News for May 27, 2001Recent results and new features 84th Giro d'Italia newsThere was an exciting finish to Stage 7 from Rieti to Montevarchi, with the final climb of Monte Luco producing some fireworks from Rebellin and Garzelli. It came back together on the descent for a 49 rider sprint, won by Mapei's Stefano 'ZaZa' Zanini.
Stage 7 commentsStefano Zanini (Mapei, 1st stage)
"I suffered on the climb but I insisted because it was my chance. In the event of a sprint, I was one of the few, perhaps the only, sprinter present in the peloton. At the end, the sprint was rather straightforward. "Garzelli helped me well. The team worked perfectly and I so have to thank them, and dedicate this win to them." "For our team, it was significant to win. We need results after the classics season where we did not win. We are concentrating on the Giro with Garzelli for the Maglia Rosa. "I have not ridden the Giro since 1996. I am riding it for the 6th time and this is my second stage win after Milan in 1994. It is good because our patron (Giorgio Squinzi) arrives tomorrow." "My weight? It is a little obsession, because I am big enough. If I were thinner, I would have less difficulties. But I like to eat and I do not as a rule leave something on the plate."
Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo, 1st GC) "I feared this stage. The starting pace was good. We had a headwind, and kept our strength for the finale." "The attack of Rebellin and Garzelli surprised me. There were people other than me who had an interest to ride, but I had the impression that they were not convinced by it. After all, I am not the number one favourite for the Giro." "At some points I was alone and lost a lot of ground. Then fortunately my teammates caught up to me and we descended on the limit, successfully recovering ground." "It was a little bit bad but in the general classification nothing changed." "The next stage? It will undoubtedly be less difficult to control, because the last climb is further from the finish."
28th win for ZaZaWith today's win, Stefano Zanini clocked up his fifth season victory, and the 28th in his 10.5 year professional career. Not quite as many as Mario Cipollini, but he has some big wins under his belt, and the two riders play somewhat different roles in their teams. In fact, this has been Zanini's most successful year to date in terms of number of wins. Zanini is 32 and is in his 11th season, but has only won one other Giro d'Italia stage (1994). He has worn the Maglia Rosa in 1996, whilst riding for Gewiss. He has ridden for Italbonifica (1991-1992), Navigare (1993-1994), Gewiss (1995-1996) and Mapei (1997-2001). His palmares include victories in the Amstel Gold Race (1996), Paris-Brussels (1998), and the Tour de France Champs Elyseés stage (2000). He has also come 2nd in the Ronde van Vlaanderen (1998), and third in Milan-San Remo (1995). Today was a good stage for him, as the climb was ridden at such a pace to blow off all the pure sprinters. When Zanini got over the top, he had plenty of teammates with him, including the irrepressible Garzelli who provided the final leadout. Mapei rode on the front all the way into Montevarchi and that was enough to springboard his win.
Ullrich shows himself for the first timeAll the Italian sun today must have put some fire back into Jan Ullrich's legs, as he descended like a demon off the top of Monte Luco with 16 kilometres to go to close a 15 second gap that he had over the top. Ullrich wasn't content with merely catching the leaders, and his Telekom teammates hopped on the back of the Mapei train to launch Ullrich into third, and Matthias Kessler into fourth on the stage. "When I saw the stage profile, I did not think that I would keep in contact with the best riders on the climb," he said. "At the top, I was glad to be there. Kessler returned then and I asked him to prepare me for the sprint, because I felt good on the descent. It was the right thing to do for a test." "At the beginning of Giro, I was far from being a hundred percent. Now it is better, much better." Of course, even the vaguest hint of going for the win was quashed after his performance in the first few stages, where he continually lost time. Currently, he is 63rd at 10'53, and may well climb further up the ladder before this Giro is finished.
Simeoni abandonsDanilo di Luca's Cantina Tollo lost an important rider today in Fillipo Simeoni, who abandoned after a crash. Simeoni was instrumental in helping Di Luca to win Stage 4 on Wednesday at the Montevergine di Mercogliano, but he fell on the final descent into Monteverchi today. He was taken to San Giovanni Valdarno hospital, suffering from various wounds. X-rays ruled out any breakages or fractures.
