Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Bayern Rundfahrt Photo ©: Schaaf |
92nd Giro d'Italia - GT
Italy, May 9-31, 2009
Main Page Results & report Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 8 - Saturday, May 16: Morbegno - Bergamo, 209km
Complete live report
Live commentary by Gregor Brown
13:59 CEST
Ciao! Welcome to Cyclingnews' coverage of the centennial Giro d'Italia. Today is a medium-mountain day from Morbegno to Bergamo, 209 kilometres.
Riders will face the Culmine di San Pietro, Colle del Gallo and the unclassified climb of Bergamo Alta. The climb to the top of Bergamo's historic city will leave 3.45 kilometres to race, all downhill.
|
14:01 CEST
Attacks and counter-attacks filled the first kilometres, until, at kilometre 34, a move broke free. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) and David López García (Caisse d'Epargne) broke free near the city of Portone.
By Cortenova, km 40, Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam), Carlos José Ochoa (Diquigiovanni), Jelle Vanendert (Silence-Lotto) and Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) joined the duo to make seven. Giovanni Visconti (ISD), "always on the run", Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo Galicia) made ten by kilometre 42.
By Primaluna, the ten -- Dario Cataldo (Quick Step), David López García (Caisse d'Epargne), Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam), Carlos José Ochoa (Diquigiovanni), Jelle Vanendert (Silence-Lotto), Evgeni Petrov (Katusha), Giovanni Visconti (ISD), Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo Galicia) -- had 2:18 over the peloton controlled by Lampre. Maybe Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC) is thinking of a stage win in Bergamo? The Italian is a three-time winner of Giro di Lombardia, but never won the race when it finished in Bergamo.
14:05 CEST
Over the Culmine S. Pietro the escapees had 1:40 over the main gruppo and 2:00 over the group of sprinters.
14:07 CEST
Carlos José Ochoa (Diquigiovanni) attacked on the climb, but on the descent, he crashed. He was up and back on his bike quickly, but the chase caught him.
14:11 CEST 85km/124km to go
Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) and Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) lead on the descent. Giovanni Visconti (ISD) and Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo Galicia) are chasing the duo.
14:16 CEST 78km/131km to go
Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) have 18" on Giovanni Visconti (ISD) and Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) and 34" on the rest of the escapees.
The maglia rosa gruppo is at 3:00 after two hours of racing.
14:19 CEST 82km/127km to go
LPR leads the chase on the downhill.
The front 10 men are all back together: Dario Cataldo (Quick Step), Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Evgeni Petrov (Katusha), Giovanni Visconti (ISD), David López García (Caisse d'Epargne), Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam), Carlos José Ochoa (Diquigiovanni), Jelle Vanendert (Silence-Lotto), Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo Galicia).
|
14:19 CEST
Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini), the maglia rosa, won Lombardia in 2001. "I will try again in Bergamo," he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I hope for an all-day escape, but if they are pulled back before the last kilometres so I can have a try."
Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) may have a try today to repeat his win of two years ago in Bergamo. Before Garzelli, the other Bergamo stage winners were Giuseppe Saronni (1983), Felice Gimondi (1976), Oreste Conte (1952) and Diego Barabelli (1938).
14:21 CEST
The riders approach the Forcella di Bura climb. Diego Caccia (Barloworld) knows this climb well, he is from nearby Ponte San Pietro.
14:23 CEST
The skies are clearing up for our 193 racers.
The 10 up front enjoy a 3:28 advantage over the LPR-led group.
14:25 CEST
2006 winner Ivan Basso looks good on the descent. "I have never been a good downhill rider," he said. "But now I feel a little more at ease."
14:29 CEST
Have a look at today's contest on our forums.
|
14:30 CEST
We are descending towards Brembilla, at 413m. The 10 escape riders hold a 3:45 gap at 90km.
14:30 CEST
Special thanks to the local Comune (city hall) for the free wine today, a DOC Valcalepio Rosso from 2006 that we will enjoy later.
14:58 CEST
Another crash to report: Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank) crashed in the main gruppo on the descent of Culmine. It looks like he is going to retire from the Giro d'Italia.
15:00 CEST 120km/89km to go
The Rabobank Spaniard abandons the race on the seventh day of racing.
The gruppo continues on, just over three minutes behind of the escape of ten men.
