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Italy, May 8-30, 2004
Map Stages Stage profile Start List Results Latest live report
Stage 5 - May 13: Civitella In Val Di Chiana (Stab. Del Tongo) - Spoleto, 177 Km
Commentary by Jeff Jones, with additional reporting from Tim Maloney
Complete live report
Live coverage starts: 14:30 CEST
Estimated finish time: 17:15 CEST
14:30 CEST
Welcome to the live coverage of the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia presented
by Cyclingnews. There's a pro team name begging to be used. Today's 177 km stage
is from Civitella In Val Di Chiana to Spoleto, crossing from Tuscany into Umbria.
It's a typical sprinters' stage, with no cateogrised climbs and an 7.3 km finishing
circuit that has to be completed three times. The circuit contains a small climb,
and the sprinters will have to be attentive in order not to lose position. The
Intergiro point today is at Marsiano (km 104.6).
The weather conditions aren't particularly great, and at the finish at the moment
it's 11 degrees and overcast. There is a strong chance of rain during the day.
The wind is from the north, which will assist the riders today.
The good news for Mario Cipollini fans is that he did start today "for the tifosi"
he said. Cipollini was involved in a nasty finish line crash yesterday and ended
up with 14 stitches to his elbow and shin. "Last night was not easy. I had bruises
and abrasions all over and I felt a lot of pain. What worries me more, however,
is the bruise on my ankle. But I should try for all of the tifosi, it is my
duty. I will try to keep riding and I hope to see the end of the stage, to arrive
at the finish would really be a success."
14:43 CEST 77km/100km to go
Today's stage has been a little more lively than yesterday's, which didn't really
get going until kilometre 108. After covering 30.2 km in the first hour, Colombian
Marlon Perez (Selle Italia) took off at the 42 km mark. He was joined by 20
other riders, who were dangling about 15 seconds in front of the peloton for
20 km before they were caught.
In the group were (among others): Bo Hamburger (Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo),
Fortunato Baliani (Ceramiche Panaria-Margres), Andoni Aranaga Azkune (Chocolade
Jacques Wincor-Nixdorf), Fredy Gonzalez Martinez (Colombia-Selle Italia), Giuseppe
Di Grande (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave'), Mariano Piccoli and Daniele Righi (Lampre),
Sergey Avdyeyev (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Rubens Bertogliati (Saunier Duval-Prodir),
Nicola Loda and Oscar Pozzi (Tenax) and (surprise) Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa
Bortolo).
14:49 CEST 80km/97km to go
The 165 member gruppo is now compatto again, having covered 71.6 km in the first
two hours. The second hour of racing was run at a somewhat brisker 41.4 km/h,
due to the attack.
There's now about 25 km to go until the Intergiro in Marsciano. The current
leader of that classification (blue jersey) is Alessandro Vanotti (De Nardi),
who has a 10 second bonus on Crescenzo d'Amore (Acqua e Sapone) and 14 seconds
on Mariano Piccoli (Lampre). The Intergiro competition is scored on bonus seconds,
except in time trials where each rider's actual time counts, so long as they're
in the top 7. The rest get credited with the same time as the 7th placed rider.
15:03 CEST 85km/92km to go
Mariano Piccoli (Lampre) and Fortunato Baliani (Ceramiche Panaria-Margres) have
attacked, with Piccoli perhaps wanting to get ahead for the Intergiro. They
are joined by 17 other riders.
15:07 CEST 86km/91km to go
The peloton is back together, having reached the feed zone in Castiglione della
Valle. Just before the pack reached the feed zone, Marcus Ljungqvist (Alessio-Bianchi)
crashed.
15:20 CEST 96km/81km to go
Austrian reader Josef Spindler has written in asking about Gerhard Trampusch
(Acqua e Sapone), who has been quietly protecting his 5th place on the general
classification, without making any spectacular attacks. He finished 4th in the
prologue and is the best placed rider on GC for his team, and presumably wants
it to stay that way. He was also sixth in the Giro del Trentino, an important
lead up race for the Giro d'Italia. This is his fifth year as a pro, and although
he has yet to win a race, he has recorded some top five placings in stage races
such as the Midi Libre, the Settimana Coppi e Bartali and the UNIQA Classic.
15:22 CEST 102km/75km to go
There have been a lot of attacks in the lead up to the Intergiro, which is now
just 3 km away. Lanfranchi and Gasparre tried to get away, as did David Canada,
but it's all together at the moment before the sprint.
