12 May 95 -- Marco Pantani is out of this year's Giro after losing a two-week injury and fitness battle. Pantani had been receiving daily treatments on his injured right knee, which was injured when he collided with a car while training. His vacancy will be filled by Sergio Barbero.
Seventy-five kilometers from the finish a powerful group including Tony Rominger and Maurizio Fondriest pulled one minute and 38 seconds clear. They were later pulled back. Then, 50 kilometers from Terni, a tough climb to the hilltop of Todi demolished the field. A group of some 60 riders reformed, with all the favorites present, and from there on Cipollini's team was in command.
Icy rain pelted the peloton over the last four kilometer but Cipolllini's team assured his win by maintaining a high speed. Cipollini paid tribute to their efforts. "I am happy I have got my first maglia rosa and I owe a lot to my team, particularly Silvio Martinello. He was so strong over the final 50 km," said Cipollini.
Cipollini moved into the overall lead with a winner's time bonus, 12 seconds. Manzoni and Capiot earned bonuses of eight and four seconds respectively, but a bonus for winning an intermediate sprint enabled Fondriest to climb in general classification.
Sunday's ITT over 19 kms from Foligno to Assisi will be the first battle between Rominger and Berzin. The duel could be decided on a tough climb which rises more than 200 meters in the last four kilometers to the finish.
Stage 1 - 205 kms
1. Mario Cipollini (Italy/Mercatone Uno) 05:15:53 2. Mario Manzoni (Italy/Brescialat) 3. Johan Capiot (Belgium/Ceramiche Refin) 4. Giovanni Fidanza (Italy/Polti) 5. Francois Simon (France/Castorama) 6. Nicola Minali (Italy/Gewiss-Ballan) 7. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark/Maglificio MG) 8. Michel Lafis (Sweden/Amore & Vita) 9. Gilles Talamant (France/Castorama) 10. Alessandro Bertolini (Italy/Carrera) 11. Silvio Martinello (Italy/Mercatone Uno) 12. Francesco Casagrande (Italy/Mercatone Uno) 13. Giovanni Lombardi (Italy/Polti) 14. Pascar Richard (Switzerland/Maglificio MG) 15. Nicola Lodi (Italy/Maglificio MG) 16. Andrei Tieterlouk (Kazakhstan/AKI-Gipiemme) 17. Jim van de Laer (Belgium/TVM) 18. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy/Carrera) 19. Udo Bolts (Germany/Telekom) 20. Kai Hundertmark (Germany/Telekom) all s.t.General Classification (1)
1. Cipollini 05:15:41 2. Manzoni + 04 secs. 3. Maurizio Fondriest (Italy/Lampre-Panaria) 06 4. Fidanza 8 5. Capiot s.t. 6. Tony Rominger (Switzerland/Mapei-GB) 10 7. Simon 8. Minali 9. Sorensen 10. Lafis 11. Talmant 12. Bertolini 13. Martinello 14. Casagrande 15. Dmitri Konychev (Russia/AKI-Gipiemme) 16. Lombardi 17. Chiappucci 18. Richard 19. Zbigniew Spruch (Poland/Maglificio MG) 20. Lodi all 12 secs.
"This pink jersey is the only one in the world, I've thought that since I was a child," Rominger said at the stage's finish. "It's a great one to have in my collection."
Fondriest was disappointed by his performance in the time trial. "I had hoped to do much better on this stage, I really hoped to take the pink jersey," he said, adding that he hoped to gain on Rominger during the intermediate stages. "In the next few days there are stages that seem easy but are really very difficult...(Tony) will find it hard to control the race in these stages," he said.
As for his protecting the pink jersey, Rominger said, "There are many kilometers to travel before Milan, I don't want to say that I am the favorite, that I will win easily. "I don't believe our team is strong enough to take the final jersey."
Another disappointment for Italians was the lackluster performance of Claudio Chiappucci. In a stage suited to his strengths, he came in one minute and 51 seconds behind Rominger.
