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85th Giro d'Italia (GT)
Italy, May 11-June 2, 2002
Stage profile Start list Results
Stage 10 - May 22: Maddaloni-Benevento, 118 km
Start time: 14:20 CEST
Estimated finish time: 17:10 CEST
Latest Live Report
15:10 CEST
The 10th stage of the Giro d'Italia is the shortest non-time trial stage at just 118 kilometres, consisting of a 100 kilometre journey from Maddaloni to Benevento with three moderate climbs, followed by three laps of a 6 km finishing circuit in Benevento. The stage is suited to the sprinters, but it won't be an easy one for them.
The mood of the Giro is quite sombre at the moment with the news of Garzelli's disqualification from the race following his positive B sample for probenecid; and then the additional blow of Gilberto Simoni's non-negative (i.e. positive A test) for cocaine, which was taken before the Giro del Trentino on April 24. Simoni is still in the race, while he waits for a counter evaluation. However, the likely scenario is that he too will be excluded from the race.
15:25 CEST - 38 km/80 km to go
Simoni and the Saeco team gave a press conference before today's stage, where they presented their case. On the morning of the surprise anti-doping control, Simoni had visited the dentist to get a filling. He believes that the cocaine was used as for anaesthetic purposes by the dentist. The case has been referred to the FCI (Italian Federation) rather than the Giro's anti-doping officer in order for a resolution in the matter to be made quickly.
An update on today's stage: The weather conditions are really warm (above 30 degrees) and all riders started this morning save for Garzelli. The peloton is on the first climb of the day, the 519m Monteforte Irpino, and has just about reached the top. No-one has attacked yet.
15:35 CEST - 45 km/73 km to go
Joaquim Castelblanco (Selle Italia) wins the mountain sprint, followed by Ruggero Marzoli (Formaggi Trentini) and Denis Lunghi (Colpack) at 12 seconds. The maglia rosa group with Jens Heppner is another 20 seconds behind, while the sprinters are struggling a bit further back.
15:49 CEST - 52 km/66 km to go
The peloton regroups on the descent in time for the Intergiro at km 48. Massimo Strazzer (Phonak) wins the bonus sprint ahead of Fabrizio Guidi (Team Coast) and Biagio Conte (Saeco). Strazzer is the undisputed leader in this competition, also winning the jersey last year.
16:01 CEST - 60 km/58 km to go
The peloton tackles the next climb, which is not rated as a mountain sprint. Colombian Hector Mesa Mesa (Formaggi Trentini) attacks, but is caught just before the top.
16:12 CEST - 65 km/53 km to go
Only one more small climb to come before the descent into Benevento and the three x 6 km finishing laps. Mercatone Uno's Riccardo Forconi has abandoned at 64 km.
16:22 CEST - 77 km/41 km to go
Telekom is controlling the pace as the peloton starts on the third and last climb before Benevento. Ivan Quaranta (Index-Alexia) who has not had the best of Giros so far, is reportedly struggling near the rear of the group.
Average speed after two hours: 37.2 km/h
16:38 CEST - 97 km/21 km to go
The peloton is all together as it races into Benevento, led by the Lotto and Acqua e Sapone teams. It's almost certain to end in another bunch sprint - we'll see whether Cipollini has the legs for another win, or whether someone else will take the honours.
16:46 CEST - 99 km/19 km to go
Lotto's Thierry Marichal does a turn on the front, but is quickly taken over by a Team Coast rider. Landbouwkrediet-Colnago have several riders in front as well, with the peloton completely strung out as they hit the final three laps.
Phonak is also doing a bit of work for Strazzer.
16:50 CEST - 101 km/17 km to go
It's Team Coast and Phonak who lead the way with three 5.7 km laps to go, in front of a large and very loud crowd. Several sections of the parcours are cobbled, although nothing too rough.
The riders are thankful that this is only a short stage, as the heat could be quite a factor. Quaranta is definitely dropped.
16:56 CEST - 106 km/12 km to go
Frank Hoj (Team Coast) is enjoying the cobbles, as the Saeco riders have problems following him. The peloton is in one long line as it negotiates the tricky parcours, a "mini Champs Elysees" with an Arc de Triomphe and all.
Sacchi leads with two laps to go, followed by Simoni, Hamilton and Cipollini.
17:00 CEST - 109 km/9 km to go
Rolf Sorensen (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) has a mechanical problem and has to wait for a bike change. No chance of him finishing in the peloton, which is losing plenty of riders.
Most of the Index-Alexia team are escorting Quaranta to the finish, several minutes behind.
17:04 CEST - 112 km/6 km to go
Cipollini is sitting in fifth wheel behind his gregario Mario Scirea. It's going to be very tough to organise a train on this circuit. It's also an uphill sprint.
David Dario Cioni (Mapei) leads with one lap to go, followed by Sciandri and Scirea. McEwen is a few wheels behind Cipollini.
17:08 CEST - 114 km/4 km to go
Christophe Detilloux (Lotto) attacks with 4.5 km to go, forcing Scirea to bury himself to close the gap. Lorenzo Bernucci (Landbouwkrediet) gets the Lotto rider and goes straight past. He is now in the lead, but the peloton is breathing down his neck.
17:10 CEST - 115 km/3 km to go
It's on for young and old as Team Coast, Phonak and Lampre get stuck into the leadout at the front.
Is this a Fabrizio Guidi sprint?
17:11 CEST - 116 km/2 km to go
Buxhofer leads for Phonak with 2 km to go on the short cobbled section. McEwen has moved up to 5th wheel.
17:12 CEST - 117 km/1 km to go
Milan Kadlec attacks with 1 km to go and has a big gap.
17:13 CEST - 118 km/0 km to go
Kadlec (Lampre) is caught by a flying kangaroo, as Robbie McEwen wins the stage in front of Fabrizio Guidi.
Kadlec looked to see the bunch gobbling him up, led by Robbie McEwen who was far too strong for the rest. He won by around 4 bike lengths and had time to look around twice, as a frustrated Guidi hit the bars with another second place.
Results
Provisional 1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Adecco 2.57.24 (39.909 km/h) 2 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Coast 3 Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo 4 Mykhaylo Khalilov (Ukr) Colombia-Selle Italia 5 Massimo Strazzer (Ita) Phonak Hearing Systems 6 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio 7 Mariano Piccoli (Ita) Lampre-Daikin 8 Uros Murn (Slo) Formaggi-Trentini ... 10 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 12 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank General classification after stage 10 1 Jens Heppner (Ger) Team Telekom 48.49.48 2 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 3.50 3 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi 3.57 4 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.08 5 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 4.09 6 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Index Alexia 4.27 7 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport 4.29 8 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.39 9 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio 4.41 10 Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 4.43 11 Fernando Escartin (Spa) Team Coast 4.44 12 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC Tiscali 4.46 13 Cadel Evans (Aus) Mapei-Quick Step 4.47 14 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 4.49 15 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 4.52 16 Dario Frigo (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi 5.02 17 Gianni Faresin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 5.05 18 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 5.08 19 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 5.10 20 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 5.17
