93rd Giro d'Italia - Stage 21
Ivan Basso Triumphs in Verona - Gustav Larsson takes
sets a time that can't be beat to win final time trial
© 210
Gazzetta dello Sport
2010 Giro d'Italia
Jersey Leaders - Stage 21
Maglia Rosa:
Ivan Basso Liquigas/Doimo
Maglia Rossa
Points:
Cadel Evans BMC Racing
KOM Maglia Verde:
Matthew Lloyd Omega Pharma Lotto
U26 Maglia Bianca: Richie
Porte Saxo Bank
Team: Liquigas/Doimo
Stage 20
General Classification
Sunday 30 May
Ivan Basso rode into the Verona arena in triumph enjoying the victory with
his two children and wife who waited for him on the pink carpet near the
podium. Basso rode an excellent time trial to finish in 15th place in 21:01,
only 42 seconds off the blistering pace of stage winner Gustav Larsson of
Saxo Bank.
David Duran Arroyo conceeded 36 seconds to Basso after putting in a
fierce attempt finishing 47th place in 2137.
In the battle for the final podium step, Basso's team mate Vincenzo
Nibali lost a second to Michele Scarponi of Androni Giocattoli at the first time
check; but came back in the final half to finish 12 seconds faster than his
compatriot to take 5th on the stage and the final podium honors.
Gustav Erik Larsson set the time to beat at intermediate time check only to
be beaten by Marco Pinotti by 12 seconds; but by the finish line the time
Larsson time set early in the day proved once again unbeatable even for the fast
moving Italian time trial champion, Marco Pinotti who came up 2 seconds short to
the Swede at the finish.
Astana's Alexander Vinokourov finished third on the day at 0:17. World
Champion Cadel Evans finished fourth at 0:22 for fourth.
Perhaps the most inspired ride of the day was by Liquigas' Vincenzo Nibali
in for fifth place at 23 seconds; the man accomplished his mission of displacing
Scarponi to join his friend and teammate Ivan Basso on the Podium... Clinching
the final overall Team classification.
No changes in the jersey classifications with Australian's Richie Porte in
the white jersey of Best Young Rider in his first grand tour appearance, Cadel
Evans in the red maglia Rossa of points leader and Matthew Lloyd in the green
maillot of King of the Mountains... quite a feat that for the lads from down
under; not to mention two riders in the top 7.
Stage 21 Profile
© 210 Gazzetta dello Sport
Stage 21 Verona Individual Time Trial 15 km
Garmin/Transitions Cameron Meyer 3rd to start set the time to beat at the checkpoint and the
finish 13:52 and 20:51 Half an hour later it was Cervelo's Ignatas Konolovas was
slower than the the young Americans at the first time check but delivered a
faster time at the finish in 20:42 to take the lead by 9 seconds. Rabobanks Tom
Stamsnijder and Jos Emden followed at 14 and 18 seconds with SKY's Greg
Henderson coming in 22 seconds off Konolovas time.
The times continued to hold
80th starter Gustav Larsson of Saxo Bank set the new best time at the intermediate
check at 13:35 and post a faster time than Konolovas at 20:19 shaving off 23
seconds off the Lithuanian.
Saxo Bank's Gustav Larsson stops the clock -
Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Silver medalist at the worlds, Larsson time stood like a wall that
riders bounced off. Meanwhile the fans around the course cheered on
Gilberto Simoni riding in his final race as a pro rider. The two time Giro
victor enjoyed a triumphant ride to
the cheers of the fans and screams of 'Gibo Gibo!".
The eteran climber (not a
time trialist) finally finished at 22:57. 2:38 well off the speed
demons like Larsson, but he received a rousing welcome from the fans as he road
into the ancient coliseum of Verona.
Stage 1 time trial winner, team SKY's Bradley Wiggins 99th to start was out
on the course looking fast but came up short by 8 seconds at the time check to
finish with 20:45 and third place behind Konolovas and
Larsson. Cam Meyers time held for 4th with Stamsnijder in 5th.
Those were as the 128th starter Cunego launched from the start gate with the final 10 riders to
come . all spaced at 3 minutes.. . The only race of significance was between
David Arroyo with 1:15 to make up to Ivan Basso, the odds were against the
Spaniard that he could overcome Ivan Basso.
The other battle, that might have been for the white jersey of best young
rider been between Liquigas's Robert Kiserlovski and Richie Porte of Saxo Bank
wouldn't happen with Kiserlovski losing ground in the final days dropping 7
minutes in the mountains to Porte... a fast time trialist
Two battles will set the final act of the 93rd edition of the Corsa Rosa for
the final podium with Scarponi and Nibali separated by one second in a battle
for the third step of the podium... Followed by the former race leader Arroyo
trying to close the over one minute gap to Basso for the win; the odds were in
the favor of Basso without a doubt. But the Caisse d'Epargne rider was riding
into a personal victory with his best placing in a grand tour and most
prestigious podium of his career.
