GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: REST DAY REVIEW

Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Nigel Wynn, photos by Graham Watson
0 Comments

Today is the second chance that the riders have to rest their legs in the 2008 Giro d’Italia – and many will need it after yesterday’s cruel, gravel-strewn 12.9 kilometre individual time trial up the Plan de Corones.

So far 2,671.9 kilometres and 16 stages have been completed, with 773.5 kilometres left to ride in the remaining five stages before the race ends in Milan on Sunday (June 1).

Last week we were celebrating Mark Cavendish’s stage win, when he became the first British rider to win a stage of the Italian tour since Robert Millar in 1987. This week he won another stage, and set a new record – to become the first British rider not just to win two stages of the Giro in the same year, but two stages of the Giro ever.

The Manx Missile has now survived the mountains, and is set to resume his sprint rivalry with current points leader Daniele Bennati tomorrow (Wednesday) – possibly the last chance for the pure fastmen to strut their stuff.

Thursday’s stage 18 is a novel preview of both the 2008 and 2009 World Championships courses (Varese and Mendrisio respectively), as the race crosses the border into Switzerland. The profile is lumpy enough to favour riders such as Paolo Bettini or a lucky break rather than the pure sprinters. After that, it’s back into the mountains for two more punishing stages on Friday and Saturday, before the final individual time trial into Milan.

All three of these final stages will prove to be decisive in shaping the top ten overall classification, currently headed by 2007 tour de France winner Alberto Contador. Whether Contador can build on his slim 41 second lead over Riccardo Ricco will literally come down to the wire on Sunday.

We will be covering all of the final week action here on www.cyclingweekly.co.uk, with up-to-the-minute reports, results, interviews and exclusive photos.

Here, we look back at the second week of the 2008 Giro d’Italia, charting who won what and where… We reviewed the first week (stages 1-9) in our original May 19 rest day review.

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: SECOND WEEK STAGES

STAGE 10 ITT
When? Tuesday, May 20
Where? Pesaro-Urbino
Who stood on the podium?
1. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 39.4km in 56min 41secs
2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana at 8secs
3. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana at 20secs
Who got to wear the pink jersey?
Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step
Stage report>>

STAGE 11
When? Wednesday, May 21
Where? Urbania-Cesena
Who stood on the podium?
1. Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Serramenti PVC-Androni Giocattoli 199km in 5hours 44min 22secs
2. Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne at 5secs
3. Fortunato Baliani (Ita) CSF Navigare at same time
Who got to wear the pink jersey?
Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step
Stage report>>

STAGE 12
When? Thursday, May 22
Where? Forli-Carpi
Who stood on the podium?
1. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 172km in 4hours 5min 29secs
2. Mark Cavendish (GB) Team High Road
3. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence-Lotto
Who got to wear the pink jersey?
Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step
Stage report>>

STAGE 13
When? Friday, May 23
Where? Modena-Cittadella
Who stood on the podium?
1. Mark Cavendish (GB) High Road 177km in 4hours 11min 7secs
2. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas
3. Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel
Who got to wear the pink jersey?
Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step
Stage report>>

STAGE 14
When? Saturday, May 24
Where? Verona-Alpe di Pempeago
Who stood on the podium?
1. Emanuele Sella (Ita) CSF Navigare 193km in 5hours 37min 14secs
2. Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Tinkoff at 4min 38secs
3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne at 5min 8secs
Who got to wear the pink jersey?
Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) LPR
Stage report>>

STAGE 15
When? Sunday, May 25
Where? Arabba-Passo Fedaia/Marmolada
Who stood on the podium?
1. Emanuele Sella (Ita) CSF Navigare 154km in 4hours 53min 24secs
2. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) CSF Navigare at 2min 5secs
3. Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval at 2min 11secs
Who got to wear the pink jersey?
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana
Stage report>>

STAGE 16 ITT
When? Monday, May 26
Where? San Vigilio di Marebbe-Plan de Corones
Who stood on the podium?
1. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 12.9km in 40min 26secs
2. Emanuele Sella (Ita) CSF Navigare at 6secs
3. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Diquigiovanni–Androni at 17secs
Who got to wear the pink jersey?
Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana
Stage report>>

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: REMAINING STAGES

Stage	Date	From	To	Length
17	Wednesday May 28	Sondrio	Locarno	146 km
18	Thursday May 29	Mendrisio	Varese	147 km
19	Friday May 30	Legnano	Presolana	228 km
20	Saturday May 31	Rovetta	Tirano	224 km
21	Sunday June 1	Cesano Maderno	Milano	28.5 km ITT