Russian rider Denis Menchov won the Tour of Italy in Rome Sunday, despite suffering a dramatic fall in the last kilometre of the final stage, a 14.4km time-trial.
The Rabobank cyclist, who is the third Russian to win the race, added the title to his two Tour of Spain victories in 2005 and 2007.
Final General classification
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 86:03:11
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:41
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:59
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:03:46
5 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:59
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:05:28
7 Stefano Garzelli (Ita|Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:08:43
8 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:10:01
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo|AG2R La Mondiale) 0:11:13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:11:28
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Denis Menchov win giro d'italia 2009
Michele Scarponi win giro d'italia stage 18
Michele Scarponi of Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni won the 182km Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia from Sulmona to Benevento Thursday, as the first grand tour of 2009 winds its way toward Rome Sunday.
Russian Denis Menchov of Rabobank maintained his overall lead after coming home safely in the peloton almost four minutes back.
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Pellizotti Win Giro d'italia stage 17 Chieti - Blockhaus 79KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 17 RESULTS
1 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.21.06
2 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 0.42
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.43
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.48
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.57
6 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 1.54
7 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas 1.55
8 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 1.59
9 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
10 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
General classification GIRO D'ITALIA after stage 17
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 72.28.24
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.26
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.00
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.28
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 3.30
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 4.32
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 7.05
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 8.04
Russia's Denis Menchov retained the overall leader's pink jersey with a 26-second advantage over Italian LPR rider Danilo de Luca.
As the Italian gradually extended his lead, Di Luca elected to up the ante, Menchov, Ivan Basso and Garzelli joining his bid to close the gap.
As Di Luca tried to eat into the Menchov overall lead Pellizotti maintained his rhythm, increasing his lead.
Di Luca's day was bolstered by his picking up eight bonus seconds for taking third place as he tries to wrest the race leadership from Menchov.
Pellizotti stands third overall, two minutes adrift with Basso fourth at 3:28, while Sastre is 3:30 off after an undistinguished ride Wednesday.
It was a third Giro stage win for Pellizotti after Peschici (2006) and a 2008 time-trial at Plan de Corones.
Thursday's 18th stage comprises a 182km ride from Sulmona to Benevento but the key challenge for Di Luca will be Friday's stage to Vesuvius, where Menchov will seek to hold him at bay as best as possible before the Russian looks to cement his status in Sunday's time-trial in Rome itself.
Pellizotti does not rule out making his own challenge for the crown on current form.
"Everything is still possible. Nobody expected to see me on the podium after my difficulties (Monday) at Monte Petrano. But I am in great form and there is still Vesuvius to come."
Satre Is Back Winner Giro d'italia stage 16 - Pergola - Monte Petrano 237KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 16 RESULTS:
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 7.11.54
2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.25
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.26
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.29
5 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.19
6 Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.21
7 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
8 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 2.11
9 José Rodolfo Serpa (Col) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni 2.35
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 2.51
11 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
General classification after stage 16
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 70.06.30
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.39
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 2.19
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 3.08
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.19
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 3.21
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 5.54
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 8.24
Carlos Sastre of the Cervélo Test Team won the monstrously hilly 237km Stage 16 from Pergola to Monte Petrano Monday, moving up to third overall in the 2009 Giro d'Italia.
Rabobank's Denis Menchov holds onto the leader's pink jersey going into the second rest day, finishing second ahead of LPR's Danilo Di Luca by 1 second, while Astana's Levi Leipheimer slipped back after finishing nearly three minutes behind Sastre. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) was fourth on the day.
Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France winner, sits third overall, 2:19 behind Menchov. Leipheimer is sixth.
