@ rorzcp: Winning is out of the question. Top 10 should be doable. If everything falls right, Pozzovivo might be able to sneak into the Top 5.
@ Spilak23: Thanks!
News
Belgians Boss Classics
The month of April belonged to two riders, Tom Boonen (Quick·Step) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma - Lotto). Both riders accomplished impressive doubles. Boonen won both Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris - Roubaix, while the later took the Amstel Gold Race and Liège - Bastogne - Liège.
Last year, Fabian Cancellara took the headlines, winning the double in style. This year, his rival, Boonen came back with a vengeance. Gent - Wevelgem winner Thor Hushovd (Garmin) was the runner-up in both races, with Cancellara coming in 5th and 3rd in the respective races.
Excellent work of Pozzo and Belletti ... to see if it continues the streak of the team. Qualification for promotion to ProTour is difficult but you have to keep fighting
The 2011 Giro d'Italia will be the 94th edition of the historic race. This year's version will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, with the race starting in the nation's first capital Turin.
This year's course is arguably one of the most difficult in modern history.
As mentioned, the race kicks off in Turin, with a short team time trial. The city course is mostly flat, and not all that technical. Therefore, time differences shouldn't be huge, but no rider with GC ambitions will want to start off poorly.
The next several stages are mostly flat, however all contain a late climb that could disrupt plans for mass sprints. The climb to Tabiano Costello on Stage 2 is likely too far from the finish for any serious attack, but the climb to Madonna dell Grazie or the climb to Montenero could see speculative attacks stick. It is unlikely a major GC rider would attack here, but punchy riders like Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini - Sottoli) will be dangerous.
Stages 5 and 6 will see hillier terrain as the peloton makes it way along the Tyrrhenian Sea on Italy's Western coast. Again, major moves on these climbs seems unlikely given the upcoming terrain and the fact that there is nothing too decisive.
The long climb of Montevergine on Stage 7 will be the first of many tests for the climbers. A long climb of around 5%, gaps shouldn't be major, but the true contenders of the maglia rosa will be known after today.
Stage 8 is one of the last day's for the sprinters. It is pan flat and most of the riders will be looking towards the transition to Sicily.
One of the highlights of the 2011 Giro will undoubtedly be Stage 9, finishing on Mt. Etna, Europe's most active volcano. Italo Ziolili expects the winner of this stage to wear pink in Milan.
Hopefully we will see fireworks of another kind.
After the first rest day, there are some transitional stages before the peloton returns to the high mountains. Stage 10 is fairly flat until the final drag up to Teramo. Only a rugged sprinter will hang on. Stage 11 is up and down all day, and will zap a lot of legs, but the main GC men shouldn't have any trouble. Lastly, Stage 12 is truly the last day for the sprinters. From here on, the race belongs squarely the mountain men.
Having already summitted Montevergine and Etna, the riders will now have to deal with the Grossglockner in Stage 13. Many sprinters are expected to withdraw prior to this stage. This isn't a surprise given the coming days. The riders will not summit the Grossglockner, instead climbing to a height of 1,907m.
There are legendary climbs in cycling. Right at the top of this list is Monte Zoncolan. Before the peloton even challenges the fearsome climb's steep slopes, they will deal with Monte Crostis. After tackling the dangerous descent, the riders will have no respite, almost immediately beginning the Zoncolan. Last year, on way to the overall title, Ivan Basso (Liquigas - Cannondale) out-dueled all others to take the stage win.
Zoncolan.
Almost cruelly, Stage 15 would be no easier. 5 climbs, including the cima coppi, Passo Giau. Each of the four climbs prior to the summit finish featured a lengthy descent, meaning that this stage contained the most vertical climbing of any in the race. The final climb to Val di Fassa features maximum gradients of 16%.
Thankfully, the second rest day comes after those three, almost demonic stages.
However, as soon as the riders jump back into the saddle, the pain begins again. A mountain time trial up Nevagal will continue to jumble the GC.
Stage 17, in comparison, looks easy. Still the Passo del Tonale and Aprica will challenge the riders. However, a descent into the finish at Tirano may see this stage decided by a breakaway.
