News for May 13, 200083rd Giro d'ItaliaA summary The final start list is in and the 180 riders from 20 teams are raring to go in tomorrow's 6 kilometre prologue around the Vatican in Rome. 3707 kilometres and 21 stages later, and many of them will arrive in Milan on June 4, with one wearing the Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) for being the final overall leader of the race. The other competitions include the blue Intergiro jersey (points for designated sprints en route), the green Mountains jersey, and the purple Points jersey. There are three mountain finishes (stages 9, 18, and 20) with stage 20 being a 32 kilometre mountain time trial from Briancon to Sestrieres, certain to sort out things on the penultimate day. The other time trial is stage 11 - 45km between the beachfront resorts of Lignano Sabbidoro and Bibione, over a much flatter parcours. Time bonuses will likely sort out the early classification after the prologue, with 12, 8 and 4 seconds being awarded to the winner, 2nd and 3rd in each stage. In addition, 6, 4 and 2 second bonuses will be available for three placings in the Intergiro sprints. The race has been won 57 times by Italians in its 91 year (82 editions) history. Next on the list is Belgium with 7, most of which were courtesy of Eddy Merckx who won 5. Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi share the record of five wins with Merckx, although the latter holds the record for the most number of days in pink: 78. The remaining victories have been spread between France (6), Switzerland (3), Spain (2), Luxembourg (2), Russia (2), Sweden (1), USA (1) and Ireland (1).
Pantani: the Pope made me do it
Although he may not emerge as the final winner of the race, Marco Pantani's last minute announcement that he would ride shocked many. After being thrown out on the penultimate day last year with a 50+ percent hematocrit, and subsequently being interrogated for possible doping offences, few thought that the Pirate (aka Swampy) would have the resolve to face the Giro again this year. In fact, he has only raced twice in 11 months, in the Tour of Valencia earlier this year. He is obviously subscribing to the "better to be underdone than overdone" rule of training. He will not be the leader of his Mercatone Uno team though, as number 131 is being worn by Stefano Garzelli, who has a decent chance of making the podium, but lacks the brilliance of Pantani in the mountains (as does everybody). Pantani's inclusion as number 139 comes at the expense of Massimo Podenzana, who realised his position was in danger before Pantani said "life is full of surprises," a few days ago to the Italian media. 38 year-old Podenzana would have liked to have raced this Giro, as it would probably be his last. However, he yielded to the captain and will content himself with looking after his three sons and his house. Pantani and the 179 other riders in this year's Giro yesterday received the blessing of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican, before they make their way around its streets tomorrow afternoon. Afterwards, Pantani revealed that he decided to ride his home event after a 260 kilometre training ride three weeks ago in San Marin. He said that he felt very good afterwards, and decided that that was the moment to emerge from his "tunnel". "I trained a lot thinking of the Tour de France," he said to AFP. "I'm always thinking of the Tour. My return here is not a technical choice but a sentimental choice. I'm doing it for all those people who did not stop supporting me, for my sponsor and for my parents. I also told myself that if I did not make the effort now, I would risk not racing again. The more time went by, the harder my task became." He admitted that he wasn't in anything like the physical condition that he was last year, but he will use this as a test especially the first week. Should he survive that, it may well be that he appears on the podium in Milan on June 4. He was quiet about past events though, and wished to talk about the future. Although not religious, he said that he felt "great emotion" when in the presence of the pope. "When I took his hand, he told me two things that I'll not reveal, they are too personal. He transmitted energy to me," concluded Pantani. Not out of the woodsIronically, although he is being given freedom by the courts to compete in this Giro, Pantani will still have to front in Forli after the race finishes. On June 6, justice Michele Leoni will question the Pirate as part of the "sporting fraud" case, dealing with Pantani's alleged 60+ percent hematocrit measured after the 1995 Milan-Turin.