Following tomorrow's second and final rest day, there's a brief opportunity for riders to get back into the swing of things, as the 83km Stage 17 from Chieti to Blockhaus heads to and then along the coast. From there, it's up all the way to the top of Blockhaus – to more than 2000m. Ivan Basso took the maglia rosa on this climb in 2006, but that day finished at the Lanciano pass, and that's at 1306m. Wednesday's blast goes right to the summit of the Blockhaus, where the last two kilometres are particularly testing.
ref[BR]
pic[cyclingnews]
Giro d'Italia Race Stage 15 Result - Faenza, 161km
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 15 RESULTS - Faenza, 161km
1 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 4.18.34
2 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Cervelo Test Team 0.54
3 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia - Highroad
4 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank
5 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 0.56
6 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) ISD 1.27
7 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step 1.49
8 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 1.51
9 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Xacobeo Galicia
10 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step 1.56
11 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad
12 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C.
13 David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
14 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
15 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
General classification after stage 14
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
Leonardo Bertagnolli Winner the Stage 15 Giro d'italia in Faenza 161km, he's alone is last kilometers. Serge Pauwels in second place with his cervelo bike, But the pink jersey still with Denis Mencov.
Bertagnolli, a stage winner at the 2005 Vuelta a Espana, completed the 161-kilometer course in four hours, 18 minutes, 34 seconds. Serge Pauwels of the Cervelo team was second at 54 seconds back, and Team Columbia's Marco Pinotti was third with the same time.
It was the second stage win for the Italian Diquigiovanni squad after Michele Scarponi took Stage 6 last week.
Rabobank's Denis Menchov, the race's overall leader, finished safely with the main bunch to retain his hold on the pink jersey.
The three-week race continues Monday with Stage 16, a 237-kilometer ride from Pergola to Monte Petrano that includes four categorized climbs.
Giro d'Italia Race Stage 14 Result - Bologna (San Luca) 172KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 14 RESULTS - Bologna (Sanluca) 172km
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus|Cervelo Test Team) 4:16:48
2 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)0:00:12
3 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:00:18
4 Evgeny Petrov (Rus|Team Katusha) 0:00:24
5 Philip Deignan (Irl|Cervelo Test Team) 0:00:27
6 Christopher Froome (GBr|Barloworld) 0:00:36
7 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:41
8 Francesco Reda (Ita|Quick Step) 0:01:01
9 Andriy Grivko (Ukr|ISD) 0:01:04
10 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas)
Classification Giro d'italia after stage 14
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 58:33:53
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:34
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:00
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:02:52
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:03
7 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:03:05
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:05:17
9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:05:26
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:06:01
Simon Gerrans winner giro d'italia stage 14 in Bologna (Sanluca) in 4:16:48, Australian Simon Gerrans of Cervelo sprinted clear on the brutal final 2km climb to claim victory in the 14th stage of the Tour of Italy over 172km from Campi Bisenzio to Bologna on Saturday.
Russian Denis Menchov of Rabobank still leading in classification maintained his overall lead with a 34sec advantage over 2007 winner Danilo Di Luca.
With a short but devilish final climb it was never likely that the overall contenders would make significant inroads into each other's times but there was enough of a sting in the stage's tail that both Levi Leipheimer and Ivan Basso lost three seconds on their main rivals.
Apart from that late dash, which saw the group of the pink jersey wearer come in a minute behind Gerrans, this was a fairly tranquil day for the overall race contenders.
Instead the major drama and action came in the breakaway group.
With five climbs the stage always looked suitable to a breakaway and a dozen riders escaped early on.
They stretched out a lead of around 4min 30sec at one point but crucially kept their lead at around 2min by the time they reached the final climb. That gave the leaders enough of a gap to the peloton to ensure that one of them would claim the victory.
ISD's Andriy Grivko was the first to have a go but he came to a virtual stop on the final climb and Gerrans swept past him with Kenyan-born Briton Chris Froome in tow. They looked to be pushing clear together until Froome, who appeared to be pushing a gear that was too high, hit the wall on a climb that had sections with gradients of 16-20 percent.
Gerrans then rode off into the distance to win by 12sec from Italian Rubens Bertogliati of Diquigiovanni. Lampre's Francesco Gavazzi was third, 18sec behind.
When the rapidly dwindling peloton arrived it was led by Italian Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas team.
And it was his burst that saw team-mate Basso, seventh overall, and third-placed Leipheimer of Astana lose a few seconds.
