Giro d’Italia – Stage 19 – Kreuziger wins, Ryder within 17s of Pink.

On a stage which featured 4 of the 10 hardest climbs in one stage in this year’s Giro, the action was rather subdued until the final 5km. it was then that Garmin surprisingly moved to the front to take control of the group and signal to everyone that Ryder was feeling good. Liquigas tried, in vain to take control and pace everyone of their wheel but the group had been nervous all day with their pacing.

On the penultimate climb, the Passo Lavaze, Roman Kreuziger was the first big name to be active as he was trying to make up time from his stage 17 disaster where he lost over 10 minutes. Kreuziger had two teammates up the road and then he launched Kevin Seeldreyers from the main group. After he had this support, he attacked the favorites and being over 11 minutes down and in 20th place, no one responded. Dario Caltaldo was also impatient with the Liguigas pace as he tried his luck up the road working with Kreuziger.

As the favorites closed in on Kreuziger on the final climb, Garmin and Liquigas had been battling for control and finally Ivan Basso launched a attack that seemed to be testing the legs of the others. It went nowhere and quickly Scarponi responded seeming to be working with his compatriot against the top two riders. The group reformed and Scarponi attacked again. The same. Then Scarponi attacked again and it was Basso who came detached. In a quick turn of fate, Scarponi looked to his left and found an ally in Hesjedal and the two distanced the other favorites. However, Ryder wasn’t done there. Realizing that he had a gap and seeing Scarponi on the limit, Ryder almost reluctantly, attacked again, but Scaponi held. However, into the final km’s Ryder launched another passive dig and Scarponi couldn’t hold. The favorites where strung down the climb and Hesjadal rode away from them closing on Kreuziger.

As Kreuziger struggled to muster any remaining Watts from his exhausted legs Ryder was inching toward him while inching away from the others. Kreuziger made it to the line first, followed by Ryder 19 seconds later. Rodriguez clawed back to take third and protect the pink jersey. Basso came in 6th, 36 seconds behind Ryder to seemingly put a big question on his podium likelihood.

Tomorrow, we’ve got the biggest day of the race with both the insanely steep Motirolo and the finish on the Stelvio. Everything can change tomorrow depending on who has a good day and who a bad. Time gaps could potentially be in excess of 2 or 3 minutes.

Stage 19 Top 12
1. Roman Kreuziger (AST)_______6h18’03″
2. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)________+19″
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)_____+32″
4. Michele Scarponi (LAM)______+35″
5. Domenico Pozzovivi (COG)____+43″
6. Ivan Basso (LIQ)____________+55″
7. Rigoberto Uran (SKY)________+57″
8. Mikel Nieve (EUS)___________+1’22″
9. Stefano Pirazzi (COG)
10. John Gadret (ALM)
11. Thomas De Gendt (VAC)______+1’34″
12. Damiano Cunego (LAM)

Complete Stage 19 results: Gazzetta Official

General Classification after 19 stages
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)____84h06’13″
2. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)_____+17″
3. Michele Scarponi (LAM)_____+1’39″
4. Ivan Basso (LIQ)___________+1’45″
5. Rigoberto Uran (SKY)_______+3’21″
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (COG)___+3’30″
7. John Gadret (ALM)__________+5’36″
8. Thomas De Gendt (VAC)_____+5’40″
9. Sergio Luis Haeno (SKY)____+5’47″
10. Damiano Cunego (LAM)_____+6’09″
11. Johann Tschopp (BMC)______+6’18″
12. Dario Caltaldo (OPQ)_______+6’19″
13. Mikel Nieve (EUS)__________+6’32″
14. Daniel Moreno (KAT)________+6’41″
…
17. Roman Kreuziger (AST)_____+12’53″

Complete General Classification: Gazzetta Official

Giro d’Italia – Stage 18 – Guardini Surprises Cavendish

Flash back to 2008. Daniele Bennati is wearing the points jersey, and would go on to win the jersey in Milan. On Stage 13, a relatively unknown 23-year-old named Mark Cavendish blasted past Bennati like a rocket in the first Grand Tour of Cav’s illustrious career. Young, fast and brash and Mark Cavendish was on the scene.

Now, back to the current reality. A 22 year old Andrea Guardini, whose 23rd birthday is in a couple of weeks, just blasted past points jersey wearing Mark Cavendish like a rocket in his first Grand Tour of his young career. We’ve been watching Guardini closely since his five stage wins at the Tour de Langkawi last year. This year, he got 6, but his very poor climbing has always made him a question mark for the Giro. Well, he just won the 18th stage and had to get over the Passo Giau to do it. And he won with ease. I think we’ll see more of this kid in the future.

