A flat stage between all those mountain stages, means it's time for the final ITT. 35 kilometres between Cuneo and Savigliano. The route is a descending one, what means it's designed for timetrialists with a big "motor" as Cancellara and Martin, considering the fact that they don't race the Giro.
For sure, this will be a great day for us, as Bobridge & Kittel have set the fastest times so far, untill Gustav Erik Larsson comes along. The Swede sets an astonishing 45'20, almost 2 minutes faster than Bobridge.
With over 130 riders that have finished the ITT, we realize that time can be gained in the last part, as many riders tend to start to fast and blow their legs. Thomas De Gendt starts a little bit slow, to accelerate in the last part. And with succes, as he stes the 2nd time so far, '47 behind Larsson.
Saxo Bank's Richie Porte is looking to enter the GC top 10 and with the 3rd time so far ('48 slower than GEL), he will do so.
Wilco Kelderman looks to have recovered from his crash yesterday in the descend of the Colle della Fauniera. The U25-leader sets the 2nd time so far, '42 behind Larsson.
Janez Brajkovic is looking for that 5th place in the GC. With the 5th time so far at 1'12 behind Larsson, the 5th place is still possible.
But beating Cadel Evans?? Last years rummer up in the Tour de France manages to limit the loss to Brajkovic to 10 seconds, so he'll stay in 5th place.
Yesterday, Rubén Plaza surprised with the 2nd place and moving to the 4th place in the GC. The Spaniard is known for a decent TT, and sets the 12th time so far, 2'03 behind Larsson.
The top 3 starts. Venezuelan José Rujano has the difficult task in gaining time on Gesink, to get back in the 2nd position.
What a Giro it has been for Robert Gesink. Being totally dominant in the first 10 stages, but then loosing the maglia rosa because of a crash. That crash, and the severa bruises, caused him at least 7 minutes in the following stages. But since the rest day, he's flying again, winning the MITT and the stage to the Alpe d'Huez. After yesterday's solo to Dronero he finds himself in the 2nd spot in the GC, almost 6 minutes behind Igor Antón.
The last rider to start the 35 kilometres is Igor Antón. With a mrgain of 6 minutes with only 35 time tialling kilometres and one mountain stage to go, he looks certain of winning the Giro for the 2nd year in a row.
Time at 1st split (16km):
1. G. Larsson 20'49
2. R.Porte + 24
3. J. Brajkovic +35
4. C. Evans + 39
5. R. Gesink + 48
12. J. Rujano + 58
32. I. Antón + 1'20
Edited by dienblad on 05-07-2012 23:43
José Rujano does a great job and minimizes his loss. From being 12th at the first sector, he only looses 2 places. 14th place, 1'41 behind Larsson.
While saving some energy for the last part, Robert Gesink is doing a great job. He's still in 5th place at the 2nd split time, 1'13 behind GE Larsson.
This ITT isn't designed for Igor Antón as he keeps losing ground. After 26 from 35 kilometres, he's in 35th place, 2'16 behind GE Larsson and 1'03 behind Gesink.
Times at 2nd split time (26km):
1. G. Lrsson 33'16
2. R. Porte + 42
3. J. Brajkovic + 59
4. C. Evans + 1'08
5. R. Gesink + 1'13
14. J. Rujano + 1'41
35. I. Antón + 2'16
José Rujano arrives at the finish, looks back, and besides the face of Gesink closing in, he sees he has set the 14th time so far, 2'05 behind Larsson. For dure, he can be very happy about that!
The fact that Robert Gesink almost catches José Rujano, means that he sets a great time. And it is, 2nd place, only '30 behind Larsson!!
Can minimize Igor Antón the loss, and secure himself of the GC-win? Well, he finishes in 32nd place, 2'49 slower than Larsson. This means he looses 2'19 of his margin to Gesink, and has "only" 3'38 left.
Results
1
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
45'20
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 30
3
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 42
4
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 47
5
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 49
6
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'12
7
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 1'22
8
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'49
9
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1'55
10
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'57
GC
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
80h02'56
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 3'38
3
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 5'43
4
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
+ 7'28
5
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 8'52
6
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 9'09
7
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 10'30
8
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 11'53
9
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 12'36
10
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 12'40
Other rankings
No changes.