Pellizotti remains fourth with Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre fifth.
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ref[i'amspecialized]
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Giro d'Italia Race Stage 13 Result Lido di Camaiore - Firenze 176KM
GIRO D'ITALIA RACE STAGE 13 RESULTS :
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr|Team Columbia - Highroad) 3:48:36
2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
3 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
4 Robert Hunter (RSA|Barloworld)
5 Tyler Farrar (USA|Garmin - Slipstream)
6 Juan José Haedo (Arg|Team Saxo Bank)
7 Robert Forster (Ger|Team Milram)
8 Ben Swift (GBr|Team Katusha)
9 Davide Vigano (Ita|Fuji-Servetto)
10 Sébastien Hinault (Fra|AG2R La Mondiale)
General classification giro d'italia after stage 13
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 54:16:01
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:34
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:40
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:00
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:02:52
6 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:02:59
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:00
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:04:38
9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:05:26
10 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:05:53
Britain's Mark Cavendish won the Tour of Italy's 13th stage on Friday, his third stage win overall, with Russia's Denis Menchov retaining the leader's pink jersey.
Cavendish, who rides for the Columbia team, broke for the line with 300m to go and managed to hold off a challenge from Italy's Alessandro Petacchi to cross the line in first place. Australia's Allan Davis took third place ahead of Robert Hunter of South Africa
Rabobank rider Menchov held onto first place in the overall standings after a 176km stage through the Tuscan countryside that took place amid soaring temperatures and in front of huge crowds.
Cavendish, 24, beat Petacchi by a length and now has five Giro d'Italia stage successes to his name, having picked up two stage victories in last year's race.
"We'll see tonight [whether I continue]. I want to go on… I'll speak with my team. I want to try and stay for as long as possible, but I've got other objectives for the year," Cavendish said.
A few hours later, the team issued a statement.
"Stage 13 will be Cavendish’s last stage of the 2009 Giro d’Italia," it read. "He will head home today and begin his recovery and lead up to the Tour de France."
Germany's Björn Schröder led the first breakaway with Italy's Leonardo Scarselli and Russia's Mikhail Ignatiev just 12km after the start in Lido di Camaiore. Schröder led with 30km to go but was eventually reined in by the peloton 6km from home.
During the race, Italian former sprint-specialist Mario Cipollini managed to infiltrate the peloton for a few moments, according to Italian public television station RAI.
"The Giro passed right in front of my house, so I took the opportunity to say hello to a few friends," said the 2002 world champion, who won a record 42 stages in the race during his cycling career.
Giro d'italia stage 12 Result Sestri Levante - Riomaggiore (ITT) 61KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 12 RESULTS :
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 1:34:29
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:20
3 Stefano Garzelli (Ita|Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:01:03
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo|Astana) 0:01:14
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:01:57
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr|Garmin - Slipstream) 0:01:59
8 Gabriele Bosisio (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:02:04
9 Jose Serpa (Col|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:02:13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:02:17
General classification giro d'italia after stage 12 :
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 50:27:17
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:34
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:40
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:00
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:02:52
6 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:02:58
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:00
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:04:38
Russian Rabobank rider Denis Menchov won the 12th stage of the Tour of Italy in Riommaggiore on Thursday, a 60.6km individual time-trial, and took over the race lead from Danilo Di Luca.
Menchov completed the dramatic course overlooking the Ligurian Sea in a time of 1 hour, 34 minutes, 29 seconds, which was 20 seconds quicker than America's Levi Leipheimer in second.
Italy's Stefano Garzelli set the initial pace, eventually finishing third in 1:35:32, while Leipheimer's Astana team-mate Lance Armstrong took 13th place, 2 minutes, 26 seconds behind Menchov, propelling him to 12th in the overall standings.
Ivan Basso of Italy and Spain's Carlos Sastre, the reigning Tour de France champion, finished more than two minutes behind Menchov in 11th and 12th place respectively, while Basso's Liquigas team-mate and compatriot Franco Pellizotti took fifth place behind Slovenia's Janez Brajkovic of Astana.
