Tiralongo grinds to Giro stage win

Paolo Tiralongo wins, Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 19

Astana's Paolo Tiralongo took the nineteenth stage of this year's Giro on the slopes of the Macunaga, after maglia rosa Alberto Contador seemingly gave him the victory.

Tiralongo started one of the slowest sprints in the race's history a measly 25m from the line, and Contador - a former team-mate of Tiralongo - chose not to respond.

Contador gained just three seconds on Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and six on the likes of Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and John Gadret (Ag2r-La Mondiale), but his blistering attack to catch-up with Tiralongo was yet another show of strength from the controversial Saxo Bank rider.

Miserable day for riding

On a rain-soaked day just a few kilometers north of Milan, Lars Bak (HTC-Highroad), Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) and Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli) formed the stage's main breakaway, attacking some 50km into the 209km trek.

The trio quickly gained a maximum lead of twelve minutes before Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) bridged the gap over the first-category Mottarone and BMC's Mikael Cherel and Ag2r-La Mondiale's Johan Tschopp increased the numbers to six.

As the rain continued to fall hard, a bad crash in the peloton forced HTC-Highroad pair Marco Pinotti and Craig Lewis to retire, the latter leaving the race in an ambulance.

Game over for breakaway

Ahead, Pineau and Rabottini resisted the longest, only being taken in by the Katusha-led peloton with fourteen kilometres of the draggy climb to the finish at Macugnaga remaining.

Tiralongo attacked six kilometers from the finish, and the lack of response from behind played right into his hands.

Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez tried in vain to jump across to the lone leader, yet was soon caught in no-mans land between an ever-decreasing peloton and Tiralongo.

With the two escapees in sight, Contador attacked hard with around 1km remaining, and rode straight past Rodriguez before latching onto the leader's wheel within a matter of seconds.

After a brief discussion, Contador increased the pace before allowing Tiralongo to take the biggest - and easiest - win of his career.

Speaking of his relationship with Contador, Tiralongo told journalists at the finish: "We're big friends but the victory is important for me and for the team."

Behind, diminiutive Venezualan climber Jose Rujano suffered, coming in over two minutes down and slips from sixth to tenth overall.

RESULTS

Giro d'Italia 2011, stage 19: Bergamo to Macugnaga

1. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana 209km in 5-26-27

2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard at st

3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 3s

4. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 6s

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha

6. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank all at st

7. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 8s

8. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 21s

9. Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2R-La Mondiale at 29s

10. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad at 34s

General classification after stage 18

1. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Sungard in 77-11-24

2. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 5-18

3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas at 5-52

4. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 7-53

5. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-Highroad at 9-58

6. Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskatel-Euskedi at 10-08

7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 10-20

8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 10-43

9. Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC at 10-51

10. Jose Rujano (Ven) Androni-Giocattoli at 11-50

Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news

Giro changes again as final Milan time trial shortened

What riding the Giro has done for Peter Kennaugh

Millar's time trial practice run

Nibali gives up hope for Giro d'Italia win

Contador ignores Armstrong doping investigation

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 24)

Controversial Crostis climb removed from Giro route

Sky leader Lofkvist loses more time at the Giro

Giro contenders struggle with Contador's dominance

Contador widens Giro advantage but Tour doping case waits

Porte reflects, one year after Giro success

Le Mevel goes on attack for Giro's pink jersey

Giro fines Contador for missing press conference

Cavendish responds to 'team car' accusations at Giro

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 15)

Giro's Sicilian cyclists proud to face Mount Etna

Contador surprises at Giro with attack ahead of mountains

Contador minds food at Giro as CAS decision nears

Weening supported by Rabobank and model Kroes

Local lad Appollonio bears fruit in Fiuggi

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 12 edition)

Blythe finding way in second Grand Tour

Leopard-Trek withdraws from Giro d'Italia

Leopard-Trek uncertain to continue in Giro

Tuesday's Giro stage in memory of Weylandt

Giro doctor describes actions to save Weylandt

Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro crash

Giro news shorts (May 8)

Cavendish likely to take Giro lead tomorrow

Giro 2011: Who will win?

Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports

Stage 18: Capecchi takes stage win as contenders take day off

Stage 17: Ulissi prevails in controversial Giro sprint

Stage 16: Contador lords it over the rest in Giro TT

Stage 15: Nieve wins mountain marathon as Contador continues at the top

Stage 14: Anton conquers Zoncolan in shortened stage

Stage 13: Contador consolidates Giro overall as Rujano takes stage

Stage 12: Cavendish holds off Appollonio to take second victory

Stage 11: Gadret grabs dramatic stage win

Stage 10: Cavendish opens his Giro account

Stage nine: Contador storms Etna to take Giro lead

Stage eight: Gatto springs late attack to take win

Stage seven: Neo-pro De Clercq wins by a whisker

Stage six: Ventoso steals Giro stage six win

Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa

Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line

Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash

Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead

Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial

Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries

Stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage

Giro d'Italia stage 16 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 13 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage 11 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage seven live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates

Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

 

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.