Stage 18 will be the flattest stage in a week, with only the Passo di Ganda standing in the way. Expect the GC contenders to remain quiet with the final two mountaintop finishes ahead.
Stage 19 and 20 mark the last two summit finishes of the Giro. In Stage 19, the peloton will climb Mottarone and finish on Macugnaga. Stage 20 features Colle delle Finestre and Sestriere. This is the 100th anniversary of the Sestriere's appearance in the Giro.
Finestre will likely be the last, of many, decisive climbs along the route.
For the last stage, the peloton will endure a 33.2km individual time trial. A flat course through the Giro's traditional ending point, the city of Milan. With so much climbing prior to the final stage, it is likely the GC will already be decided, however minor places may still be up for grabs.
Stages and Route
Stage 1: Venaria Reale - Torino: 19.1km (TTT)
Stage 2: Alba - Parma: 244.1km
Stage 3: Reggio Emilia - Rapallo: 180.4km
Stage 4: Quarto dei Mille - Livorno: 205.1km
Stage 5: Piombino - Orvieto: 189.8km
Stage 6: Orvieto - Fiuggi Terme: 193.6km
Stage 7: Maddaloni - Montevergine di Mercogliano: 100.4km
Stage 8: Sapri - Tropea: 213.8km
Stage 9: Messina - Etna: 159.0km
Stage 10: Termoli - Teramo: 158.2km
Stage 11: Tortoreto Lido - Castefidardo: 148.9km
Stage 12: Castefidardo - Ravenna: 184.4km
Stage 13: Spilimbergo - Grossglockner: 164.4km
Stage 14: Lienz - Monte Zoncolan: 210.1km
Stage 15: Conegliano - Gardeccia/Val di Fassa: 227.0km
Stage 16: Belluno - Nevegal: 12.7km (ITT)
Stage 17: Feltre - Tirano: 226.1km
Stage 18: Morbegno - San Pellegrino Terme: 147.0km
Stage 19: Bergamo - Macugnaga: 208.4km
Stage 20: Verbania - Sestriere: 242.2km
Stage 21: Milano - Milano: 33.2km (ITT)
Teams and Full Startlist
Acqua & Sapone
131.
Stefano Garzelli
132.
Carlos Betancourt
133.
Rafaâ Chtioui
134.
Massimo Codol
135.
Ruggero Marzoli
136.
Andrea Masciarelli
137.
Vladimir Miholjevic
138.
Danilo Napolitano
139.
Cayetano Sarmiento
This is likely the last shot for 2000 winner, Stefano Garzelli for any glory in the Giro. The 37 year old is an 8-time stage winner, including last year's time trial up Plan de Corones. To aid him, Acqua & Sapone bring a very capable squad. Looking after him in the mountains will be a pair of Colombians, a Croat, and longtime, faithful domestique, Massimo Codol.
Danilo Napolitano cannot be overlooked in the sprints.
AG2R come to the Giro focused on the mountains; a smart choice given the parcours. John Gadret, the team leader, and Hubert Dupond, will be looked to for results. Surprisingly, Matteo Montaguti is the only Italian in the squad. Many expected Rinaldo Nocentini to lead the team, however, the opportunity will go to Gadret. Perhaps this is fall-out from the Frenchman's spat with team leader Nicolas Roche.
Ginanni is a dangerous rider some of the rolling, up and down stages. His fast finish and ability to survive the climbs could make him a player.
BMC Racing Team
211.
Steve Morabito
212.
Chris Barton
213.
Chad Beyer
214.
Chris Butler
215.
Karsten Kroon
216.
John Murphy
217.
Mauro Santambrogio
218.
Ivan Santaromita
219.
Michael Schär
Honestly, an embarrassing team to enter into a Grand Tour. Look for BMC to be in many breakaways, any type of result is unlikely to come from elsewhere. Most pundits argued the race would've been better with the likes of Geox - TMC in BMC's place.
Colnago - CSF Inox
81.
Domenico Pozzovivo
82.
Manuel Belletti
83.
Gianluca Brambilla
84.
Federico Canuti
85.