"In this team, there is no hierarchy between Basso and me," said Pellizotti. "It's the journalists who have declared Basso leader. We're both leaders and the strategy remains the same."
Italy's Di Luca began the day with an advantage of 1 minute, 20 seconds over his pursuers but a sixth-fastest time of 1:36:23 saw him drop to second place overall behind Menchov.
"I'm happy," said Di Luca. "Menchov rode very well but I'm happy. I hope to take back the pink jersey as soon as possible. The Giro is open. Anything can still happen."
Menchov clocked an average speed of 38.4km/h on the steep, undulating course, securing his second stage win of the race after winning the fifth stage at the summit of the Alpe di Siusi.
The 31-year-old won the Tour of Spain in 2005 and 2007 and finished fifth in last year's Tour of Italy. He leads Di Luca by 34 seconds in the overall standings, with Leipheimer 40 seconds off the pace in third and Pellizotti 2 minutes back in fourth.
On this course, 20 seconds behind Menchov is not much," said Leipheimer. "I still think it's possible for me to win the Giro, even if we're missing (injured team-mate Chris) Horner."
ref[BR]
GIro d'Italia Stage 11 Result - Arenzano (Genova), 214km
GIro d'Italia Stage 11 Result:
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad 4.51.17 (44.08 km/h)
2 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
4 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
5 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
6 Davide Vigano (Ita) Fuji-Servetto
7 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad
8 Alexander Serov (Rus) Team Katusha
9 Oscar Gatto (Ita) ISD
"I got a good position by my team at the start [of the Turchino Pass, the day's final climb]. There were guys going backwards but it was okay; it's amazing how deep you can go when you can smell the finish...Actually, to be honest, I didn't need to go deeper - I was floating," said Cavendish, whose form is even surprising himself.
Third-placed Alessandro Petacchi of LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini claimed certain riders were not following "the correct code of sprinting ethics" - possibly referring to his run being impeded by certain members of Tyler Farrar's Garmin-Slipstream team (though not naming any names), the American finishing one spot ahead of the dual stage winner from La Spezia.
ref [cyclingnews]
Giro d'italia Race stage 7 Result - Chiavenna, 244km
Giro d'italia Race stage 7 Result
STAGE 7 RESULTS
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor|Team Columbia - Highroad) 5:56:53
2 Robert Hunter (RSA|Barloworld)
3 Pavel Brutt (Rus|Team Katusha)
4 Davide Viganò (Ita|Fuji-Servetto)
5 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
6 Andriy Grivko (Ukr|ISD) 0:00:31
7 Matthew Goss (Aus|Team Saxo Bank) 0:00:40
8 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
9 Robert Forster (Ger|Team Milram)
10 Ben Swift (GBr|Team Katusha)
Hagen emerged the winner from a five-man late escape over the final 20 kilometres launched coming off the Passo Maloja climb to win the 244km rain-hit stage from Innsbruck as the race came back over the border from Austria.
The win, his first in Italy, was an early birthday present for the Norwegian, who turns 22 on Sunday.
South African Robert Hunter came in second ahead of Russian Pavel Brutt with Italians Davide Viganò and Alessandro Bertolini completing the top five on the day.
Already the winner of the Ghent-Wevelgem Classic this spring at the age of just 21, Hagen said: "Both victories, in Belgium and here in Italy, are very important and you can't really compare them.
"I'm just really happy to be winning. I had great support from the team because I knew they were blocking behind when the break went clear. I didn't start the final sprint too early, I tried waiting for as long as possible for the other guys to go. But I felt strong and it worked out well. It was dangerous on that last descent in the rain. I was lucky that I didn't crash," he added.
Bertolini had made a break going into the final handful of kilometres and established a one-minute lead on the nerve-wracking descent towards Chiavenna - but he was reined in before Hagen just stole it ahead of Brutt.
Four riders made an early move just outside Innsbruck as Mauro Facci, Bartosz Huzarski, Serguei Klimov and Vladimir Isaichev raced nine minutes clear by the 24km mark and they held on until the final climb as the rain made the conditions increasingly slippery.
