Luca Paolini brings stage victory and the pink jersey to Katusha Team

GIRO D’ITALIA 2013

Katusha Team tasted its real triumph today in stage 3 of Giro d’Italia: Luca Paolini won the stage and took the pink jersey of GC leader.

Third stage of Giro d’Italia – 222 km fromSorrentoto Marina di Ascea was considered by Katusha as one of the possibilities to get some good results. From the start Katusha Team was in front of the peloton – Paolini was the rider, who controlled the situation, Pavel Brutt and Maxim Belkov pushed strong for breakaway neutralization, other riders of Katusha Team helped Yuriy Trofimov.

The stage distance had two important points, two climbs – San Mauro Cilento (2^nd category) and Sella di Catona (3^rd category). In the first climb the peloton was divided in few big parts, while the second and the final one with 20 km to the finish was created a leader’s group, including 3 Katusha’ riders: Luca Paolini, Giampaolo Caruso and Yuriy Trofimov.

After a few attacks of the rivals, Luca Paolini, supported by Caruso, made a decisive move on descent with 6,5 km to go. Quickly, Katusha’s rider took a good advantage of 10 – 12 seconds, enough to get a beautiful solo victory.

– I raced today as if it was a classics race. This victory I took is for my father, he was subjected to a surgery today. I suffered during the last climb but I knew there was a descent later so I said to myself not to give up. I knew, I am good on the descent, so I did not care about little gap over the chase. I knew I could take a bigger advantage later. I started my rush in the scratch; it was the best moment for attack, right before the descent. So, I could get a good advantage and win a stage. The team was spectacular today! Despite of the victory, our main goal here is to help Yuriy Trofimov and our young Russian riders, who can get a nice result here in Giro. But now, we will enjoy the victory, the pink jersey and will try to keep it as long as we can, – said Luca PAOLINI.

The chasing group finished with 16 seconds later – Cadel Evans from BMC was second, while Ryder Hesjedal from Garmin-Sharp was third. Caruso and Trofimov finished 6^th and 16^th, respectively, both in the leader’s group.

Thanks to the victory, Luca Paolini became new overall leader of Giro d’Italia and worn the pink jersey. At the moment Paolini has 17 seconds ahead of two Sky riders – Bradley Wiggins and Rigoberto Uran. Giampaolo Caruso and Yuriy Trofimov are 8^th and 9^th overall (+0.36).

This is 12^th success of Katusha Team in 2013.