SOME OF THE RIDERS:
BERZIN
HIS FORM - Eugenio Berzin arrives just in form for his major objective, the Giro. He feels better than when he won the Giro in 1994 and feels very close to his best form.
PRECEDENT - The 27 year old Russian from Team Batik-Del Monte, is one of the great time trial specialists in the world. he won the World Championship at the Team and Individual Pursuit at Maebashi '90 and has won 10 time trials since he became a Pro. Nice days ago he won at la Coppa delle Nazioni time trial, beating Uwe Peschel with an average speed of 48.859 km/hr.
BIKE - Already mentioned above. Gearing: 54 x 12-21
TONKOV
HIS FORM - The Russian has sid that he feels stronger than last year. He might not be at maximum because of his hand problems.
PRECEDENT - In six years as a Pro, Tonkov has only won the Mountain Time Trial at la Bergamasca '96. In this season he finished 8th at Romandie (at 55" from Boardman over 21.7 km) and 10th at Pais Vasco (at 1'12" from Zuelle over 12.5 km). He's not a specialist, but he transforms on the major stage races: at the Giro '96 finished 4th at the Marostica time trial (62 km) at 1'27" from Berzin.
BIKE - Tonkov will race in a Carbon Fiber Colnago, which he has been using these days. With Shamal wheels and an add on handlebar, it will weigh about 8 kgs. (17.64 Lbs.).
PANTANI
HIS FORM - Marco Pantani is abit of an enigma for this time trial. The Italian showed his best condition in March at la Vuelta a Murcia. It is difficult to judge after such a long break.
PRECEDENT - The time trials are always Marco Pantani's weak point, although this year he took great steps in advancing. he finished second at Pais Vasco, at 22", which was won by Zuelle over 12.5 kms.
BIKE - Pantani will ride a normal Wilier Tristina, with light wheels and a Tiramisu handlebar add-on.
GOTTI
HIS FORM - Ivan Gotti has followed the same preparation as in last year, when he won the stage of Aprica and finish fifth overall.
PRECEDENT - He has never won a time trial. 52nd at the time trial at Pais Vasco at 2'30" from Zuelle over 12.5 kms and 56th at Romandie at 2'20" from Boardman over 21.7 kms.
BIKE - The Bergamascan will ride an aluminum Cannondale, lightened and with Spinaci add-on bars. For wheels it might be Spinergy or their normal Coda with Fir rims.
LEBLANC
HIS FORM - Luc Leblanc with Pavel Tonkov are the riders who are clearly in form an contending for the Pink Jersey. The Frenchman recently beat the Russian at the Giro del Trentino and retired at Romandie because of the bad weather in one stage.
PRECEDENT - He's a climber of long climbs, who doesn't like the time trials. In the eleven seasons as a pro he has won the Prologue time trial at the Criterium di Calais in 1992. This year his best results were eight at Romandie at 1'11" from Zuelle over 12.5 kms.
BIKE - The Frenchman from Team Polti will ride an aluminum Fausto Coppi bike, with a weight of a little over 8 Kgs. (17.64 Lbs.). And will probably use Spinergy wheels.
ZAINA
HIS FORM - Enrico Zaina is not in his best form. He looked good at Fleche Wallone, but was behind in respect to Tonkov and Leblanc at Trentino and Romandie. Like Gotti, Zaina is aiming towards the last week.
PRECEDENT - The time trial is always a weak point for Zaina. In nine years of racing Enrico has not won a ITT. He placed 46th at Pais Vasco at 2'15" from Alex Zuelle. At Romandie he finished 39th at 1'55" from Chris Boardman.
BIKE - he will ride a Carrera titanium with Spinaci add-on.
DOMINGUEZ
HIS FORM - Juan Carlos Dominguez was the surprise of the early season when he won at Valenciana, Murcia and Catalana. He was in peak form in March, but hasn't arrived in form for the Giro.
PRECEDENT - He has won some time trials this season. At Murcia (beat Zuelle by 17") and at Catalana (Zuelle at 1").
