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88th Giro d'Italia - PT
Italy, May 7-29, 2005
Main Page Results & report Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 13 - May 21: Mezzocorona - Ortisei, 218 km
Commentary by Jeff Jones, with additional reporting from John Trevorrow and Tim Maloney
Complete live report
Live coverage starts: 14:30 CEST
Estimated finish: 17:15 CEST
14:18 CEST
Welcome to the Dolomites for our
live coverage of the 13th stage of the Giro, a 218 km slog between Mezzocorona
and Ortisei. Today's stage has five categorised climbs and one non-categorised
one, and on paper, it's one of the toughest in this year's Giro.
The stage climbs east out of the Adige valley into the heart of the Dolomiti,
then hits the first GPM after 71km at Passo di Costalunga (1745m.), then climbs
up to the monumental Passo di Sella (2244m.), followed by the Passo di Gardena
(2121m) halfway through the stage. After the feed zone in Corvara in Badia,
the long descent to the base of the penultimate ascent up Passo delle Erbe (2004m.),
followed immediately by the non-categorised Passo Eores (1863m.). After this
climb, Stage 13 has a long descent to Bressanone in the upper Adige Valley,
across Ponte Gardena and then up the final 9km climb to Pontives, then into
Ortisei for the finish.
This is a great chance for mountain man
Gilberto Simoni to strut his stuff across the Dolomiti, but watch out also for
the top GC men Ivan Basso (CSC) and Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery). Perhaps we
could see Cunego in front today, but he'll need better legs than the other day
when he lost six minutes!
There were 177 riders signing on in Mezzocorona
to roll out at 10:50am. As well as sprinters McEwen, Vierhouten, O'Grady, Cooke,
Kirsipuu, Liquigas-Bianchi's Stefano Garzelli was also a non-starter today in
Mezzacorona. Garzelli explained that "I hurt my back and my leg when I crashed
last week and for the last few days, I've been riding in pain, especially in
my lower back. We did a scan that showed there is a lot of bruising there. My
kidneys have been sore as well so we think it's better to abandon and get better
than risk my health."
14:41 CEST
It's been a fairly active stage so
far, with the first attack going after 8 km involving Bram Schmitz (T-Mobile).
That didn't last long, and he had another unsuccessful go at km 19. 1 km later,
Rasmussen, Petrov, Baranowski and Horrach tried, and were joined by Joaquin
Rodriguez (Saunier). Petrov, Baranowski and Horrach were dropped, and Rasmussen
and Rodriguez were joined by Ivan Parra, Julio Perez Cuapio and Tadej Valjavec.
This break eventually grew to 25 riders, but it was all back together again
at km 27.
Straight away, Valjavec countered and took Ruben Lobato,
Ivan Parra and Aitor Gonzalez with him. They were joined by another 16 riders
and managed 40 seconds lead by km 32 (32.4 km were covered in the first hour
of racing). Leonardo Bertagnolli (Cofidis) and Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) abandoned
at this point.
The leading group featured the following riders: Paolo
Tiralongo (Ceramica Panaria), Ivan Parra and José Rujano Guillen (Colombia -
Selle Italia), Francesco Bellotti and Pietro Caucchioli (Crédit Agricole), Wladimir
Belli (Domina Vacanze), Aitor Gonzalez (Euskaltel), Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner),
Joan Horrach Rippoll (Illes Balears), Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros), Andrea
Noè (Liquigas-Bianchi), Tadej Valjavec (Phonak), Paolo Bettini and José Antonio
Garrido (Quickstep), Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank), Juan Manuel Garate, Ruben
Lobato and Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Saunier), Matthias Kessler and Jan Schaffrath
(T-Mobile).
After 60 km, they had 4'44 on the gruppo maglia rosa,
where Thomas Ziegler (Gerolsteiner) abandoned. Intergiro leader Sven Krauss
was having difficulty following the group on the Passo di Costalunga, and had
to drop off. The climb was won by mountains leader Rujano, ahead of his teammate
Parra and Francesco Bellotti. Krauss trailed the lead group by 1'40 at the top,
while the gruppo maglia rosa was at 5'48.