Slow day, but tomorrow harder
The longest stage (239 km) was also the slowest of the Giro so far, turning it into a near 7 hour touring ride. The first 5 hours were run at 32 km/h, with the riders appreciating the scenery, as well as ducking off the front to pay a visit to their parents (Cipollini and Baliani did this). The pace picked up for the final 79 kilometres, with a few riders trying their luck before the last climb. As everyone expected, the real action happened on the final climb of Monte Luco, with its base at 24 kilometres to go. Davide Rebellin bolted from the bottom, with a determined Stefano Garzelli on his wheel. Although they were caught at the bottom of the descent, it was enough to put the frighteners on Frigo and co., who made it back on, as well as Serguei Gontchar, who didn't and lost 1'05. Most of the top 10 on GC finished in the leading group, but a few of them - especially Olano and Simoni - will be wondering what's in store on the mountains to come. Tomorrow's stage 8 starts in Montecatini Terme, just west of Florence, and will travel to Reggio Emilia, in the west of Bologna. The 185 kilometre parcours involves two first category climbs: Abetone (1388m, km 58) and Castello di Cartpineti (805m, km 139).
Stefano Garzelli (Mapei, 10th GC) commented that "It is possible that someone on GC will decide to attack, it remains to see if and when. Pantani? He could: he must recover first, he could try and attack on the Castello di Carpineti." As for Pantani, he commented that "The Reggio stage is one where everthing can happen, or perhaps nothing will happen. I do not promise anything. After the time loss to Montevergine I can not guarantee any attacks from me." Mountains jersey wearer, Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) said that "A break could happen on the last climb, but it will be a forced attack, and I do not believe that there will be anyone important in it." Postal in the PyreneesUS Postal riders Lance Armstrong, Roberto Heras, José-Luis Rubiera, Victor Hugo Peña and Tyler Hamilton have returned from a one week training camp in the Pyrenees. Director sportif, Dirk Demol told Belga newsagency that "We do this every year as preparation for the stages in the Tour de France. Hard work and riding a lot of kilometres." He discussed the recovery of Tyler Hamilton, who fractured an elbow in Liege-Bastogne-Liege: "He had a very good week and he will be able to help Armstrong in the Tour after his broken elbow in Liege-Bastogne-Liege. There is a big chance that these 5 riders will start in our Tour team. They start in the Bicicleta Vasca in Spain (May 30-June 3) with Cédric Vasseur, Steffen Kjaergaard and Jamie Burrow." "Stéphane Barthe is still in hospital in Toulouse after his fall in the 4 Days of Duinkirk, waiting for an operation on his broken arm. While Dylan Casey (he also crashed in the first stage of the 4 Days of Duinkirk) can probably start with rehabilitation on the home trainer soon."
Armstrong, Rumsas and Beloki in the Bicicleta Vasca17 teams will contest the Euskal Bizikleta/Bicicleta Vasca from May 30-June 3 next week. The race is split into 4 stages and 2 half-stages, for a total of 730 kilometres in five days. Day 1, between Eibar and Urnieta, is just 134 kilometres long and contains two third category climbs and one second category climb. The next day, from Urnieta to Bakio is harder with four categorised climbs, including two of first category. Stage 3 is a mountain top finish: 187 kilometres from Bakio to Santuario Virgen de Oro (Zuia), finishing with a steep second category climb. The cyclists will get some relief on day four, as the first half stage between Mungía and Abadiño is fairly flat. After that there is a 21 kilometre time trial between Abadiño and Hiper Eroski. Despite all this, the race will no be decided until the last day, which contains no less than seven climbs, three of which are first category. The stage from Iurreta to Arrate is "only" 148 kilometres but the finish is on a first category climb. Last year's winner was Euskaltel's Haimar Zubeldia, who has had problems with a shoulder injury so far this season and will be unable to make a good defence. However, the orange clad team are still the favourites to take out their home race. Other riders present include Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong (US Postal), Raimondas Rumsas (Fassa Bortolo), Joseba Beloki (ONCE), Frank Vandenbroucke (Lampre), Pavel Tonkov (Mercury) and Igor Astarloa (Mercatone Uno). Teams US Postal, ONCE-Eroski; Domo-Farm Frites; Kelme-Costa Blanca; Mercatone Uno; iBanesto.com; Lampre; Mercury; Fassa Bartolo; Colchón Relax-Fuenlabrada; Cofidis; Jazztel; Liquigas; Cantina Tollo; Tacconi Sport and Ag2r Prevoyance. The Stages
Recent results and new features on cyclingnews |
