Alessandro Petacchi’s season got off to a great start with victory in the GP Costa degli Etruschi on Saturday. This was the Milram sprint star’s third successive win in the event, which opens the Italian professional road season. A break of four including Saunier Duval’s Rubens Bertogliati took off after 26km and stayed away for the next 150km on a series of loops into the hills around Bibbona, south of Livorno. The break was reeled in with some 15km to go. Dutchman Steven De Jongh opened the sprint but fell after clashing with runner-up Gabriele Balducci, allowing Petacchi to rack up the 120th win of his career

Steven De Jongh takes a tumble

Alessandro Petacchi hits the front early

With 50m to go Petacchi is not getting caught

Petacchi takes his 3rd successive Etruschi win

The Gent is back to winning ways