Fourth victory in five years sees Pro Continental team net its usual Corsa Rosa presence
Victory in the Coppa Italia-Campionato Italiano Squadre classification as secured an invitation to the 2013 Giro d’Italia for Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela. The season-long classification - based on all Italian races ranked .1 and .HC - was conceived by the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) in 2007, and this is the fourth time that the team run by Gianni Savio has taken the prize.
The classification is based on a team’s three best-placed riders in each of the qualifying races, with points earned going to an accumulated total. Second place for Fabio Felline, seventh for Giairo Ermeti, and eighth for Miguel Angel Rubiano, was enough to secure “victory” for Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela in Sunday’s GP Beghelli, which closed the Italian road season. The team’s total of 814 points was enough to see off the challenge from Colnago-CSF Inox, which finished the season with 766.
Victory in the Coppa itself is an honour for any team, but for Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela - which races at Professional Continental level - the big prize is the guarantee of a start in next year’s Corsa Rosa, even before this season is completed.
As part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour, 18 of the Giro’s 22 places are automatically allocated to the 18 WorldTour ProTeams, leaving just four for the wildcards. As one of the largest Italian ProConti teams, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela would have a good chance at securing one of those, but there are no guarantees; Acqua & Sapone - which includes 2011 Giro mountains winner Stefano Garzelli - missed out this year, which has reportedly been cited as a reason for the team’s folding at the end of the season.
Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela was similarly granted an early wildcard to this year’s race, while the other three went to Colnago-CSF Inox, Farnese Vini-Selle Italia and German Team NetApp. With race organiser RCS Sport ever keen to appeal to international audiences, the Italian teams could miss out again next season, meaning that an early claim for one of the four places will remove a lot of uncertainty from the team’s early season.
Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela has a good recent record at the Giro, with Michele Scarponi, Angel Vicioso, Jose Rujano, Roberto Ferrari (pictured) and Rubiano all taking stage victories in the last three years.
Coppa Italia-Campionato Italiano Squadre final 2012 classification
1. Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela 814
2. Colnago-CSF Inox 766
3. Acqua e Sapone 680
4. Liquigas-Cannondale 669
5. Farnese Vini-Selle Italia 482
6. Team Idea 470
7. Colombia-Coldeportes 456
8. Lampre-ISD 454
9. Utensilnord-Named 406