Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4a
Stage 4b
Stage 5
Stage 1, Udine - Porcia, 164.5 kms:It was hot and clear today apart from a brief storm in the later stages. A group of 6 escaped at 40km and grew to 10 when some guys went across at the last climb of the day. The major teams kept the gap under control and always under 2 minutes. The break was brought back in the last 3km and the race finished in a bunch sprint. The race was punctuated with a lot of minor falls. All the Aussies except Kris Denham managed to avoid the carnage and Kris was unscathed in his crash and rejoined within 5km. At the end of the day, Matt Wilson led the young rider competition and is 3rd in the foreigner competition.
1. Wilmer Baldo (Ita) Fausto Coppi 3.26.49 2. Enrico Degano (Ita) Record Cucine 3. Daniel Galli (Ita) GS. Sanpellingrino 4. Nicola Chesini (Ita) SC. Ceramiche 5. Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Cadore .. 19. Matt Wilson (Aus) Australian National team 20. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 24. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team 68. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 91. Wayne Kestle (Aus) Australian National teamMatt Wilson leading the young rider competition and is 3rd in the foriegner competition. Stage 2, Meduno - Tramonti di Sopra, 126.7 kms:Well I was a bit wrong about this stage. The weather was atrocious and the first mountain did a lot more damage to the peloton than I expected. A group of 3 went clear of group of around 20 with the rest of the race blown to pieces. Cadel was the only Aussie in contention being in the group of 20 and riding well. Unfortunately he crashed on a wet descent and regained the group after it again split leaving him in the second half. He crashed again at 10km from the finish but again regained the group. He is OK apart from missing some skin but the loss of time hurt more. Still another big day tomorrow. Hopefully without the rain. Cadel is running second in both the young rider and the foreigner classifications.
1. Alessandro Volpi (Ita) SC Ceramiche 3.37.57 2. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Record Cucine 0.04 3. Isidoro Colombo (Ita) SC Ceramiche 4. Domenico Romano (Ita) Pasta Monte Grappa 1.23 5. Fabrizio Baldo (Ita) GS Pellegrino .. 14. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 3.09 60. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 20.36 80. Matt Wison (Aus) Australian National team 90. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team 21.53 93. Wayne Kestle (Aus) Australian National team 31.28 GC after Stage 2
1. Alessandro Volpi (Ita) SC Ceramiche 7.04.46 2. Isidoro Colombo (Ita) SC Ceramiche 0.04 3. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Record Cucine 4. Gabriel Moreu (Arg) Italfine 1.23 5. Fabrizio Baldo (Ita) Sanpelligrino 15. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 3.09 52. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 20.36 62. Matt Wlson (Aus) Australian National team 20.36 85. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team 21.53 92. Wayne Kestle (Aus) Australian National team 31.47 Stage 3, Torreano di Chividale - Monte Matajur, 135 kms:This stage was everything it promised to be. A group of 30 was selected by the 1st climb at 50km. Kris Denham and Cadel Evans were the Australian representatives. Kris was dropped on the 2nd climb at 76km when the group was reduced to 20. A group of 3 was away folowed by another group of 3. At the bottom of the last climb the leaders had 4 minutes over the main group with the group in between at 2 minutes. Cadel punctured just before the last 15km climb but changed a rear and fought his way straight back to the front of the group. The bunch exploded with Cadel going clear with 2 Italians and catching all but 1 of the early breakaways. A very impressive performance by Cadel to run 4th. Only problem is we are nearly out of hills. Cadel is leading the young rider classification and running third in the foriegner competition.
