89th Giro d'Italia - Stage 14 - Interviews
After race interviews and Photos. Ivan Basso, Paolo Tiralonga, Felipe Luis Laverde, Paolo Savoldelli, and Luis Gutierrez.

Ivan and his CSC escort. Photo c. Fotoreporter Sirotti

Team CSC - Ivan Basso
Talking in front of the RAI cameras, Ivan Basso said he's extremely satisfied with the way things are going, and hopes it all may continue like that. And he never stopped praising Team CSC and Bjarne Riis in particular: to ride for them for three years was more helpful to him than the experience he got at the past Tour's de France in his opinion.

An Easy Day for Team CSC was the first news on the CSC website..
It was an easy Sunday for Team CSC, as the 223 kilometre stage 14 in Giro d'Italia from Aosta to Domodossola developed without any attacks on Ivan Basso's La Maglia Rosa. Instead an early break away group succeeded and 11 riders battled for the stage victory, which was won by Luis Felipe Laverde (Ceramica Panaria) 7.44 ahead of the peloton

Team CSC and Ivan Basso lead the peloton.
Photo (c) Tim DeWaele

Lampre/Fondital Paolo Tiralongo:
After the stage, Lampre's Paolo Tiralongo was talking like someone who just missed a big chance. And in fact he did, so who can really blame him for sounding very upset, and also a bit polemical towards the Phonak  pair in the front group and their attitude?

Tiralonga and his breakmates on the descent. Photo c. Lampre/Fondital

"With two guys in the breakaway, I think it was up to them to try and close down (on Pérez and Laverde), not me. I was aware of the fact that I was one of the fastest guys in the breakaway group, along with Schumacher. I was allowed to have my race and play my cards today, and I want to  say thank to Damiano (Cunego) for that. Unfortunately things didn't go fine in the end, but in any event I'll back working for him (Cunego) tomorrow".

Felipe Laverde and Francisco Sanchez lead the break in after their attack and duel to the finish. Photo (c) Tim DeWaele.

Felipe Luis Laverde
Some more after-race words from today's stage champion Felipe Luis Laverde,  "Maybe I didn't live up to expectations from my team over the past two years. But I did well today. We got into the right breakaway and everything went fine. I came out in the last hundred metres, but I didn't save my legs for the sprint in the last kilometres; I just couldn't ride faster on that cobbled road as my weight is just 60 kgs. I want to dedicate this victory to the whole Panaria-Navigare team. Baliani and me worked hard in the breakaway, and I think that the stage victory was a proper reward for that. Sure I must thank Baliani for the help he gave me today".

Discovery Channel - Paolo Salvodelli
Things are getting better for Paolo Savoldelli, at least on the side of that nasty pollen allergy that reportedly had such a bad impact on his 2006 Giro performances: "For the first time in many days I was really comfortable in the saddle today. Sometimes I'm fine on the bike, sometimes I'm not. But I'm not as quiet as I used to be. Sure the Giro ends at the Aprica only, but Basso is blatantly superior to anyone else, even more than I expected him to be. And I think that, even if he slows down a bit the next week, it will be very tough for the others to beat him. There's no way a guy going so fast as Basso's doing in this period can bonk." '

The Falcon also briefly talked about his #1 teammate, Tom Danielson, that was so much of help to him during these first hilly stages (yesterday in particular), and had just good words for the US rider: "he is a very good prospect, with an  uncommon talent, he can do well in both ITTs and mountain stages. His weak point is the lack of experience, but the team are looking after that. We think that he can be a very successful rider in years to come. Yesterday I told him he was free to go and stay with the best ones, he didn't succeed, such that he slowed down and waited for me and helped me, but if he wants to have a go again, he'll be free to."

Phonak - Luis Gutierrez
Phonak's Gutierrez also had some words after the stage: "My main objective is to finish in the top 5 spots overall, but the more I go on, the more I think I can make it to the Milan podium." He's a little bit upset about the poor media coverage he's getting despite his good placing on the GC; he said "I know the upcoming ascents don't suit my skills, but if I manage to keep my good form into the final week I think I can do it. I'll try and stay with Basso as much as possible, trying to limit my losses. That's the same tactics I've used so far (and it worked)."

Got TV? USA - Live Coverage of this weeks Giro online. click on banner