15:29 CEST 108km/69km to go
The Intergiro sprint is won by Crescenzo d'Amore (Acqua e Sapone) ahead of Massimo
Strazzer (Saunier Duval-Prodir) and Aart Vierhouten (Lotto-Domo). That should
give d'Amore the lead back in the blue jersey competition.
The average speed at the Intergiro point is 37.209 km/h, so they haven't been
hanging around for the last two hours. This tailwind has helped though.
15:32 CEST 109km/68km to go
After the Intergiro, another 14 riders have attacked, and have a 32 second advantage
over the peloton which is being led by Simoni's Saeco men in red.
15:39 CEST 115km/62km to go
The names in the group: Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo), Bo Hamburger and
Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone), Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi), Raffaele
Illiano (Colombia-Selle Italia), Luis Filipe Laverde Jimenez (Formaggi), Thomas
Ziegler (Gerolsteiner), Andrej Hauptman (Lampre), Christophe Brandt and Ief
Verbrugghe (Lotto-Domo), Michael Albasini (Phonak Hearing Systems), Uros Murn
(Phonak Hearing Systems), Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval), Dean Podgornik (Tenax).
Cioni is a danger man, as he is only 52 seconds down on GC in 7th place. The
group has about 1 minute's lead at the moment.
15:40 CEST
The 14 man group has a lead of 1'02 over a De Nardi/Saeco led peloton, which
means that Dario Cioni is the virtual maglia rosa at the moment. It's highly
unlikely that this group will be allowed to stay away to the finish.
15:43 CEST 119km/58km to go
The peloton is moving along nicely now in pursuit of the 14 leaders, and has
reduced the gap to 50 seconds. The cooperation in the break isn't great either.
15:47 CEST 121km/56km to go
There are attacks in the front group now, presumably trying to get rid of Cioni
who is causing the peloton to chase. The gap is still 55 seconds as Illiano
accelerates...
The weather at the moment is good and is sunny and dry. Much better than yesterday.
15:48 CEST 122km/55km to go
The leaders are back together again, swapping off at a good tempo, 55 seconds
ahead of the De Nardi/Saeco led peloton.
15:50 CEST 124km/53km to go
The cooperation doesn't last long, as Illiano attacks again. Brandt chases him
down and there's some discussion about the mechanics of making a breakaway succeed.
Illiano attacks again, trying to keep the tempo going. Then Ief Verbrugghe counters
and rides hard off the front of the disorganised group.
The gap is still 53 seconds.
15:53 CEST 126km/51km to go
Ief Verbrugghe has about 10 seconds on the rest of the group now with 50 km
to go. He keeps looking back, and sees them coming. It's back together again,
with Illiano leading, signalling everyone to roll over. But Cioni doesn't seem
to want to work, and disrupts the rhythm.
Meanwhile in the peloton, Mario Cipollini is riding at the back of the bunch,
complete with knee plasters. He looks relaxed though as he signals for his team
car.
15:56 CEST 130km/47km to go
Despite being incredibly disorganised, this 14 man break has managed to eke
out a 1'12 lead over the peloton, which is being led by De Nardi. Saeco hasn't
really started working yet.
The names in the break: Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo, 7th on GC at 52 seconds),
Bo Hamburger and Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone), Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi),
Raffaele Illiano (Colombia-Selle Italia), Luis Filipe Laverde Jimenez (Formaggi),
Thomas Ziegler (Gerolsteiner), Andrej Hauptman (Lampre), Christophe Brandt and
Ief Verbrugghe (Lotto-Domo), Michael Albasini (Phonak Hearing Systems), Uros
Murn (Phonak Hearing Systems), Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval), Dean Podgornik
(Tenax).
15:59 CEST 131km/46km to go
Cipollini is still lurking at the back of the peloton, along with most of the
Domina Vacanze team. He'll probably stay there today and keep out of trouble.
Marcus Ljungqvist (Alessio) is also there, sporting bandages from his earlier
crash.
In front, Mori, Hamburger and Backstedt have attacked the lead group.
16:01 CEST 133km/44km to go
Albasini, Podgornik, Mori, Ziegler, Backstedt and Hamburger have a gap now,
and the rest of the group is chasing them at 15 seconds. The peloton is at 50
seconds.
16:05 CEST 137km/40km to go
In front we have: Bo Hamburger (Acqua e Sapone), Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi),
Thomas Ziegler (Gerolsteiner), Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval), Dean Podgornik
(Tenax) and Michael Albasini (Phonak Hearing Systems).
