Prince of Lombardy

Bartoli wins Tour; Bettini clinches World Cup

BERGAMO, Italy (AP) -- Michele Bartoli won the Tour of Lombardy cycling classic Saturday and Paolo Bettini clinched the 2002 World Cup title by finishing in the main group in the closing race of the 10-round competition.

Bartoli, of the Fassa Bortolo team, edged fellow Italian Davide Rebellin and Swiss Oskar Camenzind in a crowded sprint at the finish line to capture his second win in four days following the Milan-to-Turin race last Wednesday.

Other top finishers included Michael Boogerd of the Netherlands (6th), Spain's Pablo Garcia Lastras (7th) and Italy's Gilberto Simoni (14th).

Bettini, of the Mapei team, ended the World Cup ahead of Belgian Johan Museeuw, who did not start in Saturday's race.

Newly-crowned world road champion Mario Cipollini also didn't compete but made a much-applauded parade in front of Italian fans before the race start at Cantu.

Bartoli, who had been sidelined for several weeks earlier this year after he broke his pelvis following a spill during the Giro D'Italia, ended the season triumphantly adding the Tour of Lombardy to another World Cup victory, in the Amstel Gold Race.

The winner completed the 256-kilometer (158.7-mile) distance from Cantu to Bergamo, including several uphill sections, in six hours, 14 minutes, 49 seconds.

Bartoli praised good teamwork for his victory in this northern city after Francesco Casagrande and Ivan Basso helped him in the final tough kilometers.

"It's a victory of the team. It was an exceptional team work by Fassa Bortolo," Bartoli said at the finish line.

For the 28-year-old Bettini, who had his best season this year with 10 wins, the World Cup was his first ever, and his most prestigious title.

Battini, who finished 30th in the race 27 seconds behind the winner, piled up a winning total of 279 points.

Museeuw ended runnerup with 270. Bartoli moved to third with 242 points.

 

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