STAGE 10 Preview 2013 Giro d'Italia

Belkov gets his first win

Congratulations to Katusha’s second stage winner, Russian Maxim Belkov for his 1^st career win on Sunday. Another wet, technical stage where descending skills came into play and Bradley Wiggins struggled.  Like stage 7 I thought it was thrilling start to finish. Stefano Pirazzi stamped his mark on the mountain jersey competition, but will find defending it through the Alps to be a full-time job. Wilco Kelderman held on to the young rider’s jersey, and Cadel Evans showed his good form getting into second place and taking the points jersey away from Cavendish. Now the first rest day and then into the Alps. If I wasn’t typing I’d be wringing my hands in anticipation.

STAGE 10 PREVIEW

The first rest day is behind them. The long TT is behind them. The nervous stages are behind them. And Ahead of them? Ahead lie the hungry, waiting giants. The unforgiving Alps. Tomorrow’s stage 10 takes the riders 167 kilometers from Cordenons to Altopiano del Montasio in the northeast by the Slovenian border, and not far from the Austrian border. They will climb the category 1 Passo Cason di Lanza about two-thirds of the way through the stage and finish atop the cat. 1 Altopiano del Montasio (where you can ski between Italy and Slovenia).  A climber’s stage to be sure, and the first to test the legs before the mighty Dolomites.

STAGE 10

The main climb of the Cason di Lanza is no slouch at 15.4 km averaging about 6% but hitting sections as steep as 16% midway up.  Right in the middle the climb is interrupted by a 2km descent, which explains the relatively low average gradient of 6% for the overall climb. It then kicks up again through the steepest sections to the top. It has some long sections of 10%+ grades, including 2 ½ kms early on at over 10.3% and, after the 2km descent they’ll hit about 5kms of very steep grades. It stays fairly steep most of the way to the top, but then levels out for approximately the last kilometer to the line.

The final climb

The Altopiano climb makes up the last 22kms of the stage.  The climb begins immediately after the long descent to Chiusaforte, starts up a long, shallow ascent then climbs up to the ski resort to 1555 meters above sea level. The serious part of the climb is measured 10.9 km averaging 7.8%. Maxes of 20% will drain the peloton’s legs before the much easier finale. This will be the pure climbers chance to show their stuff. The locals (like Franco Pellizotti) will also want to impress their home fans. But if anyone is looking to gain time on Nibali, they better eat their Wheaties.  

STAGE 10 PICKS:

LIKELY PICKS: Domenico Pozzovivo, Vincenzo Nibali, Cadel Evans

DARK-HORSE PICK: Yuri Trofimov

MY PICK:  Lampre mountain veteran Michele Scarponi

STAGE 9 Reacp and Results 2013 Giro d'Italia

170km;  mountains;  from Sansepolcro to Florence (Firenze)

Sunday May 12, 2013

POURING RAIN and 20 c (68 f);

Folks are calling this stage a “dress rehearsal for the World Championships” later this season.

Four climbs (one of each category).

 [Wiggins has been evading the media.]

The mountains:

1^st KOM: Km 81.8: Passo della Consuma (cat 2);

2^nd KOM: Vallombrosa (cat 1), at km. 106.7;

3^rd KOM: Cat. 3 Vetta le Croci at km 148;

4^th  KOM:  km 159.3: Pian di Mugnone (Fiesole) which tops out at -10.7 k);

The cat. 1 Vallombrosa starts at km. 97.7 and runs aboyt 9 kilometers. The gradient starts out at an easy 2.6%, hits 12% and then finishes up around 7.3%. Montetrini is a cat. 3, at only 4 km long, but with an average gradient of 9.1%  and a maximum of  12%.

Very technical descents;

DNS: Chicchi (VIN)

Early Crash: Ermetti (AND)

*Early Break: at km 6, and now with a gap of 23 seconds are: Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil), Diego Rosa (Androni Giacattoli), Francesco Bongiorno (Bardiani Valvole), Carlos Quintero (Colombia), Eros Cappechi (Movistar), Gianluca Brambilla (OPQS) and Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge).