1. Maxim Smirnov (Rus) GC Sonego 3.42.58 2. Danilo di Luca (Ita) Record Cucine 0.33 3. Dominico Romano (Ita) Pasta Monte Grappa 0.33 4. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 0.49 5. Isidoro Colombo (Ita) Ceramiche Pagnoncelli 0.57 .. 41. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team 16.58 57. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 29.07 58. Matt Wilson (Aus) Australian National team 20.07 Did not finish: Wayne Kestle GC after Stage 3
1. Danilo di Luca (Ita) Record Cucine 10.48.21 2. Isidoro Colombo (Ita) Ceramiche Pagnoncelli 0.24 3. Domenico Romano (Ita) Pasta Monte Grappa 1.19 4. Gabriel Moureu (Arg) Italfine 2.19 5. Maxim Smirnov (Rus) Sonego 2.32 .. 7. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 3.21 42. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team 38.14 61. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 49.06 63. Matt Wilson (Aus) Australian National team 49.06 Stage 4a, Campoformido - San Giorgio di Nogaro, 95 kms:Not a great deal happened in today's morning half stage. There were several attacks from the start with one sticking with 22 riders and no Australians. It got to a 1'40" which endagered Cadel's 7th postition. Eventually the main group mustered enough interest to chase it down and the break was cought in the last kilometer.
1. Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Cadore 2.03.06 2. Enrico Degano (Ita) Record Cucine 3. Alessio Girelli (Ita) Italfine 4. Daniele Galli (Ita) Sanpelligrino 5. Daniele Trento (Ita) Parolin .. 20. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 62. Matt Wilson (Aus) Australian National team 76. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 89. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team s.t. Stage 4b, San Giorgio di Nogaro, ITT 9 kms:Cadel again impressed me in the time trial this afternoon. It came in stormy just as we were getting down the the best 10 riders on GC. The wind was gusting from all directions but Cadel took it in his stride and posted a time good time which moved him to 6th on the GC. This guy is something special on the road as well as on the mountain bike. Oh, Danielo di Luca was pretty impressive, consolidating his lead with a win in the time trial. Cadel still leads the young riders and is 3rd in the foreigners competition.
1. Danilo di Luca (Ita) Record Cucine 10.54 2. Antonio Varriale (Ita) Pasta Monte Grappa 0.05 3. Alexandre Parfimovitch (Rus) Cadore 0.06 4. Michele Favaron (Ita) Sonego 0.09 5. Alessandro Volpe (Ita) Pagnoncelli 0.09 .. 20. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 0.36 52. Matt Wilson (Aus) Australian National team 1.14 54. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 1.15 64. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team 1.27 GC after Stage 4b
1. Danilo di Luca (Ita) Record Cucine 13.02.21 2. Isidoro Colombo (Ita) Pagnoncelli 0.50 3. Domenico Romano (Ita) Pasta Monte Grappa 2.07 4. Maxim Smirnov (Rus) Sonego 3.19 5. Gabriel Moureu (Arg) Italfine 3.50 .. 6. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 3.57 43. Kris Denham (Aus) Australian National team 39.41 61. Matt Wilson (Aus) Australian National team 50.20 62. Corey Sweet (Aus) Australian National team 50.21 Stage 5, Ronchi dei Legionari - Trieste, 140 kms:It went a bit wrong for us yesterday. Cadel had planned to go in an early break but one of 11 riders went before he expected and it contained the rider behind him on GC. The break went straight to 2 minutes and the Australians and the team of the leader worked to bring it back to 50 seconds but it blew out again in the last 10 kilometers. This cost Cadel a spot on GC. I only have his final result from the Australians.
1. Danielle Galli (Ita) Sanpellegrino 3.17.22 2. Staphano Ferrari (Ita) l'Edile 3. Gianluca Nicole (Ita) Mantovani 4. Valentino China (Ita) Brescialat 5. Alossandro Frisiero (Ita) Cadore .. 40. Cadel Evans (Aus) Australian National team 2.26 Final GC
1. Danilo di Luca (Ita) Record Cucine 16.22.09 2. Isidoro Colombo (Ita) Pagnoncelli 0.50 3. Fabrizio Baldo (Ita) Sanpellegrino 1.50 4. Domenico Romano (Ita) Pasta Monte Grappa 2.07 5. Maxim Smirnov (Rus) Sonego 3.19 6. Gabriel Moureu (Arg) Italfine 3.50 7. Cadel Evans(Aus) Australian National team 3.57Reports and Results from Brian Stephens, with the Australian team and Andrea Mandiroli, Milan |