Today's winner
Word from the DS
A great day for us! Too bad that GE Larsson rod etoday, else it would have been a great 1-2-3 for the team! Gesink has decreased the ga to Antón to 3'38 with 1 mountain stage left. Settle for 2nd, or no guts, no glory?? Probably the last one!
Stage 20
The penultimate stage is again a very difficult one. After the start in Villar Perosa, the riders start climbing to the Colle delle Sestriere (37.9km at 3.8%), before the steep ascend of the Colle delle Finestre (18.7km at 9.0%), with the last 8 kilometres on gravel roads. The riders stay on gravel roads and ride over the Strada Assietta . After a long descend (mostly on gravel roads), the final climb to Grand Puy awaits (4km at 7%).
66km to go
We start the report of the penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia 2013 when the peloton is already ascending the Colle delle Finestre. The early breakaway has already been caught, and also a small breakaway with Samuel Sánchez, Tom Danielson and Ryder Hesjedal didn't get the blessings from the peloton to create a gap.
With 66km to go, Tom Danielson (GC's 16) attacks again.
60km to go
Nobody counters the attack, but the pace of the peloton increases. That increased pace makes the peloton bursts into many smaller groups. Some of the GC-contenders got surprised and have to make up some ground. Janez Brajkovic (6th) and Michele Scarponi (11th) are already 2 minutes behind the first group of 21 riders and the gap is getting bigger.
58km to go
Halfway up the climb, when the gravel roads start, the leading group has diminished to only 17 riders. The 17th rider in this group, Wilco Kelderman (7th) is also struggling, again having a daily form of -5...
53km to go
17 have become 13, with Thomas De Gendt (13th) being the last one to get dropped, after helping Robert Gesink earlier in the climb. The group Brajkovic-Scarponi is already 4 minutes behind.
50km to go Robert Gesink (GC's 2nd) realizes that he can take the maglia azzurra and crosses the line of the KOTM-sprint as the first rider. He's followed by Cadel Evans (5th), Rubén Plaza (4th), Samuel Sánchez (14th), Christophe Le Mével (9th), José Rujano (3rd), Igor Antón (1st), Francesco Masciarelli (27th), Mikel Nieve (8th), Mikel Astarloza (20th) and Wilco Kelderman (7th).
At 1'40 follows a group with Richie Porte (10th) & Danielson (16th). De Gendt follows at 2'03, Michele Scarponi and Ryder Hesjedal at 4'32 and Janez Brajkovic at 6'08. When you wonder were GC's 12th Ivan Basso is: he crashed in the descend of the Colle delle Sestriere and will loose 1 hour today!
40km to go
The riders have arrived at the Strada Assietta and started the climb towards the Colle della Assietta (10.1km at 6.2%). This is the point were Gesink says thank you to his younger team mate Kelderman and attacks. He has one goal: gaining 3'38 to Antón!
36km to go Gesink arrives at the summit and secures himself of the KOTM-jersey, a nice consolidation price.
The group Antón-Rujano-Evans-Nieve-Plaza-Le Mével follows at 1'31. Igor Antón is riding in the last place of this group. Is he cracking, or just acting??? Kelderman is already 3'18 behind and is about to get caught by Michele Scarponi, who is doing a great remonte. Brajkovic follows at 5'16.
29km to go
Antón was acting for sure, because when the road ascends for a few kilometres, he attacks. He played it smart, profiting from the pace set by mostly Rujano and Evans, and is now 1'28 behind the Dutch stage-leader.
28km to go
Antóns attack has caused 1 victim, namely his countryman Rubén Plaza. The GC number 4 will have a hard time defending his GC-position now!
18km to go
The gap between Gesink and Antón is slowly getting smaller, from 1'20 to 1'10 to 1 minute to 48 seconds with 18km to go, when they're about to start the final descend. The group Evans-Rujano-Nieve-Le Mével follows at 1'55.
5km to go
Igor Antón is the better downhiller from the 2 and throws himself in the descend, and shortly before the last climb towards Grand Puy starts, he has closed the gap to Gesink. The 4 are 1'59 behind.
2km to go Gesink tries to shake off Antón in the last 4 kilometres, but the previous 36 kilometres have costed to much energy. So just before entering the last kilometre, Antón attacks and Gesink has to let him go.