Maglia Rossa – The points jersey. This second place finish for Mark Cavendish puts the win of the Maglia Rossa in even greater jeopardy. The 5 points Cav missed out on for the points jersey lead may be the difference between winning it and losing it. The current standings after this final sprint stage are as follows:

1. Mark Cavendish (Sky)_____138pts
2. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)__109pts (-29)
3. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)_____73pts (-65)

The point structure for stage finishes are: 25, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Intermediate Sprints are: 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Cavendish currently has a 29 point lead on J-Rod, which would have been 34 if he had won the stage as expected. Cav’s 28pts (2nd + Int.) today effectively eliminated Hesjedal from contention. It’s unlikely either Rodriguez or Cavendish will finish in the top ten in the TT and it’s unlikely that either will contend intermediate sprints. As it stands, if Rodriguez gets a 3rd and 4th place (30pts) in the final two stages or better he’ll take the Maglia Rossa. If Cav won today, J-Rod would have needed a 2nd and a 3rd (35pts), which was still very possible, but that much tougher.

Tomorrow, we have the first of the two biggest stages in the Giro. Finishing on the 8km Alpe di Pampeago after crossing 3 previous passes. Stage 19 is going to be the second to last opportunity for Scarponi and Basso to take time out of Hesjedal and Rodriguez. As well, J-Rod will be looking to make time on Ryder also, as he knows that he needs about 1 minute more to protect the Maglia Rosa in the final TT in Milano. Watch for Scarponi to try and be the biggest aggressor tomorrow if he can be, and an alignment between the two Italians against Hesjedal and Rodriguez.

Stage 18 Top Five
1. Andrea Guardini (FAR)_______3h00’52″
2. Mark Cavendish (SKY)
3. Roberto Ferrari (AND)
4. Robert Hunter (GRM)
5. Lucas Haedo (SAX)

Complete Stage 18 results: Gazzetta Official

General Classification after 18 stages
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)____77h47’38″
2. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)_____+30″
3. Ivan Basso (LIQ)___________+1’22″
4. Michele Scarponi (LAM)_____+1’36″
5. Rigoberto Uran (SKY)_______+2’56″
6. Benat Intxausti (MOV)_______+3’04″
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (COG)___+3’19″
8. Paolo Tiralongo (AST)_______+4’13″
9. Thomas De Gendt (VAC)_____+4’38″
10. Sergio Luis Haeno (SKY)____+4’42″
11. Johann Tschopp (BMC)______+4’46″
12. John Gadret (ALM)__________+4’46″
13. Daniel Moreno (KAT)________+4’55″
14. Dario Caltaldo (OPQ)_______+4’59″
15. Damiano Cunego (LAM)_____+5’07″
16. Mikel Nieve (EUS)__________+5’42″
…
20. Roman Kreuziger (AST)_____+12’53″

Complete General Classification: Gazzetta Official

Giro d’Italia – Stage 17 – J-Rod rises to the top.

That’s them. You’re looking at the elite of the 2012 Giro d’Italia. Joaquim Rodriguez, Ivan Basso, Michele Scarponi, Domenico Pozzovivo, Rigoberto Uran and Ryder Hesjedal. That’s right, Ryder Hesjedal. He knew it. Garmin knew it. We knew it. Now the world knows it. It’s no longer: Can Ryder stay with the “bigs”? It’s can the “bigs” hold off Ryder? The only guy to attack the Basso-paced group in the final 2km. The only guy to attack the group on the descent. Ryder wants to win the Giro… and most of all… he can.

In what was one of the most compelling Giro d’Italia stages in years, the elite of this year’s race have shown themselves while a number of riders have fallen from the upper echelon. The 186km, 4 pass stage has shaken the overall GC in a major way. Perhaps more than expected. Astana had a terrible day today with both Paolo Tiralongo and Roman Kreuziger losing massive time. Numerous riders who unexpectedly found themselves in the top 20, have fallen behind.

The first GC rider to animate the day was Mikel Nieve, who was looking to chip away time from the 17 rider ahead of him. Attacking on the slopes of the Passo Duran, Nieve set out after the four man break which included Kevin Seeldreyers (AST) and Bramilslou Stanilslou (MOV). He caught the group on the decent to the base of the Forcella Staulanza but quickly realized that the group was not wanting to do more than sit on his wheel as Liquigas closed the gap. They were caught minutes later and a large main group started being shattered apart by the Liquigas pace. The first big name to drop was Roman Kreuziger (+11’26″ on the stage).

