Chicchi Wins in Photo Finish
Omega Pharma – Quick-Step | January 23, 2012
Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team sprinter Francesco Chicchi put the finishing touches on a 189.3 km race in occasionally dangerous, and mostly poor weather on Monday in Stage 1 of Tour de San Luis. Chicchi beat out JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank) by mere inches in a sprint that came down to 60 riders for the final km of the race.
The race was postponed 15 km before the category 3 king of the mountain (KOM) climb, at the 46.3 km marker, due to a hail storm. Omega Pharma - Quick-Step rider Bert Grabsch took a tumble at that point, and they did not report his condition during the race. It did not appear to be serious.
Emanuel Guevara (SLS) escaped from the pack around the time the race resumed, and his lead grew to as much as 11 minutes and 30 seconds at one point.
Cesar Berti (UR) and Maximiliano Badde (SLS) eventually briddged to Guevara, but the trio begain to wear with 55 km remaining. By 35 km remaining the peloton caught the three riders, and the group remained all together through the final 15 km, when a few riders tried to escape.
The escape did not work, which is what led the 60 riders barreling down a flat and slightly downhill finish. The wind was a factor all the way through the final 5 km.
As the riders crossed the finish line, initial reports claimed Haedo was the winner. However, they confirmed Chicchi was the winner after looking at photos of the finish.
This is the first road race victory of the team this season.
"We did it! @Chicchi80 wins stage 1 of Tour de San Luis here in Argentina." Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Levi Leipheimer tweeted shortly after the race. "Great work by everyone on the team today! Spirits are high."