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85th Giro d'Italia (GT)

Italy, May 11-June 2, 2002

News for May 15, 2002

Post stage comments

Mario Cipollini (Acqua e Sapone, 1st stage)

Mario Cipollini
Photo: © Sirotti
Click for larger image

"It looked like a simple view from the helicopter but I assure you that it was not easy. Since December, we have worked to create a spirit in this team, to form a collective unit. There is a mood, an extraordinary understanding, even for those who are amongst the last to finish in the peloton."

"The record of Binda seems inaccessible for me this year. I will try as many stages as possible, I do not set myself any particular objective. This is already a satisfactory Giro. We could maybe already have won three stages without that unlucky puncture in the prologue."

Stefano Garzelli (Mapei, 1st GC)

Stefano Garzelli
Photo: © Sirotti
Click for larger image

"It was dangerous in the rain. It was for this reason that I requested my teammates to go to the front. Robert Hunter rode, because he told us that he did not want to dispute the finishing sprint."

"The pace was not very high because the stage was long and the wind was against us. To arrive in Italy in pink would be very nice. There is only one more day to get through."

Injured Boogerd still going strong

Rabobank's Michael Boogerd injured his elbow, hand and thigh in a crash in stage 1 of the Giro, but opted to continue the race anyway. He not only showed up for stage 2 from Cologne to Ans, he also figured strongly in the finale, finishing sixth.

"When the race got faster, it hurt like hell," said Boogerd to Het Nieuwsblad after yesterday's stage. "But I didn't want to quit this Tour in bed, if I do have to leave, it will be on the bike. In the meantime I'm taking pain killers. I'm allowing myself four days to function normally again; if I'm not better by then, I see no other solution than to quit."

The Euro Giro goes to France

Tomorrow's fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia takes the riders from Luxembourg to Strasbourg in France, the fifth country to be visited by the race. At 232 kilometres, it's the longest stage of the Euro-Giro so far although Stage 8 from Capannori to Orvieto is even longer at 237 km.

It will be the fifth time that the Giro has visited France - 29 years since its first time there when there was a stage from Verviers (Belgium) to Strasbourg. Since then, the Giro has crossed the French border on a number of occasions: in 1994 to Les Deux-Alpesm in 1995 (start in Briançon), 1996 (finish in Briançon), 1998 (prologue in Nice), and 2000 (finish in Briançon).

The fourth stage is again fairly flat, with the Intergiro sprint coming earlier than usual at Saarbrücken (km 103), while the day's only climb of La Petite Pierre is at km 165. There's no finishing circuit tomorrow, so the riders won't get the chance to judge the finish before it happens. Expect Supermario's Acqua e Sapone train to be at the front again for another zebra-striped victory. Maybe he wants to beat the Alfredo Binda record of 41 wins this year?

Giro stage 3 coverage

Full results & report
Live report
Photos

Latest newsflashes

May 25 - Mathew Hayman interview: Making hay while the sun shines
May 25 - Stage 12 wrap up, Post stage comments, Lunghi wins 12th stage, Simoni out, Saeco cancels journos' football game, Perfetto denies doping
May 24 - Stage 11 wrap up, Post stage comments, Simoni not in the clear yet, Cadel Evans re-launches website, Garzelli case to be heard on June 3, Frigo taken for a ride, Saeco pulls Simoni before B sample announced, Mercatone flicks Sgambelluri
May 23 - Stage 10 wrap up, Post stage comments, Simoni allowed to continue, regardless of B test, Mapei to continue in the Giro
May 22 - Stage 9 wrap up, Garzelli's B sample positive, Post stage comments, Gutted Garzelli to take a break from cycling, Cipollini comments, Castellano comments, Why probenecid?, Policeman admits to supplying Varriale and co. with doping products, Simoni non-negative for cocaine
May 21 - Stage 8 wrap up, Post stage comments, Santi Perez hospitalised with cranial trauma, Garzelli's counter-analysis due on Tuesday, Varriale and the wicked fridge

Complete story index

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