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Giro d'Italia, Italy

Stage 14, Egna - Livigno, 210K

22 May

Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Ivan the terrible

Stage List, Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

Wow! Ivan Parra had enough left in the tank after Saturday's escapades to have another go again today. Selle-Italia must spend the entire year waiting for the Giro d'Italia so they can set the road alight when it tips up. You rarely hear of them the rest of the year, but they always manage to give a strong showing on the roads of Italy.

The kind of attacking style that the primarily Colombian team uses is rarely seen in racing anymore. With everyone measuring their efforts to perfection so as not to take any unnecessary chances, it's refreshing to see a team with this kind of "devil may care" attitude. Racing is supposed to be a spectacle, right?

So, Basso is gone from the scene, just like that. It's really too bad. I had wanted to see him gunning for overall in the final few days. Basso's recent difficulty is just another example of how non-discriminating and cruel fate can sometimes be in life and cycling. One day you are the patron of the peloton, and the next you are dangling off the back trying to keep your lunch down! It ain't over 'til it's over. But, it's not all bad news. We've seen a Basso who is capable of doing well in July. He can rest, sort things out and get ready for the Tour, and we could see a man who could unseat Armstrong. He'll have to steer clear of that cold water though!

There was not as much carnage in the GC as I was expecting today. I don't quite understand why Simoni waited so long to try to attack Savoldelli.....? Either he wasn't quite "on" today, or he had some other idea. Waiting to attack not long before there was a descent (and only 6k from the finish) when you're trying to lose Il Falco.....!!!??? That just doesn't make any sense to me. Like I said, maybe he didn't have the legs to deliver the Coup de Grace today.

Di Luca on the other hand may not be dictating the tempo, but he is, much to my amazement, still finishing these tough days in the mountains right there among the favorites. He's still a strong second overall right now! You know what I think? It's said that the pink jersey gives you wings, and I think Di Luca got a very intoxicating bite from his days in pink. He is forever a changed man with regard to stage racing. Particular stage racing in Italy during the month of May! As we saw with Basso though, it ain't over 'til it's over, and time will tell all.

Savoldelli rode very defensively and wise today, only conceding 28 seconds to Gibo. Simoni is not doing a whole lot of damage to Savoldelli's leading margin. He's running out of opportunity to take time back. And Savoldelli will be able to take a few minutes out of Simoni in a TT, on a good day, and merely deliver a sound thrashing on any other day.
The Dust Devil