Italian home crowd favourite Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) claimed his first win of the season in Larciano by winning the GP Industria & Artigianato ahead of Patrick Sinkewitz (Meridiana) and his teammate Oscar Gatto.

Santambrogio’s Vini Fantini-Selle Italia team assumed control of the race on the final climb of San Baronto and his new teammate Danilo Di Luca, racing for the first time in 200 days, was prominent in setting the pace on the ascent.

Nearing the summit, Santambrogio accelerated abruptly and violently and brought Sinkewitz clear of the peloton with him, while Steve Cummings (BMC) tried in vain to cross the gap on the descent.

Thus it soon became obvious that the two leaders would battle it out for the win, and when Sinkewitz missed a bend two km from the line, the stage was set for Santambrogio to take his first win for Vini Fantini-Selle Italia.

Meanwhile Sinkewitz rectified his mistake sufficiently to challenge for second place, where he held off Oscar Gatto, while Ivan Rovny (Ceramica Flaminia) took 4th.

Top 10:

1. Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)

2. Patrick Sinkewitz (Team Meridiana)
3. Oscar Gatto (Vini Fantini Selle Italia)
4. Ivan Rovny (Ceramica Flaminia Fondriest)
5. Andrea Fedi (Ceramica Flaminia Fondriest)
6. Franco Pellizotti (Androni Venezuela)
7. Carlos J. Quintero (Colombia)
8. Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Bardiani CSF)
9. Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Venezuela)
10. Danilo Di Luca (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)