Marco Fertonani
(Domina Vacanze), Thorwald Veneberg (Rabobank), and Ryder Hesjedal (Discovery)
all abandoned the race on the climb.
14:51 CEST 130km/88km to go
And wait, there's
more... (no free steak knives though - that costs extra):
Sven Krauss
continued to lose more time on the leading group, as did the gruppo maglia
rosa. At km 81, Krauss was over 2 minutes down, while the maglia rosa
was at 6'20. It was at that point that David Navas (Illes Balears) and Joseba
Beloki (Liberty Seguros) quit the race.
At the start of the Passo
di Sella, maglia rosa Basso was 8'10 behind the break, with the leaders
averaging 31.6 km/h over the first three hours. Sven Krauss was reabsorbed by
the main peloton on the Passo di Sella. Over the top of the climb, it was Rujano
winning the points again ahead of Bellotti, Parra, Garate, and Caucchioli. The
maglia rosa crossed the summit 6'15 behind the break.
The
19 remaining riders tackled the Cat. 2 Passo Gardena next, with Rujano again
winning the points ahead of Parra and Noè. Peron led Basso's group over at 7'00,
with 100 km still to race.
On the descent, there was a crash involving
Francisco Ventoso (Saunier) and Mads Christensen (Quick.Step). The Dane was
able to get back on his bike straight away, but Ventoso stayed on the ground
for longer.
In Covara (km 125), the lead group has 7'12 over the
peloton.
14:52 CEST
Maglia Rosa Basso told Cyclingnews
before today's stage, "It's going to be very hard day today...I'm just going
to sit back and watch what happens. The Passo delle Erbe will be a crucial moment
in this Giro; I expect to get attacked and hope to defend myself."
14:56 CEST
The average speed after four hours
is 32.7 km/h.
Ventoso has abandoned after his crash.
14:58 CEST 135km/83km to go
A correction: Michael
Blaudzun (Team CSC) isn't in the break, but Ruben Lobato (Saunier) is. Garate
is the best placed rider on GC, starting the day 6'48 behind, so he is in virtual
pink.
CSC is leading the peloton on the descent after the Gardena.
And it's actually Blaudzun doing the work!
14:59 CEST
Greeted by a huge group of his tifosi,
Gilberto Simoni, who is from nearby Palu di Giovo, said before the start that,
"It's nice to be at home. Sure, I know the climbs today but you have to do more
than just that. It's nice day today and I'll say I'm not betting on anything;
I'm here just to watch", joked Simoni. "I'll try to do something; you can bet
on it. I hope for a big day today, with this weather and all my (tifosi), I
hope that it gives me a lot of strength."
A smiling Cunego explained
at the start that, "Anyone can have a bad day like I did, and I have to thank
all the people who gave me support. It should be a good day today and hope our
team is good, so we can do something important. We think Simoni can still win
the Giro so we're going to ride for him."
15:01 CEST
Paolo Bettini is wearing the points
jersey in the lead group, as McEwen has gone home. Bettini is a strong candidate
for this jersey, as well as the Intergiro. And the Most Combative, which is
really a combination classification.
15:05 CEST 145km/73km to go
The peloton is holding
steady at 7'30 as the leaders start the Passo Erbe (15.2 km at 8.7%, with a
maximum of 16%). Bettini is at the front with one of the Saunier riders.
Tiralongo, who is in the lead group, is one of the few riders selected today
to have the heart rate transponders on. He's sitting at 152 bpm, of a supposed
max of 180.
15:07 CEST 148km/70km to go
Rujano looks very
comfortable in the lead group. As he should, because the road is going uphill.
He is followed by Vladimir Belli (Domina Vacanze).
The peloton hits
the foot of the climb at 7'05.
15:09 CEST
Bellotti is having problems in the
leading group.
The peloton has seven CSC riders in front, with Basso
in fourth wheel. All the other main favourites are there, including Cunego,
Simoni, Di Luca, and so on. But groups are already starting to go off the back.
Pozzato, Christensen, Joachim are among them.
15:10 CEST
Cunego and Simoni attack the peloton!
