Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) showed who was boss today, in the 19th stage of the Giro D’Italia, as he took his third stage win. The battle now is who will be second overall in Milan on Sunday?
Today’s stage from Canelli to Cascata del Toce was the longest of this year’s Giro, at 239 kilometres. An undulating stage with a summit finish at over 1,500 metres altitude, Cascata del Toce is right on the Swiss border and it’s the first time the race has used this 18.5 kilometre climb.
The stage was inevitably an easy run-in to the finish climb. 10 riders had got away at 157 kilometres but were all pulled in by the start of the hill.
This stage was Marco Pantani’s last chance for glory, and true to his predictability, he was on the attack up the mountain. With 6 kilometres to the top he had a gap, but Simoni pulled him back without much effort.
At 2 kilometres to the finish, Simoni was away with Franco Pellizotti of Alessio (soon to be dropped), behind, Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) and Eddy Mazzoleni (Vini Caldirola) were going hard but had no chance of catching the soloing Simoni. The others were all distanced down the climb.
Garzelli lost more time to Popovych, and is now only 2 seconds in-front of the Ukrainian. It could all be down to the time trial to sort out second place. Aitor Gonzalez should win the stage against the clock on Sunday.
Stage 19 Result:
1st. G.Simoni (SAE) 6:20:25.
2nd. D.Frigo (FAS) at :03 secs.
3rd. E.Mazzoleni (VIN) same time.
4th. A.Noe (ALE) at :10 secs.
5th. F.Pellizotti (ALE) at :13 secs.
6th. W.Belli (LAM) at :21 secs.
7th. R.Rumsas (LAM) at :27 secs.
8th. Y.Popovych (LAN) same time.
9th. S.Garzelli (VIN) at :36 secs.
10th. A.Gonzalez (FAS) at :39 secs.
Overall After Stage 19:
1st. G.Simoni (SAE) 85:44:39.
2nd. S.Garzelli (VIN) at 8:04.
3rd. Y.Popovych (LAN) at 8:06.
4th. A.Noe (ALE) at 9:49.
5th. G.Totschnig (GEROL) at 10:35.
6th. R.Rumsas (LAM) at 11:01.
7th. D.Frigo (FAS) at 12:38.
8th. F.Pellizotti (ALE) at 14:21.
9th. S.Gontchar (DeN) at 16:28.
10th. W.Belli (LAM) at 20:17.
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