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News :: May 2005

19 May 2005

20 May News ...

McJet Derails Fassa Train

McEwen After Win, photo: Davitamon-Lotto

Yesterday in stage 10, Robbie McEwen showed that he is the best sprinter of this 88th Giro d'Italia. This kid from Down-under knows how to throw the elbows and get to the line first. The Davitamon-Lotto rider has done so three times this Giro. It was all out warfare heading into Rossano Veneto for the 10th stage. T-Mobile and Fassa Bortolo were controlling the tempo on the three finishing circuits, but it was McEwen who took full advantage. He and Ale-Jet went nose-to-nose, and McJet won by about FIVE centimeters. Washed away were Zabel and O'Grady, but Zabel did give it lots of muscle.

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

Inside Scoop with Saul Raisin of Crédit Agricole

Saul Raisin Climbing photo: Tour of Georgia

Benvenuto Saul!
BiciRace.com would like to extend a warm welcome to Saul Raisin of Crédit Agricole. Saul will be writing his Inside Scoop as he navigates his way around Europe. This year he is with the famed-french outfit of Crédit Agricole, after having a successful season last year on their espoir team. He's a little guy with a big engine, and will prove to be a valuable asset. He has cut his teeth on the American scene, taking the 2003 best young rider award at the Tour of Georgia along the way. Saul has had a great start to an ambitious cycling career, and has the potential for impressive results.

Yesterday Saul checked-in with us, have a look ... Road To Recovery in France.

Pedro Horrillo Wins 1st

Horrillo Wins First of the Year, photo: Rabobank

Yesterday in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Pedro Horrillo, of the Rabobank formation, broke away on a finish that was tilted upwards. His stage 3 move enabled him to cross the line in La Granada just meters ahead of of the fast charging bunch.

Pedro, who started his career with Vitalicio Seguros, enjoyed his first win of the season with the orange boys of Rabobank. It was move that was timed to perfection, any further out and the peloton would have surely swept him up. And then perhaps we would be celebrating a Thor Hushovd win. But Pedro knows a few things about this type of finish, just last year he won a stage of Paris-Nice in a similar style.

Dust Devil's Daily Wrap: McJet, the giant killer!

The Dust Devil revels his changing thoughts regarding Robbie McEwen. So far it has been a thrilling Giro for the DD, and now he is itching with excitement for today's stage 11.

"So, here we are on the eve of what feels like Christmas Eve to me. Thinking of the excitement and tension that will be playing out tomorrow is almost more than I can take! And that's only in the Lampre-Caffita team! The other teams will be watching out for their team leaders, keeping them safe and sound. Lance Armstrong has said that Ivan Basso will be THE man to watch. I have to agree, because at this point (it is still too early to really have a strong feeling of everyone's condition) Basso looks good. His time trial on Sunday really impressed me. Since this is MY column, I will say that I'm pulling hard for Basso to do well. Why?" Read the Dust Devil's Daily Wrap, McJet, the giant killer!

Giro d'Italia Classifications

Maglia Rosa: No change in the general classification. It's still Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi), but it will change today!
Maglia Ciclamino: Three-time stage winner and all around fast-man, Robbie McEwen, tops the charts!
Maglia Verde: Koldo Gil (Liberty Seguros-Würth) holds out over Rujano Guillen (Selle Italia-Colombia), but expect big shake-up today in stage 11.
Maglia Azzurra: Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner) leads Zanini and then Bettini of Quick-Step. The Italian boys from the Belgian squad look intend on giving Krauss a run for his money. Krauss is enjoying the podium-time and the Italian podium girls.
What is the Maglia Ciclamino? Read the complete Giro d'Italia classification break-down.

Stage 11: Up and Away

Race fans, this is the day you have been waiting for. After the prologue and 10 "flat" stages, we are now at the real Giro d'Italia. Stage 11 will be a day of testing for the GC contenders. A day of testing for those who have any trouble going uphill.

The stage from Marostica to Zoldo Alto pulls no punches. At 150K it may seem short, but it packs in 4 serous climbs:
Passo di Cadera 93K, 2nd category
Forcelle Aurine 105K 3rd category
Passo Duran 131K 1st category
Zoldo Alto finish

The Passo Duran will possibly be the place for all the fireworks to light. Over 13K it has an average grade of 7.7%, but with sections of 14% the Duran will surely cause some splitting in the gruppo. At the top there will only be 18K remaining, an excellent place for a group of contenders to form. And then it is just the matter of the Zoldo Alto, an 8.6K climb, with sections of 11%. It has an average grade of 6.9% that will produce a worthy stage winner.

All forecasts are showing no rain, which is a good thing for the riders and tifosi. We will start off with 20°C, and drop down to 13°C on the passes (that is 68° and 55°F). With little clouds in the air it will be an excellent day for the tifosi to cheer on the gruppo. Stay tuned for post race comments from the BiciRace.com Crüe.

Savoldelli for Di Luca
Does Paolo Savoldelli, leader of Discovery Channel, believe that Danilo Di Luca will keep the Maglia Rosa? Yes, "Di Luca. On the Passo Duran he will not have problems."

18 May News ...

Dave Zabriskie Getting Kisses at the Giro, Adding to Andy Hampsten, Greg LeMond and Ron Keifel, Fred Rodriguez and Tyler Hamilton before him, David Zabriskie put his name down as one of the few Americans to score a stage victory in the Giro d'Italia.

Lance Armstrong visits the Giro d'Italia

Stefano Garzelli - "I have heard of Danielson and I know that he is very strong in the climbs. Together with Paolo, they will be a very terrible twosome!"

Pedro Delgado Interview - "In my opinion, of the directors I know, I like Vicente Belda the most."

Chat with the Director Sportivo, "Very beautiful and "rigida"( how do you say in English?)"

Tom Danielson Interview, Before the Giro d'Italia, "We looked at Lance a lot for that stage. And if I was able to do it, then I was going to try to do it. Lance had a lot of faith in me, and kind of stressed me out a little bit..."

Joseba Beloki Interview, "I'm not a real attacking kind of rider, but to attack one needs to have both confidence and physical strength to spare."

He was often criticized by the nay-sayers for not getting over the big mountains. True, he never made it to Paris. But, he knows his talents. He got paid to win races and get publicity for his sponsors., "The End of an Era"