@ all: Thanks again. The team rides very strong, but IS strong! with 3 domestiques with MO of 76 and higher, and not that strong other teams, the domination isn't a surprise to me.
Stage 18 is again a very difficult stage, including the ascend of the Mottarone (13km at 7.2%) and shortly before the finish the Monterosso (6.0km at 7.7%) with the last 2 kilometres at gravel roads. The stage ends after 189 kilometres in Verbania, located at the Lago Maggiore.
146km to go Francis De Greef knows that he has a big chance in securing his KOTM-jersey today. So he takes part in the BOTD and leads the 11-man group over the first cllimb of the day, the Croceserra, and enters the tunnel after the summit. The other riders in the BOTD: Marco Pinotti (BMC), Reny Di Gregorio (Sony Ericsson), Evgeny Petrov (Astana), Danielli Pietropolli (Omega Pharma), Leandro Bertagnolli (Lampre), Andrea Noé (Farnese Vini), Danilo Di Luca (Katusha), Óscar Sevilla (Movistar), Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil) and Massimo Codol (Acqua et Sapone).
58km to go
The group stays together in the ascend of the Mottarone. When De Greef crosses the summit as the first one, and collects another 20 points, he sees the president of his fanclub cheering with the Belgian flag! The peloton is 5'19 behind.
29km to go
The ascend of the penultimate climb, the Ungiasca, has started and GC's number 7 Joaquím Rodríguez attacks. Simon Spilak sees this as a thread for his 6th place, and reacts. They're still 3'56 behind the BOTD.
23km to go
Rodríguez and Spilak can't create a gap. But becuase the pace in the chasing peloton increased suddenly, Andy Schleck gets surprised and rides too far back in the group. This is seen by Igor Antón, and he attacks before the summit of the Ungiasca, 2'54 behind the leading group.
12.5km to go
Anto'n quickly creates a gap of 30 seconds, but the chasing domestiques of Radio Shack, Lampre and De Gendt & Kelderman are too much for him to defend the gap. When the last climb of the day, the Monterosso, begins, he's almost caught. But because of the attack, the gap to the leading group has decreased to one minute.
10km to go
The leading group quickly gets caught, and Antón sees this as another opportunity to attack. This time Schleck is positioned better in the group and jumps at Antóns wheel. Also Scarponi joins them.
7.5km to go
When Antón sees that his attack didn't get him a gap to his uxembourg rival, he drops the pace. Because of this, José Rujano closes the gap and when they enter the gravel roads shortly before the summit, he attacks. The others follow shortly behind.
4km to go
Rujano has created a small gap of 10 seconds in this very technical (and cornery) descend. Schleck has chosen the wheel of the best descender in the group, the wheel of Vincenzo Nibali. But somehow, Nibali isn't interested in a stage win...
1km to go
Because of it, Rujano finishes the descend with a gap of 8 seconds. Nibali starts the sprint behind him, but it looks like he's to late.
Finish
José Rujano takes his firt stage win this year, after 3 in 2011. His Androni Giocattoli-team can party for the 2nd time, after Bertolini winning the first stage. Nibali wins the sprint for the 2nd place, followed by Scarponi. Schleck finishes in 7th.
Results
1
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
4h57'58
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
3
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
4
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
6
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
7
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
8
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
9
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
10
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
12
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
14
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
15
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 52
16
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'31
17
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
18
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
19
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
20
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
21
Marcos García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
22
Massimo Giunti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
23
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
24
Robert Kiserlovski
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
25
Michael Rasmussen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
26
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
27
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
28
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
29
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
30
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
31
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 4'23
32
Óscar Sevilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
33
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
34
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
35
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
s.t.
38
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
39
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
40
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5'31
41
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
42
Tom Danielson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
43
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
44
Tadej Valjavec
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
45
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
46
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
47
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
48
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
49
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
50
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
+ 6'53
51
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 7'29
52
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
53
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
54
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
55
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
56
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
57
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 8'36
58
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 11'21
59
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
60
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
61
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
62
Andrew Talansky
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 11'51
63
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
64
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
65
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 13'29
66
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
67
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
69
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
70
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
71
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
72
Pietro Caucchioli
Katusha Team
s.t.
73
Fabian Wegmann
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 15'47
74
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
75
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
76
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
77
David Millar
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
78
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
79
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
80
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
81
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
82
Daniel Sesma
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
83
Pierre Cazaux
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
84
Jussi Veikkanen
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
85
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 16'46
86
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 18'09
87
Oliver Zaugg
Sony Ericsson
+ 19'34
88
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
89
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
s.t.
