Damiano Cunego beat Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) and Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Colombia es Pasion) to take the 2011 Giro dell'Appennino. It was his second victory, after already prevailing in 2004.
Cunego used the slightly uphill finishing straight to play his strong card, a powerful kick to the line. "A beautiful victory, I felt optimal and was able to reap in the benefits from the work throughout the day," Cunego said at the finish in Genova. Lampre had two men in the break, but the move was voided on the decisive climb of the day, the Bocchetta. "On the Bocchetta I realized that the race would be made and then we entered into action."
Initially, the task looked complicated due to the strong Androni Giocattoli team. "I found myself outnumbered with respect to the Androni guys. Fortunately in the final I still had energy and I succeeded in responding to the various attacks, then waited for the finish sprint."
With the slight rise to the line, the finishing straight was tailormade for Cunego and he left nothing to chance in the sprint. "This success gives me very good morale for the best training in the next days, so that I can arrive in my best condition to the Ardennes classics."