15:01 CEST
Please have a look at our forum contest.
15:05 CEST
What do you think about that descent of Alessandro Bertolini (Diquigiovanni) yesterday? The oldest rider in the centennial Giro d'Italia started the eventual escape of five men. Thanks to the 37-year-old, 21-year-old Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) won the stage to Chiavenna.
"I am feeling better and better, I tried today," said Bertolini after the stage. "I told Gibo [Gilberto Simoni (Diquigiovanni) - ed.] to stay behind me for the descent because it was dangerous.
"Instead, I got away, and it was better because it was not an easy descent. I believed in myself, and still enjoy the win of last year. I will try again."
15:07 CEST 116km/93km to go
LPR continues to control affairs, the gap is 4:12.
15:13 CEST
"It's my first time at a Grand Tour, so I hope to come through this race and see how I do," said stage winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) after his win. "I also like I just want to do my best and see how I go. In a few years, I'll see how good I can be, whether I am a Classic rider or a stage racer."
15:14 CEST
Lampre is working at the head of the group, travelling at 51km/h.
15:14 CEST
The gap is 3:52.
15:16 CEST
The riders are racing under sun. They have been going for three hours.
15:17 CEST
"I can sprint if the group is not too big, and I think I did a great sprint today [yesterday - ed]," continued Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad). He will be 22 years old tomorrow, the day of the Milano circuit. "I will ride for Cavendish, trying to help him first."
15:21 CEST
The maglia ciclamino, Petacchi, is protecting the maglia rosa, Danilo 'The Killer' Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini). Di Luca wants to win this stage, it is a perfect finish for a rider with a strong punch on a short climb and a strong kick for a possible sprint.
15:23 CEST
Lampre had five men on the front now, tearing it up over the roads near Credaro.
15:25 CEST
Giro d'Italia abandons (or crashes) as of day eight: Francisco Pérez (Caisse d'Epargne), Jesús Del Nero (Fuji-Servetto), Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream), Matthias Russ (Milram), David Garcia (Xacobeo Galicia) and, now, Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank).
|
15:27 CEST
The racers pass through Sondrio, Lecco, Como and Bergamo today. The ten men had a maximum advantage of 4:30 not too long ago, but now it has fallen drastically, near 2:30.
15:29 CEST
The gap is now 2:10.
15:39 CEST
The peloton passes the lovely Lago di Iseo. The ten men are trading pulls in the escape, near the town of Predore.
In the middle of the Lago there is the island of Monte Isola. 1700 people live on the island.
The gap is 1:50.
15:44 CEST
"We started to race for Cunego, he is going well. Unfortunately, this escape is strong and going well. But we will give it a try and over the next kilometres we will get an idea of how it goes," said directeur sportif Brent Copeland of Lampre.
"I am calm, even if the last days I thought I would have something great," Cunego said. "Maybe I made a mistake, but the Giro long and there are more chances to be had."
15:47 CEST
An update on Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank): Assistants found his bike and then found the rider off the side of Culmine. Medics took the Spaniard to the hospital and he is reported in serious condition.
15:51 CEST
It was about 60 metres below the bike where they found Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank), according to race director Angelo Zomegnan. He is in bad condition and heading to the hospital in Bergamo. From 1 to 5, in level of seriousness, he is rated at 3+.
15:53 CEST 153km/56km to go
Copeland has his Lampre men pounding the pavement along the shores of Lago di Iseo. The gap is 1:22.
The front 10 men are working in a counter-clockwise motion, trading pulls.
15:56 CEST
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) and Janez Brajkovic (Astana) are right behind the Lampre train. Brajkovic has his jersey fully unzipped.
15:59 CEST
"He arrived in a helicopter," said Mino Farlfi, of the Bergamo Hospital, said of Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank). "We don't know for sure the condition at this moment."
16:01 CEST
The escape is on the Solto Collina climb. The gap is right at one minute to the gruppo maglia rosa. In the group, Lance Armstrong (Astana) is on the wheel of Enrico Gasparotto (Lampre-NGC).
16:03 CEST
David López García (Caisse d'Epargne), Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) moved free of their other escape companions, by 12 seconds. The gruppo maglia rosa is another 48" back.