90
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
s.t.
91
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
92
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
93
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
s.t.
94
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
95
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
96
Raffaele Ferrara
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
97
Roberto De Patre
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
98
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
99
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
100
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
101
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 20'39
102
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
103
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
104
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 22'24
105
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 24'52
106
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 25'43
107
Tom Dumoulin
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
108
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
109
Allan Davis
Team Qantas
s.t.
110
Matthew Goss
Team Qantas
s.t.
111
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
112
Mitchell Docker
Team Qantas
s.t.
113
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
114
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
115
Eduard Prades
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
116
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
117
Jürgen Van de Walle
Lotto - Belisol
+ 26'20
118
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 34'49
119
Francesco Reda
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
120
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
121
Sérgio Paulinho
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
122
Tosh Van der Sande
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
123
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
124
Manuele Boaro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
125
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
126
Fabio Sabatini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
127
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
128
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
129
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
130
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
131
Francisco José Pacheco
Movistar Team
s.t.
132
Americo Novembrini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
133
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
134
Mauro Da Dalto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
135
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
136
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
137
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
138
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
139
Eduardo Gonzalo
Movistar Team
s.t.
140
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
141
Paolo Longo Borghini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
142
Sergio Marinangeli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
GC
No changes in the top 10.
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
79h46'54
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'31
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 6'35
4
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'46
5
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'38
6
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 10'57
7
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 14'15
8
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 17'19
9
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
+ 17'31
10
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 18'14
Points
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
9
227
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
10
198
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
20
146
4
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
16
136
5
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
25
108
KOTM
1
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
16
128
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
0
83
3
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
3
67
4
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
1
60
5
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
0
56
U25
1
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
80h08'15
2
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 11'34
3
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 22'11
4
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h14'02
5
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 1h36'59
Teams
1
Monster Energy - Ford
239h04'54
2
Lampre - Generali
+ 8'53
3
Katusha Team
+ 30'34
4
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 33'46
5
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 42'17
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Two important things about today. Firstly, De Greef has almost secured his KOTM-jersey, and thus achieved a sponsor goal. Secondly, Schleck can follow the attacks of Antón without too much trouble, and is looking confident towards stage 20 with the Passo dello Stelvio.
@ FreitasPCM: yes, very close... one hilly stage without expected problems, than the queen's stage with 5 climbs over 2000m, including the finish at the Stelvio. Than a 23km ITT. When Schleck can stay near Antón at the Stelvio, it's in the pocket.
@ baia: domination is nice, but I think it will be different in the tour de France, where the competition will be stronger (Sánchez, Contador, Evans)
@ sutty68: at this point in the Giro, tactics are important. Why keep on attacking, when you only have to follow Antón (but that is tough enough...)
Stage 19 is a relatively easy stage between some monstruous mountain stages. The 166 kilometres between Verbania and Menaggio, near Lago Como, feature 3 climbs, incuding the very difficult Alpe di Neggia (11.4km at 10.3%).
102km to go
As most of the GC-riders want to save their legs for tomorrow's stage to the Stelvio, and we tell our domestiques to do the same, the stage is suited for a breakaway. 13 riders attack early in the race, and they create a gap of over 10 minutes. Bruno Pires (Saxo) is the first one to cross the summit of the Alpe di Neggia, followed by Vanotti, Pujol, Amador, Wegmann, Di Luca, Bisolti, Bertagnolli, Bertolini, Santambrogio, Codol and Carrara. The peloton follows at 13'47.
48km to go
The leading group stays together in the difficult descend and also in the ascend of the Monte Arbostora. At that summit, with 48km to go, th elead is still 11'27, so the 13 men will battle for the stage win.
40km to go
Our domestiques start to bring the gap down a bit, but then we have to stop doing it, because of a crash of Francis De Greef. The leader in the KOTM-rankings, went to the car to get some bottles of water, when he lost control of his bike. But luckily, he can get on his bike again, and finish the stage.
28km to go
During the last ascend of the day, the Lanzo d'Intelvi, Leandro Bertagnolli rides away with his breakaway-buddies and crosses the summit with a gap of '22 to Alessandro Bisolti, Andrey Amador, Danilo Di Luca, Bruno Pires and Óscar Pujol. The peloton, without attacks of GC-contenders, follows at 10'49.