The final ten included time strong time trialists: Italian ITT Champion Marco
Pinotti, Cadel Evans, and Alexander Vinokourov each on a good day capable of
winning the time trial and some final glory taking the final stage. Vino might
challenge Richie Porte fro the sixth ranking; though Porte has a mean time
trial of his own.
Cadel Evans Photo © 2010
Fotoreporter Sirotti
The final ten and gaps:
16.58 - Pinotti Marco Thr - 15:00
17.01 - Kiserlovski Robert Liq - 14:06
17.04 - Sastre Candil Carlos Ctt - 8:55
17.07 - Vinokourov Alexandre Ast - 7:31
17.10 - Porte Richie Sax - 7:25
17.13 - Evans Cadel Bmc - 3:47
17.16 - Scarponi Michele And - 2:57
17.19 - Nibali Vincenzo Liq - 2:56
17.22 - Arroyo Duran David Gce - 1:15
17.25 - Basso Ivan Ita Liq - 0:00
Italian Marco Pinotti ripped through the course beating Larsson's
intermediate time 13:23 and finished in 20:21 only 2 seconds off Larsson's
time to take over the second on the leader board.
With 9 riders to come the top 5 were:
1Gustav Erik Larsson SWE SAX 20:19
2 Marco Pinotti ITA THR 0:02
3 Ignatas Konolovas LTU CTT 0:23
4 Wiggins GBR SKY 0:29
5 Cameron Meyer AUS GRM 0:32
Larsson's time defied all challenges as Ivan Basso launched from the start gate.
Nibali and Scarponi flew through the time check locked in battle but by
the finish Vincenzo Nibali took 12 seconds out of the Androni Giocattoli rider
to knock him off the podium.
Carlos Sastre finished out of the money a minute off the pace.
Vino going hard on the climb of the Torricelle
Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter Sirotti
Vinokourov finished slamming against the wall of Larsson's formidable time
for the moment 17 seconds off the mark but good enough for third behind Pinotti.
Evans followed taking fourth.
Richie Porte came in 3 seconds off Wiggins time for 7the place on the day
slipping to 7th on the G.C.
Ivan Basso took no chances on the dicey descent on the second half and did a
solid time trial to finih 15 on the day and able to ride onto the pink carpet in
the coliseum celebrating his second Giro victory.
Top 10 Intermediate Time Checks
1 Pinotti Marco Ita Thr 13:23
2 Larsson Gustav Erik Swe Saxo Bank - 0:12
3 Vinokourov Alexandre Kaz Astana - 0:17
4 Scarponi Michele Ita And - 0:19
5 Porte Richie Aus Saxobank - 0:19
6 Evans Cadel Aus BMC Racing - 0:19
7 Nibali Vincenzo Ita Liquigas/Doimo - 0:20
8 Wiggins Bradley Gbr SKY Pro - 0:20
9 Basso Ivan Ita Liquigas/Doimo - 0:20
10 Petrov Evgeni Rus Katusha - 0:21
Stage 21 Results
Verona Individual Time Trial
15 km - 20:19 - 44.298 km/h
1 Larsson Gustav Erik Swe Saxo Bank 20:19
2 Pinotti Marco Ita Thr HTC/Columbia - 0:02
3 Vinokourov Alexandre Kaz Astana - 0:17
4 Evans Cadel Aus BMC Racing -
0:22
5 Nibali Vincenzo Ita Liquigas/Doimo -
0:23
6 Konovalovas Ignatas Ltu Cervélo TestTeam -
0:23
7 Wiggins Bradley Gbr Team SKY - 0:29
8 Meyer Cameron Aus Garmin/Transitions - 0:32
9 Scarponi Michele Ita Androni Giocattoli -
0:35
10 Stamsnijder Tom Ned Rabobank - 0:37
11 Porte Richie Aus Saxo Bank -
0:39
12 Kiryienka Vasil Blr Caisse d'Epargne -
0:39
13 Petrov Evgeni Rus Katusha 20:58 0:39
14 Van Emden Jos Ned Rabobank 21:00 0:41
15 Basso Ivan Ita Liquigas/Doimo - 0:42
16 Henderson Gregory Nzl SKY Pro - 0:45
17 Russ Matthias Ger Milram - 0:45
18 Ardila Cano Mauricio Alberto Col Rabobank -
0:48
19 Brandle Matthias Aut Fot - 0:54
20 Karpets Vladimir Rus Katusha - 0:54
Giles Belbin's
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