Giro d'Italia - Stage 16

Stage 16, Borgomanero-Dalmine, 158 km:

  1. Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) MG          3.29.05 (45,34 km/h)
  2. Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Asics
  3. Angelo Lecchi (Ita) MG
  4. Alberto Volpi (Ita) Batik
  5. Glenn Magnusson (Swe) Amore Vita
  6. Mirko Rossato (Ita) Scrigno
  7. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco
  8. Marcel Wust (Ger) Festina
  9. Andrea Vatteroni (Ita) Scrigno
 10. Mario Manzoni (Ita) Roslotto
 11. Angel Edo (Spa) Kelme
 12. Endrio Leoni (Ita) Aki
 13. Sandro Giacomello (Ita) Amore Vita
 14. Martin Hvastija (Slo) Cantina
 15. Sergei Usciakov (Ukr) Polti
 16. Fabio Baldato (Ita) MG
 17. Manuel Scopsi (Ita) Ross Mary
 18. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Batik
 19. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti
 20. Fabrizio Bontempi (Ita) Brescialat   

 28. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol)  		
 35. Ivan Gotti (Ita)           	
 37. Luc Leblanc (Fra)               
 54. Omar Pumar (Ven)                
 55. Pavel Tonkov (Rus)              
 58. Axel Merckx (Bel)               
 65. Alexandre Shefer (Kaz)          
 91. Evgueni Berzin (Rus)            
 93. Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den)         
109. Alvaro Lozano (Col)             
112. Lylian Lebreton (Fra)           
130. Jose Gonzalez Pico (Col)

GC after Stage 16

  1. Ivan Gotti (Ita) Saeco)      	     73.53:56
  2. Pavel Tonkov (Rus)                		 0.51 
  3. Luc Leblanc (Fra)                 		 3:02
  4. Alexandre Shefer (Kaz)         		 3:40
  5. Nicola Miceli (Ita)                	 4:07
  6. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita)             	 6:17 
  7. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita)           	 7:56 
  8. Wladimir Belli (Ita)               	 8:17 
  9. Axel Merckx (Bel)                 		 9:42 
 10. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr)           		10:26 
 11. Marcos Serrano (Spa)              		11:31 
 12. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita)            		11:37 
 13. Felix Garcia Casas (Spa)          		11:58 
 14. Stefano Garzelli (Ita)            		13:11 
 15. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita)            		13:45 
 16. Andrea Noe (Ita)                  		16:30 
 17. Jose Luis Rubiera (Spa)           		19:07 
 18. Evgueni Berzin (Rus)              		19:14 
 19. Paolo Bettini (Ita)               		20:28 
 20. Alberto Volpi (Ita)               		22:24

Winner's Background

Fabiano Fontanelli, 32 year old, born in Faenza (Ravenna) on April 24, 1965. This stage win at the Giro is his 29th since he became a professional in 1989. Some of his most important wins include: the Giro di Puglia in '91, the Dozza stage at the Giro d'Italia '93, the GP Cerami in '95, the Loano stage at the Giro '96. Last year he won at the G.P. La Marseillaise, one stage at Mediterraneo, the Trofeo Pantalica, the Giro dell'Etna, a stage at Tirreno-Adriatico and one stage at the Giro del Trentino. This year he has had three successes: before yesterday's stage, he had two stage victories at the Tour of Malaysia.

Stage 16 Report

The attack by Fabiano Fontanelli, Angelo Lecchi, Nicola Loda & Roberto Pistore, the four musketeers from MG-Technogym, brings back memories of other impressive performances by teams recently. Giancarlo Ferretti, MG's director has had similar successes before: at the'90 Coppa Bernocchi when it was Team Ariostea with Cassani, Sorensen & Lelli. In '94, when it was Team GB-MG Technogym, when he placed five riders in the top five at the Pierrefeu stage of the Tour of the Mediterraneo: Cassani, Baldato, Museeuw, Sciandri & Peeters.

Speaking of impressive teams, some of the famous team finishes have involved Moreno Argentin & Johan Museeuw. Argentin won at Fleche-Wallone in '94, his last victory as a rider, after a breakaway with his Gewiss-Ballan teammates Furlan & Berzin. And who can forget the '96 Paris-Roubaix which was won by Museeuw and dominated by Mapei-GB, with Bortolami & Tafi placing second and third.

The Giro celebrated on Monday the wearer of the leader's pink jersey, Italian Ivan Gotti, who reached the region where his from, Bergamo, at the end of the 16th stage which was won by his compatriot Fabiano Fontanelli. At Dalmina, in an area close to Bergamo and a few kilometers from Gotti's home, the cyclist met his wife and parents. This rider, who gives a false sense of fragility (1.73 meters high/60 kgs) got over his natural shyness to answer salutes from the numerous "tifosi" present at the finish. They are all convinced about his possibilities to win the Giro after his doings in Cervinia last Saturday. Gotti himself has expressed optimism about a final victory, even with the time trial on Wednesday.