BIKE - Kelme's leader will use a normal Gios bike which weighs about 9 kgs. (19.845 Lbs.). He will use a 54 up front.
Half-Way Point (km 8)|Finish (km 18)
1. Dominguez in 13'| 1. Tonkov in 31'42" 2. Berzin a 1" | 2. Berzin a 21" 3. Tonkov a 4" | 3. Petito a 32" 4. Leblanc a 7" | 4. Leblanc a 34" 5. Ugrumov a 15" | 5. Ugrumov a 53" 6. Petito a 15" | 6. Gotti a 55" 7. Colombo a 24" | 7. Colombo a 1'02" 8. Noe a 24" | 8. Noe a 1'13" 9. Pantani a 24" | 9. Guerini a 1'16" 10.Di Grande a 24" |10. Dominguez a 1'22"
1. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 31.42 2. Evgeni Berzin (Rus) Batik + 0.21 3. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco + 0.32 4. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti + 0.37 5. Piotr Ugrumov (Rus) Roslotto + 0.53 6. Ivan Gotti (Ita) Saeco + 0.55 7. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Batik + 1.02 8. Andrea Noe (Ita) Asics + 1.13 9. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti + 1.16 10. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Kelme + 1.22 11. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone + 1.23 12. Nicola Miceli (Ita) Aki + 1.24 13. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto + 1.35 14. Enrico Zaina (Ita) Asics + 1.36 15. Michele Coppolillo (Ita) MG + 1.41 16. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Brescialat + 1.43 17. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei + 1.47 18. Sergei Gontchar (Ukr) Aki + 1.48 19. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Mapei + 2.00 20. Vladislav Bobrik (Rus) Ros Mary + 2.00 21. Simoni 22. Simeoni 2.02 23. Conti 2.03 24. Faustini 2.12 25. Puttini 2.15 26. Poser 2.19 27. Velo 2.21 28. Merckx 2.24 29. Sgambelluri 2.25 30. Shefer 2.26 31. Donati 2.28 32. Pistore 2.32 33. Cenghialta 2.33 34. Piepoli 2.35 35. Missaglia 36. Gentili 2.37 37. Edo 2.40 38. Pulnikov 2.42 39. Forconi 2.46 40. Cipollini 2.47 41. Rubiera 42. Gonzalez P. 2.50 43. Podenzana 2.51 44. Garcia 2.52 45. Lanfranchi 2.55 46. Crepaldi 47. Buenahora 3.01 48. Volpi 3.03 49. Barbero 50. Frattini F. 3.06 51. Piccoli 52. Siboni 3.10 53. Meier 3.11 54. Casagrande Fil. 3.14 55. Garzelli 56. Serrano 57. Paluan 3.15 58. Andriotto 3.20 59. Spezialetti 3.21 60. Sivakov 61. Steinhauser 62. Frigo 3.24 63. Peschel 3.26 64. Celestino 3.28 65. Bettini 3.29 66. Laurent 67. Padrnos 3.30 68. Mazzanti 69. Di Silvestro 3.31 70. Hvastija 3.33 71. Gonzalez G. 3.34 72. Dotti 73. Lecchi 3.35 74. Citracca 75. Ouslamine 3.36 76. Hernandez 3.41 77. Secchiari 3.42 78. Pozzi A. 3.43 79. Konyshev 3.44 80. Davidenko 3.46 81. Gasperoni 3.51 82. Vergnani 3.54 83. Pellicioli 3.55 84. Scirea 3.56 85. Patuelli 86. Pozzi 87. Bortolami 88. Schmidt 4.03 89. Gomez 90. Fagnini 4.04 91. Brasi 4.08 92. Sacchi 4.09 93. Contrini 4.10 94. Ouchakov 95. Fincato 4.11 96. Boscardin 4.12 97. Vatteroni 98. Loda 4.14 99. Molinari 4.17 100. Halgand 4.18 101. Apollonio 4.19 102. Laddomada 4.20 103. Bugno 104. Dolci 105. Leoni 4.22 106. Bettin 4.25 107. Baldato 4.26 108. Lozano 4.28 109. Finesso 