15:11 CEST 149km/69km to go
This is the steepest
part of the climb, and Cunego and Basso have made a surprise move. They have
a bit of a gap, and Sella is trying to chase them. Basso hasn't moved yet, preferring
to wait with his teammates.
15:12 CEST
The Lampre duo are being hauled back
in by CSC, which has the effect of reducing the peloton to about 20 riders.
Basso is a fair way back though...
15:13 CEST
Basso is off the back of the bunch
now, but only by a handful of meters. His teammates go back for him, and Savoldelli
takes over to try to chase down Simoni and Cunego.
15:14 CEST 150km/68km to go
Basso is sitting
behind an Illes Balears rider, and is back on the Savoldelli group, which is
about 15 riders strong. He has at least one teammate there.
15:16 CEST
Cunego and Simoni are still away
though, and Cunego is working hard for Gibo today. The next group with Basso
and Savoldelli has 20 riders in it, about 15 seconds back.
In the
lead group, Bettini, Bellotti and Schaffrath are in trouble. Joaquin Rodriguez,
Aitor Gonzalez, and Jose Antonio Garrido have attacked in front.
15:17 CEST 152km/66km to go
The grade of the
Erbe eases a bit now, and that will make it easier for Basso's group to chase
back Simoni and Cunego, who have 18 seconds.
15:19 CEST
Basso is now in third wheel behind
two teammates - Schleck and Luttenberger - with Di Luca, Savoldelli and Atienza
following. Gibo and Cunego have 25 seconds now. This is a very enterprising
move!
15:22 CEST 153km/65km to go
No, it's Zabriskie
leading Basso's group up the climb, some 25 seconds behind Gibo and Cunego,
who are working very well together. They're flying on a flat section of the
climb now.
15:24 CEST
Cyclingnews' John Trevorrow
(who has ridden the Giro 30 years ago by the way), spoke to several riders before
the start today. Matt Wilson (FDJ) told us, "I'm OK. I feel really good. I'm
not sick. I've just got to get through the next few days. It's gonna be tough,
but we've got no sprinters to worry about now. Just get in the gruppetto, and
see what happens down the track."
Nick Gates (Davitamon-Lotto) said,
"Yeah, we'll just see how it goes. I'm just going to take it eeeaasy."
15:25 CEST
Cunego and Simoni are now just 4'45
behind the front of the race, where the big break looks to have regrouped. Basso's
group follows at 5'05, so 20 seconds behind Simoni and Cunego. That's good riding
by CSC.
15:27 CEST
There's a short descent before the
next part of the Passo Erbe starts. The leaders are already on the next bit
of the climb, and no Simoni and Cunego start it with their slender 20 second
lead over Basso's group of 20-25 intact.
15:32 CEST 156km/62km to go
Lobato continues
to drive the leading group, which is shedding riders now, and is down to 12.
The riders in front: Paolo Tiralongo (Ceramica Panaria), Ivan Parra and José
Rujano Guillen (Colombia - Selle Italia), Pietro Caucchioli (Crédit Agricole),
Wladimir Belli (Domina Vacanze), Joan Horrach Rippoll (Illes Balears), Giampaolo
Caruso (Liberty Seguros), Andrea Noè (Liquigas-Bianchi), Tadej Valjavec (Phonak),
Juan Manuel Garate, Ruben Lobato (Saunier) and Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile).
Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) has just been dropped. Also Bettini, Schaffrath
and Bellotti are following at 50 seconds, while Simoni and Cunego have caught
and dropped Joaquin Rodriguez and Jose Garrido. Basso's group is still just
15 seconds behind Gibo and Cunego, who might start to realise that it's not
going to work.
Tiralongo is sitting on 166 of his max of 180, so
he's working hard.
15:33 CEST
Schleck and Zabriskie continue to
lead Basso in the pink jersey, while ahead of them, Gibo and Cunego chat to
each other.
Marco Milesi is sitting on 145 bpm/178 max, but he's
nowhere near the front...
15:34 CEST 158km/60km to go
The 12 leaders are
3 km from the summit of the Passo delle Erbe. Just one more real climb to come
after this one.