In this flat stage (158 km) which passed south of Milan on Monday, Gotti's team didn't have to work so much. As it is accustomed, when they work for Cipollini, the team takes care to pursuit any escapes. But the teammates of the other sprinters did a lot of efforts to neutralize the extraordinary escape launched by Giancarlo Ferretti's MG. After the feed zone at Lacchiarella (km 95) the Giro lived a passionate pursuit. In the front there were six men, four from Team MG, Italians, Nicola Loda, Roberto Pistore, Angelo Lecchi & Fabiano Fontanelli, who chased Alberto Volpi & Fabio Roscioli. The peloton went all out after them but was unable to catch them, even though the advantage never went over 45 seconds. Fontanelli, who was protected by his teammates, beat Roscioli in the sprint, getting the 3rd Giro stage of his career.

Giro d'Italia leader Ivan Gotti had his homecoming overshadowed by another Italian, Fabiano Fontanelli, on Monday.

Fontanelli was no threat to the pink-clad Gotti who still leads by 51 seconds from Russian Pavel Tonkov, yet his superb ride in the 158-kms leg from Borgomanero had the Gotti fans on their toes.

They had come to see their fellow Bergamasco carry the colours of Giro pacesetter into his home region, but the sight of a charging mass bearing down on six leaders in the finishing straight was irresistible.

Two were swallowed up by the surging pack of 126, but Fontanelli hung on to beat Fabio Roscioli and another Bergamasco, Angelo Lecchi.

The six had battled to stay clear over the final 62 kms and their lead fell and rose again in the last 20 kms as the chase topped 50 kph.

Fontanelli and teammates Lecchi and Nicola Loda attacked at the feeding zone as other riders snatched their bags of food from helpers.

Fontanelli, 32, said: "Our manager Giancarlo Ferretti told us that when a stage is not so long there is not any reason to take extra food, so we carried sandwiches in our jersey pockets.

"He was very disappointed on Sunday when 14 riders broke clear and our team was not represented, so we were determined to do something this time."

Gotti had agreed with his master sprinter, Mario Cipollini, that they would not concentrate on working to aid Cipollini's quest for a personal record of five victories in this Giro.

"It was a great sensation for me to arrive home with the pink jersey. I am living really unforgettable days," Gotti said before dashing off to meet his wife, Francesca. They live at San Pellegrino, 25 kms from Monday's finish.

Tuesday's 200 kms leg to Verona is another opportunity for Cipollini, but Gotti's mind is fixed on the 40 kms time trial on Wednesday.

"It worries me," he said, knowing that Tonkov has more than an edge in against-the-clock races.

Gotti cheered himself with the thought that the work which Tonkov's team did to defend his lead in the first two weeks may have reduced their resources.

With the Dolomite mountains due on Thursday, and the Milan finale on Sunday, the war is not yet won.

Bortolami fined

Italian Gianluca Bortolami was 10 million lire ($5,870) poorer an hour after the Giro d'Italia arrived here on Monday.

The Giro organisers and race jury decided that the 1994 World Cup champion did not contest the big-money sprint donated by the Giro sponsors, the sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.

They withdrew the prize because they claimed Bortolami was not racing but riding to greet his parents on the 158 kms stage from Borgomanero. He crossed the sprint line alone, 18 seconds ahead of the race.

Bortolami and other riders had been given cycling's traditional 'ticket of leave' to ride ahead of the main field so that they could meet friends or family.

Spanish rider Jose Vidal suffered the same fate in Taranto eight days ago. Then the generosity of the stronger teams did not pay off.

They had decided to allow a rider from a weaker squad to take the rich sprint, but race officials ruled 'no contest.'

So later this week the fund to assist former professional racers will be banking a second donation of 10 million lire.

Pantani

Marco Pantani will go again today to the Brescia Hospital. At 11 AM will undergo Nuclear Magnetic Resonace testing by professor Flavio Terragnoli, who took care of him after his incident at Milano-Torino 1995 and visited him last week after his fall at the Cava de' Tirreni stage of the Giro. "I hope that professor Terragnoli will give me leave to return to training", said Pantano. His re-entry to competition is programmed for the Tour of Switzerland on June 17 to 26. Then the Italian National Championship and the Tour.