110. Jeker 111. Bonetti 4.32 112. Tani 4.33 113. Cabello 4.35 114. Biasci 115. De Paoli 4.36 116. Lebreton 117. Moos 4.37 118. Scopsi 4.38 119. Djavanian 120. Gili 121. Zanette 4.39 122. Alberati 4.40 123. Moretti 4.41 124. Manzoni 125. Gallorini 4.43 126. Chiesa 4.44 127. Werner 128. Brignoli 4.45 129. Lietti 4.46 130. Bottaro 4.48 31. Calcaterra 4.49 132. Frattini C. 4.50 133. Galletti 4.52 134. Dalla Costa 4.53 135. Fontanelli 4.55 136. Pierdomenico 4.57 137. Larsen 4.58 138. Cassani 139. Calzavara 5. 140. Gualdi 5.03 141. Brognara 5.04 142. Wust 5.05 143. Svorada 5.09 144. Murtas 5.10 145. Mondini 146. Della Vedova 5.11 147. Baronti 5.22 148. Pianegonda 5.23 149. Pumar 5.25 150. Bontempi 5.31 151. Traversoni 5.32 152. Santaromita 5.34 153. Fornaciari 5.36 154. Giraldi 5.37 155. Magnusson 5.39 156. Bramati 5.40 157. Milesi 5.42 158. Tebaldi 5.44 159. Casagrande S. 160. Di Renzo 5.45 161. Vidal 5.46 162. Aggiano 5.49 163. Roscioli 5.55 164. Valoti 5.59 165. Caruso 6.07 166. Ferrigato 6.12 167. Minali 6.14 168. Balducci 6.20 169. Spruch 6.27 170. Roncancio 6.42 171. Barbagli 6.43 172. Radaelli 6.48 173. Cauz 6.57 174. Casagranda 7.09 175. Giacomelli 7.35 176. Calzolari 7.54 177. Meloni 8. 178. Rossato 8.18 179. Tomi 8.53 Started: 179. Finished: 179 (Tomi out of maximum time)Overall:
1. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 2. Evgeni Berzin (Rus) Batik + 0.01 3. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco + 0.12 4. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti + 0.37 5. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Batik + 0.42 6. Piotr Ugrumov (Rus) Roslotto + 0.53 7. Ivan Gotti (Ita) Saeco + 0.55 8. Andrea Noe (Ita) Asics + 1.13 9. Enrico Zaina (Ita) Asics + 1.16 10. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti + 1.16 11. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Kelme + 1.22 12. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone + 1.23 13. Nicola Miceli (Ita) Aki + 1.23 14. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto + 1.35 15. Sergei Gontchar (Ukr) Aki + 1.42 16. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Brescialat + 1.43 17. Gianni Faresin (Ita) Mapei + 1.47 18. Michele Coppolillo (Ita) MG + 1.55 19. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Mapei + 2.00 20. Marco Velo (Ita) Brescialat + 2.01 21. Bobrik 22. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco + 2.03 23. Faustini 2.06 24. Cenghialta 2.13 25. Missaglia 2.15 26. Puttini 27. Simoni 28. Simeoni 2.16 29. Gentili 2.17 30. Shefer 2.24 31. Merckx 32. Sgambelluri 2.25 33. Pistore 2.32 34. Poser 2.33 35. Edo 2.34 36. Piepoli 2.35 37. Donati 2.42 38. Conti 2.45 39. Piccoli 2.46 40. Crepaldi 2.49 41. Lanfranchi 2.55 42. Pulnikov 2.56 43. Forconi 3.00 44. Rubiera 3.01 45. Volpi 3.03 46. Barbero 47. Podenzana 3.05 48. Frattini F. 3.06 49. Garcia 50. Meier 3.11 51. Garzelli 3.14 52. Serrano 53. Andriotto 54. Buenahora 3.15 55. Sivakov 3.21 56. Spezialetti 57. Siboni 3.28 58. Casagrande Fil. 3.28 59. Paluan 3.29 60. Mazzanti 