Dortmund, 11. March 2010. MILRAM captain Linus Gerdemann has defended his overall lead in the second stage of the Italian race Tirreno-Adriatico. The 27-year-old used a place in the middle of the peloton to defend his blue leader’s jersey, as the race was decided in a mass sprint after 165 km with start and finish in Montecatini Terme. The winner of the sprint, on a dry day with 7° Celsus, was Tom Boonen (Quick Step). The Belgian beat Paul Martens (Rabobank) and Daniele Bennati (Liquigas-Doimo). In addition to Gerdemann, MILRAM also has allrounder Fabian Wegman in the Top Ten, only eight seconds back in eighth place.

„We worked hard today to defend the blue jersey,“ said Christian Henn, who along with Vittorio Algeri is leading Team MILRAM in Italy at the „race between the seas.“ „We were able to accomplish this and of course
are happy to continue to lead. Tomorrow will be a similar day to today, from profile as well as from our assignments.“

A four-rider group marked much of the second stage of Tirenno-Adriatico. Spaniard Alan Perez (Euskaltel), Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) of Russia and the two Italians Diego Caccia (ISD-Neri) and Alan Marangoni (Colnago-CSF Inox) led for a long time with a large advantage over the field. Behind them, the sprinters’ teams prepared for the mass sprint finish, and led by French team FDJeux, got serious about the chase with 40 km to go.

The quartet’s escape was ended about four km before the finish line. Ignatiev tried to get away with a counterattack, but was caught again within seconds. In the end, the sprinters’ teams took over control and brought about the mass sprint.