Over the third pass of the day an onto the base of the Passo Giau and Liquigas turned on the heat yet again, blowing there own team to bits. Sylvester Szmyd, who normally is dishing out the hurt was jettisoned out the back with cramps just a few hundred meters into the climb. He went along with numerous others. Nieve, Gardet, Cunego, Haneo all fell out the back. Then it was Tiralongo, Intxausti and Moreno. As the smiling Assassin Ivan Basso turned the screws the GC was splattered all over the sides of the Giau.

Eventually, it was the elite group of six cresting the top with Mikel Nieve and John Gadret hot on their heels. Over the top Scarponi was dropped with 500m remaining with cramps and Ryder bombed the mountain side looking for time. He was eventually joined by a non-willing breakmate in Rodriguez and slowly the elite group of six came back together. The sprint was lead out by Basso but it was Joaquim Rodriguez coming around him to take the stage, with Basso second and Hesjedal third.

Tomorrow, it’s a flat stage and time to recover for the favorites, and time to think of a new strategy for some of the riders who got left behind today.

Stage 17 Top Fifteen
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)____5h24’42″
2. Ivan Basso (LIQ)
3. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)
4. Rigoberto Uran (SKY)
5. Michele Scarponi (LAM)
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (COG)______+2″
7. Benat Intxausti (MOV)_________+1’22″
8. Daniel Moreno (KAT)
9. Thomas De Gendt (VAC)
10. Johann Tschopp (BMC)
11. John Gadret (ALM)
12. Mikel Nieve (EUS)
13. Damiano Cunego (LAM)
14. Sergio Pardilla (MOV)
15. Gianluca Brambilla (COG)_____+1’44″

Complete Stage 17 results: Gazzetta Official

General Classification after 17 stages
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)____74h46’46″
2. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)_____+30″
3. Ivan Basso (LIQ)___________+1’22″
4. Michele Scarponi (LAM)_____+1’36″
5. Rigoberto Uran (SKY)_______+2’56″
6. Benat Intxausti (MOV)_______+3’04″
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (COG)___+3’19″
8. Paolo Tiralongo (AST)_______+4’13″
9. Thomas De Gendt (VAC)_____+4’38″
10. Sergio Luis Haeno (SKY)____+4’42″
11. Johann Tschopp (BMC)______+4’46″
12. John Gadret (ALM)__________+4’46″
13. Daniel Moreno (KAT)________+4’55″
14. Dario Caltaldo (OPQ)_______+4’59″
15. Damiano Cunego (LAM)_____+5’07″
16. Mikel Nieve (EUS)__________+5’42″
…
20. Roman Kreuziger (AST)_____+12’53″

Complete General Classification: Gazzetta Official

Giro d’Italia – Stage 16 – Aggressive Izaguirre finally wins

Jon Izaguirre (EUS) has finally had his aggresiveness in the Giro d’Italia pay off with a solo win from the breakaway on the 16th stage of the Giro d’Italia. Izaguirre, who had only one professional win to his name, now has one for his lifetime as a stage win in a Grand Tour is a feat that few professional riders can claim.

After returning from our bike camping trip to Gabriola, the news that Ruder Hesjedal had taken back the pink jersey was a pleasant surprise. Then, with Joaquim Rodriguez taking it back on stage 15, it appears that we’ll have a nice duel on our hands for the final week. The biggest surprise, however, seems to be that Frank Schleck dropped out of the race when Johann Bruyneel seems to think he could continue! Actually, who am I kidding… surprises? There was a coffee shop in the town centre that I ducked into to see how Ryder did on the first big mountain stages.

Today’s stage, like so many after a rest day, was a laid-back affair with a large breakaway building up a lead that surpassed 12 minutes at one point. The main GC competitors took the day off and no one even made an attempt at an attack on the final slopes of the day. No changes in the overall classification.

Tomorrow, we’re back into the high mountains, and the battle will certainly be furious with 186km of riding over 4 mountain passes. Descending is going to be key as some of the riders who aren’t so great at the discipline could get caught out, especially sonce the line is only 2km after the steep and winding descent of the Giau. I wouldn’t expect too much change on the GC however, as most guys will stay together over the Passo Giau, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two lost some heavy time on a stage like this. The Giau is a great stage for Basso going up, but a terrible one coming down, we’ll see where he ends up. Fortunately for Ryder, his mountain biking past makes for some serious skills going downhill… if he’s cheeky and feeling strong, he may even look to take bonus time at the line.

