Italy's Moreno Moser, nephew of former world road racing champion Francesco Moser, won Saturday's Strade Bianche at Siena, the emerging Cannondale star, just 22, holding off teammate Peter Sagan by 6sec.
Moser, who landed his first career success last summer at the Tour of Poland, showed his staying power in the final kilometre as he saw off escapees Maxim Belkov, Michael Schar and Aleksejs Saramotins.
Rinaldo Nocentini of Ag2r-La Mondiale, was third as Moser, who made his bid for glory as the peloton reached the sinewy streets of the old town just inside the city walls, denied Radioshack Leopard's Fabian Cancellara an historic third success in the race after 2008 and 2012. Swiss star Cancellara could only manage fourth.
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Tuscany Italy - a great place to ride, race, live and even just plain look at.
Race favorite and two-time winner Fabian Cancellara did his best, but in the end could do no better than 4th at the finish. The Strade is where the heroic Swiss rider first rode his as yet unseen Trek Domane in competition last year.
Despite the notoriety of the gravel sections, there is still some good ol' fashioned pavement to race on as well.
Peter "The Great" Sagan led his Cannondale teammate and the peloton up the last climb before falling off by six seconds at the finish. However, the pain of losing was less severe given that just one day before...
He had taken a big win at the GP Camaiore. Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your seats for a great Classics season to come.
Photos: Bettini