News
Road

Khalilov wins in Italy with well-timed attack

published 4 October 2008

Ukrainian Mykhaylo Khalilov won the fourth edition of the Memorial Cimurri / Gran Premio Bioera ,...

Comments

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Mykhaylo Khalilov (Ceramica Flaminia) won against all odds (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Ukrainian Mykhaylo Khalilov won the fourth edition of the Memorial Cimurri / Gran Premio Bioera, which started in Cavriago and finished in Reggio Emilia in Italy.

After launching an attack in the final kilometer, the 33 year-old Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce racer won by just one second in front of a charging group of eleven riders. In a sprint behind Khalilov, former Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) took second and Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Ballan) finished third.

"I'm going through a good period of form," said Khalilov. "But I must stress the work done today by the team. In the end, we controlled the pace and we promptly attacked our opponents. We were extraordinary. I thanked the whole team, including mechanics and masseurs. "

Khalilov and his compatriot Wladimir Duma had just signed contracts with the team for 2009.

The race was started by a special guest, the newly retired two-time World Champion and 2004 Olympic Games gold medallist Paolo Bettini.

After a fast start in the first 10 kilometers, a group of five escaped, including Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre), Vladimir Duma (Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Showers), Walter Proc (LPR - Ballan), Daniele Contrin (Tinkoff - Credit Systems) And Fabrice Piedmont (NGC Medical - OTC Industria Porte).

The five earned a maximum advantage of 6'57" by kilometer 33, but the group was caught with about 48km to go as the sixteen teams in the race decided to take command.