Stage 16 Top Five
1. Jon Izaguirre Intxausti (EUS)___4h02’00
2. Alessandro de Marchi (AND)______+16″
3. Stef Clement (RAB)
4. Mathias Frank (BMC)_____________+19″
5. Jose Herrade Lopez (MOV)

Complete Stage 16 results: Gazzetta Official

General Classification after 16 stages
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)____69h22’04″
2. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)_____+30″
3. Ivan Basso (LIQ)___________+1’22″
4. Paolo Tiralongo (AST)_______+1’26″
5. Roman Kreuziger (AST)_____+1’27″
6. Michele Scarponi (LAM)_____+1’36″
7. Benat Intxausti (MOV)_______+1’42″
8. Sergio Luis Haeno (SKY)____+1’55″
9. Dario Caltaldo (OPQ)_______+2’12″
10. Sandy Casar (FDJ)_________+2’13″
11. Rigoberto Uran (SKY)_______+2’56″
12. Thomas De Gendt (VAC)_____+3’16″
13. Domenico Pozzovivo (COG)__+3’17″
14. Johann Tschopp (BMC)______+3’24″
15. John Gadret (ALM)__________+3’24″
16. Daniel Moreno (KAT)________+3’33″
17. Damiano Cunego (LAM)_____+3’45″
18. Mikel Nieve (EUS)__________+4’20″

Complete General Classification: Gazzetta Official

Giro d’Italia – Stage 13 – Cannonball Cav wins three

A short undulating stage with a flat finish must have looked like and absolute gift for the sprinters of the Giro d’Italia. A day in advance of two brutally tough mountains stages the peloton was likely content to take it easy and rest a little, that is unless they were one of the fast finishers, who may not last through the weekend. In lieu of all the mountain climbing Mark Cavendish got the winning out of the way taking his third sprint win of the race.

In what looked like a nice train for J.J.Haedo, Saxo Bank controlled the peloton into the final km’s until Juan Antonio Flecha took things into his own hands and yanked the Sky train into control. From there, it was clockwork as Sky launched Cav perfectly. Mark Renshaw, Cavendish’s former leadout man now sprinting for Rabobank made a strong surge down the right side to make it look close, but because he had to go a little early to get around Cavendish and his lead, he faded at the line finishing third, behind Kristoff and the fastest guy around, Mark Cavendish. Anyone else excited for the Peter Sagan vs Mark Cavendish duel at this year’s Tour?

Tomorrow, and Sunday we’ve got the first of the true mountain stages. Expect a massive shake-up in the GC as we’re going to see who has it and who doesn’t. Well, actually, I’m NOT going to see it because I’m going bike camping, but the rest of you will. I’ll be excited to see the leader board on Monday after back-to-back big stages. Who will be in pink?

Stage 13 Top Five
1. Mark Cavendish (SKY)
2. Alexander Krisoff (KAT)
3. Mark Renshaw (RAB)
4. Sacha Modolo (COG)
5. Elia Favilli (FAR)

Complete Stage 13 results: Gazzetta Official

General Classification after 13 stages
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT)____54h21’15″
2. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM)_______+17″
3. Sandy Casar (FDJ)_____________+26″
4. Paolo Tiralongo (AST)_________+32″
5. Ivan Santaromita (BMC)________+49″
6. Roman Kreuziger (AST)_______+52″
7. Benat Intxausti (MOV)________+52″
8. Ivan Basso (LIQ)___________+57″
9. Damiano Caruso (LIQ)_______+1’02″
10. Dario Caltaldo (OPQ)________+1’03″
11. Eros Capecchi (LIQ)_________+1’09″
12. Rigoberto Uran (SKY)_______+1’10″
13. Michele Scarponi (LAM)_____+1’11″
14. Domenico Pozzovivo (COG)__+1’12″
15. Sergio Luis Haeno (SKY)_____+1’27
16. Damiano Cunego (LAM)______+1’37″
…
25. Frank Schleck (RNT)________+2’11″
…
31. John Gadret (ALM)___________+2’55″
…
37. Mikel Nieve (EUS)___________+3’35″

Complete General Classification: Gazzetta Official