GIRO Stg 8: Petacchi Keeps On Rolling

The Fassa Bortolo team kept the peloton on lockdown in the final kilometers of today’s stage from Giffoni Valle Piana to Policoro covering 214 km. Petacchi was left only to police an early jumping Olaf Pollack and sprint ahead for his latest victory, one as convincing as his preceding stage wins. It is seemingly possible at this stage that Petacchi might tie the record for stage wins in a Giro, which is 7.

The usual flat-stage characters were in effect, with Robbie McEwen trying once again to factor into the mix. He first raised his hand in protest in the closing meters, as he thought Olaf Pollack crossed his line. Truth be told, upon further review of the tape, it turns out ol’ Robbie gotta sling shot from a teammate, track-style, and was thereby relegated to last place.

It was typical from the start, as several attacks went off, one after another, all doomed to fail under the reeling in of the peloton. However the sextet that did maintain a lead for sometime contained none other than Jacky Durand! Fassa was unbeatable on the curvy approach to the line, and guys like Velo and Ongarato get MVP awards for sheparding Alessandro to a clean launch for the line.

Current World Cup leader Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) didn’t start the stage today. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Saunier Duval-Prodir), winner of the Giro d’Italia prologue two years ago, also did not start.

Rider Comments Compiled by Michele Tomasi
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo): “Again, incredible work by my team mates. They have been ahead for the last 30kms, pushing very hard. I was saying them to go slower, but maybe because of our high morale, they kept going very fast. Unluckily Tosatto, who has very good condition right now, mistook the last corner, and so the others got to work also for him. If he was there it was going to be more easy. Anyway Velo did the last metres in the best way, and I won easily. With the condition that I have now, I really don’t know where I can arrive…”
**he’s trying to bet the record number of wins at the Giro**

Giancarlo Ferretti (Fassa’s team manager): “Some people asked me why Velo was in the escape, and then not working. Well…the stage was very long, and if nobody was going to do that kind of job, we were going to spend a lot of energy to stay ahead. In this way we saved the men that later helped Petacchi to win. Usually I don’t like sprints, and it’s not in my style to built a team around a sprinter, but with a man like this…I have to change. Anyway it’s more easy than having to work with a man or more men who want try to win the Giro”.

Marco Velo (Fassa Bortolo): “Today we got the problem of Tosatto who mistook the last corner cause of Backsted, but Ongarato worked twice! Then when I got to go, I went up slowly, like Alessandro likes. And then when he start the turbo….nobody can stop at him!”

Crescenzo D’Amore (Acqua&Sapone): “I’m feeling fine. It’s since the start of Giro that I’m feeling fine. Unluckily today in the last corner I mistook, and found myself behind. Anyway it’s not easy to beat a Petacchi in this condition”.

Ivan Quaranta (Formaggi Pinzolo): “Today I don’t think it was a stage for me, with those little hills, as I’m a sprinter who suffers in the hills. My team worked well, and helped me as every day. By my opinion if Formaggi Pinzolo wasn’t going ahead the escapers were gonna arrive at the end. I don’t think there will be any stage for me now. Anyway my condition is growing day by day. Let’s hope to do something ahead, and let’s hope that Petacchi will mistake and we’ll be there!”

Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola): “Today I was in a good position until the last corner than…I think I was around 20th. I’m not saying that I’m super strong, but I think I passed about 15 men. I’m feeling fine, but of course not enough to beat a man like Petacchi. Anyway I could fight for the 2nd, 3rd place. Until now I did many good positions, but to tell the truth…I would prefer a victory over all of them!”

Damiano Cunego (Saeco): “Today it has been a quiet day for us, and we stayed ahead just to not risk a crash. Now I’m only wishing to keep the Pink Jersey until the time trial, where maybe we will have to fight with the specialist like Honchar and McGee..”

Results
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.52.49 (43.03 km/h)
2 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
3 Olaf Pollack (Ger) Gerolsteiner
4 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie
5 Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre
6 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak Hearing Systems
7 Zoran Klemencic (Slo) Tenax
8 Alejandro Albert Borrajo (Arg) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres
9 Alberto Loddo (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
10 Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner

General classification after stage 8

1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Saeco 37.54.37
2 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco 0.10
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi 0.28
4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 0.31
5 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres 0.52
6 Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) De Nardi 1.08
7 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1.10
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie 1.15
9 Andrea Noe’ (Ita) Alessio-Bianchi 1.17
10 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco 1.29