Cipollini beats Petacchi

cyclingnews.com | Cipollini triumphs in Altopascio

It's been a long time coming, but the Lion King roared again today, as Mario Cipollini outsprinted heir apparent Alessandro Petacchi at the Giro di Lucca.

Cipollini, now with Liquigas-Bianchi, has retired and unretired a few times already, but he showed great early season form, staying at the front when the field split, leaving Petacchi with only one teammate, rather than the long blue express train that has dropped him at the finish line of so many stage victories over the last few years.

Petacchi has 8 wins this season, and Monday was his first loss in a heads-up sprint in 2005, as he finished behind Cipollini and Paride Grillo.