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News :: May 2005

17 May 2005

18 May News ...

Petacchi Gets Win Before Resting

Petacchi Wins, photo: Davitamon-Lotto

It has been a long time since Milano-Sanremo, nearly two months, and yesterday in stage 9 we again had a winning Alessandro Petacchi. The blue and white cement boys set a blistering pace into Ravenna, wanting to wash away the disappointments of the first week. Ravenna was the ideal place for a Fassa Bortolo win, near the home town of iron-fist, Giancarlo Ferretti. Ale-jet flew ahead of Erik Zabel and Robbie "McJet" McEwen with ease.

Of note is that the Tuscan Terror finished in 2nd, squeezing past Robbie McJet in the final. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) was able to stay in the maglia rosa for another day, and looks set to keep it until the end of Thursdays's stage 11. Today is a rest day, and Wednesday's stage 10 is flat as a pancake.

"Ciao al Giro d'Italia"

Some sad news for the American readers of BiciRace.com, Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel) dropped yesterday during stage 9. His knee was giving him all sorts of difficulties and he said "Basta!". We hope we are not to blame with our LONG interview just days before the start of the Giro d'Italia. All kidding aside, we wish Tom the best of luck.

But don't turn away yet, if you are a fan of American racers you still have Antonio Cruz and Jason McCartney on Discovery Channel. Also, over at Team CSC you have David Zabriskie (Stage 8 winner, HELLO) and Christian Vande Velde. Not enough? There are also Ryder Hesjedal and Michael Barry, from Canada. And make no mistake, the Canadians rock!

Giro d'Italia Classifications

Maglia Rosa: As predicted there was no shakeup on the overall general classification. It's still Di Luca, Basso (at 9"), Savoldelli (at 35") and Cunego (at 1'15"). Tomorrow is a rest day so we won't see a return to action until Wednesday. The Giro has been going a little over a week now, but after the rest day the "real Giro" is going to start. Expect lots of fireworks between the quartet of Italians: Basso, Savoldelli, Cunego and Garzelli.
Maglia Ciclamino: Di Luca leads this classification, but won't wear the jersey since he's still in pink. McEwen and Bettini are tied at 91 points trailing Di Luca by one single point, but it's McEwen that will wear the prized ciclamino. We believe this is the case due to McJet's 2 stage wins to Bettini's 1, but Bettini is Italian...
Maglia Verde: The breakdown in the climbing competition remains the same: Koldo Gil (Liberty Seguros), Rujano Guillen (Selle Italia-Colombia) and Thorwald Veneberg (Rabobank). This will most certainly change in a big way when the riders encounter the first mountain top finish on stage 11.
Maglia Azzurra: Sven Krauss was out off the front the better part of the day with breakaway companion Christensen. Predictably, they were hunted down by the Fassa and T-Mobile boys, but not before getting some precious publicity for their sponsors. Krauss still heads the Intergiro ahead of Bettini and Zanini.
- Paco

Dust Devil's Daily Wrap: Anytime ... Anywhere

The Dust Devil compares the Tuscan Terror (Bettini) to the Taxi Driver. "Almost nothing is off limits for Il Grillo to take a dig and go for victory. Second place today up there bumping elbows in a pack sprint with Petacchi and McEwen at 67 kph (40 MPH) is not for the faint of heart!" Read the Dust Devil's Daily Wrap, Anytime ... Anywhere

Favorites, Where Are They?

Stage 11, The Giro goes Vertical!

Take a look at the selected list of favorites down below. Stage 11 on Thursday should see some attacking riding from the gun by Lampre-Caffita. They are going to fire their missile down the road, they have to. Team CSC will ride the defensive, joined in by Discovery. However, both Basso and Il Falco will need to put in some attacks. Just be sure that the first moves will come from the Lampre-Caffita boys, they are smarting hard over that TT the other day.

GC after Stage 9
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 0.09
3 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel 0.35
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 1.15
6 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 1.35
8 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) Domina Vacanze 1.39
10 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 2.11
13 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Würth 2.28
15 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3.18
24 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 4.22

Toe-to-knee coverage on the 88th Giro d'Italia (we are now around the calf)
Startlist, Classifications, Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Key Stages, Stages and Maps, Overall Map
Photos

Cipollini, Mario and Sabrina Separate
"Mario and Sabrina Cipollini have jointly decided to separate. After 12 years of marriage, and trying every route possible, we have taken this hard decision." This written statement was the official release from Cipo headquarters.

After Lance Armstrong (1 year ago) and Jan Ullrich, now Mario Cipollini announced the official separation from his wife, Sabrina. After twelve years of marriage and many attempts of reconciliation, they decided to separate. Mario added, "The most important thoughts are for our daughters Lucrezia and Rachele, so that they suffer the least possible in this situation". Our best wishes go out to Mario and Sabrina.

Volta a Catalunya, Stage 1 TTT

Phonak TTT, photo: Phonak

Like a fine Swiss timepiece, the green and yellow TT machine of Phonak Hearing Systems worked flawlessly in yesterday's stage 1 of the 2005 Volta a Catalunya. They pushed their low profile BMC steeds faster than any of the other 22 teams over the 20.1 km course. In so doing, they placed their leader, Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero, at the head of the general classification. Following Phonak are the Discovery Channel boys and the Teutonic super squad, T-Mobile. Read more on all the stages.
- Paco

Battaglia Italiana

Battaglia Italiana, Cunego and Simoni in the Ring!

Today Simoni and Cunego square off in the ring. At least that is what Lampre-Caffita will have you to believe if you see the flyer for the press conference. It is a quite humorous depiction of Simoni and Cunego in boxing shorts and gloves, ready for a boxing match.

"We would like a good 'ring' accommodate the punches," commented Simoni, looking at the flyer. Cunego added, "We are prepared to take the punches."

But the flyer seems to indicate a show-down between the two Lampre-Caffita boys. "A match with Simoni? I don't like violence," commented the Piccolo Principe. And Simoni was concerned with the photo used, "Also, they have selected a photo where I appear fat."

Looking ahead to the real fight, Cunego is ready to throw the punches starting with Stage 11, "I am not worried...The true Giro has yet to start...I am convinced the best is to come."

16 May News ...