-155k: Vini Fantini lead the peloton chase and bring back the escapees;

*Aban: Gil (AND).

-150k: Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani Valvole) and Robinson Chalapud (Colombia) try an escape.

NOT RAINING on peloton now; raining hard at finish though;

*Group of 12 now get a gap: Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani Valvole), Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), Juan Manuel Garate (Blanco), Fabio Felline (Androni Giacattoli), Robinson Chalapud (Colombia), Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia), Ricardo Mestre (Euskaltel), Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Michel Golas (OPQS), Tobias Ludvigsson (Argos-Shimano), Alessandro Proni (Vini Fantini) and Evgeni Petrov (Saxo-Tinkoff).

ASTANA control front of peloton;

-125k: 12 leaders have a gap of 2:58

 1^st INT Sprint (km 49.5): 1. Belkov 2. Felline 3. Visconti 4. Chalapud 5. Mestre

onto 1^st Mtn.

-93k: attack Chalapud on the climb; Pirazzi follows and they’re climbing together;

Pirazzi squeezes Chalapud into the barriers at the top of the climb;

They summit and keep going away together;

1^st KOM (km 82): 1. Pirazzi  2. Chalapud  3. Pantano  4. Visconti  5. Garate;

Pirazzi now leads MTN competition;

Wet roads; Steady rain now;

Belkov catches up to 2 leaders, now 3; Pel +5:09;

Belkov and Chalapud drop Pirazzi, but he catches back on;

*Pouring rain now;

Onto 2^nd climb: Vallombrosa;

-65k: 3 leaders attacking each other on the cat. 1 climb;

2^nd KOM (km 107): 1. Pirazzi 2. Chalapud 3. Belkov (at +:50) 4. Pantano 5. Petrov 6. Garate

Erstwhile breakaway group splintering;

BMC lead Pel. up the climb in heavy rain and fog;

A CAN rider jumped out of the pack at the summit, but any points left? No.

*Belkov catches back up to 2 ldrs; Pel + 6:23; then motors on ahead alone (he is 189^th on GC);

*We now have one leader, Belkov, chased by Chalapud and Pirazzi. They are followed by a group of four: Garate, Pantano, Mestre and Petrov.

The rest of the earlier break group are somewhere out there, too.

CRASH XXX? (AST), he skids a long way across the road surface;

-43k: Belkov has a 1:35 lead over Pirazzi and Chalapud (G2); Pel. at +6:52;

*Wiggins dropping behind (being cautious?) on the long descent; 4 or 5 teammates helping him;

Lots of water puddling on road;

-38k: Belkov leads G2 +2:00 (and rising); Pink Jsy Grp 7:27;  Wiggins 8:24;

Henao and Uran still in Pink Jsy grp (not going back for Wiggins);

2^nd INT: 1. Belkov 2. Chalapud  3.  Pantano 4. Golas 5. Felline

-30k: Belkov leads G2 +2:49 (and rising); Pink Jsy Grp 6:55 (and falling); Wiggins 7:24; Wiggins grp seems to be getting back on terms;

Belkov might have to seriously bonk or crash to be caught if he keeps this pace up;

Ludvigsson and Petrov leading the 1^st chase grp. (G2), with Felline, Garate, Pantano, Pirazzi, Chalapud and Golas;

-25k: Belkov leads G2 +3:39; Pink Jsy Grp 6:17; Wiggins 6:18;

Felline stretches his legs in front of G2;

On penultimate climb, cat. 3 Vetta le Croci;

Sun peeking out! Rain has stopped;

-24.2 k: Pantano escapes G2; Pirazzi tries a kick;

Wiggins is back on with the Pink Jersey chase group;

Pantano has left G2 way behind;

Ludvigsson attacks out of G2;

3^rd KOM (km 148): 1. Belkov  2. Pantano  3. Ludvigsson

Pantano summits at + 1:47

Visconti riding in back of Wiggins group;

*Hesjedal not looking very good today; struggling a bit in back of Pel.