Complete Results

1. FONTANELLI FABIANO (Ita -
MG-Technogym) km 158 in 3.29'05" (abb. 18"), media
45.341; 2. ROSCIOLI FABIO (Ita - Asics-CGA) s.t. (abb.
12"); 3. LECCHI ANGELO (Ita - MG-Technogym) s.t. (abb.
4"); 4. Volpi (abb. 2"); 5. Magnusson; 6. Rossato; 7.
Cipollini; 8. Wust; 9. Traversoni; 10. Manzoni; 11.
Edo; 12. Leoni; 13. Giacomelli; 14. Hvastija; 15.
Ouchakov; 16. Baldato; 17. Scopsi; 18. Frattini F.;
19. Brasi; 20. Bontempi; 21. Brognara; 22. Missaglia;
23. Bramati; 24. Aggiano; 25. Schmidt; 26. Piccoli;
27. Zanette; 28. Spruch; 29. Sacchi; 30. Crepaldi; 31.
Rubiera; 32. Spezialetti; 33. Frigo; 34. Serrano; 35.
Gotti; 36. Molinari; 37. Leblanc; 38. Fornaciari; 39.
Gualdi; 40. Guerini; 41. Cenghialta; 42. Apollonio;
43. Petito; 44. Sivakov; 45. Fincato; 46. Gonzalez G.;
47. Vatteroni; 48. Savoldelli; 49. Pianegonda; 50.
Padrnos; 51. Belli; 52. Lanfranchi; 53. Werner; 54.
Pumar; 55. Tonkov; 56. Garcia Casas; 57. Velo; 58.
Merckx; 59. Jeker; 60. Sgambelluri; 61. Pistore; 62.
Forconi; 63. Calzavara; 64. Finesso; 65. Shefer; 66.
Noe; 67. Santaromita; 68. Piepoli; 69. Steinhauser;
70. Bortolami; 71. Bettini; 72. Giraldi; 73.
Boscardin; 74. Alberati; 75. Baronti; 76. Frattini C.;
77. Pellicioli; 78. Paluan; 79. Miceli; 80. Garzelli;
81. Dalla Costa; 82. Gentili; 83. Andriotto; 84.
Puttini; 85. Laddomada; 86. Della Vedova; 87. Di
Grande; 88. Cassani; 89. Tebaldi; 90. Siboni; 91.
Berzin; 92. Konyshev; 93. Larsen; 94. Galletti; 95.
Djavanian; 96. Vidal; 97. Chiesa; 98. Faresin; 99.
Peschel; 100. Bettin; 101. Pozzi A.; 102. De Paoli;
103. Mazzanti; 104. Donati; 105. Ouslamine; 106.
Hernandez; 107. Gontchar; 108. Dotti; 109. Lozano;
110. Bonetti; 111. Loda; 112. Lebreton; 113. Patuelli;
114. Bugno; 115. Vergnani; 116. Pierdomenico; 117.
Barbero; 118. Celestino; 119. Poser; 120. Secchiari;
121. Coppolillo; 122. Lietti; 123. Podenzana; 124.
Davidenko; 125. Caruso; 126. Cauz; 127. Gonzalo; 128.
Tani; 129. Conti; 130. Gonzalez P.; 131. Cabello; 132.
Gasperoni; 133. Mondini a 34"; 134. Calcaterra; 135.
Bottaro a 55"; 136. Moos a 1'33"; 137. Gallorini a
1'36"; 138. Casagrande Fil.; 139. Barbagli; 140. Di
Renzo a 5'48". Registered for the race: 180. Started
the stage: 140. Finished: 140.