Stage 2 - 19 kms ITT
1. Tony Rominger (Switzerland/Mapei GB) 00:25:05 2. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark/Maglificio MG) + 47 secs. 3. Maurizio Fondriest (Italy/Lampre) s.t. 4. Francesco Casagrande (Italy/Mercatone Uno) 51 5. Evgeny Berzin (Russia/Gewiss-Ballan) 55 6. Piotr Ugrumov (Latvia/Gewiss-Ballan) 1:08 7. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy/Mercatone Uno) 1:10 8. Wladimir Belli (Italy/Lampre) s.t. 9. Pavel Tonkov (Russia/Lampre) 1:12 10. Mario Cipollini (Italy/Mercatone Uno) 1:20 11. Alberto Elli (Italy/Maglificio MG) 1:24 12. Davide Rebellin (Italy/Maglificio MG) 1:25 13. Patrick Jonker (Australia/ONCE) 1:37 14. Erik Breukink (Netherlands/ONCE) 1:38 15. Francois Simon (France/Castorama) 1:39 16. Filippo Casagrande (Italy/Brescialat) 1:44 17. Bruno Cenghialia (Italy/Gewiss-Ballan) 1:47 18. Enrico Zaina (Italy/Carrera) 1:50 19. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy/Carrera) 1:51 20. Laurent Madouas (France/Castorama) 1:57G.C.(2)
1. Rominger 05:40:56 2. Fondriest + 43 secs. 3. Sorensen 49 4. Casagrande 53 5. Berzin 57 6. Cipollini 1:10 7. Ugromov 1:10 8. Belli 1:12 9. Lelli 1:12 10. Tonkov 1:14 11. Elli 1:26 12. Rebellin 1:27 13. Jonker 1:39 14. Breukink 1:40 15. Simon 1:41 16. Casagrande 1:46 17. Cenghialta 1:49 18. Zaina 1:52 19. Chiappucci 1:53 20. Madouas 1:59 And; 41. Andrew Hampsten, USA 2:28
Cipollini snatched his 11th win of the season, replacing Laurent Jalabert as the rider with the most victories so far this year. It is Cipollini's 12th Giro win since 1989. "Again my team were great workers and Silvio Martinello set up my victory by setting the pace through the last bend," Cipollini said.
Rominger finished in the main pack after the peloton pulled back a dangerous breakaway of five riders six kms from the finish. The threatening break occurred in the last 55 kms with Rodolfo Massi, Paolo Lanfranchi, Giorgio Furlan, Andrea Tafi and Mariano Piccoli pulling away to crate a gap of 01:56 minutes in 21 kms. For the most part, it was Cipollini's team which powered the chasers to ensure the break was recaptured, all to set up Cipollini's win. Rominger said, "I expect a tougher stage tomorrow. Anyway I don't plan to weary my team and myself to defend to pink jersey. It's a long way to go, and I could lose it, and regain it. It was a quiet and easy day for me with my team working smoothly but tomorrow is going to be tricky."
Tuesday's fourth stage takes the riders over 192 kms from Mondolfo to Loreto further down the coast, but it's the hilly 22 kms finishing circuit on narrow roads that concerns Rominger. An unexpected attack could threaten his lead as the peloton completes five laps before a winding uphill finish.
Stage 3 - 161 kms/99.8 kms
1. Mario Cipollini (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 03:56:11 2. Johan Capiot (Belgium-Ceramiche Refin) 3. Giuseppe Citterio (Italy-AKI Gipiemme) 4. Jan Svorada (Slovakia-Lampre) 5. Nicola Minali (Italy-Gewiss Ballan) 6. Giovanni Fidanza (Italy-Polti) 7. Silvio Martinello (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 8. Massimo Strazzer (Italy-Navigare) 9. Marco Villa (Italy-Amore & Vita) 10. Mario Manzoni (Italy-Brescialat) 11. Peter van Petegem (Belgium-TVM) 12. Francois Simon (France-Castorama) 13. Fabio Baldato (Italy-Maglificio MG) 14. Philippe Gaumont (France-Castorama) 15. Denis Zanette (Italy-AKI Gipiemme) 16. Andreas Kappes (Germany-Telekom) 17. Fabiano Fontanelli (Italy-ZG Mobili) 18. Pedro Silva (Portugal-Sicasal) 19. Michael Anderson (Sweden-Sicasal) 20. Juan Rodrigo Arenas (Spain-Festina) all s.t. And; 32. Jesper Skibby, Denmark, TVM-Versekeringen 34. Rolf Sorensen, Denmark, Maglificio MG-Technogym 65. Georg Totschnig, Austria, Team Polti 77. Bo Hamburger, Denmark, TVM-Verzerkeringen 83. Stephen Hodge, Australia, Festina-Lotus 88. Tony Rominger, Switzerland, Mapei-GB 148. Andrew Hampsten, USA, Banesto all s.t.G.C.(3)