Bertolini tried in vain to anticipate the sprint as Brutt and jockeyed for supremacy over the final dozen kilometres and made for the line.
Winner of last month's Ghent-Wevelgem race, Hagen scored his first Giro stage success just 24 hours after he placed second behind Michele Scarponi in the sixth stage to Mayrhofen im Zillertal.
Saturday's eighth stage is a 209 kilometre affair from Morbegno to Bergamo.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's Astana team admitted on Friday they have been forced into desperate measures in a bid to publicise a never-ending financial dispute with their key sponsors.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong and his Astana teammates started the Tour of Italy's seventh stage with new shirts and the name of key sponsor, Astana, virtually blocked out.
Currently one of the most successful teams in the peloton, Astana face an uncertain future following reports their Kazakh sponsors have failed to pay team wages several times this year.
On Friday, Armstrong finished 58 seconds behind Hagen and now stands 25th overall, 4 minutes, 31 seconds off the lead.
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 28:08:48
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:41
ref[BR]
Giro d'Italia stage 7 Detail
Giro d'Italia stage 7 detail
Chiavenna, 244km
Route: The race heads south-west, back into Italy via Switzerland. Although we're surrounded by high peaks all the way, passing the upmarket resort of St Moritz, the stage is one very steady climb to the summit of the Maloja pass, followed by a high-speed descent into the finish. A sprint is not out of the question, but a winning break more likely.
ref[Cyclingnews]
History of Giro d'Italia
History Tour d'Italia / Giro d'italia
The Giro was inspired by the Tour de France and, just as the French race was intended to boost circulation of L'Auto, so Emilio Camillo Costamagna, the editor of La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, aimed to increase his circulation. The first Giro d'Italia started on May 13, 1909 at Milan with eight stages totalling 2,448 kilometres (1,521 miles). Luigi Ganna was the first winner.
Along with the Tour de France and the World Cycling Championship, the Giro d'Italia makes up the Triple Crown of Cycling. Along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España it is one of the three Grand Tours.
Jerseys
Whereas the overall leader of the Tour de France is awarded a yellow jersey (originally to correspond with L'Auto 's yellow pages), since 1931 the overall leader in the Giro sports the maglia rosa (pink jersey), which corresponds with newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport 's pink newsprint. The "King of the Mountains" wears the maglia verde (green jersey). The leader of the points classification wears the maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey), the best young rider wears the maglia bianca (white jersey).
King of the mountains (maglia verde)
During mountain stages of the race, points are awarded to the rider who is first to reach the top of each significant climb. Points are also awarded for riders who closely follow the leader up each climb. The number of points awarded varies according to the hill classification, which is determined by the steepness and length of that particular hill. The green jersey is worn by the rider who, at the start of each stage, has the largest amount of climbing points. If a rider holds both the pink and green jerseys, the green jersey is worn by the rider in second place. At the end of the giro, the rider holding the most climbing points wins the climbing competition. In fact, some riders, particularly those who are neither sprinters nor particularly good at time-trialing, may attempt only to win this particular competition within the race. This is the same as the Polka dot jersey of the Tour de France. In 2008 it was won by Emanuele Sella.
7 wins: Gino Bartali
4 wins: José Manuel Fuente
3 wins: Claudio Chiappucci, Claudio Bortolotto, Franco Bitossi, Fausto Coppi
ref [wikipedianews]
13 May Giro d'italia Race stage 6 Result - Bressanone/Brixen - Mayrhofen 248km
Giro d'italia Race stage 6 Result :
STAGE 6 RESULTS
1 Michele Scarponi (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 5:49:55
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:32
3 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita|Team Katusha)
5 Matthew Goss (Aus|Team Saxo Bank)
6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel|Silence-Lotto)
7 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.)
8 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
9 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo|AG2R La Mondiale)
Michele Scarponi of the Diquigiovanni team soloed to victory on the sixth stage of the Tour of Italy to claim his first career win on the race Thursday.
