84th Giro d'Italia

Italy, May 19-June 10, 2001

Stage 13 - June 1: Montebelluna - Passo Pordoi (Valle Di Fassa), 229 km

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Complete Live Report

Start time: 1000
Estimated finish time: 1700

1400 CEST

Welcome to stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia, the first real stage in the high mountains. A lot of questions will be answered today, as the riders cross three category one climbs, before the final above category climb up to the mighty Passo Pordoi in Montebelluna.

To update things so far: The stage started at 1000, with a slow first hour (29.4 km/h), although it was uphill. The first climb of Passo Rolle (km 93.2) was won by Fredy Gonzalez (Selle Italia) followed by iBanesto's Cesar Solaun, and Mexican Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria). The three had a gap on the bunch over the top, but were caught on the subsequent descent.

Currently, they are riding towards the Passo Pordoi (the second climb of the day), which will also be the finishing climb. Danilo di Luca is having some mechanical problems, and has asked for assistance.

1433 CEST - 136 km to go

The intergiro at Moena (km 124) was won by Mobilvetta's Massimo Strazzer, who has been unbeatable in this competition so far. He also has the magenta points jersey.

Now we have 8 riders who have attacked, including Gorazd Stangelj (Liquigas), Serguei Yakovlev (Cantina Tollo), Jon Odriozola, (iBanesto.com), Mario Aerts (Lotto), Maximilian Sciandri (Lampre), Mauro Zanetti (Alessio), Fortunato Baliani, Fredy Gonzalez (Selle Italia) and Francesco Secchiari (Saeco) with a 1'50 gap to the Maglia Rosa group, which is led by Cantina Tollo's Gabriele Colombo and Roberto Conti.

There are several riders in between these two groups, including Francisco Leon Mane (Kelme), Marzio Bruseghin (iBanesto), Luca Scinto (Mapei), Vladimir Duma (Panaria), Roberto Petito (Fassa), and Alvaro Gonzalez (ONCE).

1450 CEST - Climbing the Pordoi for the first time

Yakovlev has been dropped, and now there are 8 riders leading Leon Mane (Kelme), Marzio Bruseghin (iBanesto.com) and Alvaro Gonzalez (ONCE) by about 15 seconds. Vladimir Duma is further back, and the gruppo Maglia Rosa is at 1'45.

1500 CEST - 72 km to go

Stangelj starts to suffer as the break nears the top of the climb, and mountains jersey wearer Fredy Gonzalez takes the points, with his teammate Baliani in second, and Mario Aerts third.

Matteo Tosatto leads the Maglia Rosa group (about 50 strong) at 1'54 over the top.

Bonjour's Frank Bouyer has retired. Jan Ullrich comes over in a laughing bunch at 6'27.

1530 CEST - 50 km to go

The peloton has grown again to around 90 riders, as the nine leaders Stangelj, Bruseghin (who bridged up), Odriozola, Aerts, Sciandri, Zanetti, Baliani, Gonzalez and Secchiari still maintain a 2 minute advantage. Colpack's Renzo Mazzoleni is chasing them, 44 seconds behind. All the other chasing riders were caught on the descent on the Pordoi.

1545 CEST - 38 km to go

Renzo Mazzoleni (Colpack) is inching his way towards the 8 leaders, as they approach the foot of the Fedaia. He is at 28 seconds, and being encouraged by his team car to make the junction. Stangelj is in trouble again, and is 18 seconds behind the leaders.

Fassa Bortolo chase behind at 2'02, with Frigo and Belli well placed in second and third wheel. The Fedaia is a 13.7 kilometre climb, starting at 5.5% and gradually getting steeper. There is a section at the top which is 18%, and this climb is feared by many.

The weather is perfect today - beautiful sunshine.

1558 CEST

Marzio Bruseghin (iBanesto) has attacked the front riders, and has 15 seconds on the leaders. He is powering along up a steep part near the bottom of the Fedaia. He rides past a spectacular waterfall along the valley, with 2'33 on the Maglia Rosa group. Mauro Zanetti (Alessio) joins him.

Camenzind and Codol (Lampre) have taken over the lead in the peloton . Rik Verbrugghe is last wheel in a long line.

1603 CEST

Zanetti has taken over the lead now, with Bruseghin unable to follow. Sciandri, Secchiari and Odriozola are chasing.

The the peloton, there is a lot of damage being done. Perez Cuapio has attacked, but Stefano Garzelli has been dropped behind a group with Pantani, who is behind the Lampre-led peloton. It looks like a Simoni day today.

1609 CEST - 206 km/27 km to go

Gilberto Simoni lifts the pace, Buenahora can follow, as well as Contreras (Selle), Belli and Frigo. (Fassa), Ivan Gotti (Alessio) and Unai Osa (iBanesto). No ONCE's though. The leaders are only 1'40 away.

Andrea Noe and Danilo di Luca are chasing this select lead group, along with Olano. They make the bridge. Unai Osa attacks, along with Perez Cuapio now.