3.30 61. Citracca 3.35 62. Steinhauser 63. Ouslamine 3.36 64. Frigo 3.38 65. Davidenko 3.40 66. Celestino 3.42 67. Laurent 3.43 68. Padrnos 3.44 69. Di Silvestro 3.45 70. Gonzalez G. 3.48 71. Dotti 72. Sacchi 3.49 73. Lecchi 74. Ouchakov 3.50 75. Leoni 3.54 76. Hernandez 3.55 77. Pozzi A. 3.57 78. Gasperoni 4.05 79. Loda 4.08 80. Brasi 81. Scirea 82. Vergnani 83. Peschel 84. Pellicioli 4.09 85. Molinari 4.11 86. Fagnini 87. Bettini 88. Bortolami 4.12 89. Apollonio 4.13 90. Gomez 4.17 91. Baldato 4.18 92. Gonzalez P. 4.20 93. Konyshev 94. Manzoni 4.21 95. Finesso 4.22 96. Secchiari 4.24 97. Fincato 4.25 98. Bettin 99. Vatteroni 4.26 100. Scopsi 4.32 101. Bugno 4.34 102. Laddomada 103. Gili 4.38 104. Patuelli 105. Svorada 4.41 106. Jeker 4.42 107. Lozano 108. Pozzi O. 109. Wust 4.45 110. Tani 4.47 111. Cabello 4.49 112. De Paoli 4.50 113. Alberati 4.54 114. Moretti 4.55 115. Brignoli 4.56 116. Gallorini 4.57 117. Chiesa 4.58 118. Werner 119. Lietti 5. 120. Cassani 5.06 121. Galletti 122. Dalla Costa 5.07 123. Fontanelli 5.09 124. Pierdomenico 5.11 125. Calzavara 5.14 126. Magnusson 5.15 127. Zanette 5.17 128. Gualdi 129. Brognara 5.18 130. Mondini 131. Della Vedova 5.25 132. Biasci 5.27 133. Frattini C. 5.32 134. Baronti 5.36 135. Pumar 5.39 136. Larsen 5.40 137. Hvastija 5.43 138. Bontempi F. 5.45 139. Minali 5.46 140. Santaromita 5.48 141. Aggiano 5.49 142. Fornaciari 5.50 143. Giraldi 5.51 144. Bramati 5.54 145. Balducci 6. 146. Vidal 147. Ferrigato 6.06 148. Calcaterra 6.10 149. Traversoni 6.14 150. Caruso 6.21 151. Casagrande S. 6.26 152. Tebaldi 53. Roncancio 154. Bonetti 6.59 155. Schmidt 7.00 156. Spruch 7.11 157. Bottaro 7.15 158. Boscardin 7.22 159. Casagranda 7.23 160. Roscioli 7.25 161. Barbagli 162. Halgand 7.28 163. Moos 7.47 164. Djavanian 7.48 165. Radaelli 7.52 166. Murtas 7.53 167. Meloni 7.54 168. Contrini 10.07 169. Valoti 11.01 170. Pianegonda 11.02 171. Calzolari 11.04 172. Cauz 11.26 173. Giacomelli 12.00 174. Di Renzo 12.10 175. Milesi 13.12 176. Lebreton 17.36 177. Dolci 18.13 178. Rossato 21.53Stage Report
Russian Pavel Tonkov was back in the pink jersey he wore to victory last year as he snatched the overall lead in the Giro d'Italia on Monday.He clings to the colours by one second from compatriot Yevgeny Berzin after beating him by 21 seconds in an 18 km mountain time trial into the world's smallest independent republic.
Berzin, who won the 1994 Giro, started the day 20 seconds better off in the overall standings and armed with a prototype special bike costing 40 million lire ($24,000) and weighing only 8.5 kg.
But he paid for choosing the wrong gears to tackle the roller-coaster ride to the summit of San Marino and cracked badly on the major climbs.
Tonkov, who had started from Santarcangelo earlier, watched his rival's struggle on television.
``He lost a lot on the climbs but I don't think the Giro has been decided. Berzin will try everything to win, and if I have the legs I will attack in Wednesday's tough stage. I need to gain time on him.