Fellow Italian Danilo Di Luca, of LPR, retained the race leader's pink jersey after a 248 km ride in which a five-man breakaway provided much of the day's drama on what was a transitional stage into nearby Austria.
Di Luca, the 2007 champion, retained his five-second lead over second-placed Swede Thomas Lövkvist with his Columbian teammate Michael Rogers still in third at 36s.
A quartet of arguably more probable Giro winners - Levi Leipheimer, Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso and Carlos Sastre - sit in fourth to seventh places.
Scarponi was part of the earlier five-man escape group which formed around 50km into the stage, but for most of whom the stage's principal climb at Hochkrimml 50km from the finish line was their undoing.
Only Belarussian Vasik Kiryienka managed to stay with Scarponi on the ascent before dropping behind, apparently due to cramp.
Scarponi dug deep, went off on his own and managed to hold off a rapidly closing but tired peloton.
Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen of Columbia attacked the pursuers in the final kilometre to finish second at around 30s on the stage, thus picking up the bonus seconds that may otherwise have been snatched by rivals of his team.
It is Scarponi's first Giro stage win and comes only months after returning to the peloton following an 18-month ban for his implication in the Operation Puerto doping scandal.
America's Lance Armstrong will target a stage win in the Giro d'Italia after falling off the pace in the overall standings, race leader Di Luca claimed after Stage 6 on Thursday.
"You mustn't forget that he stopped competing for three years and fractured his collarbone a month and a half before the race," the Italian said.
"I saw the footage of the Alpe di Siusi stage (on Wednesday) on television and he gave everything," Di Luca added of the seven-time Tour de France winner. "He's doing his best, he's honouring the Giro. I think he'll focus on a stage victory."
Armstrong finished 73rd on Thursday and currently occupies 25th place overall, 4 minutes, 13 seconds behind Di Luca.
General classification after stage 6
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 22:11:15
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:41
ref[BR]
Giro d'Italia Race Stage 4 Result
Giro d'italia Race stage 4 Result:
STAGE 4 RESULTS
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 4:15:04
2 Stefano Garzelli (Ita|Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo)
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas)
4 Mauricio Soler (Col|Barloworld)
5 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana)
7 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad)
8 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas)
9 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank)
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne)
Italy's Danilo Di Luca of LPR won Stage 4 of the Tour of Italy on Tuesday as Sweden's Thomas Lövkvist, riding for Columbia-Highroad, took the leader's pink jersey following the 162km stage from Padova to San Martino di Castrozza.
Di Luca, the 2007 champion, edged a furious final sprint to see off compatriots Stefano Garzelli and Franco Pellizotti as the event moved into the first mountainous section in the Dolomites, ending with a 13.7-kilometre climb.
Colombian Maurizio Soler of the Barloworld team looked poised for the stage win inside the last 1.5km until he was swept up by a closing bunch, eventually holding on for fourth place just ahead of former two-time champion Gilberto Simoni.
American Lance Armstrong had kept pace with the chasing pack throughout the day, and until the final kilometre, but once at the red flag the seven-time Tour de France champion ran out of juice eventually losing 15 seconds on the day.
Armstrong, however, is unlikely to be too concerned. Competing in his first ever Giro d'Italia with the stated intention of helping Astana team-mate Levi Leipheimer, Leipheimer lost no time on the stage, finishing sixth behind Italian Simoni.
Briton Ian Stannard joined an early six-man break which opened up a half-minute lead at the 10km mark after the race set off on flat roads bathed in warm sunshine. But the group soon fell back as the going got progressively tougher, culminating in a gruelling 70 kilometres of uphill grind. Only German Jens Voigt, of Saxo Bank, of the early escapees managed to stay the pace and even he was finally overhauled 2.5 kilometres out from the finish.
Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, who had gone into the day's racing clad in pink, began to struggle on the Croce d'Aune going into the final 50 kilometres leaving Lövkvist, 25, to hit the front of the overall standings two seconds ahead of 33-year-old Di Luca, who held on for his seventh career stage success.