Marco Frapporti
86.
Sacha Modolo
87.
Stefano Pirazzi
88.
Filippo Savini
89.
Simone Stortoni
One of two, all-Italian teams in the Giro, Colnago - CSF Inox received the last wildcard invitation. Domenico Pozzovivo, 8th in 2008, will have the full support of the team, relying on Stefano Pirazzi, Simone Stortoni, and Filippo Savini for help in the mountains.
Stage winner Manuel Belletti, along with Gianluca Brambilla and Marco Frapporti will hope to animate the race by initiating attacks and breakaways.
Sprinter Sacha Modolo will get to test himself against some of the best sprinters in the world.
The other all-Italian line-up, and final wildcard entry, Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli. They don't posses a true GC contender, but should be able to make up for it the form of Italian National Champion, Giovanni Visconti. Wearing il Tricolore, it is important for the team he is prominent in the hilly stages and takes a victory.
Promising sprinter Andrea Guardini should be watched.
HTC - Highroad
121.
Marco Pinotti
122.
Michael Albasini
123.
John Degenkolb
124.
Matthew Goss
125.
Bert Grabsch
126.
Danny Pate
127.
Gatis Smukulis
128.
Peter Velits
129.
Martin Velits
Questions about team leadership have arisen, but HTC has insisted, Marco Pinotti is their man for GC. The other contender, Peter Velits, was a podium finisher in the 2010 Vuelta a España. The Slovak has publicly pledged his support, but whoever is better in the high mountains will ultimately be the focus.
Matthew Goss gets and opportunity to prove himself in the few mass sprints. With all-world sprinter Mark Cavendish choosing to focus on the Tour de France and Vuelta, this is a big opportunity for the Aussie.
Katusha Team
161.
Danilo Di Luca
162.
Gianpaolo Carusa
163.
Denis Galimzyanov
164.
Vladimir Guse
165.
Vladimir Isaychev
166.
Alexander Mironov
167.
Alexander Porsev
168.
Yuri Trofimov
169.
Maxime Vantomme
Another of the weaker line-ups, Katusha will be looking towards "The Killer." Danilo Di Luca won the 2007 edition, and finished 2nd in 2009, but doping allegations have always surrounded the rider. Yuri Trofimov and Gianpaolo Caruso look to be solid support in the mountains, but it remains to be seen exactly how strong Di Luca is.
Super-fast youngster Galimzyanov could be a revelation in the sprints.
Lampre - ISD
1.
Michele Scarponi
2.
Alfredo Balloni
3.
Leonardo Bertagnolli
4.
Denys Kostyuk
5.
Adriano Malori
6.
Marco Marzano
7.
Manuele Mori
8.
Przemyslaw Niemiec
9.
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD come to the Giro with two agendas. In the GC, the newly recruited Michele Scarponi will lead the team. instead of "Il Piccolo Principe" Damiano Cunego. His right hand man will be the Pole, Niemiec, also a new recruit.
The other agenda for the team is sprint wins with Alessandro Petacchi. With 21 stage wins, Ale Jet will be keen to add to that total. Mario Cipollini is the all-time leader with 42.
Leopard Trek
191.
Oliver Zaugg
192.
Will Clarke
193.
Anders Lund
194.
Giacomo Nizzolo
195.
Martin Pedersen
196.
Joost Posthuma
197.
Thomas Rohregger
198.
Davide Viganò
199.
Fabian Wegmann
Leopard Trek were a team formed with the express goal of the Schleck brothers winning the Tour de France. Unfortunately, that desire comes at the expense of its Giro line-up. With most of the big riders in California, the team sent its "B" team. Perhaps Oliver Zaugg or Thomas Rohregger can do something from a breakaway.
Liquigas - Cannondale
21.
Ivan Basso
22.
Mauro Da Dalto
23.
Mauro Finetto
24.
Jacopo Guarnieri
25.
Paolo Longo Borghini
26.
Daniel Oss
27.
Maciej Paterski
28.
Juraj Sagam
29.
