Circuito de Getxo
After his victory on Amorebieta in April, the Italian makes his final rush prevail at the Circuito de Getxo following a superb work from Movistar Team to claim their 24th success of the season. Sanz takes 3rd
The hills of Biscay are land conquered for Giovanni Visconti in his irregular 2012 season as he obtained the second victory of his career in Blue colours at the 67th Circuito de Getxo-Memorial Ricardo Otxoa. Visconti was the strongest into the hard slopes of Txomintxu, a kilometer uphill after 170k for the second, last professional race in the province, as he crowned the great work from Movistar Team ahead of fellow countryman Danilo Di Luca (ASA) and team-mate Enrique Sanz, who comes back to the podium in 3rd place after three months of absence from top places since his 2nd in the opening stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y León.
The telephone squad -24 victories in their account to date- assumed control of the race in the final laps and found reward to their effort with Visconti’s success -29 years old, 23 wins in eight pro seasons-, more than necessary after breathing problems forcing him to abandon both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de Pologne. The Blue squad will have almost no rest as they tackle the Vuelta a Burgos from Wednesday to Sunday.
QUOTES / Giovanni Visconti: “I knew I was in good form, but wasn’t convinced about being able to win. We planned at the team meeting that Rojas and me would be the chances for the finish, and in the final kilometers, he told me he was going to make the leadout for me, but he was caught into the final crash and got dropped, just behind me. It was important to stay in good position for the hairpin with 800 m from the finish, where you lost all speed, and then I was brave enough to launch with 250 meters to go. I didn’t know the climb and it was really hard, it seemed like it had no end. When I started sprinting, I saw myself gaining some meters, and I could keep it until the end. It was something like a ‘volata lunga però bella’. It’s a really important victory for me due to all troubles during the season. You end up living with them but it was hard, and your family always suffers with them. This victory is dedicated to them, especially to my wife as we’re expecting another baby coming this year. And also for the team, which worked a lot for me and always kept me confident despite not rewarding them back until this point. After leaving the Giro, I made a long stop for the first time in my career, so I hope to stay strong until Lombardy. I don’t set any clear goals on myself, but Burgos could be a good one, because we have three or four finishes like today’s. Then, San Sebastián, a race that suits me well and that I like so much. Besides, the Basque Country is doing really well for me. It’s a fantastic terrain and I hope to keep the streak alive here.”
Foto (c): El Pedal de Frodo