15:36 CEST
Basso looks a bit more comfortable
now, following his teammates. His group of 20 has most of the main favourites
in it, save for Simoni and Cunego, who are side by side, 15 seconds up the road.
Atienza, Savoldelli, Sella, Van Huffel, and Di Luca are all in Basso's group.
15:39 CEST 160km/58km to go
Zabriskie takes over
again for Basso, pegging Gibo and Cunego at 20 seconds, while the leading 12
get close to the summit of the Erbe. Hulk Rujano gets ready to pounce for more
green points.
15:40 CEST
Some pink-caped tifosi chase
the lead group up the climb, as Lobato continues to hammer on the front. He's
working for his teammate Garate today, who is the best placed in the lead group,
although no longer virtual maglia rosa.
15:40 CEST
Gibo and Cunego now catch and pass
Aitor Gonzalez, who was dropped from the lead group earlier on the climb.
15:45 CEST 161km/57km to go
Lobato drives the
lead group until very close to the summit, when Parra and Rujano pounce for
the mountain points. They are chased by a largish tifoso in a superman
outfit. That's a disturbing image.
Rujano gets ready to take the
points on the climb, but is jumped by Garate! Oh well, the green jersey is pretty
safe on Rujano's shoulders.
15:46 CEST 162km/56km to go
Next over were Parra,
Valjavec, and Caucchioli.
Gibo and Cunego now have Aitor Gonzalez
locked onto their wheels. They are 5'18 behind the 12 leaders, and just 14 seconds
on the gruppo maglia rosa.
15:48 CEST
Cunego and Gibo come back to Basso's
group at last, about 1.5 km from the summit of the Erbe. It was an interesting
move, but Basso stayed calm and used his teammates Schleck and Zabriskie to
peg the two Lampres.
15:48 CEST
Schaffrath, Bellotti and Bettini
cross the summit 2'53 behind the leaders. Rasmussen should have been ahead of
them too.
15:51 CEST 165km/53km to go
Basso's group crosses
the summit of the Erbe in cool sunshine some 5'42 behind the lead group, which
really rode that climb hard. They might not get them back before the finish
now.
15:53 CEST
Our man on the spot also spoke to
Selle Italia's team director Gianni Savio (who he rode for all those years ago).
We asked him about Jose Rujano: "He's a young rider with a big talent. I discovered
him two years ago and he progressed very well. I think he may win the green
jersey. This is our objective. I think in this Giro, our team is considered
the most attacking, the most competitive. Every day, our philosophy is attack,
attack, and then attack again."
You also have two Aussies in your
team? "Yes we have Russell Van Hout and Trent Wilson. They are good riders,
and they are good men. Russell made the longest single breakaway of this Giro,
and Trent has had some good breakaways too."
You have had a few Aussies
over the years... "Yes, I have been lucky to have many good Australians. But
in the past, it began with one very, very, very, very strong rider. I don't
remember his name, I think it was...John Trevorrow...a talent, a very good rider.
But with a head a little bit crazy."
15:55 CEST 169km/49km to go
There's a bit of
a break in the front group as Lobato, Caucchioli, Parra and Garate get a bit
of a gap on the short descent before the very short climb of Passo Eores. But
it comes back together again.
15:57 CEST
Schleck is back in control of the
Basso group, which is taking it easy before the final climb. Gibo goes back
to the team car for a bidon.
15:59 CEST 173km/45km to go
Savoldelli goes back
for a bidon now, together with Aitor Gonzalez. Schleck tows the Basso group
of 20 plus with Basso and Di Luca in second and third wheels.
Sav
opts for a coke instead. That'll help on the last climb.
The gap
between the two groups is 5'35, with Bettini's trio halfway in between.
16:01 CEST
Zabriskie now in front, taking a
good line on the descent, right behind the lead moto, which is having trouble
staying clear.
The leading group: Paolo Tiralongo (Ceramica Panaria),
Ivan Parra and José Rujano Guillen (Colombia - Selle Italia), Pietro Caucchioli
(Crédit Agricole), Wladimir Belli (Domina Vacanze), Joan Horrach Rippoll (Illes
Balears), Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros), Andrea Noè (Liquigas-Bianchi),
Tadej Valjavec (Phonak), Juan Manuel Garate, Ruben Lobato (Saunier) and Matthias
Kessler (T-Mobile).
