Stage and jersey for Pellizzotti in the Paris-Nice

After the repeat performance by Filippo Pozzato and the victory by Danilo Di Luca marking the start of the season for the Liquigas team, now it is the turn of Franco Pellizotti, the winner on the finishing line in Limoges in the second stage of the Paris-Nice race.

Pellizotti's success, which also earned him the leader's jersey in the general classification, crowned a day that had seen the green-blue team the protagonist in every phase of the race. Liquigas was represented by Matej Mugerli and Murilo Fischer in the two main breakaways of the day.

The Brazilian, who was in the leading tandem with Voeckler, was reached just over two kilometers from the finishing line. The team was ready to gamble everything for Paolini in the sprint. However, the finishing line, at the end of a steep, short, uphill stretch, favored Pellizotti. The 'Dolphin of Bibione', urged on by Paolini himself, broke away on the uphill stretch and anticipated the final sprint.

'This victory fills me with joy, especially because it was unexpected. Today, our front man was Paolini, instead it was him who gave me the go-ahead. As for the leader's jersey, I'm not setting myself any particular goals. I'll live for the day'.