Elia Viviani
Ivan Basso returns to defend his 2010 title. With him? Not very much. No Slywester Szmyd, or Vincenzo Nibali, or even Valerio Agnoli. Liquigas bring a very young team, and much of the pressure will fall squarely on Basso's shoulders. A strange team selection to say the least.
What Movistar lacks in quality, they more than make up for in depth. The Spanish outfit is lacking a true GC lader, but has more than a handful of talented climbers. Leading the group is last year's runner-up, David Arroyo. While he was aided by a large breakaway, the Spaniard defended his position well right to the very end. Movistar are the favorites to win the team competition.
No big threat for the maglia rosa will emerge from Astana. Francesco Masciarelli may be a contender for the maglia bianca, which goes to the best rider under 25.
Enrico Gasparotto comes into the race in a fine vein of form. Many are tipping the veteran Italian to grab a stage win; it would be his first individual win in the Giro.
Quick·Step Cycling Team
171.
Kevin Seeldraeyers
172.
Dario Cataldo
173.
Francesco Chicchi
174.
Addy Engels
175.
Davide Malacarne
176.
Francesco Reda
177.
Gert Steegmans
178.
Zdenek Å tybar
179.
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Quick·Step come into the Giro with dual leadership. Both Kevin Seeldraeyers and Dario Cataldo will be looked to for a good result. Unfortunately, two is not better than one in this case. Neither rider is of the quality to get a Top 10.
In the sprints, Francesco Chicchi may be the fastest rider in a drag race, but will suffer incredibly over the hilly terrain. Belgian Gert Steegmans may be a better bet over the rugged course.
Rabobank Cycling Team
111.
Luis León Sánchez
112.
Theo Bos
113.
Steven Kruijswijk
114.
Tom Leezer
115.
Bauke Mollema
116.
Tom-Jelte Slagter
117.
Bram Tankink
118.
Dennis van Winden
119.
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank, much like Movistar, come to the Giro stocked with a very strong team from top to bottom. At the top, Luis León Sánchez, Steve Kruisjwijk, and Bauke Mollema, could all do well. Last year, the latter two finished 9th and 12th respectively.
Saxo Bank SunGard
141.
Richie Porte
142.
Mads Christensen
143.
Baden Cooke
144.
Lucas Sebastián Jaedo
145.
Kaspter Klostergaard
146.
Jaroslaw Marycz
147.
Nicki Sørensen
148.
David Tanner
149.
Matteo Tosatto
Bjarne Riis' squad suffered from the mass defections at the end of last season. However, he retained the services of Richie Porte, winner of the maglia bianca and a 7th place finisher. Given increased attention, and a relatively weak squad, a repeat performance is unlikely.
Sky ProCycling
151.
Thomas Löfkvist
152.
Davide Appollonio
153.
Kurt Asle Arvesen
154.
Dario Cioni
155.
Chris Froome
156.
Greg Henderson
157.
Jeremy Hunt
158.
Christian Knees
159.
Morris Possoni
It is time for Thomas Löfkvist to realize his potential. Long has he been heralded as the next great stage racer, without the results to show. Sky are putting the faith in the Swede to jump into the fray with the big guns.
American Christian Vande Velde will give the Giro another shot after withdrawing in the past two editions. Hopefully he will have better luck this year.
Team RadioShack
91.
Janez Brajkovic
92.
Ben King
93.
Michal Kwiatkowski
94.
Geoffrey Lequatre
95.
Tiago Machado
96.
Robbie McEwen
97.
Ivan Rovny
98.
Jesse Segent
99.
Haimar Zubeldia
A multi-cultural line-up, RadioShack are ushering in the guard, with Janez Brajkovic and Tiago Machado leading the team. Both have shown flashes of extraordinary talent, but neither has shown the consistently needed in a three week race.
For consistently, look towards veteran Haimar Zubeldia, who has a habit of riding to an anonymous Top 10 finish in GTs.
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
51.
Ezequiel Mosquera
52.
Borut Božic
53.
Matteo Carrara
54.
Johnny Hoogerland
55.
Sergey Lagutin
56.
Pim Ligthart
57.
Marco Marcato
58.
Alberto Ogarato
59.
