Petacchi beats the sprinting elite
SAN REMO , Italy -- Alessandro Petacchi beat the elite of international sprinters to win the Milan-San Remo cycling classic for his 12th triumph of the season and one of his most prestigious career victories.
Petacchi, Italy's top sprinter and captain of the Fassa Bortolo team, beat Danilo Hondo of Germany and Norway's Thor Hushovd after a grueling 294-kilometer race.
A group of about 40 riders launched a sprint in the final 400 meters. Petacchi rushed into the lead in the last 200 and crossed the line in triumph.
Stuart O'Grady of Australia was fourth, ahead of world champion Oscar Freire. Belgium's Tom Boonen was eighth, according to provisional results.
Petacchi had finished fourth in last year's edition won by Freire, fading out in the final meters.
The 31-year-old Italian lost some weight and improved his endurance over the longer distance just to win the one-day classic this year.
Petacchi broke into tears after victory and hugged his Fassa Bortolo teammates.
Fabio Sacchi, who "piloted" Petacchi on the final straight of Via Roma, was a key to his captain's success.
"This is the second happiest day in my life," Petacchi told television interviewers. "The first one will be when I get married."
His fiancee was at the finish line.
Freire, who had won the Tirreno-Adriatico by beating Petacchi by a few seconds earlier this week, was the first opponent to compliment the winner.
The Spanish captain of team Rabobank was the favorite for a repeat win in San Remo but could not find the best position for the sprint.
The so-called springtime classic was the third event of the newly established ProTour series.
