93rd Giro d'Italia - Stage
7
Epic day on the Bianche Strade - Rain and crashes of
Nibali, Basso and Sastre set the outcome with Cadel Evans taking the stage &
Alexander Vinokourov reclaiming the Maglia Rosa...
© 210
Gazzetta dello Sport
2010 Giro d'Italia
Jersey Leaders - Stage 7
Maglia Rosa: Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas/Doimo
Points: Tyler Farrar
Garmin/Transitions
KOM: Matthew Lloyd Omega Pharma/Lotto
U26: Valerio Agnoli Liquigas/Doimo
Team: Liquigas/Doimo
Stage 6 Report
G.C After
Stage 6
World Champion Cadel Evans won an epic victory today leading the fastest
survivors of a battle fought under the rain and mud of the Bianche Strade dirt
and gravel roads.
Evans led Alexander Vinokourov and Damiano Cunego into the final kilometer
after the three disposed of their final four break companions in the final 3
kilometers. Evans opened his sprint in the final 150 meters with Cunego
responding trying to come around for the win; but the Australian held on with a
bike length to take the victory.
Alexander Vinokourov didn't contest the sprint, happy to finish third to take
the race lead and maglia rosa for the second time in this edition of the race.
A crash of a dozen riders with 32 km to go proved to be a disaster for
Liquigas with race leader Vincenzo Nibali and number 2, Ivan Basso going down
along with Carlos Sastre. By the time the duo got back on the road they had lost
a minute to the lead group driven by Vinokourov and Linus Gerdemann. The group
swelled to six riders.
Attacks on the final climb attacks by Vino and Evans reduced the group that
included; Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone), David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne),
Damiano Cunego (Lampre/Farnese Vini), HTC/Columbia's Marco Pinotti and Ag2r La
Mondiale's John Gadret.
Lampre's Cunego managed to join the two riders on the descent with 4 km to
go, leading to the final sprint of three. Marco Pinotti finished at six seconds
to take fourth a strong ride for the Italian time trial champion; while Caisse
d'Epargne's David Arroyo fifth at 12 seconds.
Liquigas' Nibali and Basso finished two minutes after Evans, with Sastre
losing a massive 5:20.
Ivan Basso leads team mate Vincenzo Nibali Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
The top of the G.C. has been rearranged with Vinokourov on top Evans second
at 1:12. Garmin/Transitions' David Millar finished at 1:11 behind to claim
third on the G.C.. with Vladimir Karpets and Vincenzo Nibali and Marco Pinotti
in that order filling out the top six at about one and a half minutes.
Though Vinokourov leads by over a minute, we still have a race with a tough
day to come tommorrow with the ten kilometer climb of the Terminillo. After a
day like today it will even tougher on the riders tired legs come tomorrow
whether they are defending their positions or trying to make up time.
Stage 7 Carrara - Montalcino 220 km
191 riders took the start today minus Caisse d'Epargne's Marzio
Bruseghin and Footon/Servetto's Eros Capecchi. Burseghin due to a hip injury
from an earlier crash and Capecchi due to illness. Mother nature was
offering up a rainy start as the lads left Carrara.
raphic © 210 Gazzetta dello
Sport
The race was off to a fast start with over 30 miles covered in the first
hour; an escape of 16 opened a gap of 43 seconds but the group was chased back
after only 12 kilometers. With 85 km run Rabobank's Rick Flens took a flyer and
was joined by Saxo Bank's Nicki Sörensen the duo got the 'go' from peloton
and quickly moved up the road gaining 2 minutes in the next 5 kilometers.
The power duo continued to build their lead in spite of Flens suffering a
flat; maxing it out at 9:25 on the peloton at 120 km, with 100 km to go. Behind
the Katusha and Lampre teams took to the front and set a fast pace splitting the
peloton.
The two brigands on the front continued their campaign but the chase by
Lampre and Katusha were closing in, at the 160 km mark Sörensen and Flens
Sörensen held 3:20 on the peloton and another minute on the second group.
Approaching the climb of the Cat. 3 Passo Rospatoio the duo were down to 48
seconds. An attack on the climb by SKY's Dario Cioni led the assault on the
climb. Cioni quickly caught and passed the duo ending their adventure.
Behind all hell broke loose as the favorites chased Cioni; over the summit it
was Milram's Thomas Rohregger leading the attack on the descent... he soon found
company with Vino, and Linus Gerdemann.
