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85th Giro d'Italia (GT)
Italy, May 11-June 2, 2002
Stage 20 - June 2: Cantù-Milano, 142 km
Start time: 13:30 CEST
Estimated finish time: 17:10 CEST
Complete Live Report
Click Here for the results
14:30 CEST
Welcome to Cyclingnews.com's live coverage of the 20th and last stage of the Giro d'Italia, 142 kilometres from Cantù to Milano. The final stage in a grand tour is usually a "parade", as all the main classifications are normally decided by then and the various jersey wearers can relax a little. Of course, once the riders hit the final circuit in Milan the tempo will increase, but until then the pace will definitely be piano. Also bear in mind that Mario Cipollini and Massimo Strazzer are separated by just one point for the points classification (maglia ciclamino), so we can expect to see a battle there, but Mario has the edge.
The general classification was decided yesterday in the 44.3 km time trial to Brianza. Race leader Paolo Savoldelli rode a strong race to finish third behind winner Aitor Gonzalez and Serguei Gontchar. That meant that Savoldelli put time into his nearest rivals Pietro Caucchioli and Tyler Hamilton. He has had a good Giro, but most importantly was the strongest in the final week when it counted.
14:45 CEST - km 32
Today's stage saw all 140 riders left in the race start. In total, 58 riders have dropped out of the Giro this year, which is about average for a three week tour.
Weather conditions today are very warm, fortunately the stage is quite short and the riders won't need excessive amounts of fluid. Four hours in 30 degree temperatures is more than enough.
The day's only climb at Cantu (km 22.5) was won by Mauro Gerosa (Tacconi) from namesake/teammate Mauro Radaelli and Ruben Marin (Selle Italia). The climb was only a category 3, meaning that the winner only gained 4 points. It won't affect the outcome of the mountains competition, which has already been secured by Julio Perez Cuapio.
15:00 CEST - km 44
Besides Perez Cuapio and Savoldelli, the other jersey wearers in the Giro are Mario Cipollini, in the purple (ciclamino) points jersey, and Massimo Strazzer in the blue Intergiro jersey. As already mentioned, the only competition that will be decided today is the points, with Cipo leading Strazzer by one solitary point.
Strazzer is also the clear leader in the Most Combative classification (a combination of points, mountains and intergiro); but Cipollini is well ahead in the Azzurri d'Italia classification (stage finish points only); Mariano Piccoli leads the Trofeo Fuga Piaggio - the most attacking rider; Alessio leads both the Fast Team and Super Team classifications; and finally Team Telekom is the leader in the Fair Play classification. They have not been fined or penalised during the Giro, and therefore have zero points (a good thing).
The peloton is still together with some 15 km to go until Milano.
15:14 CEST - km 52/90 km to go
The peloton is riding at a moderate pace, two abreast like a Sunday training ride. They've still got 90 kilometres to go, with the last 75 km consisting of 12 x 6.2 km laps around a circuit in Milan. Everyone is relaxed and chatting to each other. Nardello grabs one of his teammates' "peace tags" on the back of his saddle and gets a free ride.
Mario Cipollini cruises up the outside of the peloton, accompanied by a teammate. He's looking for his sixth stage win today.
Temperatures are over 30 degrees today.
15:27 CEST - km 58/84 km to go
The riders are approaching the Integiro on the outskirts of Milan. Strazzer's Phonak team gets near the front, and Cipollini is also well placed. Strazzer can gain a few points in the intergiro and the points classification if he wins this, which means Cipollini will probably have to win the stage to secure his jersey.
Cipollini doesn't contest the Interigro and Strazzer wins it easily. That means he has a 7 point lead in the points competition as well. However, there are 25 points for a stage win...
15:34 CEST - km 63/79 km to go
Mathew Hayman (Rabobank) attacks straight after the Intergiro, but this only has the effect of making the peloton annoyed. They catch him, very strung out, and then regroup.
Intergiro results 1. Massimo Strazzer (Phonak), 2. Biagio Conte (Saeco) 3. Angelo Furlan (Alessio)
15:40 CEST - km 67/75 km to go
12 laps/75 km to go in the Giro, as the Index-Alexia team leads the peloton through for the start of the first lap. Savoldelli is in fifth wheel, in the pink jersey and looks very comfortable. The pace is still moderate.
15:50 CEST - km 74/68 km to go
11 laps/68 km to go and the peloton has picked up the tempo a little. Still Index-Alexia leading, with Bo Hamburger and Paolo Lanfranchi and Eddy Serri on the front.
The average speed of the first lap was around 42.5 km/h, not fast on this wide course, but also not slow.
15:58 CEST - km 80/62 km to go
10 laps/62 km to go. Lanfranchi leads them across for the third lap, with the peloton still compact. A big crowd has gathered at the finish to enjoy the action and the sun.
15:06 CEST - km 87/55 km to go
9 laps/55 km to go. The peloton round the last corner 500m before the finish, as Cipollini's Acqua e Sapone team move near the front to help Index-Alexia (and set up Cipo for the win).
No attacks yet, with the overall average speed now up to 34.56 km/h.
15:14 CEST - km 93/49 km to go
8 laps/49 km to go. The lead is being shared by CSC-Tiscali and Index-Alexia, and the pace keeps on picking up gradually. That last lap was run at 45.6 km/h.
15:22 CEST - km 99/43 km to go
7 laps/43 km to go. CSC, Acqua e Sapone and Index-Alexia are still setting a high tempo, trying to discourage any attacks - the last lap was run at 46.8 km/h.