16:03 CEST 176km/42km to go
Mark Renshaw told
us this morning, "Today is all about survival. If you can survive today, you
can start tomorrow and probably survive the tour. My next two days plans are
about the same as 120 other guys here: Just form a gruppetto, get to the finish
inside the time limit. I won't be going hard."
Brett Lancaster (Panaria)
said the aim is to, "Make the time cut. I've got a bit of bronchitis. I'm struggling
with my breathing a bit. So we'll see what happens, hang in there, should be
able to make it. Tomorrow's a bloody hard day too."
16:05 CEST
Garate does a turn, then Lobato comes
up to help him as the road goes up again. Rasmussen is trying to rejoin the
leaders - nice riding.
Tiralongo's heartrate is 150/180max, while
Illiano (in the gruppetto or somewhere) is at 145/205max.
16:06 CEST
The average speed after five hours:
31.8 km/h
16:08 CEST
Basso's group has gained a few passengers,
and is now up to 35 riders or so, travelling 5'33 behind the leading 12. Bettini's
trio with Schaffrath and Bellotti is 2'38 behind the leaders.
16:08 CEST
Fothen is one of the riders who has
just rejoined the Basso group.
16:14 CEST 180km/38km to go
The Bettini/Bellotti/Schaffrath
group aren't going to make it back to the leaders, as they're still at 2'48.
So no Intergiro points today for Bettini.
Rasmussen is at 1'50 now,
with Horrach, who has been dropped from the lead group.
16:19 CEST
The Basso group, still led by Zabriskie
and Schleck, flies through S. Andrea in Monte, still 5'30 behind the leading
group, which is getting close to the foot of the descent.
16:23 CEST
Bettini and Bellotti are wondering
what to do. They've been stuck between a rock and a hard place for a while now.
There's no way they're going to get the leaders back, but they might see how
far they can get up the final climb.
16:24 CEST 185km/33km to go
The leaders are in
Bressanone now, just before the Intergiro.
16:25 CEST 187km/31km to go
Lobato powers on
the front but Belli nips him on the line to take the Intergiro. Looks like Caucchioli
was third.
Zabriskie is still on the front of the Basso group. No
changes there.
16:26 CEST 189km/29km to go
Schaffrath seems
to have dropped off the back of Bettini and Bellotti. He's about 20 seconds
back.
16:27 CEST
Belli now consults with his team
car. "Wadda we do boss?" "Go up this next hill and win." "Thanks boss."
16:28 CEST
Schaffrath has now rejoined Bettini
and Bellotti. And they're still in no-man's land.
16:31 CEST 191km/27km to go
The Basso group is
now through the Intergiro in Bressanone. Order of passage was: Belli, Lobato,
Garate, Noè, Caucchioli and Valjavec.
The leaders have 4'57, and
are working on the flat before the final climb. They all look a bit knackered,
surprisingly enough.
16:35 CEST 193km/25km to go
The three leading
groups are now on the flat as they prepare for the assault on the final climb
to St Ulrich.
The lead break is continuing to roll over, with Parra
and Lobato doing short turns.
16:37 CEST 195km/23km to go
Bettini's chase group
is now absorbed by the CSC led maglia rosa gruppo. Still 13 riders in front,
but Rasmussen and Horrach will probably be absorbed soon too.
The
leaders have 4'12 now. They are tired, as there are only two CSC riders chasing
the leading 11.
16:41 CEST 197km/21km to go
The maglia rosa group
is bearing down on the leaders, now 3'46 behind as Zabriskie continues to do
an awesome amount of chasing work. There's a good 30 riders with Basso.
16:42 CEST 198km/20km to go
Zabriskie lifts the
tempo as they ride along the river, and his pace is sufficient to string out
the bunch completely.
16:44 CEST 199km/19km to go
In the front group,
Lobato does another big turn, with Rujano following him. He wants to gain as
much time for his team captain Garate as possible. But they're now just 3'25
ahead of Basso's group.