This is when the fates served up the disaster to Liquigas when a large crash
took out race leader and number two, Nibali and Basso, Cervelo's Sastre was also
involved in the mayhem. Nibali and Basso lost more than a minute before
untangling from the mess and getting back on the road. Ahead the attack on the
descent was gathering momentum
Jan Bakelandts and Vladimir Karpets leads the attack, Cunego chases behind
Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) and Jan Bakelantds (Omega Pharma - Lotto)
joined the trio on the front as Nibali and Basso were paced by white jersey
Agnoli. Through the sprint in Murlo (188 km) Rohregger led, followed by Omega
Pharma's Bakelandts, Vinokourov, Milram captain Gerdemann and Acqua & Sapone's
Vladimir Miholjevic.
Behind the chase was on with Cunego and Sastre fighting to advance as they
hit the muddy gravel sections with Nibali and Basso at 1:30 with 21 km to
go. Alexander Vinokourov was the race leader on the road. Cunego was making
tracks and soon joined the lead group.
Behind Cadel Evans was flying up the road closing in on the 6 leaders
- temporarily that was as the leadership kept changing with constant attacks
attempting escape. Involved in the struggle was Cunego, Gerdemann, Bakelandts,
Marco Pinotti, Vladimir Karpets, David Millar, Evans, Garzelli, David Arroyo,
and Filippo Pozzato... it was a case of musical chairs as the mud covered the
riders jerseys and numbers making it hard to distinguish the riders with the
rain fogging the moto and helicopter camera lenses.
Approaching the final climb Vino attacked, Evans responded and the two
open a gap; behind Marco Pinotti and Stefano Garzelli gut them selves and hammer
back on. Behind Basso and Nibali are bleeding time at 1:48; but Sastre is in
worse condition alone without support at over 3 minutes
Vino Attacks on the Pioggia, only Evans can respond Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Starting the climb Vino attacked, Evans and Cunego manage to match him and
join up; Pinotti, Arroyo and Garzelli have joined the two... he attacks again
Evans is stuck like glue to his wheel showing no weakness Pinotti and Arroyo
bridge back to the two, but Garzelli slips off their wheels and disappears
in the falling rain.
On the final kilometer Evans takes the front as they go under the flag they
race up the narrow cobbled lane to the finish. Evans attacked at 150 meters,
Alexander Vinokourov plods away tries to respond but it is Cunego out of the
saddle charging to try to pass Evans but he comes up short on the line for
second as Cadel takes one impressive Victory!
Astana's Alexander Vinokourov finishes third and takes back his pink jersey
that he gave up to Nibali two days ago after the team time trial.
After
Stage Interviews
Stage 7 Results
Carrara - Montalcino
220 km - 5:13:37 - 42.089 km/h
1 Evans Cadel Aus Bmc
5:13:37
2 Cunego Damiano Ita Lam 0:02
3 Vinokourov Alexandre Kaz Ast 0:02
4 Pinotti Marco Ita Thr 0:06
5 Arroyo Duran David Esp Gce 0:12
6 Garzelli Stefano Ita Asa 0:27
7 Gadret John Fra Alm 0:29
8 Scarponi Michele Ita And 1:01
9 Sarmiento Cayetano Col Asa 1:07
10 Bakelandts Jan Bel Olo 1:10
11 Millar David Gbr Grm 1:11
12 Rohregger Thomas Aut Mrm 1:11
13 Gerdemann Linus Ger Mrm 1:11
14 Karpets Vladimir Rus Kat 1:18
15 Larsson Gustav Erik Swe Sax 1:42
Full Stage 7
Results & Photos
General Classification After Stage 7
1 Vinokourov Alexandre Kaz Ast 24:09:42
2 Evans Cadel Aus Bmc 1:12
3 Millar David Gbr Grm 1:29
4 Karpets Vladimir Rus Kat 1:30
5 Nibali Vincenzo Ita Liq 1:33
6 Pinotti Marco Ita Thr 1:40
7 Gerdemann Linus Ger Mrm 1:48
8 Basso Ivan Ita Liq 1:51
9 Rohregger Thomas Aut Mrm 1:54
10 Porte Richie Aus Sax 2:00
11 Garzelli Stefano Ita Asa 2:47
12 Cunego Damiano Ita Lam 3:08
13 Scarponi Michele Ita And 3:09
14 Arroyo Duran David Esp Gce 3:28
15 Agnoli Valerio Ita Liq 3:38
G.C. After
Stage 7 & Photos
Giles Belbin's
Parcours Preview Week 1
Giles Belbin's
Parcours Preview Week 2
93rd Giro
d'Italia - Favorites Preview
2010 Giro
d'Italia Team & Rider Start List
2010 Giro
d'Italia - At a Glance
93rd Giro
d'Italia - Start List
Stage 5 Report
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