Team Katusha lined at up at today's GP Nobili Rubinetterie with the sole purpose of preparing themselves for Milan-Sanremo. Pavel Brutt took the opportunity to join the early break and the Russian played a prominent role for most of the race.

With all eyes looking to Italy for Sunday’s Milano-Sanremo, today provided a good way to warm up the legs and test the form in the 187 km GP Nobili Rubinetterie.

“We wanted to be active in today’s race," sports director Claudio Cozzi said. "Pavel Brutt was in the breakaway of the day with four more riders and they were a good group. Near the 50 km to go mark, Alejandro Valverde joined the group, too. Pavel continued to work well in the group and stayed in front as long as he could.”

Valverde attacked in a solo move but was brought back at 9 km to go by a chasing group of 30-40 riders. In this group were Katusha Team riders Eduard Vorganov, Gatis Smukulis, Pavel Brutt and Petr Ignatenko, all taking part in the mass sprint won by Simone Ponzi (Yellow Fluo Neri Sottoli). Rounding out the podium were Cthisian Delle Stelle (Team Idea) and Francisco Ventoso of Movistar. Eduard Vorganov was the best Katusha Team rider in 20th position.

“The idea for this race was to prepare our guys for Milano-Sanremo and we did that today.”

Sunday’s Milan-Sanremo is the first Momument of the cycling season and always provides plenty of racing excitement during the 294 km classic one day race.