Finish
Bertagnolli extends his lead at the chasing group of 5 and takes the win in Menaggio. It's his 3rd win of the season, but compared to the Classica Sarda Sassari and the GP Industria Artigniato, this is by far the most important one. It's also the first stage win for his team Lampre - Generali. Bisolti wins the sprint for the 2nd place at 1'33.
GC-contenders Andy Schleck wins the sprint for the 10th place. Also De Gendt & Kelderman are in this group. None of the riders in the top 20 failed to be in it.
Too late
The stage takes 20 victims, who finish outside the timelimit. Among them Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas), Mirco Lorenzetto (Androni), and, unfortunately, Tom Dumoulin. The 21-year-old rider from Maastricht is completely wasted, and can only think about a massage and a bed right now. But we owe him some big thanks, because he did great work in this Giro, mostly as the "water boy". So only 122 will start in tomorrows queen's stage.
Results
1
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
4h54'59
2
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1'33
3
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
4
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
6
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
7
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 7'07
8
Fabian Wegmann
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 9'12
9
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 9'51
10
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
12
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
13
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
14
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
15
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
16
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
17
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
s.t.
18
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
19
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
20
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
21
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
22
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
23
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
24
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
25
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
26
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
27
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
28
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
29
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
31
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
32
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
33
Robert Kiserlovski
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
34
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
35
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
36
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
38
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
39
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
40
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
41
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
42
Tadej Valjavec
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
43
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
44
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
45
Tom Danielson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
46
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
47
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
48
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
49
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 12'19
50
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
51
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
53
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
54
Michael Rasmussen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 13'41
55
Massimo Giunti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
56
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
+ 14'13
58
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
59
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
60
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
61
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
62
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
63
Marcos García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
64
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
65
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
66
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
67
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
68
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 15'50
69
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
70
Óscar Sevilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
71
Oliver Zaugg
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
72
Sérgio Paulinho
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
73
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
74
Pietro Caucchioli
Katusha Team
s.t.
75
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
76
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
+ 18'15
77
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
78
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
79
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
+ 18'41
80
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Generali
+ 19'18
81
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
82
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 19'44
83
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
84
Jussi Veikkanen
Lotto - Belisol
+ 20'10
85
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
86
Matthew Goss
Team Qantas
+ 20'47
87
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
88
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 21'18
89
Andrew Talansky
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
90
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
91
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
92
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
s.t.
93
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
94
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
s.t.
95
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
96
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
97
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
98
Tosh Van der Sande
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 22'40
99
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 23'23
100
Roberto De Patre
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 23'46
101
Francesco Reda
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
102
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
103
Raffaele Ferrara
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
104
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
105
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
106
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
107
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
+ 24'58
108
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
109
Daniel Sesma
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
110
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 27'06
111
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
+ 28'03
112
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
113
Allan Davis
Team Qantas
s.t.
114
David Millar
Sky ProCycling
+ 30'48
115
Manuele Boaro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
116
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
117
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
118
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
119
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
+ 32'16
120
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 32'39
121
Pierre Cazaux
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
122
Americo Novembrini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
GC
Again, no changes in the top 10.
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
84h51'44
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'31
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 6'35
4
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'46
5
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'38
6
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 10'57
7
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 14'15
8
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 17'19
9
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
+ 17'31
10
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 18'14
Points
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
6
233
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
3
201
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
0
146
4
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
5
141
5
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
0
108
KOTM
1
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
0
128
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
0
83
3
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
0
67
4
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
0
60
5
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
0
56
U25
A Dutch oriented U25-rankings, with 3 in the top 5.
1 Rein Taaramäe Sony Ericsson 85h13'05 2Wilco KeldermanMonster Energy - Ford+ 11'34
3 Steven Kruijswijk Rabobank Cycling Team + 26'01
4 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sony Ericsson + 1h18'24
5 Tom Slagter Rabobank Cycling Team + 1h40'05
Teams
Thanks to Bertagnolli, Lampre takes over the lead in the Teams-ranking.
1
Lampre - Generali
254h18'26
2
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 58
3
Katusha Team
+ 23'14
4
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 40'43
5
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 47'37
Today's winner
Word from the DS
So also in a relativey easy stage, a lot can happen. De Greef crashed, but with some bruises and skin tears, he could continue and will start tomorrow to defend his KOTM-jersey. And we lost the Teams-lead to Lampre, but should be able to regain that minute!
Tomorrow is d-day!
I've just finished playing stage 20 and it was an incredible stage. Epic, dramatic, full of suspense, strange virtual leaders, etcetera..., all that cycling needs.