Finish
Igor Antón wins the 20th stage of the Giro and the Giro GC for the 2nd year in a row! Gesink gave everything he had in him, but the all or nothing attack wasn't enough.
José Rujano and Cadel Evans finish 2'52 behind Antón, Nieve and Le Mével 3'04 behind him. Kelderman looses almost 9 minutes. 21 riders finish outside the timelimit, and have to go home, one day before the Giro ends... Unfortunately, triple stage winner Marcel Kittel is one of them.
Results
The game crashed after everybody finished, so no exported results, but screenshots.
GC
Antón wins the Giro, Gesink 2nd and Rujano 3rd. Kelderman barely stays in the top 10.
KOTM
Gesink secures himself of the KOTM-jersey.
Today's winner
Word from the DS
We tried...... All credits to Antón, who rode a great stage.
No chances against a very strong Antón. Again, it has to be said, that Gesink recovered very well from his fall, that was the main reason that he didn't dominate the Giro.
The last stage is a 105km criterium in Torino. This should normally end in a mass sprint.
3km to go
As the stage will end in a mas ssprint, we skip the first 107 kilometres, and go to the moment the sprint trains our formed. Although our train is a bit decapitated with triple stage winner Kittel finishing outside the time limit, we try to set up a different train, with De Gendt leading out Kelderman and sprinter Theo Bos. Our biggest opponent is Omega Pharma, with Tyler Farrar as their sprinter.
1km to go
It's a hugh difference, when Kelderman is our final lead out man instead of Bos, as he lacks the top speed. As a result, Tyler Farrar is flying over us and the win is gone...
Finish
And finally, Tyler Farrar wins a stage in this years Giro. He had to wait for the last stage to do it. Matthew Goss takes the 2nd place, whereas Danilo Napolitano outedges Theo Bos for the 3rd place.
Igor Antón finishes as 17th and wins the 96th edition of the Giro d'Italia, for the 2nd year i a row!
Results
1 Tyler Farrar Omega Pharma - Quick·Step 2h19'48
2 Matthew Goss Lotto - Belisol s.t.
3 Danilo Napolitano Acqua & Sapone s.t.
4 Theo BosMonster Energy - Subway s.t.
5 Ben Swift Sky ProCycling s.t.
6 Alessandro Petacchi BMC Racing Team s.t.
7 Daniele Bennati Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
8 Robert GesinkMonster Energy - Subway s.t.
9 Mirco Lorenzetto Androni Giocattoli s.t.
10 Anthony Geslin FDJ s.t.
As aid before, Igor Antón wins his 2nd consecutive Giro d'Italia by a large margin of 4 minutes. He had the luck that Robert Gesink, who was leading comfortably, crashed in the 11 stage. The gaps to the number 3 and beyond are huge, with only José Rujano (his 2nd podium in 3 years) within 10 minutes...
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
87h26'18
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 4'04
3
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'47
4
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 12'04
5
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
+ 12'10
6
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'17
7
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 16'00
8
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 16'52
9
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 19'13
10
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 19'44
Spoiler
11
Samuel Sánchez
Lampre - Generali
+ 20'22
12
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 20'46
13
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 26'16
14
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 29'13
15
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 30'07
16
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 32'31
17
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 32'39
18
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 35'58
19
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
+ 37'12
20
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 40'59
21
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 44'56
22
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 50'27
23
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
+ 53'51
24
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 57'08
25
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 58'17
26
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h01'33
27
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h01'44
28
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 1h04'39
29
Giovanni Visconti
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h06'00
30
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1h08'17
31
Chris Anker Sørensen
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h11'29
32
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h16'19
33
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h19'27
34
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 1h20'50
35
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h22'11
36
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 1h22'40
37
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h28'32
38
Christian Vande Velde
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1h28'43
39
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 1h35'26
40
Mauricio Alberto Ardila
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 1h47'35
41
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h50'13
42
Gorka Izagirre
Movistar Team
+ 1h54'16
43
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h55'05
44
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 1h59'40
45
Trent Lowe
Sony Ericsson
+ 2h00'04
46
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2h01'23
47
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h03'20
48
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h07'45
49
Enrico Zen
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2h07'58
50
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 2h08'06
51
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2h18'01
52
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
+ 2h22'19
53
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
+ 2h24'10
54
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h28'12
55
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h30'05
56
Sébastien Joly
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 2h32'39
57
Rubén Pérez
Movistar Team
+ 2h32'41
58
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h32'46
59