Spaniard Francisco Perez meanwhile fell after 11 kilometres and was forced to quit the race with a right hand fracture.
Wednesday's fifth stage is a 125-km ride to Alpe de Siusi which includes a 24.9km climb reaching an average eight percent gradient over the final 10 kilometres.
With Lövkvist in the lead, Columbia-Highroad have several tactical options. Their big pink jersey hopeful is Australian Michael Rogers, who finished only six seconds down on Di Luca.
General classification after stage 4
1 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 13:05:28
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:02
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:06
4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr|Astana) 0:00:26
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana)
6 Lance Armstrong (USA|Astana) 0:00:28
7 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:00:32
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:00:42
9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.)
10 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:00:49
ref[BR]
Giro d'Italia Race Stage 2 Result
Giro d'italia Race stage 2 Result:
STAGE 2 RESULTS
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 3:43:07
2 Mark Cavendish (GBr|Team Columbia - Highroad)
3 Ben Swift (GBr|Team Katusha)
4 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
5 Tyler Farrar (USA|Garmin - Slipstream)
6 Oscar Gatto (Ita|ISD)
7 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.)
8 Davide Vigano (Ita|Fuji-Servetto)
9 Manuele Mori (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.)
10 Dries Devenyns (Bel|Quick Step)
Giro d'italia Britain's Mark Cavendish of the Columbia team retained the race leader's pink jersey ahead of Aussie teammate Mark Renshaw on Sunday after Alessandro Petacchi of LPR won stage two of the Tour of Italy at Trieste.
"I chose just the right moment to set off on the sprint," said a jubilant Petacchi, who returned in some style after missing last year's Giro through a doping suspension.
The 35-year-old landed his 25th stage success in the event overall - though the official tally stands at 20 with the remainder scrubbed from the record owing to his doping offence.
"I want to thank and compliment my teammates. I was on Cavendish's wheel. I had been asking myself for several days how to beat him. We'd never previously gone head to head in a sprint. He's a great champion."
Petacchi just edged out the racer from the Isle of Man, who had taken the opening honours with his Colombia colleagues on Saturday in the team time-trial at the Venice Lido. Briton Ben Swift placed third Sunday pushing Australian Allan Davis out of the podium places with American Tyler Farrar fifth after the 156 km ride.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, a major draw here despite insisting he is not in the running for overall victory, has made a solid start to his maiden showing.
The veteran Texan was right up there as he finished in the bunched pack of sprinters along with Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer and is just 27sec off the pace going into day three - 11sec off seventh-placed Petacchi but 13sec better off than Leipheimer.
"I felt good on the bike. My legs felt good," said Armstrong, who was impressed by the crowds who lined a course swathed in sunshine.
"I was a little nervous like everyone is, but overall impressions were good."
A late pile-up saw one of the top overall favourites, Ivan Basso, lose 13 seconds on the road from Jesolo to Trieste.
Belgian Philippe Gilbert, aided and abetted by Italians Filippo Pozzato and Enrico Gasparotto, tried to escape 4.5 km out but were rapidly reined in.
Another Italian, Leonardo Scarselli of ISD, had made an early push for the front after just 9km but was then overhauled on the first of three final 11km-long circuits having enjoyed an 8min 20sec lead at the 51km mark.
German Matthias Russ fell on that same circuit and withdrew.
Monday's third stage is a 198 km ride from Grado to Valdobbiadene, before the racers contemplate the approach to the mountain stages.
For full results, report and photos, visit Cyclingnews.com. Make sure to read Daniel Friebe's daily Procycling blog from Italy.
General classification after stage 2
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr|Team Columbia - Highroad) 4:04:43
2 Mark Renshaw (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:14
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad)
4 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad)
5 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor|Team Columbia - Highroad)
6 Tyler Farrar (USA|Garmin - Slipstream) 0:00:16
7 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
8 Christian Vande Velde (USA|Garmin - Slipstream) 0:00:20
9 Bradley Wiggins (GBr|Garmin - Slipstream)
10 Lance Armstrong (USA|Astana) 0:00:27
ref[BR]
Saxo Bank Specialized S-Works TTR prototype
Saxo Bank time trial and classics specialist Fabian Cancellara arrived at this year's Giro d'Italia with a brand-new aero prototype that he has been testing over the past several weeks. Currently nicknamed the Specialized S-Works TTR (for 'time trial Riis', according to team rider development manager Bobby Julich), the new bike's more organic shape is a drastically different machine from his previously more angular Transition.