*Ludvigsson catches up to Pantano to form 2-man 1^st chase group;;

-15k: Belkov has -:29 to G2 (Ludvigsson and Pantano); +:51 to G3 (4-man grp  with Pirazzi); and 1:55 to GC chasers;

*Belkov onto final climb (Fiesole, 2.9 km, Av 5.7%, Max 11% near the bottom);

Pellizotti being dropped from GC chase grp.

*Belkov at -9.5 k: Betancur attacks chase grp. near top of final climb;

*4^th KOM: Belkov goes over last summit first; 2. Pantano (at +1:20) with 3. Ludvigsson;

Betancur: +1:49; Pink Jrsy grp 2:05; Hesjedal 2:50;

? Pink jsy grp seems to be waiting for someone; Wiggins dangling off the back;

Belkov riding with more caution now, taking the downhill turns a little slower;

Clouds clearing as Belkov rides into Florence; suddenly it’s raining again;

He’s got 1:14 to G2, 1:35 to Betancur, 1:56 to the maglia rosa, and 2:40 to Hesjedal;

Belkov rides up the 1.8 km finish straight alone…

Behind, Betancur catches up to 2 chasers and goes around them to take 2^nd.

Looks like Betancur thought he’d won. He crosses himself, raises his arms and does a celebration gesture at the line.

Pantano is 3^rd Ludvigsson 4^th.

Nibali keeps Pink Jersey; Hesjedal falls out of top 10 (11^th);

STAGE 9 RESULTS:

1	Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha	4:31:31
2	Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) Ag2R La Mondiale	0:00:44
3	Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia	0:00:46
4	Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano	0:00:54
5	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:01:03
6	Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team
7	Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia
8	Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia
9	Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
10	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team
11	Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida
12	Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
13	Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
14	Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack Leopard
15	Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling
16	Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team
17	Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
18	Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team
19	Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
20	Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff
21	Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col) Colombia
22	Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team
23	Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2R La Mondiale
24	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
25	Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
26	Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team
27	Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha
28	Sylvain Georges (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale
29	Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team
30	Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha
31	Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Blanco Pro Cycling Team
32	Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida
33	Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
34	Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) Colombia
35	Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol
36	Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
37	José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team
38	Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team	0:01:16
39	Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:01:22
40	Fabio Felline (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	0:01:24
41	Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step	0:01:39
42	Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox	0:02:07
43	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp	0:02:09
44	Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp
45	Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team
46	Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Katusha
47	Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha
48	Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale	0:03:46
49	Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step	0:05:36
50	Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
51	Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar Team
52	Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ
53	Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team	0:05:40

 

Other notable times:

65. Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge)  +8:42

78. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) 10.48

146. Fabio Aru (Astana) 17.45

164. Diego Rosa (Androni Giocattoli) 17.45

197 riders finished.

DNF: Tomas Aurelio Gil Martinez (Androni Giocattoli), and

Arnold Jeannesson  (FDJ)

DNS: Chicchi (VIN)