1. Tony Rominger (Switzerland-Mapei GB) 09:37:07 2. Maurizio Fondriest (Italy-Lampre) + 43 secs. 3. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark-Maglificio MG) 49 4. Cipollini 52 5. Francesco Casagrande (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 53 6. Evgeny Berzin (Russia-Gewiss Ballan) 57 7. Piotr Ugrumov (Latvia-Gewiss Ballan) 1:10 8. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 1:12 9. Wladimir Belli (Italy-Lampre) s.t. 10. Pavel Tonkov (Russia-Lampre) 1:14 11. Alberto Elli (Italy-Maglificio MG) 1:26 12. Davide Rebellin (Italy-Maglificio MG) 1:27 13. Pat Jonker (Australia-ONCE) 1:39 14. Erik Breukink (Netherlands-ONCE) 1:40 15. Simon 1:41 16. Filippo Casagrande (Italy-Brescialat) 1:46 17. Bruno Cenghialta (Italy-Gewiss Ballan) 1:49 18. Enrico Zaina (Italy-Carrera) 1:52 19. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy-Carrera) 1:53 20. Laurent Madouas (France-Castorama) 1:59 And; 25. Andersson + 2:07 mins. 40. Hampsten 2:28 41. Totschnig 2:28 124. Hodge 13:28 190. Daisuke Imanaka, Japan, Team Polti 23:36
Fabrizio Bontempi built a lead of 14 minutes and 25 seconds in a suicidal solo of 142 kms. He stayed away until 35 kms from the finish as first Fabiano Fontanelli and then "the relentless Rominger machine" overhauled him.
After other short-lived solo attacks were neutralized, Davide Rebellin and Bruno Cenghialta began an all-Italian attack that took them 26 seconds clear. A little later, they were joined by Claudio Chiappucci. It was then that Rominger's team stepped up the tempo. Russia's Vladislav Bobrik looked set to take the stage but Rominger, riding alone, reeled him in in the last kilometer to finish four seconds ahead.
Andrew Hampsten (USA) did poorly in Stage 4 and fell out of contention for the overall victory. He fell to 78th place, 16:52 minutes behind Rominger.
Stage 4 - 192 kms
1. Tony Rominger (Switzerland-Mapei GB) 05:30:53 2. Maurizio Fondriest (Italy-Lampre) + 04 secs. 3. Francesco Casagrande (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 06 4. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy-Carrera) 5. Enrico Zaina (Italy-Carrera) 6. Evgeny Berzin (Russia-Gewiss Ballan) 7. Roberto Pelliconi (Italy-Ceramiche Refin) 8. Paolo Lanfranchi (Italy-Brescialat) 9. Davide Rebellin (Italy-Maglificio MG) 10. Piotr Ugrumov (Latvia-Gewiss Ballan) 11. Laurent Madouas (France-Castorama) 12. Giorgio Furlan (Italy-Gewiss Ballan) all s.t. 13. Oliveiro Rincon (Colombia-ONCE) + 15 14. Georg Totschnig (Austria-Polti) 15. Vladislav Bobrik (Russia-Gewiss Ballan) 16. Jens Heppner (Germany-Telekom) 17. Laudelino Cubino (Spain-Kelme) all s.t. 18. Pavel Tonkov (Russia-Lampre) + 19 19. Francois Simon (France-Castorama) 20. Francesco Frattini (Italy-Gewiss Ballan) all same time And; 25. Pascal Richard, Switzerland, Maglificio MG + 25 36. Omar Pumar, Brazil, Brescialat 38 70. Rolf Sorensen, Denmark, Maglificio MG 5:34General Classification (4)
1. Rominger 15:07:48 2. Fondriest + 51 secs. 3. Casagrande 1:07 4. Berzin 1:15 5. Ugrumov 1:28 6. Rebellin 1:45 7. Tonkov s.t. 8. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 1:49 9. Wladimir Belli (Italy-Lampre) 2:07 10. Zaina 2:10 11. Chiappucci 2:11 12. Simon 2:12 13. Alberto Elli (Italy-Maglificio MG) 2:16 14. Madouas 2:17 15. Heinz Imboden (Switzerland-Ceramiche Refin) 2:26 16. Bobrik 2:31 17. Pat Jonker (Australia-ONCE) 2:37 18. Bruno Cenghialta (Italy-Gewiss Ballan) 2:39 19. Massimo Podenzana (Italy-Brescialat) 2:43 20. Furlan 2:44 And; 25. Totschnig 2:55 45. Pumar 4:16 50. Sorensen 6:35 51. Erik Breukink, Netherlands, ONCE 6:54 78. Andrew Hampsten, Boulder, Colo., Banesto 16:52 146. Stephen Hodge, Australia, Festina-Lotus 30:54 191. Daisuke Imanaka, Japan, Team Polti 45:41ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Stage 4, Tuesday, 16 May 95
STARTING
F. Bontempi crosses the arrival in Senigallia (km. 13)
and leads the group alone.