Chasing them at 20 seconds: Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo), Fred Rodriguez
(Acqua & Sapone), Raffaele Illiano (Colombia-Selle Italia), Luis Filipe Laverde
Jimenez (Formaggi), Andrej Hauptman (Lampre), Christophe Brandt and Ief Verbrugghe
(Lotto-Domo), Uros Murn (Phonak Hearing Systems). The peloton is at 1'15.
Brandt, Rodriguez, Cioni and Murn are dropped from the chase group.
16:08 CEST 139km/38km to go
The leading six are now cooperating well with less than 40 km to go. There are
still four riders chasing them at 36 seconds, but they will probably be caught.
They sit up, and it's over for them.
With Cioni back in the peloton, Fassa Bortolo has put three men in front of
the bunch to ride tempo.
16:11 CEST 142km/35km to go
Thomas Ziegler leads the six man break on a small descent, and they're flying
along now with 35 km to go. Fassa Bortolo has Sacchi, Gustov, Bruseghin and
another rider on the front of the peloton, which is becoming stretched.
16:13 CEST 144km/33km to go
A Saunier Duval rider - Alberto Loddo - is off into the grass with 35 km to
go after a push. He'll have to ride backwards, get onto the parcours and chase
back on. Oops. He should make it though.
16:16 CEST 147km/30km to go
The leading six: Bo Hamburger (Acqua e Sapone), Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi),
Thomas Ziegler (Gerolsteiner), Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval), Dean Podgornik
(Tenax), Michael Albasini (Phonak Hearing Systems) have 30 km to go until the
finish. They'll hit Spoleto in 8 km, where they will ride three 7.3 km finishing
laps.
16:19 CEST 150km/27km to go
The six have 1'10 on the peloton, and must be starting to fancy their chances
a bit. Five Fassa riders area leading the main bunch, followed by a few De Nardi
and a few Lotto riders.
16:21 CEST 152km/25km to go
At the moment we have five riders (leading the peloton) chasing six relatively
fresh breakaways. Backstedt is having a bite to eat now, which should get him
to the finish. Ziegler is doing quite a bit of work in the break, which now
has a 1 minute lead.
16:23 CEST 152km/25km to go
Alessandro Petacchi and Robbie McEwen are quite close to each other near the
front of the peloton. McEwen said yesterday that being on Petacchi's wheel was
the ideal position, but the problem is that everyone wants to be there.
The leaders are entering Spoleto for the first time.
16:27 CEST 155km/22km to go
Lotto has moved to the front to help Fassa Bortolo chase down Hamburger, Backstedt,
Ziegler, Mori, Podgornik and Albasini. The leaders cross the finish line with
just 30 seconds. There is a narrowing of the road under a railway bridge - that
could be dangerous.
Cunego has a mechanical problem. He is 30 seconds behind the peloton.
Three 7 km laps to go.
16:29 CEST 156km/21km to go
The leaders tackle the climb for the first time - it's not that easy, with its
steepest section being 8 percent.
Cunego is being brough back by two teammates.
16:31 CEST 158km/19km to go
Cunego is onto the back of the bunch again after his mechanical, and will now
try and make his way forward.
The rest of the peloton is less than 20 seconds behind the breakaway in the
narrow streets of Spoleto. This finishing circuit is tough - very technical.
16:32 CEST 159km/18km to go
Mori leads the break at the top of the climb over the light cobblestones in
the Piazza della Liberta. The peloton is just 10 seconds behind, led by Fassa
Bortolo and Lampre.
16:33 CEST
Albasini and Mori attack the break, but Backstedt brings the rest back, save
for Podgornik who is dropped. Now five leaders, with 10 seconds.
Matt Wilson is bringing Philippe Gilbert up to the front.
16:35 CEST 160km/17km to go
The break is now on the flat again with 17 km to go. They're fighting a losing
battle against the peloton though, which has Fassa Bortolo pounding away on
the front.
16:36 CEST 162km/15km to go
It's all over for the break with just over 15 km to go. The peloton absorbs
them with five Fassa Bortolos on the front.
Piccoli has punctured.
16:39 CEST 163km/14km to go
Fred Rodriguez is near the front of the bunch as it goes under the narrow railway
bridge with 600m to go until the end of the first lap.
Two laps to go, as a Lampre rider leads them through. Matt Wilson is in fifth
wheel, with McGee and Gilbert well placed too.
Piccoli is almost back in the bunch, getting pushed by a neutral mechanic it
looks like. Cunego is now up in 25th position.
16:40 CEST 164km/13km to go
Alexandre Moos attacks on the climb, and takes an Acqua e Sapone and FDJ rider
with him. It's McGee and Marzoli.