The TTR's most defining feature is undoubtedly the highly integrated front end. Whereas Specialized had previously angled the Transition's top tube to fall behind the stem in an effort to smooth out airflow, the TTR now sports a proprietary stem situated perfectly in-line with a now-level top tube similar to what Giant – and now Scott – have done with their latest aero machines.
Extending below the stem and situated in front of the head tube is a secondary 'nosecone' that effectively increases the aspect ratio of the combined elements to far greater than 3:1, thus apparently skirting around the applicable UCI rule. Don't call it a fairing, though; while Felt and Giant apparently get away with their extensions because they either reinforce or are the steerer tube, Julich says that the TTR's nosecone should be considered a structural element because it provides the sole mounting point for the front brake.
Cancellara's TTR also ditches the Transtion's kinked seat tube in favour of a slightly more conventional straight design with a deep rear wheel cut-out and easily adjustable telescoping carbon aero seatpost – which even sports an aero-shaped head.
As before, the integrated rear brake is mounted below the chain stays – thus making for a smoother junction around the top of the seat stays and seat tube – and both the seat stays and chain stays closely follow the rear wheel before making an abrupt turn out towards the rear-facing aluminium rear dropouts.
Naturally, all of the cables are internally routed with the entry point in the frame being the now-standard top of the top tube, right behind the stem.
Parts-wise, most of Cancellara's other bits are rather standard such as the SRAM Red group, Zipp carbon tubular wheels, and Specialized integrated carbon crankset. The front SRAM carbon brake lever has been modified to accept a small barrel adjuster since the nosecone makes the front brake cable rather inaccessible after installation and shifters are the company's new 1090-R2C model with levers that always return to the forward position after a shift for marginally reduced drag.
Team sponsor Prologo have also provided Cancellara with a new prototype saddle developed just for time trials. The nose is especially broad and heavily padded with surprisingly soft foam, and also rather short to facilitate a more forward position while still adhering to UCI guidelines for setback. Grippy appliqués up front also presumably help Cancellara maintain his position on the nose and perforations in the shell softer that area up even further.
Time will tell just how long Cancellara's TTR will stay in this precise configuration however. Julich suggested there might be some elements of the bike that may not pass muster when the UCI begin their more stringent equipment rule reinforcement July 1 though supposedly only minor changes will be required. Come Tour de France time, it stands to reason that Specialized may outfit the rest of the team with similar rigs so we'll have to wait until then to see what – if any – modifications have been made.
All told, Cancellara's new TTR weighs 8.1kg (17.86lb) – a bit above the minimum limit but still admirably feathery for a dedicated time trial machine. Regardless, Stage 1's dead-flat team time trial course on Lido di Venezia won't require much in the way of gram-shaving and if Cancellara's new bike is as fast as it looks – and if his legs churn out their usual freight train-like power – we'll allow two guesses as to who'll be taking the longest pulls on the team.
ref[cyclingnews]
Giro d'Italia Race Stage 1 Result
Team Columbia-Highroad undercut everyone to win Stage 1 of the 2009 Giro d'Italia Saturday, a 20.5km team time trial in Lido di Venezia near Venice.
Their time was 21.50, an average of 56.33km/h (35mph). Mark Cavendish is the overall leader of the race, and will wear the pink jersey into Sunday's 156km Stage 2 from Jesolo - Trieste.
Garmin-Slipstream finished second, just six seconds back. Lance Armstrong's Team Astana finished 13 seconds behind Columbia.
For complete results with photos, visit Cyclingnews.com. Make sure to read Daniel Friebe's daily Procycling blog from Italy.
ref[BR]