CESENA, Italy, 21 May 2004 — First-year professional Emanuele Sella raised his fists in victory on the way to claiming his first major career win on the 11th stage of the Tour of Italy here yesterday.
The 23-year-old Italian, who rides for the Panaria team, completed a long solo breakaway to come over the finish line of the 234 km stage, which began in Porto SantElpidio, alone in 5hr 19min.
Italian Cristian Moreni and Swiss Steve Zampieri led home a first group of pursuers around 30 seconds later while Saeco’s race leader Damiano Cunego arrived moments later to retain the pink jersey.
For the host country, who are still mourning the recent death of Italian climber Marco Pantani, the emergence of Cunego and yesterday Sella will prove a welcome tonic.
Sella was part of small group of riders, which began chasing down the 20-strong group of stage leaders just after the 163km mark. Shortly afterward the diminutive Italian broke away on his own, forged ahead over some undulating terrain before savoring his first major victory as a professional, in the town where Pantani was born.
“To win in the hometown of Marco Pantani is just unforgettable,” beamed Sella, who could hardly contain his delight following his win. “I didn’t know the terrain and wasn’t sure I would win until the final kilometer,” he added, referring to the pursuing groups’ late efforts to chase him down.
Sella, for the moment at least, may not contend the race’s overall victory, which for the moment appears to favor two-time defending champion Gilberto Simoni, who sits 10secs behind teammate Cunego.
Another contender, former winner Stefano Garzelli, was seen struggling as the race moved upwards yesterday, however on both occasions the Italian managed to find his way back into the group.
Garzelli sits in sixth place overall, at 1min 15sec behind Cunego, who feels that Garzelli has not said his last word yet.