General classification after stage 9 1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 34:19:31 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:00:29 3 Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 0:01:15 4 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:01:16 5 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:01:24 6 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling 0:02:11 7 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 0:02:43 8 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida 0:02:44 9 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling 0:02:49 10 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 0:03:02 11 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp 0:03:11 12 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 0:03:26 13 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:36 14 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:03:43 15 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:04:05 16 Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:04:09 17 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:04:50 18 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:04:57 19 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:05:03 20 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 0:05:09 21 Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha 0:05:17 22 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack Leopard 0:05:29 23 Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:05:37 24 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida 0:05:41 25 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 0:05:42 26 Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp 0:05:43 27 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha 0:06:36 28 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:06:51 29 Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 0:06:58 30 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 0:07:29
Points classification 1 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 61 pts 2 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 58 3 Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 52 4 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 45 5 Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha 41 6 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol 39 7 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 37 8 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha 35 9 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia 32 10 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ 31 11 John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano 30 12 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp 30 13 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling 28 14 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team 28 15 Fabio Felline (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 28 16 Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 28 17 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 27 18 Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar Team 25 19 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 25 20 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) RadioShack Leopard 25
Mountains classification 1 Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 38 pts 2 Robinson Eduardo Chalapud Gomez (Col) Colombia 23 3 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team 16 4 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 13 5 Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha 13 6 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol 12 7 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia 12 8 Willem Wauters (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 9 9 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 5 10 Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 5 11 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale Pro Cycling 3 12 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 3 13 Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale 3 14 Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano 3 15 Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ 3 16 Fabio Taborre (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 3 17 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 3 18 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 2 19 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 2 20 Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 2 21 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 2 22 Ben Gastauer (Lux) Ag2R La Mondiale 2 23 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Astana Pro Team 2 24 Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano 2 25 Marco Canola (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 2 26 Ioannis Tamouridis (Gre) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2 27 Brian Bulgac (Ned) Lotto Belisol 2 28 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 1 29 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling 1 30 Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge 1 31 Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 1 32 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 1
Young riders classification 1 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 34:22:57 2 Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:43 3 Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:02:11 4 Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) Colombia 0:06:26 5 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia 0:12:39 6 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:17:47 7 Fabio Felline (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:21:00 8 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:21:47 9 Diego Rosa (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:21:55 10 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdge 0:25:37 11 Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:28:23 12 Stefano Locatelli (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox 0:31:09 13 Nelson Filipe Santos Simoes Oliveira (Por) RadioShack Leopard 0:40:28 14 Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Sky Procycling 0:44:44 15 Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:45:01
Premio della fuga classification 1 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 290 pts 2 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 278 3 Ioannis Tamouridis (Gre) Euskaltel-Euskadi 263 4 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale Pro Cycling 221 5 Ricardo Mestre (Por) Euskaltel-Euskadi 204 6 Brian Bulgac (Ned) Lotto Belisol 204 7 Fabio Taborre (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 202 8 Miguel Minguez Ayala (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 197 9 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 178 10 Rafael Andriato (Bra) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 177 11 Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ 176 12 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia 167 13 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 167 14 Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 167 15 Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Lotto Belisol 167 16 Willem Wauters (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 167 17 Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ 151 18 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol 147 19 Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Argos-Shimano 145 20 Jack Bobridge (Aus) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 118
Teams classification 1 Blanco Pro Cycling Team 102:19:07 2 Sky Procycling 0:01:32 3 Lampre-Merida 0:04:21 4 Astana Pro Team 0:05:12 5 BMC Racing Team 0:08:02 6 Katusha 0:08:03 7 Movistar Team 0:08:37 8 Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 0:17:37 9 Ag2R La Mondiale 0:20:37 10 Colombia 0:22:27

STAGE 9 Preview 2013 Giro d'Italia

 

Dowsett, the other British TT master

Mother nature was merciful today, offering the riders a dry course throughout the entire 55km Time Trial to Saltara. The weather would be no excuse for anyone whose GC chances were dashed today. British TT champ Alex Dowsett impressed all with his first Grand Tour stage win. Race favorite Wiggins looked to be under-performing until he pulled out a good finish up the final climb, which hit grades of 13%. Finishing second on the day, Wiggins moved himself well up the overall race standings from 23^rd place to 4^th. This would be great news to anyone else. To Wiggins fans who expected a superior thrashing of the competition today, the moody Brit’s performance might have left something to be desired. He came in to the stage with a 1:27 deficit to Italian favorite Vincenzo Nibali, and was only able to chop 11 seconds off of that.