Marcello Pavarin
The last team, at least alphabetically, is not without its story lines. New to the World Tour, Vacansoleil start Ezequiel Mosquera, the runner-up in last year's Vuelta. The reason for so much controversy stems from the Spaniards unresolved doping case. His inclusion in the team is a clear indication the team is not worried.
Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone), Marco Pinotti and Peter Velits (HTC - Highroad), Danilo Di Luca (Katusha Team), Vasil Kiryienka and David Arroyo (Movistar Team), Kevin Seeldraeyers and Dario Cataldo (Quick·Step), Bauke Mollema and Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank Cycling Team), Richie Porte (Saxo Bank SunGard), Thomas Löfkvist (Sky ProCycling), Janez Brajkovic, Tiago Machado, and Haimar Zubeldia (Team RadioShack).
*Feel free to leave your own predictions*Edited by Tuco the Ugly on 14-09-2011 15:49
Wow, this is an awesome preview, Tuco! Simply: great! Looking forward to this Giro. Hope you will have the chance to do some damage. I'm pretty sure, you will
Starting from the commune of Venaria Reale, northwest of Turin, the teams will tackle a flat, but technical course. Given the upcoming terrain, it is unlikely the race any results here will have a huge impact on the rest of the race. Nonetheless, it will create some immediate gaps in time, something none of the GC favorites want to find themselves on the wrong side of.
The start in Turin is notable for its significance in Italian history. "The cradle of Italian liberty" was the nation's first capital in 1861. While its political significance has since declined, the city make's up the Industrial Triangle along with Milan and Genoa.
The first team out of the starting gate was Lampre - ISD. The squad included one of the big race favorites, Michele Scarponi. Coming into the day, they weren't expected to be big players for the stage. The team relied heavily on the 2010 laterne rouge, Adriano Malori. Despite such a distinction, the young Italian is an excellent time trialist and took long turns at the front.
Malori pushes the Lampre team.
They were not so quick at the intermediate time check, being in the middle of the pack. But on the second half of the course, they stayed strong, crossing the line in 25'07.
Immediately behind Lampre was another team with a big favorite, Euskaltel - Euskadi. Flat team time trials are not the team's strength, so today was an exercise in limiting losses. Equal with Lampre at the time check, Euskaltel faded quite a bit, finishing the day with a time of 25'35, good enough for 14th.
Euskaltel's performance already sees Antón behind.
AG2R La Mondiale and Pro Team Astana were the next teams to go. Both teams put in average rides, finishing in 10th and 12th respectively.
Leopard Trek have been roundly criticized for their team selection, with most pundits believing neither Oliver Zaugg or Thomas Rohregger are of the quality expected from a leader in a major race like the Giro. Their display today did nothing to dispel these notions. The team came out fast, but struggled down the final stretch, finishing with a time of 25'55.
Leopard Trek have born the blunt of criticism so far this season.
Rabobank come the Giro with a very strong overall squad. However, the strength doesn't necessary lie in the time trial. Still, the quality and depth of their team was enough to see the team finish in 6th. The team did set the fastest time at the time check, 12'40, but slowed quite a bit in the final kilometers.
Rabobank approaching the time check, at this point, riding well.
Liquigas has the defending champion, Ivan Basso. But as previously noted, that's pretty much it. This fact was clearly evident on the day, with the team finishing in 21st with a time of 25'57. Last year, the Liquigas team won the 32.5km team trial from Savigliano to Cuneo.
From first to second to last. Not the start Basso wanted.
Another recent Giro team trial winner followed the Italian outfit, HTC - Highroad. They marked the 12th team to start, halfway through the day. One of the favorites, the team rode fast in the first half, but like so many squads, faltered in the second part of the course.
HTC was one of many team who miscalculated their efforts.
When HTC crossed the line, their time was 25'08, one second slower than Lampre, who still had the fastest time.
Team RadioShack rode a solid time trial, finishing in 7th. The difference between them and provisional leader Lampre was only 10 seconds.
Job done for RadioShack who kept Machado and Brajkovic out of trouble.
Following RadioShack were a slew of unremarkable teams, none of whom put in a noteworthy performance.
