New Italian champion poised to keep hold of UCI’s most prestigious Continental title
Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (ISD-Neri) maintains his hold in the European Tour classification and looks set to claim victory in the competition for the second year in succession. The 27-year-old has been steadily climbing the rankings since finishing 10th in the Giro di Sardegna, and winning the Classica Sarda, in February. Victory in April’s Tour of Turkey, followed by second in last month’s Tour de Slovéne, pushed him right to the top.
Having taken the white leader’s jersey, Visconti also took back the red, white and green tricolore jersey of Italian national champion on June 26th, which he last won in 2007.
Visconti won last year’s European Tour after having taken the lead with victory in Turkey, so the omens point towards him taking the title again this year.
Although the Italian enjoyed successful months of April and June, he was forced to spend a quiet May, as his team was, somewhat surprisingly, not selected to ride his national Tour, the Giro d’Italia.
Last season Visconti secured his victory in the rankings in the second half of the season with victories and podium finishes in a series of one-day races in Italy. He is currently riding the Tour of Austria, where so far his best result has been 6th on stage 3.
Second to Visconti in the rankings is Jens Keukeleire (Cofidis), who led the competition until last month. The 22-year-old’s position in the rankings was thanks to victories in his native Belgium in March, including Le Samyn, the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen and the Nokere Koerse.
In third place is former French champion Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouyges Telecom), who owes much of his position to his victory in the Critérium International in March. Fedrigo is currently riding the Tour de France, which counts towards the World Rankings and so is unlikely to score further points in the near future.
The big riser in the ranking is Italian Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil), whose victory in the Tour de Luxembourg in June has elevated him from 32nd to 4th overall. In fifth place is Cédric Pineau (Roubaix-Lille Metropole), who has just signed for the Quick Step team in the ProTour for 2011.
European Tour ranking @ 25th June 2010
1. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) ISD-Neri 441.8pts
2. Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Cofidis 330
3. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouyges Telecom 295
4. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil 278
5. Cédric Pineau (Fra) Roubaix-Lille Metropole 264