But the report will come tomorrow, as it is already past 1 o clock in the night and my bed is calling me.
The report will come tomorrow, so stay tuned! Edited by dienblad on 22-01-2012 00:16
D-day in the Giro d'Italia, or should I say Stelvio-day?! Today awaits one of the toughest GT-stages in modern cycling, including 5 summits over 2000 metres altitude, a total of almost 6000 height metres and the finish at the summit of the legendary Passo dello Stelvio (alt. 2758m). One weak day, will cost a riders minutes.
144km to go
We see a strong breakaway today. After the first part of the first climb of the day, the Forcola di Livigno (32km at 5.9%), the 8 leaders ride on theplatea before the first part. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Vacansoleil, GC 18), Rein Taaramäe (Sony Ericsson, GC 12), Steven Kruijjswijk (Rabobank), Eros Capecchi (Liquigas), Massimo Giunti (Colnago), Mikel Nieve (Astans, GC 13), Robert Kiserlovski (Garmin) and Franco Pellizotti (Lampre) have created a gap of 6'17 at this moment.
126km to go
The peloton takes it slowly, very very slowly. So many riders fear this day, so all the teams takes it easy, so none of the riders get dropped this early in the race.
But because of that, the BOTD crosses the summit of the Forcola di Livigno with a gap of 21'25 (this is correct, over 21 minutes!). Rein Taaramäe, who crosses the summit in 2nd behind Kiserlovski, is 21'21 behind in the GC, which means he is the virtual leader in this Giro d'Italia. You gotta be kidding me!
98km to go
The peloton, especially Radio Shack - Nisan, increases the pace a bit in the next two smaller climb, the Passo d´Eira (6.5km at 6.0%) and the Passo del Foscagna (4.0km at 6.4%). With 98 kilometres to go, the gap to the leading group is 20'21.
58km to go
The 8 leaders stay together in the ascend of the 4th climb of the day, the Passo dell'Umbrail. At an altitude of 2501metres above sea level, Giunti is the first to cross the summit. The lead to the peloton at this moment is 16'56, so the 8 know they will fight for the stage win today.
The peloton has become smaller, as many riders got dropped in the ascend of the Umbrail. A group of only 40 riders are together in the chase.
23km to go
The 8 leaders have become 7. Massimo Giunti couldn't follow anymore in the long descend towards Prato. These 7 start the last 23 kilometres, with 48 hairpins in it, towards an altitude of 2758metres, with an average gradient of 8.0%. The chasing peloton is 16'09 behind, so at least Taaramäe is no more tread for the maglia rosa.
16km to go
It lasts 7 kilometres, untill te first rider attacks out of the peloton. BMC's Michele Scarponi is on a mission to get himself back at the podium, and launches an attack. GC´s number 3 Vincenzo Nibali sees this as a real danger to his podium position, and tries to follow. Also José Rujano and and Joaquím Rodríguez try to follow Scarponi. Andy Schleck and Igor Antón don´t react and stay in the first peloton. This happens still 14´29 behind the leaders.
14km to go
Back to the front and we see only 3 riders left that will battle for the win. Niemiec, Nieve and Taaramàe, also the best ranked riders in the GC, in the former leading group, have dropped the others. At this point, Kiserlovski follows at ´30, Pellizotti at 1´39, Kruijswijk and Capecch at 3´14, Scarponi at 13´53 (who has dropped Nibali and Rujano again). Basso at 14'27 and the peloton at 14'47.
12km to go
Niemiec attacks when the steeper half of the Stelvio starts, but Nieve and Taaramäe are closely behind.
11km to go
11 kilometres before the summit, Igor Antón decides it's time for his attack to regain the maglia rosa. Andy Schleck has got a bad day and can't follow the furious Spanish climber. Is this the decisive move in the Giro?
7km to go
5 kilometres after the attack of Niemiec, he has met the man with the hammer, and gets passed by Nieve and Taaramäe. Michele Scarponi is closing the gap, but won't catch them, as he is 10'54 behind.
7km to go
Igor Antón follows at 11'29, José Rujano at 12'08 and Andy Schleck at 12'30. This means Schleck has already lost 2/3 off his lead, and that is exactly what the Spanish fan is shouting at him "You're gonna lose, Antón is gonna win!!". Can he find some source of energy?
3.4km to go
Nieve has taken the wheel of Taaramäe and finds out that he pace is dropping rapidly. He knows he can win this stage and is preparing for his final attack.