16:45 CEST 200km/18km to go
The leaders: Paolo
Tiralongo (Ceramica Panaria), Ivan Parra and José Rujano Guillen (Colombia -
Selle Italia), Pietro Caucchioli (Crédit Agricole), Wladimir Belli (Domina Vacanze),
Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros), Andrea Noè (Liquigas-Bianchi), Tadej Valjavec
(Phonak), Juan Manuel Garate, Ruben Lobato (Saunier) and Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile).
Rasmussen and Horrach are 1'05 behind them. Nice work.
The main bunch
is at 3'12, and closing.
16:47 CEST
Savoldelli has a bite to eat in the
main group. He'll need all he can get.
16:49 CEST 203km/15km to go
The leaders have
15 km to go and are preparing their assault on the last climb to Ortisei/St
Ulrich.
Basso checks his rear brake. Could it be rubbing?
16:51 CEST 204.5km/13.5km to go
Bettini and Garrido
chat to each other in the main group, but they probably won't last too long
once the climb starts.
Now it's Schleck, the young Luxembourger,
working hard for Basso.
The leaders go over the Ponte Gardena now.
13.5 km to go.
16:51 CEST
The last climb averages 6.8% with
a maximum of 12%. It measures 9.3 km.
16:52 CEST 205km/13km to go
Basso gets ready.
His two teammates have brought the gap back to 3'14, as the leaders hit the
climb with Rujano in front.
Tiralongo is on 154/180 hr, 86% of his
max.
16:53 CEST
Rujano signals for Caucchioli to
come through, but the Italian ain't moving.
16:53 CEST 206km/12km to go
Garate now takes
over from Rujano, trying to save as much of his lead as possible.
16:54 CEST
The peloton is across the bridge
now and starts the climb 3'12 behind the leaders.
Caucchioli is the
first to accelerate in front. Garate and Rujano go with him.
16:55 CEST
The rest come back, save for Lobato,
who is dropped. No surprise, given the amount of work he's done today.
16:56 CEST 207km/11km to go
The Basso group starts
to pick up the pace.
Now Rujano counters in front. Caucchioli tries
to follow the tiny Venezuelan. He gets him. As does Garate. And the rest again.
Parra counters. This is starting to damage the break.
16:57 CEST
Basso's group is now led by Schleck,
then Basso, Savoldelli, Di Luca.
Parra now has a gap - 10 seconds
or so.
16:59 CEST 208km/10km to go
Ivan Parra drives
it up the climb with 10 km to go, and he's really going for it. His teammate
Rujano can let the others chase.
The maglia rosa group is still
3'35 back.
17:00 CEST 209km/9km to go
Parra is really motoring,
using the big ring and focusing intently on the road ahead. It's been over 200
km already, and he just wants to get to the top. And possibly win the stage.
Basso's group is doing nothing yet.
17:01 CEST 209.5km/8.5km to go
Schleck is looking
a bit knackered as he tows Basso and the rest of the group. The attacks should
start soon if they want to test Basso.
Parra has nine seconds on
Garate, Caucchioli, Rujano and Valjavec. The rest are gone.
17:03 CEST 210km/8km to go
Patxi Vila takes over
in the peloton now, trying to lift the pace.
Parra has 8 km to go
and the four behind him are getting a bit closer.
17:03 CEST
Rasmussen has been caught by the
Basso group.
17:04 CEST
Vila is really lifting the tempo
in the Basso group, with Ardila and Simoni in second and third wheel. Basso
is a fair way back again, in the company of Savoldelli.
Schleck has
dropped off.
17:05 CEST 211km/7km to go
Vila, Ardila, Simoni,
Cunego, Sella, Gonchar and Basso are now at the head of the chase group.
Lobato has been caught by that group.
But in front, it's still Ivan
Parra with a small gap as he climbs a steeper section. Caucchioli, Garate and
Rujano are chasing him, but Valjavec is dropped. Caucchioli hammers. Rujano
suffers.
17:07 CEST 211.5km/6.5km to go
Garate now does
a turn but Parra is not coming back.
Basso's group is at 3'50! Looks
like one of these four in front will win today.