Five riders managed to retain top-10 spots today: Nibali, Evans, Gesink, Santambrogio and Hesjedal, which means five others propelled themselves up into that select group. Hesjedal and Santambrogio moved down slightly in the General Classification, but are still threats inside the top-10.
My pick today, Wilco Kelderman, did not win, but his 14th place was good enough to take the white Young Rider's jersey off of Rafal Majka's back.

Here are my winners and losers from the crucial stage 8 ITT:

Big Winner(s):

Vincenzo Nibali, Cadel Evans, Robert Gesink, and Team Sky. 

Nibali demonstrated his excellent form, grabbing the pink jersey, and established the foundation for what looks to be a very promising Giro performance. "The Shark" has shown such impressive form that he must look like the dominant favorite now.

Gesink got one of the most challenging stages behind him and will head into the mountains one second ahead of race favorite Wiggins. Good legs in the Alps could potentially net the Condor a podium spot in Brescia.

Evans showed that he is indeed in very good form and now sits in 2^nd place at +:29, the only challenger within a minute of Nibali’s lead. He is still looking to be in peak form for the Tour in July, so we’ll have to wait and see how long his good spring form keeps up in the mountains over the next two weeks.

Finally, Dave Brailsford’s Sky boys may not have put their captain in pink, but their three top riders, Wiggins and Colombians Sergio Henao and Rigoberto Uran, all climbed in the standings from outside the top 20 to inside the top 10.

Big Loser(s):

Beñat Intxausti and Giampaolo Caruso.

Intxausti, the popular Basque talent, lost the Maglia Rosa and over 3 ½ minutes to his Sicilian foe, Nibali. For someone who has shown some good results against the clock, particularly on hilly courses, today’s performance has to feel like a loss to his Movistar team. I thought he had a good chance of keeping a top-10 spot, at least.

Caruso was never many people’s favorite, but he has been climbing well lately and came in to the TT today only :10 off Intxausti’s lead in 4^th place. A less than glowing result today leaves the 32-year old Sicilian in 30^th place with a gap of 6:36 to Nibali. In fact his Russian Katusha squad dropped from 1^st place to 7^th in the Team competition, where their top riders collectively sit 9:40 behind their Kazakh cousins, Team Astana. A stage win could be in his future.

With all the mountains still ahead of them, the peloton know that this race is far from decided, but today’s TT went a long way toward establishing a pecking order.

Stage 9 Profile

STAGE 9 Picks

Another potential breakaway stage tomorrow through the hills of Tuscany.  A pair of legitimate climbs mark the middle of the 170-km stage, and a pair of smaller ones come near the end. The last one is a little cat. 4 that tops out with 10k to go to the finish in Florence. This year’s late-season World Championship race is supposed to cover these roads. The finale is a slight uphill drag of about 1.6 kms at about 3% gradient. Stefano Pirazzi and Giovanni Visconti may be out looking to grab points toward the Mountain Jersey tomorrow. Visconti is also a likely pick for the stage as this area is his local domain. Other locals familiar with these roads include Mauro Santambrogio’s Vini Fantini team. They will surely be looking for success tomorrow as well.

The first rest day follows stage 9 before the peloton tackles the first mountaintop finish stage on Tuesday. The GC contenders will probably hope to let an escape group go, as long as no one threatening the overall times gets clear. Teams like Euskatel, Vini Fantini, Androni Giocattoli and Saxo-Tinkoff will likely try to get riders in the break. Weather will be a factor again with thundershowers expected in the afternoon.

STAGE 9 PICKS:

LIKELY PICKS: Giovanni Visconti, Danilo Di Luca

DARK-HORSE PICK: Sandy Casar

MY PICK:  I think a break will succeed. "The Killer" Di Luca will have his day.

STAGE 8 Recap and Results

 

Saturday May 11, 2013

54.8 KM Individual Time Trial from Gabicce Mare to Saltara; 

Course: Technical, half-flat, half-rolling, with a punchy climb to the finish (last 1km @ 13%); INT time check at km 26.

