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News :: May 2006

21 May 2006

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Rujano Strangely Out of Giro

Rujano Ends Giro, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

On of the strange stories of stage 13 to La Thuile was the rise and fall José Rujano. The Venezuelan rider of Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni immediately attacked when the race hit the opening slopes of the Colle San Carlo but then later abandoned the Giro d'Italia.

Rujano, third overall in 2005, went a little early, quickly getting pulled back, but he succeeded in putting Savoldelli, Pellizotti and Cunego on the ropes. After the San Carlo GPM, with eight kilometers to go, Rujano's Giro quickly came to an end. BiciRace.com passed the little rider on the descent, with around 6K to go to La Thuile. Rujano was standing at the left side of the road, with only two tifosi next to him holding an umbrella to protect him from the rain.

"I am cold and waiting for the car," said Rujano to BiciRace.com. We wished him luck and then left him alone with the two tifosi.

José Rujano Climbs, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

After the race, Selle Italia Team Manager, Gianni Savio, said, "It is a little bit of mystery. Today he attacked, rode well. We thought it was a little soon when he went. ... I arrived to him, on the descent, and he said 'I can't go on, I can't face the Giro.' He was truly not able to move. He was cold. He felt bad. So he got in my car, and I accompanied him to the team bus. ... He is in the hotel now, I think."

What makes the event so odd is that Rujano was with the top riders at the top of the Colle San Carlo but then slipped way back in the field before we came upon him standing by the road side. How did lose so much time? Rujano and Savio had a huge fallout before the Giro, which many stemmed from Rujano's departure to Quick-Step mid-season, at the end of May.

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Piepoli Gets First Giro Win

Basso and Piepoli on Colle San Carlo, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

"It is great," said Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval-Prodir) after winning stage 13 in the Giro d'Italia, his first win in Italy since 1998. The Italian, born in Switzerland and raised in Puglia, won an epic rain-soaked stage over the Colle San Marco. "I am always out of Italy. I get wins in Spain and Switzerland more often, so this win is nice."

"Ivan Basso really made some pace today up Colle San Carlo," continued Piepoli after his first ever Giro win. How is Ivan riding? "Oh, I don't know. When I was riding I really did not pay attention to him the whole time. But seems strong. I could not really try to drop Basso, it was not my intention, if I did then maybe after one kilometer more I would have blown. I was thinking of the stage win."

Gilberto Simoni had given his teammate the permission to go for the win, knowing that later in the following week Piepoli will be a dedicated domestique. "I talked with Gibo this morning, he said if I had a chance I should go. I was left with freedom. Then I talked with him after the stage. I still have trust in Simoni's chances for the overall win. We are the same age, and during our careers I have always had trust in him. For me, the win, is a great satisfaction. But we are still going for the classification."

Piepoli spends most of his time training at home in Monte Carlo, but he does make it back home during the winter to visit his parents in southern Italy. "In the winter I go back down to Puglia from time to time. I will spend 15 days to a month down there with my parents. ... For training, I prefer lo Stelvio the best. But I really like the all the climbs in which I can go strong or win!"

Simoni Happy for Piepoli

Gilberto Simoni, finishing forth for stage 13, lost more time to Ivan Basso (CSC), but gained large time on his other rivals, like Savoldelli and Di Luca. Simoni played it safe on the tricky descent, and was also happy with who won the stage, his teammate, Leonardo Piepoli. "I did what I could, I decided that where and when I arrive is when I arrive. I was not going to risk the Giro to catch Basso on the descent."

"There are still a lot of hard climbs to come in this Giro. It will be a bella week and I will search for my chances to attack. Besides, it happened that Leonardo was able to stay free, and I was happy for him."

Simoni spoke with Piepoli after the stage in La Thuile, saying "Grande Leonardo. Don't worry about winning the stage. Today you showed you are strong in the climbs, and you deserved the stage win."

BiciRace.com believes that this stage win will help the Squadra Gialla. Even though Simoni lost some time to Basso, his team gained a huge mental lift from Piepoli's win. Look for Simoni to strike soon.

Basso Braves Conditions and Gains Time

Basso in Rosa, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Ivan Basso (Team CSC) powered away from his GC riveals under cold wet conditions in stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia. Basso, second to Pieopli in La Thuile, upped the rythym on the Colle San Carlo to distance Simoni, Cunego, Di Luca and Savoldelli.

"It looked like it would not rain any more after Aosta, but it continued and it was cold for all of us," explained race leader. "I believe it could be the worst descent in this Giro. Not because of bad roads, but because of the wet roads."

"I believe that I made a great test of my form. I rode well... In the first part of the climb there was Sastre, and then I was solo for the second part. The test put me further forward in the overall, but there is still more to come."

Ivan Basso is looking more and more like the probable winner of the 2006 Giro d'Italia. Il Varesino has built up heathy time gaps on his rivals and he appears to be dominating the affairs. "I will look at the classification Saturday night [on eve of last stage]. Now with this time gap I will try to defend. Today I took it easy on the descent. I wanted more time but I would not risk it all to get it."

20 May News ...