89th Giro d'Italia - Stage 19 Interviews & Photos
Rider interviews from todays finish at San Pellegrino: Stage winner Manuel
Garate. CSC's Jens Voight, and Gilberto Simoni. Updated with Photos of Today's
Race action
Saunier Duval's Ruben Lobato leads the chase on the Pordoi with Ivan Basso and
his able team of CSC mates in attendance at the front of affairs in the peloton.
Photo c. Fotoreporter Sirotti
Spanish Champion Manuel Garate Celebrates Victory
Photo c. Fotoreporter Sirotti
Manuel Garate couldn't hide his
satisfaction with his first ever stage success on the roads of,
"this race I got to know when I turned a professional
rider, and immediately helped Gilberto Simoni to win. I was eager for a victory
here at the Giro. In the past I managed to take 4th, and 5th, I made the top 10,
but I missed victory. Despite not having good legs this year, I had a go today,
and I got it. I rode well and launched my attack early in the final ascent, but
Voigt was stronger than me. Thankfully he's a great person: he noticed all the
work my team had done throughout the stage, and told me to go, told me that we
were the best teams and that I was a well-earned winner".
Garate and "Gentleman" Jens Voigt during their final attack.
Photo c. Fotoreporter Sirotti
From the www.dailypeloton.com
Live coverage.
"Just 700m to go. "Time for a two-man sprint to come soon. Gibo and Basso
follow. Gutierrez is only slightly behind Cunego. Vila is somewhere in
between.
We're NOT going to have a sprint...Voigt pats Garate on his back, and told him
to go and Garate thanked him. What an interesting display of sportsmanship.
Manuel Garate takes the stage with Jens Voight second...Garate did all the work,
so Voigt just let him have the win. Garate deserved it for sure. Voigt was just
there for Basso..."
Jens Voigt acted like a true sportsman
also in front of the RAI microphones "Our tactics of
the day was to get into the break, but stay off the back of it and not
cooperate. So I just didn't deserve to win. I want to win only when I deserve
to, and after I sat on their wheels for most of the stage, this wasn't the case.
Garate is the right winner".
Gibo leads Ivan Basso on the Passo San Pellegrino
Photo c. Fotoreporter Sirotti
Gilberto Simoni
Neither Saunier's chasing work nor Piepoli's leadout job were properly rewarded
today, but the man succeeded in extending his margin over the other podium
contenders. The man is Gilberto Simoni, that briefly talked after the stage and
said. "my team worked hard to help me either to try and
win the stage or at least tighten my grip on the third place overall. But with
all those climbs on the menu, I had just few men left up front, so we couldn't
do that much. It's true that we got close, but this is pointless now.
Tomorrow's stage? Well, it's gonna be tougher than today's, but I I'll
definitely keep looking for the win again."
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