Scarponi follows at 8'18, Antón at 8'40 and a group with Schleck, Nibali (who is losing the 3rd place), and Rujano at 9'58. This means Antón is only '13 behind in the GC at this moment!
1km to go
Nieve has dropped Taaramäe and is riding towards the stage win. The Estonian has met the man with the hammer, who had several victims today, and follows at 3'55 (losing 4 minutes in 2 kilometres, ouch...). Scarponi follows at 6'52, Antón at 7'12 and Schleck at 8'52. We have a new (virtual) leader!
Finish
Mikel Nieve is too tired to celebrate when he takes his 2nd win of the year, after the 4th stage in the Tour of Oman (the green mountain). This has been an heroic win for the Basque!.
3rd place
Taaramäe looses another 1'10 in the last kilometre and finishes in 2nd place, also completely wasted. Michele Scarponi takes the third place at 6'31 and Igor Antón the 4th at 6'47. Now the waiting starts and the question isn't if Antón takes over the lead, but what his gap will be for tomorrow's ITT?
5th place Andy Schleck finishes 8'49 behind Nieve, so 2'02 behind Antón. The Luxembourg is completely disappointed, tired and wants to leave this mountain as quickly as possible, to get a massage, a good meal and into his bed to recover for the ITT.
Nibali finishes in 6th at 9'14, and looses his 3rd place in the GC to Scarponi. 18 riders finish outside the time limit, including Theo Bos & Romain Zingle. Also stage winners Marcato Marcato and Matthew Goss can go home, instead to Milano.
Results
1
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
6h04'44
2
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
+ 5'05
3
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
+ 6'31
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'47
5
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 8'49
6
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 9'14
7
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
8
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 10'40
9
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
s.t.
10
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 11'01
Spoiler
11
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
12
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 11'55
13
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 12'58
14
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
15
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 15'17
16
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 19'10
17
Tom Danielson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 19'21
18
Robert Kiserlovski
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
19
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 20'05
20
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
+ 21'33
21
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
22
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 24'26
25
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
26
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 26'48
27
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 27'07
28
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 27'15
29
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
+ 27'58
30
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
31
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
32
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
+ 28'19
33
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
34
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 28'51
35
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 29'20
36
Marcos García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 29'32
37
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 30'37
38
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
+ 30'54
39
Michael Rasmussen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 31'02
40
Massimo Giunti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
41
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 31'14
42
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
+ 31'24
43
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
+ 32'40
44
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 33'25
45
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
46
Tadej Valjavec
Pro Team Astana
+ 33'37
47
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
+ 33'47
48
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 33'56
49
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 34'09
50
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 34'20
51
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
s.t.
52
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
53
David López
Movistar Team
+ 34'33
54
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
+ 35'31
55
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 35'44
56
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 36'26
57
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 37'17
58
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 37'52
59
Óscar Sevilla
Movistar Team
+ 38'00
60
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 39'16
61
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
+ 39'30
62
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 40'32
63
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 41'01
64
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 43'03
65
Oliver Zaugg
Sony Ericsson
+ 43'30
66
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 44'26
67
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
+ 44'36
68
Sérgio Paulinho
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
69
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 46'50
70
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 48'29
71
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 48'37
72
Andrew Talansky
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 50'38
73
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 52'49
74
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 52'58
75
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 53'29
76
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
+ 54'05
77
Daniel Sesma
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 54'25
78
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 54'52
79
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
+ 55'11
80
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 55'20
81
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
+ 55'29
82
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 55'51
83
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 56'05
84
Jussi Veikkanen
Lotto - Belisol
+ 56'58
85
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
+ 57'13
86
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Generali
+ 58'13
87
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 58'40
88
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 59'08
89
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 59'16
90
Pietro Caucchioli
Katusha Team
+ 59'24
91
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
+ 59'31
92
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
93
David Millar
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h00'28
94
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
95
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1h01'31
96
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1h03'24
97
Pierre Cazaux
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h04'31
98
Fabian Wegmann
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h04'52
99
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
100
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
101
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h05'09
102
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1h06'02
103
Raffaele Ferrara
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1h07'46
104
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h07'56
GC
Antón is th enew leader and has an advantage of 31 seconds. Scarponi has jumped to 3rd and Nieve (7th) and Taaramäe (9th) have entered the top 10, switching with Cunego and Evans.
