Giorgia Bronzini (Colavita-Forno d’Asolo) continued her habit of winning the GP Liberazione every other year, with her third victory on the day that commemorates the fall of Mussolini’s Fascist republic in 1945. The World champion outsprinted Alona Andruk (Diadora-Pasta Zara) and last year’s winner, Italian champion Monia Baccaille (MCipollini-Giambenini) at the end of the 123km race.
“It's the first victory with this jersey,” said Bronzini straight after her victory, according to photodecola.it. “And if I won today, is about all my team-mates. The team did an exceptional job, always being in top positions from start to finish. It's a bit like I was looking for this victory, and it came in a race that I really like."
The first attempt to escape came from Slovenian time trial champion Tjasa Rutar (Polet Garmin), which was closely followed by a more successful move from her teammate Ursa Pintar. Both attacks were ultimately controlled by riders from Colavita-Forno d’Asolo, MCipollini-Gambenini and Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo-Ghezzi.
On the final lap of the race Martina Corazza (Kleo Ladies), Julia Martisova (Gauss), Nicole Cooke (MCipollini-Giambenini) and Alessandra D'Ettorre (Colavita-Forno d’Asolo) escaped but, despite three of the top teams being represented they were never able to get far away and were pulled back in the closing stages.
The final 5km of the race saw a battle for supremacy at the front of the peloton between Bronzini’s Colavita-Forno d’Asolo team and Baccaille’s MCipollini-Giambenini; Baccaille, dressed in the tricolore of Italian champion was the first to open up her sprint.
"It could have been better,” said Baccaille, “but the sprints are like that, you don’t always have the luck to get the result. Today we did well, even though we had some problems in the final part and I had to go long at 350 metres. Bronzini and Andruk overcame me, even though we all finished side by side."
Baccaille was unable to hole her sprint for such a long distance, and was passed by Bronzini and Andruk in the last few metres. Despite a good turn of speed from Andruk, she couldn’t hold off the World champion.
"I tried hard,” said Andruk, “and I was side by side with Bronzini to the finish line; I was beaten by a few centimeters. For me it was the culmination of a great race, to be beaten by so little by one of the strongest sprinters in the world is like winning. I am very happy with the result."
Bronzini crossed the line to take her first victory of 2011, and her third in the GP Liberazione, to go with her previous two in 2007 and 2009.
Result GP Liberazione:
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Colavita-Forno d’Asolo
2. Alona Andruk (Ukr) Diadora-Pasta Zara
3. Monia Baccaille (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini
4. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano Tepso Solaristech
5. Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Kleo Ladies Team
6. Belinda Goss (Aus) Australian National Team
7. Valentina Scandolara (Ita) GS Gauss
8. Simona Frapporti (Ita) Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo-Ghezzi
9. Federica Primavera (Ita) Team Fanini Store
10. Vania Rossi (Ita) Selle Italia Esercito