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21 May 2005

22 May News ...

Ale-Jet Gets Two, McJet Exits

Ale-Jet got his second win in Ravenna (stage 12) at the finish of a long day. Alessandro Petacchi jumped on Paride Grillo when the Ceramica Panaria rider came flying past the Fassa train in the last 300 meters. It was a long way out for Petacchi, but he was able to show a clean pair of wheels to the younger Grillo, and the rest of the peloton. It was 3rd for for Isaac Galvez, 5th for Kirsipuu, and McEwen following in at 6th.

Now it appears that Petacchi is coming back to the super-sprinter that the Giro knows. Basso kept the maglia rosa, McEwen exits in Purple, and our Venezuelan friend got Italian kisses with his maglia verde.

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

Saunier Duval 1-2 in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

It was a Saunier Duval-Prodir one-two in stage 5 of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. Spaniard Iñigo Cuesta took the win on the 17K uphill TT. Cuesta put in a time of 37'18", followed home by Leonardo Piepoli at 26". Yaroslav Popovych rode strong enough to keep the unique leader's jersey, coming home at 51" back.

Notable rides were by Iban Mayo, who is coming on quite well, at 54" back. Then there was the ride of 1997 Tour champion, Jan Ullrich, coming in at 2'56". You can consider his result in 2 ways: 1) Jan's too slow with his tour prep, or 2) this guy's really on target for the Tour. Considering his lack of racing so far this season, this was actually a great result for the German power-house.

Dust Devil's Daily Wrap: Catch me if you can!

The DD is mountain-side and is itching for this weekend's events. "I hate to sound ungrateful, but this kind of stage is a bit boring. It's a necessary transition point of a grand tour-I understand that. It's just filler. But, what are you going to do, have 20 mountaintop finishes?" Read the Dust Devil's Daily Wrap, Catch me if you can!

McEwen Back to Belgium
Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) has left the Giro d'Italia, "I am now thinking about the Tour and Worlds." After three stage wins, wearing the maglia rosa and maglia ciclamino, the Aussie heads to his home in Belgium. "My Giro has ended here, the plan is like always, to return home before the mountains". McJet had a good time at the Giro this year, "I won three stages this year ... I thank the tifosi."

Garzelli Gone from the Giro
Today, before the riders departed Mezzocorona, Stefano Garzelli of Liquigas-Bianchi announced the end of his 2005 Giro d'Italia campaign. Garzelli lost huge chunks of time on stage 11 and his legs are not feeling well. Garzelli sited pains in the power-room and now Liquigas-Bianchi battles on without the 2000 Giro Champion. For more information read the BiciRace.com interview with Garzelli. We wish Stefano the best.

Oliver Out of Giro

Oliver Zaugg, of the Spanish-Swiss team Saunier Duval-Prodir, called it quits before the start of stage 12. BiciRace.com checked in with DS Matteo Algeri and found out that Oliver had "Pain in the leg." Instead of battling onward, the wise Zaugg decided to have his knee checked out at a therapist.

For all the updates on riders who have left the Giro d'Italia, go to our updated startlist. The names, like 214 Nardello Daniele, have been crossed out for easy viewing.

Giro d'Italia Classifications

Maglia Rosa: Stage 12 was mellow and Ivan Basso retained the maglia rosa. He will have a fight ahead of him today in stage 13.
Maglia Ciclamino: Robbie McEwen, McJet, stayed in the maglia Ciclamino by finishing 6th on the stage. After being presented with the jersey, McEwen took the next plane back to Belgium. In stage 13 we will see Paolo Bettini riding in the purple jersey, because he was 2nd to McJet in the standings.
Maglia Verde: Rujano Guillen (Selle Italia-Colombia) obtained the only points available in stage 12. The Venezuelan was the first rider to top the Passo San Pellegrino, securing maximum points and keeping the maglia Verde. Standings: Guillen 41, Gil 21, Basso 18. We will see some shake-ups today, as there are plenty of mountains on tap.
Maglia Azzurra: The Tuscan Terror keeps gaining on Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner) in the Intergiro competition. But Sven continues to wear the blue jersey. Standings: Krauss, Bettini at 17", Zanini at 25".
Ciclamino Points ... How does that work? Read the complete Giro d'Italia classification break-down.

Oscar Freire in risk for the Tour de France
News out of the Rabobank camp is that Oscar Freire is having problems with his left hip, "My left hip always gives problems, I don't know if I will do the Tour." The 3X world champion now has serious doubts for his 2005 season and is thinking about hanging up the wheels, "My 2005 season could end in June," continued Freire

Ortisei and Stelvio, Painful Stages

The mountain stages continue with today's stage 13 to Ortisei, containing five GPM's 218K. The Passo delle Erbe (Km 161), a 1st category pass, should see the Giro in pieces. The Erbe is 15.2K with an average grade of 8.7%, and only 57K to the finish at the summit. Expect to see the contenders trying to sort out the GC, then a thrilling decent by il Falco to the valley below.

From the valley it is a matter of the Pontives, the category 1 stage finish. Here, just like in stage 11, we should see 2 to 4 favorites trading blows. The stage should establish some sort of supremacy leading into Sunday's stage 14.

Tomorrow, Stage 14, contains the feared Stelvio. This climb is the Giro's "Cima Coppi", a name given to the highest pass of every Giro d'Italia. The Passo dello Stelvio will surely create a mountain legend out of one of our Giro warriors. Maybe we will see an opportunist get away, with enough time to give him a cushion on the Passo di Foscagno. After the peak of Foscagno there is a matter of 14K remaining, slightly up and down.

Just how fearsome is the Passo dello Stelvio? Well, it is scary, most of the BiciRace.com staff members shutter and spill their caffè when they think of their last ride over lo Stelvio. It is 24.7K in length, with an average grade of 7.5%. The length, combined with portions at 12% gradient, should really be a knock-out punch for the peloton.

20 May News ...