Jan Bakelants
Lotto - Belisol
+ 2h35'22
60
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
+ 2h37'01
61
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
+ 2h39'19
62
Daniel Teklehaimanot
FDJ
+ 2h40'37
63
Christophe Riblon
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 2h43'14
64
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2h48'27
65
Simon Clarke
Qantas Airways
+ 2h51'02
66
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2h52'04
67
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h58'49
68
Luke Rowe
Qantas Airways
+ 2h58'56
69
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h59'15
70
Dalivier Ospina
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h59'40
71
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2h59'59
72
Enrique Salgueiro
Movistar Team
+ 3h00'28
73
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 3h04'07
74
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3h09'29
75
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 3h09'55
76
Luca Solari
Lampre - Generali
+ 3h11'12
77
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h17'07
78
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 3h17'44
79
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3h18'19
80
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h22'22
81
Leonardo Duque
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3h24'07
82
Alessandro Petacchi
BMC Racing Team
+ 3h24'42
83
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
+ 3h24'57
84
Danny Pate
Sony Ericsson
+ 3h27'00
85
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 3h32'45
86
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 3h33'19
87
Timothy Duggan
Sony Ericsson
+ 3h37'56
88
Fabian Wegmann
FDJ
+ 3h39'01
89
Pietro Caucchioli
Lampre - Generali
+ 3h39'37
90
Paolo Bailetti
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 3h43'47
91
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3h45'28
92
Matteo Montaguti
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h45'41
93
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h48'05
94
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h49'10
95
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3h51'35
96
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h52'23
97
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h59'18
98
Daniele Bennati
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3h59'36
99
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4h02'35
100
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4h06'48
101
Antonio D'Aniello
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4h07'45
102
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 4h08'16
103
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 4h09'38
104
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 4h13'01
105
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
+ 4h16'39
106
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 4h17'37
107
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4h18'47
108
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 4h21'52
109
Marco Corti
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 4h23'20
110
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 4h24'10
111
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4h30'20
112
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 4h32'44
113
Gavin Mannion
Sony Ericsson
+ 4h39'19
114
Juan Manuel Gárate
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h47'20
115
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h49'26
116
Ian Bibby
Qantas Airways
+ 4h59'30
117
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 5h03'14
118
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 5h06'08
119
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
+ 5h06'56
120
Christian Murro
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 5h11'42
121
Anthony Ravard
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5h13'12
122
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
+ 5h15'26
123
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
+ 5h15'29
124
Baden Cooke
Qantas Airways
+ 5h17'25
125
Fabio Sabatini
Acqua & Sapone
+ 5h19'37
126
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 5h21'03
127
Martin Kragh
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 5h24'42
128
Martin Reimer
Sony Ericsson
+ 5h26'22
129
Dominique Cornu
Lotto - Belisol
+ 5h27'38
130
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 5h29'01
Points
Antón also wins the Points-ranking, with Gesink in 2nd and Farrar in 3rd.
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
201
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
194
3
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
109
4
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
105
5
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
89
KOTM
Robert Gesink took the KOTM in the penultimate stage, having a nice consolidation price. Pierre Rolland ends as 2nd, Antón as 3rd.
1
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
63
2
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
55
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
46
4
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
28
5
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
20
U25
WIlco Kelderman wins the maglia bianche, only being threatened a bit by Diego Ulissi in the first week.
1
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
87h46'02
2
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 38'33
3
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 56'35
Teams
Thanks to the strong first 10 stages, we win the teams-ranking.
1
Monster Energy - Subway
261h02'01
2
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 24'41
3
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 40'14
Overall winner
Word from the DS
Just as in many stages, I can say that this was a Giro with 2 faces for us. We started very strong, with winning 6 out of the first 9 stages. Then Gesink crashed, dropped to 12th in the GC, and Kelderman and De Gendt had bad days.
After the 2nd rest day, Gesink was as strong as in the first week, winning 2 stages and promoting to the 2nd place in the GC. With also winning the KOTM-, U25- and teams-rankings, as well as 8 stage wins, this was a good Giro for us!
Still, the victory would be better, but Gesink did really well to manager this recovery!