1613 CEST - 204 km/25 km to go

Four of Pantani's teammates are trying to tow him up to the 10 man peloton. He is 1'50 down.

In front, Bruseghin has accelerated and drops Zanetti.

The remnants of the break (Aerts, Gonzalez, Odriozola, Secchiari) are caught and dropped. Simoni leads the Frigo group in pursuit of Osa and Perez Cuapio, and is not far away from Bruseghin now.

The leading group is now: Simoni (Lampre), Belli, Frigo (Fassa), Contreras (Selle), Perez Cuapio (Panaria) and Osa (ibanesto). Bruseghin is just ahead of them.

1618 CEST

Simoni accelerates past Bruseghin, as Belli is dropped. Gotti gets a push, but he's going to need more than that.

Five leaders: Simoni (Lampre), Frigo (Fassa), Contreras (Selle), Perez Cuapio (Panaria) and Osa (ibanesto).

1626 CEST - 210 km/19 km to go

Contreras takes the GPM at the top of the Fedaia followed by Simoni, Osa, Perez Cuapio and Frigo. Belli follows at 10 seconds, then Buenahora, Gotti, Bruseghin at 42 seconds.

Belli and Buenahora rejoin on the descent.

1639 CEST - 15 km to go

Gotti and Bruseghin make the juncture on the descent, and Di Luca, Olano, Noe, Castelblanco and Gontchar are now getting close. However, there is still one more serious climb to come. Gruppo Pantani and Savoldelli is at 1'42.

The leading group, with 3 kilometres to go to the base of the Pordoi: Simoni (Lampre), Frigo, Belli (Fassa), Buenahora, Contreras (Selle), Perez Cuapio (Panaria), Gotti (Alessio), Bruseghin and Osa (ibanesto).

1645 CEST - 10 km to go

They're on the Pordoi now - too late for Olano's group to bridge. Buenahora (Selle) launches an attack, countered by Simoni. Frigo and Belli are right on his wheel though.

Perez Cuapio is dropped, but chases back on and attacks!

1649 CEST - 8 km to go

Simoni accelerates yet again, taking Osa with him in pursuit of Perez Cuapio. Can Frigo hold on?

1651 CEST - 7 km to go

Perez Cuapio is caught, and now there are two groups. Simoni leading Osa and Perez, followed by Frigo, Buenahora, Contreras, Belli and Gotti at 15 seconds.

Frigo gets some relief from Buenahora, but Belli can do nothing. The gap is less than 10 seconds now as Perez and Simoni swap off turns

1658 CEST - 5 km to go

Unai Osa is dropped by another Simoni acceleration. He plummets back to Frigo's group which is now at 20 seconds. Frigo is doing an admirable job of containing Simoni, but his jersey looks after today. Perhaps the Sunday time trial...

1703 CEST - 3 km to go

Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria) is no threat to the lead, but he would dearly love to win the stage. Fingers crossed for no broken chains this time. However, Simoni will want all the advantage that he can get. The pair have 35 seconds on the Frigo group.

The Olano group have fallen to 2'10 back now. No mention of Garzelli, who is a long way down it seems.

1707 CEST - 1 km to go

Who will win the stage - Perez or Simoni? They have 50 seconds with 1.5 km to go, as both riders continue to share the work in the lead. Now, with 1.2 km to go, Simoni goes again, but can't drop Perez!

Pantani is reported at being over 4 minutes down too.

1709 CEST - 0 km to go

Simoni drives the break for all the time he can get, for the second time in two days. Perez follows him closely and will not go round until 500m to go. That's enough for Simoni, who puts in strong turn, Perez hangs on. The sprint is led by Simoni who signals to Perez to wait. 'Now go'. Perez gets it! Very generous by Simoni.

Frigo comes through with the chasers, and drops them to take third, 45 seconds behind. Marco Pantani comes in at 6'45. Garzelli has not yet come in...

Results

Unofficial
1 Julio Perez Cuapio (Mex) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo  7.24.48
2 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
3 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                       0.45
4 Hernan Buenahora (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific           0.48
5 Carlos Contreras Caņo (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific       
6 Unai Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com                           0.57 
7 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                    1.01
8 Ivan Gotti (Ita) Alessio                              1.03
9 Jose' Castelblanco Romero (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific  2.15
10 Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE
11 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step   
12 Sergej Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas-Pata
13 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) iBanesto.com

General classification after stage 13

1 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Daikin               63.23.15
2 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                       0.48
3 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo                    1.27
4 Unai Osa (Spa) iBanesto.com                           1.52
5 Ivan Gotti (Ita) Alessio                              2.14
6 Hernan Buenahora (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific           2.19
7 Carlos Contreras Caņo (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific      2.36
8 Abraham Olano Spa) ONCE                               3.23
9 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 
10 Jose Azevedo (Por) ONCE
11 Sergej Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas-Pata
12 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio
13 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
14 Aleksander Shefer (Kaz) Alessio                      6.47

Results and report