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16 May 2006

17 May News ...

Termoli Time for Vaitkus

"Yes. I race in a Belgium team before, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago," said Lithuanian, Tomas Vaitkus, after winning the Giro d'Italia stage 9 sprint to Termoli. The 24 year-old finished in front of some fast men: Robbie McEwen, Olaf Pollack and Paolo Bettini, "... I can go strong in the mountains. But I also work well in the sprints."

"Certainly I saw Bettini go...," continued Vaitkus, who rode on the wheel of the Italian before starting his sprint. "... And when I saw my moment I then went for my sprint. I was able to hold off Bettini."

What did you think when Bettini put his arms in the air, thinking he had won? "It was probably a natural reaction for him. [Laughs.] When I saw Bettini's hands in the air and I was worried I did not win."

Tomas, who does not speak Italian, had the help of a lovely, blonde Lithuanian translator, who is also a podium girl. "I did my best because I wanted to meet the nice Lithuanian girl," said Vaitkus, half joking. Inga, the translator, was happy for Tomas and for their countries first win in the Giro d'Italia.

Tomas does not make it home often, "Two or three time a year I go to Lithuania." His parents come and visit him in Europe often, "They come here, along with my younger, 20 year-old sister."

Bettini Parties Early

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) was slightly embarrassed after the finish in Termoli. Il Livornese threw his arms in the air when he thought that he won the stage, but instead it was Ag2R's Vaitkus. The sprint was tight, and the result was not known until the judges took another look on the replay.

"I did not miss any power in the sprint, I just missed an opportunity," said Bettini in Termoli. "I came down the left, maybe too late, and I did not have the best line. But it went how it went today, and I lost. Dai! Vaitkus did a good sprint."

Bettini now has his sights on the stage 10 finish in Peschici. The final nine kilometers are not unlike the finish of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which Bettini has won twice, a small rise followed by a kick to the line. After slight 1.25K climb, starting at -6.25K, the riders will face a 107 meter rise in the last 2K, with a 10% maximum gradient at -200m.

89th Giro d'Italia, 6 - 28 May
Main, Startlist, Classifications, Giro Favorites
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Aaron Olson and Saunier Duval-Prodir Updates
2005 Giro d'Italia

Basso Saving Strength

All the stages are difficult, and today was no exception," said Ivan Basso, race leader, after the Giro d'Italia stage 9 finish in Termoli. "Sastre showed himself really strong today, and I have trust in the whole team."

"I worked a lot, with the team, trying to save my strength. I will do the same tomorrow... The time trial will be a fundamental stage for this Giro. All of the favorites will want to do a good ride," continued Basso on Thursday's 50K individual test in Pontedera. How much difference will Basso want to put into his rivals? "I will want to gain as much time as possible. I don't know how much time."

"There are still two weeks to go in this Giro. I want to continue with calmness. ... The GC is not decided yet. I think that after the crono it will be clearer who will fight for the overall in Milano... And then the mountains. ... I believe that it will be decided in the last week. It is a week truly... duro, duro. ... I may have to finish on foot, not in bike. [Laughs.]"

Testing Time for Il Falco

"The time trial will be the next big test," said Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) after stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia, looking ahead to stage 11. The riders will face a demanding 187K stage 10 on Tuesday, followed by a rest/transfer day, before Thursday's 50K individual crono in Pontedera. An all flat parcours, that will mostly suit the powerful riders like Basso, Honchar and Ullrich.

"I will search to not lose time to the best in the time trial, and then we will look ahead to the mountains," finished il Falco from the stage finish in Termoli.

Scarponi Takes Five

Michele Scarponi (Liberty Seguros-Würth), after his time loss in stage 8, suffered again in stage 9 when his back wheel broke on the descent of the Guglionesi, at 22K to go. The mechanical resulted in the Italian finishing more than five minutes by the finish.

Scarponi, and teammate Daniel Navarro, hit a pot-hole, which resulted in both of them breaking their wheels. The two riders had to wait longer than expected for a wheel change, while their teammates rode on ahead, wrongly thinking that Navarro was giving Scarponi his own wheel.

The problem was exaggerated because at the same moment Robbie McEwen was gapped-off on the climb and his rivals were driving the pace hard to prevent the Aussie from rejoining. Scarponi, caught in the middle of that battle, could not rejoin the front group and his aspirations for a high GC finish were dashed.

15 May News ...