17:08 CEST
The peloton is now at 4'32! Garate
is about 2'20 away from pink, that means...
17:09 CEST 212km/6km to go
The climb gets steeper
now as Parra keeps his gap over Caucchioli, Rujano and Garate. He has 6 km to
go.
17:09 CEST
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) attacks
the gruppo maglia rosa, and is chased by an Illes Balears rider. Now Cunego
and Simoni lift the pace and Simoni attacks!
17:10 CEST
Basso is dropped! Savoldelli can
hold Simoni though. Basso is in big problems. He's next to Cunego and the others
go past him. Gibo and Savoldelli have a gap.
17:12 CEST
Cunego and Basso are last in the
gruppo maglia rosa. That's not good for Basso. Cunego attacks in pursuit.
Ahead, Savoldelli does turn and he and Simoni drop Sanchez. Savoldelli now drops
Simoni!!
17:13 CEST 214km/4km to go
Basso is now with
Ardila, Cioni and Fothen(?). But it looks like Savoldelli is going to be the
new maglia rosa. He has rid himself of Simoni.
Parra has 4 km to
go, still leading in the stage.
17:15 CEST 215km/3km to go
Basso is now 38 seconds
behind Savoldelli. Simoni is about 15 seconds behind Savoldelli.
Parra is solo as he gets to the summit of the climb. Now a short descent before
the finish. Rujano, Garate and Caucchioli cross for second through fourth at
11 seconds. It's not over yet.
17:16 CEST
Di Luca is now closing in on Simoni,
who is chasing Il Falco.
17:16 CEST
Savoldelli is the best GC rider today,
but the Giro ain't over yet.
In front, it's still Parra with his
10 second gap over the chasers.
17:17 CEST
Savoldelli goes over the summit of
the climb more than 3'00 behind Parra. He catches Tiralongo.
17:18 CEST 217km/1km to go
Savoldelli is finally
at the summit, 3'55 is the gap to Parra, who is near the finish. Di Luca and
Simoni are together, crossing at 4'18.
17:19 CEST
Parra now has 1500m to go, and will
stay away it looks like.
17:19 CEST
Basso crosses the summit at around
5'00 with Fothen for company.
17:20 CEST
Ivan Parra is nearly home now - 700m
to go.
17:21 CEST 218km/0km to go
And it's Ivan Parra
(Selle Italia) who wins this monstrous stage in St Ulrich! Great ride by the
Colombian.
17:22 CEST
Garate takes second at 22 seconds
ahead of Rujano, then Caucchioli at 26 seconds.
17:23 CEST
Valjavec crosses alone for 5th place,
very tired, 1'45 behind. Savoldelli is in the last kilometre, and Di Luca and
Simoni are getting close to him. Basso is about a minute behind.
17:25 CEST
Basso does a big turn with Sanchez,
Atienza and Fothen, but it's Savoldelli who'll take pink.
17:27 CEST
Savoldelli crosses at 4'00, then
Simoni and Di Luca at 4'06, then another group, then finally Basso in about
20th place at 5'06. The jersey is gone.
17:32 CEST
Basso keeps second on GC at 50 seconds,
just ahead of Di Luca. Simoni is still well placed in fourth at 2'16, but Savoldelli
is the new leader.
And yes, Ivan Parra is Fabio's brother.
Thanks again for following the 13th stage with us. Back again tomorrow for Stage
14, and the Stelvio...
Results
Provisional 1 Ivan Parra (Col) Selle Italia-Colombia 6.31.35 2 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.23 3 Jose' Rujano Guillen (Ven) Selle Italia-Colombia 4 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole 0.27 5 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.45 6 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile Team 2.55 7 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Liberty Seguros-Wurth Team 3.03 8 Wladimir Belli (Ita) Domina Vacanze 3.48 9 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 4.00 10 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 4.06 11 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi General classification after stage 13 1 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team 60.31.12 2 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 0.50 3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 0.53 4 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 2.16 5 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.39 6 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole 3.25 7 Serguei Gonchar (Ukr) Domina Vacanze 8 Jose' Rujano Guillen (Ven) Selle Italia-Colombia 9 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.54 10 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
