After Saturday's second place at the Coppa Placci, Team Barloworld's Enrico Gasparotto achieved victory at the 83th Giro della Romagna , a classic Italian race. In a three-man sprint, Gasparotto easily outdid Italian Francesco Reda (NGC-OTC), whilst team-mate and Austrian Champion Christian Pfannbeger took third.
The 199.3km race, with six climbs, started and finished in Lugo di Romagna, Italy. It was marked out by a fast beginning with a strong headwind. Team Barloworld's riders pushed the pace at the front to help force a selection.
As a result, after 40 km from the start, a group of about 20 riders remained at the front, including Barloworld's Gasparotto and Pfannberger. They gained a two minutes' lead over the rest of the peloton and, with 18 km to go, Gasparotto tried his luck attacking at the beginning of the last climb. Only Reda managed to keep Gasparotto's wheel and Pfanngerber soon joined them.
In the final sprint, the former Italian Champion overcame Reda thanks to Pfannberger's teamwork.
"I'm so happy today," said an enthusiastic Barloworld DS Valerio Teabaldi, "and I'm very proud of my guys. We kept the control of the race from the very beginning and proved to be the strongest team. Pfannberger and Gasparotto are in great shape at the moment. Enrico attacked on the last climb like he was riding a Belgian classic race! He was impressive and he deserved this victory."