General Classification: 1. GOTTI IVAN (Ita - Saeco) in
73.53'56", media 38.930; 2. TONKOV PAVEL (Rus -
Mapei-GB) a 51"; 3. LEBLANC LUC (Fra - Team Polti) a
3'02"; 4. Shefer a 3'40"; 5. Miceli a 4'07"; 6.
Guerini a 6'17"; 7. Di Grande a 7'56"; 8. Belli a
8'17"; 9. Merckx a 9'42"; 10. Gontchar a 10'26"; 11.
Serrano a 11'31"; 12. Piepoli a 11'37"; 13. Garcia
Casas a 11'58"; 14. Garzelli a 13'11"; 15. Savoldelli
a 13'45"; 16. Noe a 16'30"; 17. Rubiera a 19'07"; 18.
Berzin a 19'14"; 19. Bettini a 20'28"; 20. Volpi a
22'24"; 21. Frigo a 24'20"; 22. Secchiari a 28'17";
23. Gentili a 29'39"; 24. Forconi a 30'38"; 25. Conti
a 32'05"; 26. Gonzalo a 32'29"; 27. Podenzana a
37'29"; 28. Gonzalez P. a 40'50"; 29. Petito a 40'52";
30. Faresin a 43'43"; 31. Mazzanti a 44'29"; 32.
Sgambelluri a 46'06"; 33. Siboni a 46'20"; 34. De
Paoli a 46'48"; 35. Paluan a 46'55"; 36. Pellicioli a
47'39"; 37. Velo a 48'33"; 38. Puttini a 48'48"; 39.
Jeker a 50'32"; 40. Piccoli a 52'52"; 41. Coppolillo a
53'09"; 42. Donati a 56'55"; 43. Cenghialta a 59'47";
44. Pierdomenico a 59'55"; 45. Steinhauser a 1.00'08";
46. Bortolami a 1.01'29"; 47. Loda a 1.01'34"; 48.
Gasperoni a 1.01'58"; 49. Calzavara a 1.03'12"; 50.
Patuelli a 1.04'; 51. Barbero a 1.09'31"; 52. Sivakov
a 1.10'06"; 53. Konyshev a 1.10'09"; 54. Pistore a
1.13'19"; 55. Padrnos a 1.16'05"; 56. Lanfranchi a
1.16'16"; 57. Lozano a 1.17'40"; 58. Spezialetti a
1.18'25"; 59. Ouslamine a 1.18'35"; 60. Dotti a 1.20';
61. Vergnani a 1.21'15"; 62. Lecchi a 1.23'53"; 63.
Molinari a 1.26'30"; 64. Laddomada a 1.27'06"; 65.
Gonzalez G. a 1.27'15"; 66. Frattini F. a 1.28'03";
67. Hernandez a 1.28'37"; 68. Fincato a 1.28'41"; 69.
Vatteroni a 1.29'45"; 70. Davidenko a 1.30'01"; 71.
Roscioli a 1.35'27"; 72. Della Vedova a 1.35'32"; 73.
Missaglia; 73. 74. Hvastija a 1.37'; 75. Finesso a
1.38'47"; 76. Tebaldi a 1.42'23"; 77. Poser a
1.42'54"; 78. Brognara a 1.43'18"; 79. Boscardin a
1.45'32"; 80. Casagrande Fil. a 1.45'49"; 81. Mondini
a 1.46'58"; 82. Chiesa a 1.47'11"; 83. Tani a
1.47'23"; 84. Baldato a 1.47'53"; 85. Manzoni a
1.47'58"; 86. Frattini C. a 1.48'19"; 87. Lebreton a
1.48'25"; 88. Gualdi a 1.48'51"; 89. Galletti a
1.50'07"; 90. Lietti; 91. Bonetti a 1.51'03"; 92.
Pumar a 1.51'57"; 93. Caruso a 1.53'36"; 94. Crepaldi
a 1.53'42"; 95. Baronti a 1.53'49"; 96. Alberati a
1.54'04"; 97. Giraldi a 1.55'57"; 98. Cabello a
1.57'35"; 99. Apollonio a 1.58'08"; 100. Zanette a
1.58'09"; 101. Pozzi A. a 1.58'43"; 102. Celestino a
1.59'15"; 103. Ouchakov a 1.59'42"; 104. Vidal a
2.00'21"; 105. Scopsi a 2.00'48"; 106. Brasi a
2.01'36"; 107. Fontanelli a 2.02'12"; 108. Bugno a
2.02'45"; 109. Cipollini a 2.04'14"; 110. Barbagli a
2.04'23"; 111. Gallorini a 2.06'29"; 112. Bramati a
2.06'35"; 113. Traversoni a 2.08'38"; 114. Sacchi a
2.08'58"; 115. Dalla Costa a 2.10'11"; 116. Werner a
2.10'42"; 117. Bettin a 2.11'30"; 118. Larsen a
2.12'15"; 119. Moos a 2.12'33"; 120. Edo a 2.14'30";
121. Wust a 2.17'12"; 122. Leoni a 2.17'16"; 123.
Magnusson a 2.17'22"; 124. Andriotto a 2.17'49"; 125.
Fornaciari a 2.19'18"; 126. Djavanian a 2.19'35"; 127.
Spruch a 2.20'29"; 128. Bottaro a 2.21'11"; 129.
Cassani a 2.24'47"; 130. Peschel a 2.26'10"; 131.
Bontempi a 2.26'39"; 132. Pianegonda a 2.26'57"; 133.
Calcaterra a 2.32'03"; 134. Schmidt a 2.32'39"; 135.
Santaromita a 2.35'35"; 136. Aggiano a 2.37'33"; 137.
Giacomelli a 2.45'57"; 138. Cauz 2.54'02"; 139. Di
Renzo a 2.58'38"; 140. Rossato a 3.00'09".