The 68th Giro dell'Appennino, and thanks to the Team Barloworld website the events of the race, a Category 1.1 event over 200km, have been described. The race involved 5 climbs in Appennines travelling from Liguria through Genoa and finishing in Pontedecimo.

In a solo break, Alessandro Bertolini (Diquigiovanni-Selle Italia) took Sunday's 68th Giro dell'Appennino Italian demi-classic near Genoa. Team Barloworld Kanstantsin Siutsou finished second, just ahead of Ruslan Pidgornyy. and 55" behind Bertolini. Mauricio Soler was among the best riders on the final hills when he felt dizzy and forced to stop when he was 27 km to go, in all probability due to a sunstroke.

Siutsou made a very daring tactics being in the breakaways all day long on the tough Appennino's course to tackle Bocchetta, Castagnola and finally Giovi climbs in the first row. Bertolini dropped a select group of climbers on the upper slopes of the final climb to cross the line 55 seconds ahead of Belarussian Siutsou.

Team Barloworld rode the Giro dell'Appennino with a black armband in mourning for the death of Ryan Cox.

                                                                 Bertolini jubilent in victory.                                            (Photo © Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Race Results (Top 10)

1 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
2 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Barloworld
3 Ruslan Pidgornyy (Ukr) Tenax-Salmilano
4. Paolo Bailetti (Ita)
5. Luca Mazzanti (Ita)
6. Yehuen Sabal (Blr)
7. Gabriele Bosisio (Ita)
8. Emanuele Sella (Ita)
9. Schebelin Alexey (Rus)
10. Francesco Tizza (Ita)