Time trial ace Porte really helped his own cause today.
The disciplined Sky team left the starting gate as the day wore on. Slow in the first half of the course, the team made up the difference in the second half, following the strategy that Lampre had used over two hours earlier. Even still, they weren't able to beat the time of the Italian team, finishing one second slower, tied with HTC.
Sky were slow out of the blocks, but fast finishing.
Following Sky was Colnago - CSF Inox. Today was a challenge. The team's best time trialist is Domenico Pozzovivo. Needless to say, the discipline is the Italian climber's weakest attribute as a rider. At the intermediate time check, the team clocked an amateurish time of 13'35. Every other team was at least half a minute faster through that point.
Colnago struggled mightily on the day.
The squad was faster in the second half, making up a little time. It was not enough to avoid last place, but team finished in 26'13. They finish within half a minute of only 5 teams.
Following Colnago, Katusha, Omega Pharma - Lotto, and BMC all went. None of the teams came close to to Lampre's time, leaving only one team to challenge them, Movistar Team.
The Spanish squad left the gates in the late afternoon with long shadows on the road. Unlike Lampre, they started out fast, getting to time check only a second slower than Rabobank.
Movistar powering through the course.
However, unlike nearly every team, Movistar did not slow down. They continued to power their way to the line, finishing in 24'51, the only team to break the 25 minute mark. Italian Marzio Bruseghin led the team over, putting him in the maglia rosa.
@ Pellizotti2 and baia: I actually think I did relatively well considering my team. Pozzovivo is my best time trialist, and he is a 65. The squad averaged 59.7 in time trialing...
Tuco the Ugly wrote:
@ Pellizotti2 and baia: I actually think I did relatively well considering my team. Pozzovivo is my best time trialist, and he is a 65. The squad averaged 59.7 in time trialing...
Then you definitely did a good job! I always finish last in opening TTT's But 1'30" is still not too far away!
@ tsmoha: Thanks. Team time trials are pretty much the worst.
Giro d'Italia: Stage 2
Moving southeast from Turin, the first road stage of this year's Giro d'Italia starts in the town of Alba, cutting east across the Italian landscape until finishing in Parma, a city in the Emilia-Romagna region. Colnago - CSF Inox is based out of this region.
The day is long, covering 244 kilometers. Most of this distance is flat, with a climb in the final part of the day. The climb to Tabiano Castello is likely occur too far out to have any attack stick. Nonetheless, the climb is categorized, being 2.6km @ 5.7%. Expect attacks from riders looking to get an early advantage in the mountains competition.
As to be expected, the attacking began almost as soon as the commissiaire's flag waived. Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank SunGard) was the first rider to venture from the peloton.
Cooke, in the attacking spirit.
Not shortly after, Marco Frapporti attempted to join the burgeoning move. Colnago really believe it is important to justify their inclusion into the race by bringing excitement and flair to the proceedings.
Colnago will look to be active in breakaways.
Along with Cooke and Frapporti, 7 other riders initially got away. However, another wild card team, Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli, was not represented. They chased down the move.
Practically the only other "climb" on the day, the rise to Rocca d'Arazzo, 25km into the day, provided a perfect platform for a breakaway to form. First, Frapporti got away. On the descent, he was joined by a handful of other riders, many of whom were in the initial move.
Frapporti was one of the main protagonists in the day's break forming.
Ultimately, 10 riders made the breakaway; Frapporti, Kristof Goddaert (AG2R La Mondiale), Karsten Kroon (BMC Racing Team), Martin Velits (HTC - Highroad), Alexander Porsev and Alexander Mironov (Katusha Team), Fabian Wegmann (Leopard Trek), Zdenek Štybar (Quick·Step Cycling Team), Maarten Wynants (Rabobank Cycling Team), and Matteo Tosatto (Saxo Bank SunGard).
The breakaway.
Farnese Vini were still not represented, but did not chase this breakaway.
The 10 riders did not ride well together initially, and it took some time before the group found an agreeable tempo. Once they did, their advantage began to grow.
