Italian champ gets his wish

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step - Innergetic) raises (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Quick.Step-Innergetic's Giovanni Visconti triumphed in the Coppa Sabatini on Thursday, coming back to the place where he took his first professional win to make it a double, this time wearing the tricolore as Italian road champion . The 24 year-old beat CSC's Fränk Schleck and Ukrainian Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ceramica Flaminia) to take his third win of the season. "A while ago I said that I would like to win one of these end-of-season races," Visconti said after the race, "and thanks to Paolo [Bettini's] help, I have done exactly that and I hope I'll be able to help him out in one of the next races. Maybe even at the Giro di Lombardia."

Visconti's win was his fourth professional victory, and he was quite happy. "Today's win was even better than last year's, as I was wearing the Tricolore jersey this year," he declared. And who wouldn't be happy if they had the reigning World Champion at his disposal? "Thankfully Paolo was alongside me today -- during the final lap Paolo looked me straight in the eyes and said 'now its all up to you'... I just had to win." Visconti will be joining Bettini again at the Tour of Emilia, the Beghelli Grand Prix and the Giro di Lombardia.

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.