16:04 CEST
Armstrong leads the group up the Solto Collina.
|
16:06 CEST 163.3km/45.7km to go
The tifosi are out in numbers today to see the riders race over the climb. They will see a seven-time Tour de France winner fly by in less than one minute.
16:10 CEST 165km/44km to go
Evgeni Petrov (Katusha), David López García (Caisse d'Epargne), Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) lead by 19" over the others and 1:15 over the main group.
16:13 CEST
The leader four are approaching the Colle del Gallo, used so many times in the past the Giro di Lombardia. It is about 450m of climbing, topping out at kilometre 182.3.
Our lead four are Evgeni Petrov (Katusha), David López García (Caisse d'Epargne), Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Dario Cataldo (Quick Step).
Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Giovanni Visconti (ISD), Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam), Carlos José Ochoa (Diquigiovanni), Jelle Vanendert (Silence-Lotto) and Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo Galicia) chase behind and are nearly caught by the main gruppo.
16:17 CEST
An update on Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream), who crashed in the opening days of the race. He has one broken rib, sprains and contusions in middle-lower back and a hairline fracture of his pelvic bone. He should be back racing for the Tour de Suisse, though.
Exact details coming soon.
16:20 CEST 172.2km/36.8km to go
Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam), Giovanni Visconti (ISD), Carlos José Ochoa (Diquigiovanni) and Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo Galicia) join with Evgeni Petrov (Katusha), David López García (Caisse d'Epargne), Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) to form a group of eight.
We think Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) and Jelle Vanendert (Silence-Lotto) are not back in the main gruppo.
16:20 CEST 172km/37km to go
The gap is right at 1:00 for the front eight.
16:22 CEST 174.1km/34.9km to go
The front eight are near the foot of Gallo. We should see a contender fire out of the main group on the climb.
16:24 CEST
The Colle del Gallo is 6.3km long, 7% average and 11% maximum.
The front eight have 20".
16:24 CEST 176.5km/32.5km to go
The race is on Gallo and is exploding!
16:24 CEST
We see Petacchi going backwards.
16:25 CEST
Paolo Longo Borghini (Barloworld) and Markus Fothen (Milram) are firing.
16:25 CEST
Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) and Chris Horner (Astana) are making some ground.
16:25 CEST
Simon Gerrans (Cervélo TestTeam) comes out on the Gallo, he is solo it seems.
16:26 CEST
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC) now leads a move with Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) in tow. Chris Horner (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) are there too.
16:26 CEST
LPR leads the chase of the Cunego group.
16:26 CEST
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) now comes through to work.
16:28 CEST
Simon Gerrans (Cervélo TestTeam) is chased by Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), Chris Horner (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni).
16:29 CEST
Wait, that was NOT Simon Gerrans (Cervélo TestTeam), but his teammate Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam) from the escape. He is a stage winner from the 2007 or 2006 Tour Down Under.
16:30 CEST
Only Héctor González (Fuji-Servetto) and Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam) were left from that escape move of eight we had.
16:31 CEST
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), Chris Horner (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni), David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Leonardo Bertagnolli (Diquigiovanni) pull in Serge Pauwels (Cervélo TestTeam).
16:33 CEST
Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) tries his luck. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) marks him.
Leipheimer leads the chase behind, in the group.
16:34 CEST
Pellizotti takes over.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) and Chris Horner (Astana) are now together in the lead.
16:35 CEST 181.5km/27.5km to go
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) leads a group with Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) and David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne). They catch the leaders.
16:36 CEST
Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad), David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) and Chris Horner (Astana) lead.
16:36 CEST
LPR chases behind with Basso.
16:37 CEST
Horner leads the move.
16:37 CEST 182.3km/26.7km to go
They are near the top of Gallo. Horner is a machine here, working hard for Leipheimer.
16:37 CEST
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) loses contact.
16:38 CEST
Chris Horner (Astana), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad) and Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) lead the race. They top Gallo.
16:38 CEST
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) will chase on the descent.
16:39 CEST
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) leads the chase for Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini).
They cross Gallo at 54" back.
16:40 CEST
Garzelli, Horner and Leipheimer led over the top for the points, respectively.
16:43 CEST
Chris Horner (Astana), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad) and Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) are now on the way down Colle del Gallo.
LPR leads the chase. Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad) is in the virtual maglia rosa; he started the day 36" behind Di Luca.