16:40 CEST 165km/12km to go
McGee keeps going as Moos and Marzoli look at each other. They catch back on.
Nice move, as it's hard to organise the peloton now.
16:42 CEST 166km/11km to go
Mcgee leads Moos and Marzoli to the top of the climb. They have about 10 seconds
with a Lampre rider on the front. Petacchi is still in 5th wheel in the purple
jersey.
Quaranta has been dropped by the peloton.
16:42 CEST
McGee hammers on the descent and accidentally drops Moos and Marzoli. He looks
around and yells for them to come back. They have 9 seconds.
16:44 CEST 167km/10km to go
The leading three are flying on the descent, with Bruseghin, Hauptman and Sacchi
leading the peloton. Petacchi is right up there, as is McEwen.
McGee, Marzoli and Moos are working together now with 10 km to go.
16:45 CEST
The bunch is completely strung out in pursuit of the leading three, which attacked
on the climb last lap. If they can stay away for just a bit longer until the
next climb, they will have a great chance.
16:46 CEST 169km/8km to go
Marzoli gives it everything with 1 km to the end of the lap. They have 7 seconds
on the peloton. The bunch is breaking up at the back.
16:47 CEST 170km/7km to go
The leaders are hammering now as they come up to the finish line with 1 x 7.3
km lap to go. There are five Fassas in front of the bunch. The gap is only 4
seconds now. They are caught with 1 lap to go.
16:48 CEST 171km/6km to go
It's gruppo compatto (except for Quaranta and his team) with less than one lap
to go. The bunch hits the last climb.
16:49 CEST
Cioni leads the Fassa train on the last climb, really putting the power down.
Simoni is well placed, while Petacchi is further back. Cipollini has been dropped.
16:49 CEST 171km/6km to go
Astarloa attacks near the top and takes Moreni with him. It's a small gap.
16:51 CEST 172km/5km to go
It looks like McGee and Cunego have chased Astarloa and Moreni down. McGee must
be feeling good. Cioni takes over again - Astarloa counters - but has Eddy Mazzoleni
on his wheel. The peloton is more or less together at the top. Petacchi is about
15th.
16:52 CEST 173km/4km to go
There are lots of gaps in the peloton as it speeds down towards the finish.
Less than 5 km to go. Mazzoleni leads them. Cunego and Simoni are in second
and third wheel.
16:53 CEST 173km/4km to go
Three Saecos on the front but they are overtaken by the sprinters now. Two Acqua
e Sapone riders are in front - Ferrigato and Rodriguez.
16:53 CEST 174km/3km to go
Ferrigato does a massive turn but it's a bit early. Petacchi is now in sixth
wheel, and has a Fassa teammate with him with 3 km to go.
16:54 CEST 175km/2km to go
Five Acqua riders are setting up a train for Rodriguez or d'Amore. Petacchi
is behind three teammates and McEwen is next to him. 2 km....
16:55 CEST 176km/1km to go
Nauduzs has got himself into the Acqua train with 2 km to go. Petacchi is now
in 10th position next to McEwen. Gilbert is also there.
16:55 CEST
They approach the last kilometre with an Acqua and Domina rider in front. Nauduzs
in third wheel with 1 km to go. Fassa Bortolo take over with 1 km. MCewen in
fourth behind Petacchi.
16:57 CEST 177km/0km to go
One Fassa leads out McEwen. Petacchi is on the left, and gets shuffled out.
McEwen eases up. Too early to be in front.
250 m to go. It's Forster(?) from the corner. Then McEwen takes over from third
wheel and wins the stage! Usov tried to get around him but failed. Petacchi
was too far back with 250m to go.
It looks like Pollack got up for second ahead of Zanotti. Usov fourth ahead
of d'Amore. Cipo rolls across the line a few minutes down.
McEwen should take over the purple points jersey as well. Simoni is still in
pink, as there are no changes to GC.
Results
Provisional 1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Domo 4.24.57 2 Olaf Pollack (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie 4 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak Hearing Systems 5 Crescenzo D'amore (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo 6 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco 7 Andris Nauduzs (Lat) Domina Vacanze 8 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) De Nardi 9 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo 10 Alejandro Albert Borrajo (Arg) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres General classification after stage 5 1 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco 23.34.35 2 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Saeco 0.13 3 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 0.21 4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi 0.29 5 Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo 0.41 6 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres 0.45 7 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 0.52 8 Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) De Nardi 0.58 9 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie 1.05 10 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco 1.06
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