``I had hoped to take the jersey and I think I won it on that final climb.''
Berzin said: ``I suffered on the first big climb and paid for it later. I messed up my choice of gears. I should have gone for an easier one.''
Spain's Juan Carlos Dominguez threatened to make a difference in the final outcome. After the first eight kilometres he was fastest, but he crashed on a bend and had to change his damaged bike.
He finished one minute 22 seconds slower than Tonkov and a second faster than Italy's pre-race hope Marco Pantani.
Pantani, racing just 60 km from his home, was backed by hordes of fans. Some had built a grandstand at the roadside, and banners everywhere proclaimed their hero.
The Italian, back after a 16-month lay-off with a smashed leg, said: ``I didn't ride as well as I would have liked. That is how my form is at the moment. I have to hope that it improves.''
Italy's Roberto Petito moved up to third overall, 12 seconds behind Tonkov, as his team mate Mario Cipollini lost the overall lead he took two days ago in Venice.
The big Tuscan suffered, as anticipated, on the climbs, and finished 2:47 behind Tonkov.
Tuesday's fourth leg covers an undulating 156 km between San Marino and Arezzo.
More
Russian cyclist Pavel Tonkov, from Team Mapei, becomes the new leader at the Giro d'Italia when he beat his compatriot Eugeni Berzin in the 18 kms. mountain time trial which was raced between Santarcangelo and the Republic of San Marino. Tonkov, last year's winner, covered the 18 kms. in 31 minutes and 42 seconds, 21 seconds faster than Berzin, who was the favorite to win the stage and to take the leader's jersey since before the stage he already had a 20 second advantage.Spanish cyclist Juan Carlos Dominguez put some pressure on the two Russian riders, since at one of the time splits he had the best time, but right after he fell and lost a lot of time and then had to switch bikes. If not for that accident, the Spaniard would have probably made the podium, but it wasn't his day. But neither was it Pantani's day who lost over 1:30.
The great beneficiaries today were the two Russians, since Berzin didn't do bad, but the remaining terrain favors Tonkov. The fourth stage will be disputed tomorrow with start at San Marino and finish at Arezzo: 156 kms. and the climb of Bocca Serriola, a category 3 located at kilometer 94.5.
Maurizio Tomi, sprinter for Team Ros Mary-Minotti Italia, finished out of the maximum time. Fourth on Sunday at the sprint in Cervia, the sprinter took 40'35" yesterday in covering the 18 kms. the mountain time trial of San Marino, when the maximum time was 40 minutes: The winner's time for Pavel Tonkov (31'42"). Tomi finished outside of the time limit by 35 seconds.
Two falls at the time trial yesterday: Colombian Roncancio, from Team Kross-Montanari, who reported a lacerassion/contussion to the elbow which required stitches and Spaniard Juan Carlos Dominguez, from Team Kelme-Costa Blanca, who complained of pain on the shoulder and the right elbow at the finish.
Interview with Winner
his stage 3 victory, which served him to get a hold of the Maglia Rosa, that he has succesfully overcome one of the many difficult days to come at this Giro. "The victory at this mountain time trial was in my plans. I'm going well after Romandie, what I dodn't expect was to get the maglia rosa, since I only rode about 20 seconds faster than Berzin", said Tonkov. For last year's winner, they key was in the final section of the race, on the climb of Marino. "I think that Berzin made a mistake and started too strongly and later paid for that exhibition on the mountain climb. If Dominguez wouldn't have fallen, the victory would have been for him. He has surprised me, as I didn't know him". Pavel Tonkov added that: "I think that the great defeat was for Marco Pantani. He was in his terrain and I didn't see him rise up to the circumstances. He's not a time trialist, but the finish was high and that benefit him. Plus, living around here, he has ridden this section many times. I didn't think that he would loose one and a half minutes". The new Giro leader added that it was too early to say anything, since the race just began and the most difficult part is yet to come, although the first serious challenge has gone his way. "The day after tomorrow, at the Terminillo, it is possible that the first selection will be made. I want to be prudent".