But Rabobank's Thorwald Veneberg and Marc Lotz are trying to break the shackles, and they get a 100 metre gap off the front with 7 laps to go. It's very ambitious, but it's certainly worth a try.
15:29 CEST - km 105/37 km to go
6 laps/37 km to go. Lotz and Veneberg have done well to stay away on this lap, riding a two man time trial at 50 km/h. But they only have a six second lead, and Saeco have now got to the front to help the chase.
That last lap was the fastest yet: 6.2 km in 7'35 (49.05 km/h). It's good two man time trial practice at any rate.
15:37 CEST - km 111/31 km to go
5 laps/31 km to go. Marc Lotz and Thorwald Veneberg have maintained their 7 second lead, with no one in the peloton wishing to take charge of the chase. Renzo Mazzoleni and Mauro Radaelli tried, but were reabsorbed by the peloton. However, the gap is not big enough to be dangerous.
That lap was done in 7'44 (48 km/h). Still very quick and the overall average has leapt up to 36.8 km/h
Lotz and Veneberg are caught just after the seventh lap.
15:46 CEST - km 117/25 km to go
4 laps/25 km to go. Another 48 km/h lap as the race seems set for a bunch sprint. If only Veneberg and Lotz had left it for a bit longer...
Saeco, Acqua e Sapone, CSC, and Index-Alexia are working hard, with Savoldell in pink sitting next to Mario Cipollini in purple.
15:53 CEST - km 123/19 km to go
3 laps/19 km to go. That was the quickest lap yet in 7'29 (49.7 km/h) and no-one can get away off the front. It's a long line now as they negotiate the gentle bends around this picturesque circuit in Milano.
17:01 CEST - km 130/12 km to go
2 laps/12 km to go. Still the same teams leading, but the pace has increased. The overall average speed is 38.1 km/h but that last lap was run at 51.9 km/h. Saeco are obviously looking for a good result from their sprinter Conte, to show the Tour de France organisers that they are a capable team without Simoni. That decision comes tomorrow.
17:05 CEST - km 134/8 km to go
1.5 laps to go. Cipollini's train has mobilsed itself at the head of the peloton, but the high speed has made it tough to keep them all there. Still Saeco, Index-Alexia and CSC are taking turns. Bo Hamburger (Index-Alexia) commits suicide by attacking - or is that just a hard turn?
17:08 CEST - km 136/6 km to go
1 lap to go. Lotto are trying to get Vierhouten in position. But it's Martin Derganc (A&S) who leads the way with one to go. Ultimo Giro. Another 51+ km/h lap.
Fassa Bortolo are also trying to muscle in on the action, as are Coast and Phonak. But there's more zebras there than anyone else.
17:12 CEST - km 139/3 km to go
Aitor Gonzalez (Kelme) has got himself on the front, but he doesn't last too long. He does a strong turn. He's looking at a contract with Acqua e Sapone though...
Derganc takes over as Petacchi and Sacchi fight for Cipo's wheel. Petacchi gets it.
17:13 CEST - km 141/1 km to go
Konyshev has got himself into the Acqua train, but may be forced to do a turn. Now Cipo is behind Petacchi and Lombardi and Trenti. Konyshev does his turn and pulls off with 1 km to go.
17:15 CEST - km 142/0 km to go
Lombardi leads around the final corner, and again has to lead out Petacchi. Michaelsen goes first but fails, and Cipollini comes off Petacchi's wheel to take his sixth win. Third was Haselbacher - a repeat of stage 18.
Cipollini raises six fingers as he crosses the line to signify the number of stage wins in this Giro. He also secured the points jersey, as Strazzer finished 21st.
The overall winner is Paolo Savoldelli, who pulled on the maglia rosa for the first time in his career last Thursday after stage 17. He kept it, and increased it in the time trial. Second overall is Tyler Hamilton, an impressive result for his first three week Tour as a team leader. Third goes to Pietro Caucchioli (Alessio), another young talented rider, who has a good future.
Savoldelli's got to work on his spumante opening technique for next year...
Thanks to everyone for following our live coverage of the Giro - we'll see you again in five weeks for the Tour de France, live from start to finish. Any comments/suggestions can be sent to cyclingnews@cyclingnews.com
Results
Provisional 1 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo 3.35.28 2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 3 Rene' Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner 4 Isaac Galvez Lopez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 5 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport 6 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Rabobank 7 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team Coast 8 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Lotto-Adecco 9 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio 10 Angelo Furlan (Ita) Alessio 11 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 12 Miguel Angel Meza (Mex) Team Colpack-Astro 13 Mykhaylo Khalilov (Ukr) Colombia-Selle Italia 14 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Team Colpack-Astro 15 Mauro Gerosa (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi 16 Uros Murn (Slo) Formaggi-Trentini Final general classification 1 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Index Alexia 89.22.42 2 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC Tiscali 1.41 3 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio 2.12 4 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Lampre-Daikin 3.14 5 Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Lampre-Daikin 5.34 6 Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 6.54 7 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner 7.02 8 Fernando Escartin (Spa) Team Coast 7.07 9 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 9.24 10 Dario Frigo (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi 11.50 11 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 12.49 12 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 14.50 13 Ivan Gotti (Ita) Alessio 15.17 14 Cadel Evans (Aus) Mapei-Quick Step 16.25 15 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi 17.23 16 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio 17.32 17 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 19.28 18 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Cantina Tollo 21.52 19 Julio Perez Cuapio (Mex) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo 22.03 20 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 23.54
Click Here for the results
