NEWS

Glory for Bak in Sestri Levante at the end of the 12th stage of Giro d’Italia. 155 km after the start in Seravezza , the Danish cyclist completed with a winning attack a braekaway of 9 riders that had begun after 50 km of races. No battle in the top riders bunch: only Tiralongo attacked on the last climb of Villa Tassani and immediately Cunego followed him, but their action was neutralized by Liquigas-Cannondale. Only on thrill for Michele Scarponi just before approaching Villa Tassani climb: he had to change a wheel and then to chase the bunch, well supported by his team mates. Rodriguez is still the pink jersey.

“I approached Villa Tassani in the head position of the bunch and  when I saw Tiralongo attacking I understood that it was time to follow him – Cunego explained – Astana’s climber was in fact willing to reach the arrival and it could have been an interesting chance, but Liquigas-Cannondale wanted to control the race”.

STAGE RESULTS
1st Bak 3h58’55″
2nd Casar  11″
3rd Amador  s.t.
23rd Ulissi 3’34″
32th Cunego  s.t.

OVERALL STANDING
1st Rodriguez  51h19’08″
2nd Hesjedal  17″
3rd Casar  23″
4th Tiralongo  32″
13th Scarponi  1’11″
16th Cunego  1’37″

Lively final kilometers of the longest stage of Giro d’Italia, the 11th one from Assisi to Montecatini Terme. After the first passage on the arrival, when Boaro was the solitary leader of the race, on the climb of Vico his action was neutralized just before an attack by Visconti, who was joined by three athletes. Ulissi tried to be in the attacking group, but he could not complete the chase. Cunego and Scarponi were pedaling in the head position of the main group but the “Aquila di Filottrano” made his move when, in the downhill, Kreuziger joined the breakaway. Scarponi could reach Kreuziger and the other attackers and immediately the breakaway was neutralized. So, there was space for the final sprint, that was won by Ferrari on Chicchi and Vaitkus. 36th Cunego, 48th Pietropolli and 55th Scarponi.

“The lenght and the final kilometers that were approached in a battling way made this stage, that was quite simple on the map, a little bit demanding – Scarponi (photo Bettini) pointed out – On Vico climb the pace was high, but Cunego and me managed to pedal in the head position of the group and, when Kreuziger attacked, I preferred to follow him”.

This is the technical review by sport director Piovani about the 12th stage, Seravezza-Sestri Levante (155 km): “It could be a good chance for a breakaway of attackers that are not in the top position of the overall standing. For what concerns the top riders, they must pay attention to the Gpm of Villa Tassani at 11 km to go and to the following downhill that will end at only 5 km to the arrival”.

STAGE RESULTS
1st Ferrari  6h49’05″
2nd Chicchi  s.t.
3rd Vaitkus  s.t.
36th Cunego,  48th Pietropolli,  55th Scarponi.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION
1st Rodriguez  47h16’39″
2nd Hesjedal  17″
3rd Tiralongo  39″
11th Scarponi  1’11″
14th Cunego  1’37″

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“I considered this stage as dangerous because it followed another demanding race like yesterday one, because of the hilly course and because today the weather was hot. No differences among the top riders, no one could make the move on the climb to the arrival, except for Pozzovivo who performed a very good attack. I’m quite satisfied, considering what I told before about the stage”. This is the analysis by Scarponi about the 8th stage of Giro d’Italia (Sulmona-Lago Laceno of 229 km), that was won by Pozzovivo thanks to an attack on the climb to Lago Laceno.

The chasing group reached the arrival after 27” and it was preceded by Intxausti (2nd at 23”). Scarponi crossed the finish line in 15th position, Cunego in 14th. For what concerns the overall standing, thanks to the 8” of bonus for the 3rd place in the stage classification Rodriguez is now 2nd at 9” to Hesjedal, while Scarponi is 12th at 54” and Cunego 15th at 1’14”.

“Another tough stage, my compliments to Pozzovivo, who was the only one could attack – I got surprised in the last 500 mt of the climb, but I could stay with the top riders group”.

STAGE CLASSIFICATION 1st Pozzovivo  6h06’05″ 2nd Intxausti  23″ 3rd Rodriguez  27″ 4th De Gendt  s.t. 14th Cunego  s.t. 15th Scarponi  s.t.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION 1st Hesjedal  32h23’25″ 2nd Rodriguez  9″ 3rd Tiralongo  15″ 4th Kreuziger  35″ 12th Scarponi  54″ 15th Cunego  1’14″

Second place for Michele Scarponi in the 7^stage of Giro d’Italia (Recanati-Rocca di Cambio, 205 km con arrivo in salita). The topic moment of the race was at 1500 mt to go, when Niemiec raised the speed of the head of the group, selecting it: Scarponi then attacked and only Tiralongo could follow him, overtaking Scarponi before the finish line. Lampre-ISD’s cyclist obtained the 12” bonus for the 2nd place in addition to the ones of the gap at the arrival to the opponents for the overall classification (3” on Schleck and Rodriguez, 5” on Hesjedal, 9” on Pozzovivo and Basso, 11” on Kreuziger). In the top position Cunego too, who crossed the line at 11” to the winner (22nd place) Malori is no more the pink jersey, the new leader is Hesjedal. Scarponi is 16th at 54”, Cunego 24th at 1’14” and Ulissi 32nd at (1’18”).

“The stage, also because the hot, was demanding – Scarponi said – In the early part we supported Malori, then on the final climb I was willing to control the opponents. In the last 1500 mt I was pedaling in the head position when I saw that the other cyclists covered a bend in the wrong way: Niemiec raised the pace, then I attacked but Tiralongo was skilful than me: maybe I started too early”.

These are the words by Cunego: “Because of the high speed, the last climb became quite tough. I tried to be competitive for a good result but, when I understood that I was not at the top, I talked with Michele and he tried a long sprint”.

The complete interviews to Scarponi and Cunego will follow in the videogallery of the website www.teamlampreisd.com.

STAGE RESULTS 1st Tiralongo  5h51’03″ 2nd Scarponi  s.t. 3rd Schleck  3″ 4th Rodriguez  s.t. 5th Hesjedal  5″ 22nd Cunego  11″

OVERALL STANDING 1st Hesjedal  26h16’53″ 2nd Tiralongo  15″ 3rd Rodriguez  17″ 16th Scarponi  54″ 24th Cunego  1’14″