An unfortunate incident occurred when Gianluca Brambilla fell hard on his wrist. He touched tires with Jackson RodrÃguez (Androni Giocattoli) while bringing bottles to his teammates. The injury severely impeded the rider. He refused to abandon, instead battling to make it to the line. He finished in 198th, last place.
Movistar controlled the peloton's pace for most of the day.
Almost immediately, the breakaway's lead began to shrink. Up ahead, all ten riders were working hard to resist a comeback. They made it to the only sprint point on the day at Salsomaggiore Terme, a popular spa town, with their lead down to 3'04. Kroon took maximum points.
Rains started to fall just as the break went under the banner.
Immediately, the focus shifted to the climb. Feeling the peloton closing in, Kroon, Wegmann, and Frapporti took to onus of pacing the group up the ascent. It remained unlikely the group would get to the finish first, but this was no time to slow down and wait for the weaker riders.
Kroon, riding well on the climb.
The raised pace and bad weather began to cause troubles in the break. Kroon and Frapporti kept making a fast pace.
Frapporti helped created the pace too.
Wegmann took full points at the top of the climb, meaning the German would wear the maglia verde tomorrow. He was in the leading group, along with Frapporti, Kroon, Å tybar, Wynants, and Tosatto. The Russian pair of Porsev and Mironov had been tailed off along with Goddaert and Velits.
The leading group crested the climb with a 2'46 advantage over the peloton.
Back in the main field, Movistar continued setting the pace. As they chased the break over the climb, Colnago made sure to have Sacha Modolo, Manuel Belletti, and Domenico Pozzovivo well positioned, hoping to stay out of trouble. All three made it over the climb in good shape.
Modolo comfortably descending at the front of the peloton.
The pace was becoming very fast in the peloton when Pole Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre - ISD) took to the front of the group. The riders were extremely stretched out. Modolo was in good position and Pozzovivo was nestled comfortably in the front half.
Normally a mountain domestique, Niemec put many riders in the hurt while working for Alessandro Petacchi.
With peloton closing in, Frapporti made a desperate bid for victory. In the village of Ponte Taro, with around 10km left, he accelerated. Immediately, Kroon and Wegmann responded.
Frapporti goes.
Frapporti clearly overestimated his strength. He soon found himself in the red, unable to keep up with Kroon and Wegmann. The two left him behind. He soon found himself with Tosatto, Wynants, and Å tybar. They were not pleased with the Italian.
Regardless of the attack, the peloton was close to catching the break, when a major crash occurred. Earlier, race favorite Michele Scarponi (Lampre - ISD), had predicted a crash, "The usual chaos in the morning. All the teams will want to be in the break, so it may take a while for the right one to stick...[it] will be a nervous affair. I'd be surprised if there aren't any crashes."
It is unclear what was the initial cause, but with 7km left, well over half the peloton either crashed, or was caught behind the carnage.
A big crash effected both the chase, and may impact some rider's GC chances.
Colnago was relatively unhurt by the incident. Modolo, Belletti, and Pozzovivo all were safe. Stefano Pirazzi, Simone Stortoni, and Filippo Savini went down, but were all fine.
As one might guess, the crash caused a huge amount of confusion, greatly slowing down the chase. Up the road, Kroon and Wegmann were still clear. The other group of breakaway riders, including Frapporti, were about to be caught.
Wegmann and Kroon work to get to the finish.
Frapporti had reported to the team car that he was in no shape for the final, so Colnago took to front of the peloton. Federico Canuti and Belletti drove the group forward, trying in vain to claw back the advantage.
Colnago take up the responsibility, and try to position Modolo.
It was for not. In the end, the lead was too much, and Kroon was too strong. The veteran Dutch rider burst by Wegmann as they went under the flamme rouge. He crossed the line 16 second ahead of the fast closing sprinters. The perfomance was not good enough to unseat Bruseghin from the maglia rosa.
Petacchi, without the aid of Danilo Hondo, who was involved in the earlier crash, disappointed, coming in 11th.
Modolo did well, finishing 6th. Overall, job done for Colnago on the day; a prominent, attacking rider in the break for sponsor exposure, a good sprint from Modolo, and successfully kept Pozzovivo out of danger.