After 1 hour the average speed is 37.950 Km/h.
GPM Agugliano (km. 46)
Order of arrival: Bontempi with 10'12" on Piccoli, Guerini ed the group.
GPM Offagna (km. 56)
Order of arrival: Bontempi with 11'14" on Piccoli, Guerini ed the group.
TROFEO GRAN PREMIO LOTTERIA Osimo (km. 67)
Order of arrival: Bontempi with 11'40" on Saligari, Davidenko,
Lafis, Massi ed the group.
After 2 hours the average speed is 36.400 Km/h.
The group increases the speed and the advantage of Bontempi diminishes: 9'37" at Loreto third passage. As Bontempi lower his speed, Fontanelli leads the group and at next passage (46 km. from arrival) his delay from Bontempi is 2'28".
INTERGIRO Recanati (km. 153)
Order od arrival: Bontempi with 32" on Fontanelli, 44" on Fanelli and 57"
on the group.
Intergiro average speed is 37.950 Km/h.
2 km. after Intergiro, Fontanelli overtakes Bontempi, followed by Fanelli. At 10 Km. from arrival, the advantage of Fanelli is 30": he is shortly reached by the group. In the last kilometer, Bobrike escapes, but Rominger forces the rate and wins the second stage of this Giro.
ARRIVO
Rominger wins, at 4" Fondriest, at 6" Casagrande, Chiappucci,
Zaina e Berzin. Time: 5h30'53" at the average speed of 34,816 Km/h.
Individual standings - Bilboa Points Classification
1 CIPOLLINI Mario (ITA) Pt. 70 2 ROMINGER Tony (SUI) " 59 3 FONDRIEST Maurizio (ITA) " 54 4 CASAGRANDE Francesco (ITA) " 40 5 SORENSEN Rolf (DEN) " 39 6 CAPIOT Johan (BEL) " 36 7 FIDANZA Giovanni (ITA) " 34 8 MANZONI Mario (ITA) " 29 9 BERZIN Eugeni (RUS) " 24 10 MINALI Nicola (ITA) " 22 11 SVORADA Jan (SVK) " 20 12 CHIAPPUCCI Claudio (ITA) " 17 13 SIMON Francois (FRA) " 17 14 UGRUMOV Piotre (LAT) " 16 15 CITTERIO Giuseppe (ITA) " 16 16 STRAZZER Massimo (ITA) " 16 17 MARTINELLO Silvio (ITA) " 14 18 BONTEMPI Fabrizio (ITA) " 14 19 ZAINA Enrico (ITA) " 12 20 REBELLIN Davide (ITA) " 11Intergiro Standings
1 BONTEMPI Fabrizio (ITA) 10h58'10" 2 FONDRIEST Maurizio (ITA) 02" 3 CIPOLLINI Mario (ITA) 06" 4 FIDANZA Giovanni (ITA) 16" 5 FONTANELLI Fabiano (ITA) 20" 6 ROMINGER Tony (SUI) 20" 7 STRAZZER Massimo (ITA) 20" 8 FANELLI Antonio (ITA) 26" 9 SVORADA Jan (SVK) 26" 10 TAFI Andrea (ITA) 30"King of the Mountains Standings
1 PICCOLI Mariano (ITA) Pt. 14
2 GUERINI Giuseppe (ITA) " 11
3 BONTEMPI Fabrizio (ITA) " 7
4 MASSI Rodolfo (ITA) " 2
PODENZANA Massimo (ITA) " 2
CHIAPPUCCI Claudio (ITA) " 2
CANZONIERI Angelo (ITA) " 2
8 LANFRANCHI Paolo (ITA) " 1
CASAGRANDE Francesco (ITA) " 1
Won in a final-kilometer duel with Rolf Sorensen. Stage winner, Filippo Casagrande, at 21 years old is the youngest rider in this year's Giro. "I can't believe it, a stage victory in the Giro, on my first year as a professional," Casagrande said. Moments later, he cried uncontrollably as the full realization of his victory sank in. "For me it was a fairy tale simply to be in the Giro d'Italia -- to win a stage just seemed impossible," Casagrande said.