Weather:  19 c; Wind N 10km/h; mostly sunny early then overcast later, but dry

DNS: Julien Berard (ALM)

British TT champ Alex Dowsett (24-MOV) sets the early mark at 36:20. Dowsett was 8^th at the 45 km World Championship TT last September, finishing ahead of the mighty Alberto Contador.

TT specialist Jesse Sergent is currently in second at +1:18

The ailing pair of Taylor Phinney (BMC) and Dario Cataldo (Sky) would both have been favorites for today’s TT under healthier circumstances. At the first intermediate check point Phinney is riding in 4^th place, 2:12 behind the current leader, while Cataldo is next, :13 behind Phinney. Doubtless those placings will drop as the leaders come in.

Kessiakoff prepares to start. He’s been quiet so far this year, but it will be interesting to see if he can match the winning TT performances he put on in last year’s Vuelta a España (where he beat the likes of Contador, Froome, Valverde, Porte and today’s Maglia Rosa wearer, Beñat Intxausti—as well as Tony Martin) and the Tour de Suisse (where he beat the great Fabian Cancellara).

Aussie champ Luke Durbridge (OGE) comes through the INT in 2^nd place.

13:50:17 CEST:

After 90 minutes Belkov has a dominant lead:

1.    Maxime Belkov (KAT) 1:27:57

2.    Laurent Pichon (FDJ) +5:14

3.    Miguel Minguez (EUS) 5.37

4.    Bobridge (BLA) 6.25

Dowsett finishes and takes the lead with a time of 1.16.27 (at 43.008 kph), a full 2:00 ahead of second-place Jesse Sergent. I’m surprised he held that time up the last climb. Chapeau.

*Rain reported at the finish line now. (??? Looks dry to me—maybe there was a sprinkle off camera.) As I said in my preview, this will be a disadvantage—and potential danger—to all the riders who have to race the clock on wet roads.

Durbridge replaces Sergent in 2^nd at the finish. Then Stef Clement (BLA) supplants Durbridge;

A Bardiani rider crashes on a corner.

Garate is late to the gate for his start;

Kessiakoff losing big time on the final climb;

Wiggins ready to start on dry roads in the sun.

Wiggins: mechanical issue (flat?) on the course and gets a new bike; discards the old one like trash--remembers to grab bidon;

Wiggo goes thru the 1st INT in 7^th, just ahead of Saxo’s Manuele Boaro.

Evans starts; almost scrapes a wall taking a sharp left turn;

Uran thru the INT in 5^th, 10 seconds faster than team leader Wiggins;

Kelderman (BLA) takes his time passing his minute-man, Sky’s Sergio Henao.

Wiggins gets mooned by the Tifosi. Good to see the Italians are keeping their butts clean;

Hesjedal then Nibali leave the start house. Nibali bunny-hops a bump in the road and then hugs the same corner wall that Evans nearly grazed.

Michele Scarponi (4^th place overall last year) goes through the INT with a very good time of 36:50, good for 3^rd place, :30 off the pace; Not a great TT’er, the 2011 Giro winner is one of my favorites for the overall, but was not expected to excel today.

Maglia Rosa wearer Intxausti is the last man out of the gate.

Dowsett still holds the lead ahead of Clement and Durbridge.

Tanel Kangert finishes with a very impressive 2^nd place, :14 behind Dowsett.

*Some damp spots reported on the road, but for the most part the course is still dry, sky partly sunny.

Wiggins goes through the last time check in 5^th. Not looking too sharp.

Evans holds nothing back as he uses all of the road hammering around the bends;

Henao crosses the line in 6^th; He lost a minute since the first check;

*Wiggins made up some good time on the final climb and finishes in 2^nd place, 10 seconds behind countryman Dowsett. Not the dominant ride we expected, but still very good for this stage, and remember he had a bike change earlier;

Uran comes in 8^th as the clouds seem to be closing in overhead;

Scarponi, like Henao, lost a minute in between the time checks;

Tom Danielson (GRS) comes in over 4 minutes down;

No footage yet of Intxausti at all.

