Farnese Vini's Oscar Gatto took his team's fifth season victory today (keep in mind that it's still only January) in Vibo Valentia in the penultimate stage of the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria. Gatto's sprint victory from a select group of only 27 was the result of an immense Farnese Vini effort in the waning kilometers and atrocious conditions: cold and wet for the 195 kilometer day.
Afterwards, the beaming Gatto, winner of last year's GP Nobili Rubinetterie, gave a nod to his team and expressed his happiness to have been rid of the flu, which laid him low last week.
"I wanted to break the ice with success immediately, but after the influenza of of last week, where I missed five days of workout, it threatened to blow up my program. Fortunately, I recovered well and now I was ready to make the race. I have to thank the whole team, because they took control of the last five kilometers to support me, and I'm glad to get the team this win."
The 25 year old Gatto has been a part of Luca Scinto's squad for three years and had no qualms returning to the Tuscan team in 2011. The return also came with the hopes that the talented young fast finisher would raise his game in the coming season - his win in Stage 2 seems to indicate that he's already in mid-stride.
"I have a wonderful relationship with Luca and much of my grit, I owe to him. He asked me to commit and take a step forward in my career, and I hope not to disappoint him and that this day is on the beginning of a journey."
The day's stage was highlighted by horrendous January conditions and a two-up break: Federico Rocchetti (De Rosa-Flaminia) and Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF). The two pushed out to a four minute lead, but their leash never got any longer.
The day's stage traveled through the town of Lamezia Terme, the site of a terrible tragedy just a few weeks ago when a motorist, without a license and under the influence of marijuana drove head on into a pack of cyclists, resulting in the deaths of eight of them.
Yesterday's winner and the race's overall leader after the first stage, Daniele Pietropolli, finished 4th on the day and defended his lead with ease.
The Lampre-ISD rider has a slew of riders poised to leapfrog him into the top position if he falters tomorrow. Jose Serpa is only 6 seconds adrift, while Liquigas's Daniel Oss is at 9 seconds.
One stage remains to be raced tomorrow - it's 171 km from Pizzo Calabro to Reggio Calabria.
In the span of a week, Farnese Vini has erupted for five sprint victories. Four courtesy of neo-pro Andrea Guardini's sensational professional debut in Langkawi to go along with Gatto's win today in Stage 2.
Stage 2 Results
1. Oscar Gatto (Farnese-Vini)
2. Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale)
3. Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD)
4. Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre-ISD)
5. Rafai Chatioui (Acqua e Sapone)
General Classification
1. Daniele Pietropolli
2. Jose Serpa +06
3. Daniel Oss +09
4. Damiano Caruso +10
5. Fortunato Baliani +10