Stage 5 - 182 kms
1. Filippo Casagrande (Italy-Brescialat) 04:39:02 2. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark-Maglificio MG) 3. Erik Breukink (Netherlands-ONCE) s.t. 4. Mario Chiesa (Italy-Carrera) + 04 secs. 5. Luca Gelfi (Italy-Brescialat) 31 6. Jan Svorada (Slovakia-Lampre) 1:06 7. Stefano Zanatta (Italy-AKI Gipiemme) 8. Stefano Giraldi (Italy-Ceramiche Refin) 9. Jose Luis Arrieta (Spain-Banesto) 10. Mario Mantovan (Italy-Carrera) all s.t. 11. Mario Cipollini (Italy-Mercatone Uno) + 3:49 12. Giovanni Fidanza (Italy-Polti) 13. Zbigniew Spruch (Poland-Lampre) 14. Dmitri Konyshev (Russia-AKI Gipiemme) 15. Silvio Martinello (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 16. Maurizio Molinari (Italy-Amore & Vita) 17. Michel Lafis (Sweden-Amore & Vita) 18. Pedro Silva (Portugal-Sicasal) 19. Francois Simon (France-Castorama) 20. Bruno Thibout (France-Castorama) all s.t. And; 33. Pascal Richard, Switzerland, Maglificio MG + 3:49 mins. 39. Tony Rominger, Switzerland, Mapei-GB 44. Eugeni Berzin, Russia, Gewiss-Ballan 46. Georg Totschnig, Austria, Team Polti 75. Patrick Jonker, Australia, ONCE 94. Omar Pumar, Brazil, Brescialat s.t. --- 126. Andrew Hampsten, Boulder, Colo., Banesto 5:18 138. Daisuke Imanaka, Japan, Team Polti 168. Stephen Hodge, Australia, Festina-Lotus s.t.G.C. (5)
1. Tony Rominger (Switzerland, Mapei GB) 19:50:39 2. Maurizio Fondriest (Italy-Lampre) + 51 secs. 3. Francesco Casagrande (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 1:07 4. Evgeny Berzin (Russia-Gewiss Ballan) 1:15 5. Piotr Ugrumov (Latvia-Gewiss Ballan) 1:28 6. Davide Rebellin (Italy-Maglificio MG) 1:45 7. Pavel Tonkov (Russia-Lampre) s.t. 8. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy-Mercatone Uno) 1:49 9. Wladimir Belli (Italy-Lampre) 2:07 10. Enrico Zaina (Italy-Carrera) 2:10 11. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy-Carrera) 2:11 12. Francois Simon (France-Castorama) 2:12 13. Alberto Elli (Italy-Maglificio MG) 2:16 14. Laurent Madouas (France-Castorama) 2:17 15. Heinz Imboden (Switzerland-Ceramiche Refin) 2:26 16. Vladislav Bobrik (Russia-Gewiss Ballan) 2:31 17. Pat Jonker (Australia-ONCE) 2:37 18. Rolf Sorensen (Denmark-Maglificio MG) 2:38 19. Bruno Cenghialta (Italy-Gewiss Ballan) 2:39 20. Massimo Podenzana (Italy-Brescialat) 2:43 And; 26. Totschnig 2:55 29. Breukink 3:01 46. Pumar 4:16 87. Hampsten 18:21 155. Hodge 33:03 184. Imanaka 47:10