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
91h04'46
2
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 31
3
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'51
4
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 7'31
5
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 9'34
6
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 13'40
7
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'42
8
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 17'52
9
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
10
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 20'02
Spoiler
11
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 20'36
12
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
+ 22'11
13
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 23'16
14
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 32'04
15
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 38'11
16
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 47'25
17
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 49'40
18
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 53'57
19
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
20
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 59'16
21
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h00'33
22
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h00'59
23
Tom Danielson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h05'36
24
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h06'07
25
Robert Kiserlovski
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h06'23
26
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h11'37
27
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h13'06
28
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
+ 1h18'47
29
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1h19'04
30
Massimo Giunti
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 1h27'01
31
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h27'55
32
Michael Rasmussen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h28'07
33
Marcos García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h29'27
34
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h29'34
35
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h31'21
36
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h32'38
37
Tadej Valjavec
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h36'01
38
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h36'11
39
David López
Movistar Team
+ 1h39'42
40
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
+ 1h42'53
41
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
+ 1h43'36
42
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h43'56
43
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h44'28
44
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h46'32
45
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1h50'35
46
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h52'07
47
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1h52'16
48
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h54'47
49
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 2h05'47
50
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
+ 2h12'47
51
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2h21'23
52
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 2h22'57
53
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
+ 2h24'07
54
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
+ 2h28'34
55
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 2h32'01
56
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2h33'13
57
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h33'40
58
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 2h42'05
59
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h42'44
60
Oliver Zaugg
Sony Ericsson
+ 2h45'16
61
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2h45'42
62
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
+ 2h47'20
63
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
+ 2h47'36
64
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2h52'25
65
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h52'54
66
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h52'55
67
Pietro Caucchioli
Katusha Team
+ 2h57'00
68
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 3h00'45
69
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3h00'56
70
Andrew Talansky
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3h01'36
71
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
+ 3h02'25
72
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h04'03
73
Sérgio Paulinho
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h05'07
74
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 3h08'33
75
Óscar Sevilla
Movistar Team
+ 3h10'16
76
Daniel Sesma
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3h23'39
77
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 3h24'00
78
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
+ 3h29'14
79
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 3h33'20
80
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 3h37'40
81
Fabian Wegmann
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 3h41'48
82
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
+ 3h47'20
83
Jussi Veikkanen
Lotto - Belisol
+ 3h52'38
84
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h02'17
85
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4h13'50
86
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4h20'01
87
Pierre Cazaux
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h20'30
88
David Millar
Sky ProCycling
+ 4h29'16
89
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 4h35'43
90
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
+ 4h37'48
91
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h40'57
92
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 4h46'24
93
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h46'46
94
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 4h55'41
95
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4h56'00
96
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 5h07'53
97
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5h23'48
98
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 5h26'42
99
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
+ 5h38'04
100
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 5h39'53
101
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 5h45'09
102
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 5h49'03
103
Raffaele Ferrara
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 5h57'58
104
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 6h57'50
Points
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
12
245
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
14
215
3
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
16
157
4
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
10
156
5
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
9
117
KOTM
The one positive thing about today, is that De Greef has secured himself of the KOTM-jersey, and achieved a sponsor goal.
1
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
0
128
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
6
89
3
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
4
71
4
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
0
60
5
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
0
56
U25
1
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
91h22'38
2
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 36'05
3
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 42'41
4
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h47'55
5
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h15'45
Teams
1
Lampre - Generali
273h18'10
2
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 20'21
3
Katusha Team
+ 28'15
4
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 54'40
5
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1h04'35
Today's winner / hero
Word from the DS
The most difficult part of my job is waiting: talking to Andy Schleck and turn the thoughts into his mind form "I've been beaten" to "I'll take bake these 31 seconds tomorrow". Andy is the better time trialist (TT 72, Antón 69), so it's not decided yet. 23 kilometres to go!
And also congratulations to Francis De Greef, in securing the KOTM-jersey, great job. Romain ZIngle and Theo Bos have to leave the Giro tomorrow, but they'll stay with the team to support Andy. Also Dumoulin and Ligthart will join us in the hotel, to support him!
@ sutty68: Thanks you! Hope the "commentary" was better than I mostly hear/see on Eurosport (Dutch language), has never been my favourite. Coming from Holland, I prefer to watch cycling on the Belgium television, as their commentary is fabulous!
@ Pellizotti2 & FreitasPCM: Hope your believe helps!
@ lokytrew, wow, thanks.... Hope Antón doens't get too much "morale" riding in the maglia rosa, but that he'll choke (literaly of course ) instead.
@ alexanderlens: I'll try.
Final stage probably later this sunday (not in the first few hours).