The favouritesThis year's Giro will be a difficult challenge, especially with its penultimate mountain time trial. That, combined with many more metres of climbing will see a winner emerge who is superior in the hills. A course built for Pantani, although he is not in shape for it. The main protagonists for the overall are likely to come from the following: Pavel Tonkov (Mapei): won the race in 1996, has a tendency to crack when it gets really steep. Ivan Gotti (Polti): won in 1997 and 1999, climbs well which should make up for his time trialling. This year, he has not reached peak form, but what better time to do it? Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco): 2nd last year, recent winner of the Tour de Romandie, and 3rd in the Giro del Trentino. In good form, time trials well, descends like a demon, but suffers a little on the climbs. Danilo di Luca (Cantina Tollo): Won several stages this year, but is a little inconsistent especially in the heat. Won the amateur version of the Giro in 1998 and is a rider for the future. Romberto Sgambelluri (Cantina Tollo): Another handy rider for the GC, and will be of useful assistance to Di Luca (or vice versa). Gilberto Simoni (Lampre): 3rd last year and has posted a few good results this year. A good pick for the top five. Davide Rebellin (Liqugas): The diminuitive Italian was a little tired two weeks ago after a heavy early season, but has had some recuperation. Again, the big mountains may cook him though. Serguei Gontchar (Liquigas): Always a good bet for the time trials, but not in the mountains, and not for three weeks. Francisco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola): Dangerous but more renowned as a strong one day rider. He has spent time in the Maglia Rosa in the past, and may well threaten this year for the final jersey, being lighter than ever. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto): A very handy climber, and probably Banesto's main hope along with Unai Osa. Niklas Axelsson (Panaria): The Swede was 6th last year, but is currently suffering from bronchitis. Performed well in the Giro del Trentino and is a strong surprise package. And the sprinters? Mario Cipollini (Saeco): He is still on the start list, and is a good chance for a few wins, breathing difficulties aside. After all, they didn't stop him from winning two stage of the Tour de Romandie last week, including his 150th career win. Jeroen Blijlevens (Polti): The Dutch sprinter has won several stages in the Giro and is not a bad choice for the points jersey, provided he makes it over the mountains - not a given by any means. Robbie McEwen (Farm Frites): He'll be doing the job for Blijlevens' former team, and the Aussie has been in form of late although without a recent win. Fabio Baldato (Fassa Bortolo): Always handy in a bunch finish, the Italian would dearly love to add a few more Giro stages to his palmares. Jan Svorada (Lampre-Daikin): Along with Gabriele Missaglia, the Czech will spearhead Lampre's hunt for sprint stage wins. Tayeb Braikia (Linda McCartney): The Dane has been in form of late, and with the motivation that the team has gained from being granted a start, he may well step to the top of the podium. Ivan Quaranta (Mobilvetta): The Italian has won a few races this year, and has been up there in bunch finishes of late.
49th Olympia's TourThis Dutch 2.5 Tour commences on May 20 in Tilburg, running for nine days until May 29. It is primarily a tour for amateurs and division III teams, while there are several other big tours going on. The teams include: Van Vliet, Rabobank (amateurs), MGI-Fietsen, Piels-Gazelle, Tegeltoko, BankGiroLoterij, AXA, Wilton, Modderkolk, Tuul Olma (Finland), Italian national track team, Spar-Oki (Belgium), Moscow Sport (Russia), Hohenfelder (Germany), KIA Villiger (Switzerland), and the British national team.
Stone suffering but nearingPerry Stone is into the final few days of his round Australia marathon, and is entering some of the hardest parts of the tour. Not only is he a bit kneckered from riding over 13,000 kilometres in the past month, but he also has to battle strong headwinds as he crawls his way down to Perth, Western Australia. His cruising speed has been reported at times to be down below 10 kilometres per hour. Recent heavy flooding in the North West has washed the road bitumen away so in addition to the head winds Perry has been forced to dodge pot holes, gravel ruts, boulders and the Australian mosquitos seem to have developed a special taste for strong Canadian blood! As of yesterday (Friday) morning, Perry was 100 kilometres North of Port Headland and unless the winds change direction his expected arrival in Fremantle by the end of the weekend will have to be revised. South of Port Hedland Perry will be leaving the Great Northern Highway and taking the scenic North West Coastal Highway for much of the remaining 1500 kilometres back to Perth. He is still reported to be in good spirits and can't wait to get to Fremantle. |