16:44 CEST
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) continues to pull the gruppo maglia rosa along for teammate Danilo Di Luca.
They are racing towards the finish and the climb of Bergamo Alta.
16:45 CEST
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) tells the others to wait up for the chasing riders. Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC) and David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) arrive...
16:46 CEST
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) is thinking of putting in time over Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas) and will welcome additional men.
16:46 CEST
David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) and Leonardo Bertagnolli (Diquigiovanni) join Chris Horner (Astana), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad) and Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas).
16:48 CEST
The leaders: David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad), Leonardo Bertagnolli (Diquigiovanni), Chris Horner (Astana), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad) and Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas).
Local rider, Pinotti, explains to Armstrong the roads.
16:49 CEST
David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad), Chris Horner (Astana), Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Michael Rogers (Columbia-Highroad) and Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) lead the race.
16:50 CEST
The leaders only have 18".
16:51 CEST 192km/17km to go
17km left to race, 10km to the start of the climb to Bergamo Alta.
16:51 CEST
The group catches the front eight.
16:52 CEST 193km/16km to go
That strong looking move is over. Who will go next?
16:53 CEST 194km/15km to go
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) fires with 15km to race. Maybe he is trying to start something for Marco Pinotti (Columbia-Highroad).
16:54 CEST
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) has a few seconds' advantage.
16:55 CEST
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) lives in the zone, so he could be called a local rider. He has 11".
16:56 CEST
It is going to be hard for Di Luca or Cunego to win today after the effort they gave on Gallo, but we will know more in 13km.
16:56 CEST
20" for our lone escapee.
16:57 CEST 197km/12km to go
Race leader Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) has three teammates leading the race, he sits fourth wheel.
20" for our leader.
17:00 CEST 199km/10km to go
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad). He looks very smooth and confident with what he is doing.
However, 'The Killer' Di Luca wants to win the stage today. They trail at 26" behind the Belarusian.
17:00 CEST
Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) move near the front of the gruppo.
17:01 CEST
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) has 31" as the race enters Bergamo.
17:01 CEST 201.2km/7.8km to go
Daniele Pietropolli (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) leads the chase.
17:02 CEST
Lance Armstrong (Astana) and his teammates are near the back of the peloton.
17:02 CEST
Caisse moves to the front. The team could be working for Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne).
17:04 CEST
The climb up to Bergamo Alta has a second of 12% and averages 9.8% in the second half of the climb.
17:05 CEST
UPDATE: "His condition is serious, our team doctor said he fractured his leg, knee and has a head trauma," said a Rabobank official of Pedro Horrillo.
17:07 CEST 204km/5km to go
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) has 38". He nears the start of Bergamo Alta.
17:07 CEST
He is on rock sector.
17:07 CEST 205.1km/3.9km to go
Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) has a try. Garzelli follows...
17:08 CEST
Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) is flying, he should catch Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad).
The roads are lined with fans.
17:08 CEST
Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) fires out of a group with Rodgers, Basso and Pellizotti.
17:09 CEST
Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) catches Yaroslav Popovych (Astana).
17:09 CEST
And the group is together.
17:09 CEST 206km/3km to go
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) holds 20". Just 450m more of climbing.
17:10 CEST
He can win this if he does not error on the descent.
17:10 CEST
Basso leads the group.
17:11 CEST
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) has 22" now.
17:11 CEST 208km/1km to go
Last kilometre for the lone escapee.
17:11 CEST
The fans cheer him on.
17:12 CEST
Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia-Highroad) comes to the line in Bergamo city centre.
17:12 CEST
He wins. Left hand punches the sky.
17:12 CEST
The sprint for second...
17:13 CEST
Di Luca fires for it.
17:13 CEST
Columbia riders take 2nd and 3rd!
17:14 CEST
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) takes second over Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini).
17:19 CEST
Thanks for joining our live coverage today. Please check back for full results and reports.
Ciao da Bergamo!
Provisional results
1 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Columbia-Highroad 2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Columbia-Highroad 3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini 4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Columbia-Highroad 5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 6 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo 7 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini 8 Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-NGC General classification after stage 8 1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini 2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Columbia-Highroad 3 Michael Rogers (Aus) Columbia-Highroad 4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
