ahead of Patrick Clausen (Trefor - Blue Water) and Grega Bole (CCC Sprandi Polkowice)	Your stage winner, Manuel Belletti (Southeast) post race
Race director Adriano Amici congratulates the local boy	Your stage 1a winner, Manuel Belletti (Southeast)	Your Stage 1a podium: 2nd Grega Bole (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), 1st Manuel Belletti (Southeast), 3rd Patrick Clausen (Trefor - Blue Water)
Later in the day, CCC Sprandi Polkowice Squad 'A' won the 13.3 km team time trial by 1s over Team Sky	Davide Rebellin and his CCC Sprandi Polkowice teammates on stage after Stage 1b	The oldest rider (44 years), Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) is the race leader heading into Stage 2

Stage 2:  Cesenatico → Sogliano al Rubicone, 156 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 2 started in Cesenatico, where Marco Pantani was born and where there is a monument to "Pirata'	Creepy with corrosion and dripping wet	Five circuits of Monte Tiffi, a treacherous climb and descent when its dry. But, today it was raced in the rain.
Monte Tiffi scenery	Trecherous descending of Monte Tiffi	Monte Tiffi scenery
CCC Sprandi Polkowice on the Monte Tiffi descent		Fabio Duarte (Colombia) descendig Monte Tiffi
Stage 1a winner Manuel Belletti (Southeast) was part of an ill-fated break	Further laps of Monte Tiffi	The blew apart on the final circuit and Ben Swift (Team Sky) soloed the slick cobbled finish into Sogliano al Rubicone
Surpirse second place finisher Matija Kvasina (Felbermayr Simplon Wels) of Croatia	2nd Matija Kvasina (Felbermayr Simplon Wels) + 16s	5th Carlos Quintero (Colombia) + 57s
10th Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giocattoli) + 1:10	Race leader, Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) 21st + 2:24	3rd Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Bardiani Csf) + 21s
2nd Matija Kvasina (Felbermayr Simplon Wels) + 16s	Your Stage 2 winner, Ben Swift (Team Sky)	Your Stage 2 podium: 2nd Matija Kvasina (Felbermayr Simplon Wels) + 16s, 1st Ben Swift (Team Sky) and 3rd Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Bardiani Csf) + 21s

Stage 3:  Calderara di Reno → Crevalcore, 174 km  Full Results and Report

Gianni Savio and his Androni Giocattoli team during the teams presentation in Calderara di Reno prior to Stage 3	Ben Swift (Team Sky) the day after his impressive Stage 2 win in miserable conditions that gave him the race lead	Much better weather today for race leader Ben Swift (Team Sky) and the rest of the peloton
Ben Swift (Team Sky)	Start scene in Calderara di Reno	Konstantin Siutsou (Team Sky) in front of Ben Swift (Team Sky) on the finishing circuits in Crevalcore
Crevalcore circuits	(photo credit: Les Morales)	The race strung out on the finishing circuits with 4 laps to go. (photo credit: Les Morales)
Francesco Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli) wins the sprint finish ahead of Manuel Belletti (Southeast) and Daniele Colli (Nippo - Vini Fantini)	Francesco Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli) celebrates his first win for his new 2015 team	Ben Swift (Team Sky) survives his first day as race lead
Francesco Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli) post race with Gianni Savio	A word with the race winner (photo credit: Les Morales)	Francesco Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli) gets a kiss from his girlfriend
Your stage 3 winner, Francesco Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli)	Your Stage 3 podium: 2nd Manuel Belletti (Southeast), 1st Francesco Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli) and 3rd Daniele Colli (Nippo - Vini Fantini)

Stage 4:  Pavullo → Roccapelago, 153 km  Full Results and Report

Pay attention to the course info; Director Sportif for Amore Vita going through the road book for Stage 4, the Queen Stage. Thanks to Amore Vita for providing driving support for photographer, Les Morales	Pavullo start scene	The locals on hand
Italy's National Cycling Director, Davide Cassani, was here too	Others were more casual observers	Bardiani Csf at the front
Two men break	This was a up and down day on twisty roads	The peloton
The valley after the first climb; an example of how narrow the local roads are	The peloton climbing Piane di Mocogno in the second half of the stage	Team Sky protecting race leader Ben Swift (for now) on Piane di Mocogno, but the race blew apart on the next (penultimate) climb of the day and Ben Swift ended up 4th + 1:12, missing out on the race win by 2s.
Mtn - Qhubeka at the front upping the pace on Piane di Mocogno	A select group reaching the top of Piane di Mocogno	Amore Vita team support
Peaks in the distance	Cresting Piane di Mocogno capped in snow	The very steep and narrow final KOM on the penultimate climb. It was on this climb that the winning solo move was launched.
This gives you an idea of how steep the climbing was	Louis MEINTJES (MTN - QHUBEKA) on his own on the final climb to Roccapelago after attacking on the previous steep climb	Louis MEINTJES (MTN - QHUBEKA) extending his lead
Damiano Cunego (Nippo - Vini Fantini), Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Freddy Montana (Movistar Colombia) chasing	Damiano Cunego (Nippo - Vini Fantini), Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Freddy Montana (Movistar Colombia)	If Louis MEINTJES (MTN - QHUBEKA) had known how close the GC battle was he might not have coasted across the line
Louis MEINTJES (MTN - QHUBEKA) wins the Queen Stage and it turns out the overall by just 2s thanks to the 10s winner's time bonus and Ben Swift finishing 4th just outside of the 4s 3rd place bonus.	Race leader Ben Swift caught up with the chase, but he missed out on the precious 4s 3rd place bonus seconds by not passing Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) that ended up costing him the overall win	Your Stage 4 winner, Louis Meintjes (Mtn - Qhubeka) at Roccapelago
Celebrating the biggest win of his young career between veterans Damiano CUNEGO (NIPPO - VINI FANTINI) 2nd + 1:12 and Davide REBELLIN (CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE) 3rd + 1:12	Your 2015 overall winner by just 2s, Louis MEINTJES (MTN - QHUBEKA)	Your 2015 Coppi e Bartali podium, 2nd Ben SWIFT (SKY) + 2s, 1st Louis MEINTJES (MTN - QHUBEKA) 14:31:42, 3rd Matija KVASINA (TEAM FELBERMAYR SIMPLON WELS) + 46s