There he is going through the time check with no graphics available for time splits; Danny Lloyd says he’s over a minute off the pace, 15^th at the INT;

Niemiec is 8^th at the 2^nd INT; finishes 12^th, down 2:13.

Scarponi does a good job limiting his losses. He finishes in 8^th place, within a minute of Dowsett’s time; No one has approached Dowsett’s time;

Kruijswijk and Kiserlovski posting less than impressive times.

We haven’t gotten a single look at Sanchez, who just as I write this, comes in 3:17 down.

Hesjedal passes his minute-man, Caruso before the last time check;

Evans has a real shot at glory here, but Kirby and Lloyd are now saying his pace is falling off;

Gesink finishes, currently in 9^th at 1:17.49;

Weening 20^th at +2.47;

Cadel attacks the final climb with legs he’s been saving all day; finishes just :39 off the best time set much earlier by Alex Dowsett; Evans’ time is currently 6^th;

Not a great ride from the Canadian 2012 GDT winner, Hesjedal. He’s riding in 11^th, about 2:44 down at the last time check;

Hesjedal finishes 2:23 down currently in 17^th;

Nibali powers to the line :21 off Dowsett’s pace, for 4^th (currently). The Italian hope is the only person to crack the top 5 since Wiggins finished in 2^nd.

The Maglia Rosa is on the final climb, apparently about to concede the lead;

Intxausti “enjoys” his final minutes in pink with a long, lonely struggle up to the line, finishing just outside the top 40, conceding 3:52 to Wiggins, 3:41 to Nibali. Wow. Much worse than I expected. Too bad for the young Basque GC hopeful.
Wiggins might be ruing that flat he had early on. It probably cost him the win.

STAGE 8 (54.8K ITT) RESULTS:

1	Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar Team	1:16:27
2	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:00:10
3	Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team	0:00:14
4	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team	0:00:21
5	Stef Clement (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:00:32
6	Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge	0:00:35
7	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:39
8	Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:00:45
9	Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling	0:00:53
10	Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
11	Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:01:22
12	Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling	0:01:48
13	Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano
14	Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:01:57
15	Jesse Sergent (NZl) RadioShack Leopard	0:02:00
16	Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida	0:02:13
17	Nelson Filipe Santos Oliveira (Por) RadioShack	0:02:17
18	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp	0:02:23
19	Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:02:28
20	Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale	0:02:34
21	Fredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana	0:02:38
22	Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar Team	0:02:40
23	Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team	0:02:44
24	Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge	0:02:47
25	Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	0:02:56
26	Julien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick Step	0:02:59
27	Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi	0:03:03
28	Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:03:09
29	Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi	0:03:17
30	Dario Cataldo (Ita) Sky Procycling	0:03:24
31	Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:03:27
32	Hayden Roulston (NZl) RadioShack Leopard	0:03:29
33	Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Team Argos-Shimano	0:03:34
34	Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge	0:03:40
35	Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha	0:03:44
36	Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Lotto Belisol	0:03:46
37	Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	0:03:56
38	Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
39	Rory Sutherland (Aus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:03:57
40	Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida	0:04:01
41	Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team	0:04:02
42	Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol	0:04:05
43	Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp
44	Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:04:06
45	Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ	0:04:14
46	Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	0:04:18
47	Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack Leopard	0:04:22
48	Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling	0:04:24
49	Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling
50	Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	0:04:27
51	Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdge	0:04:37
52	Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha	0:04:41
53	Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:04:42
54	Danilo Hondo (Ger) RadioShack Leopard	0:04:44
55	Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team	0:04:48
56	Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Movistar Team	0:04:50
57	Petr Ignatenko (Rus) Katusha	0:04:51
58	Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step	0:04:53
59	Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling	0:04:54
60	Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky Procycling	0:04:56

Other notable times:

63. Damiano Caruso (Cannondale)  + 5:05

67. Carlos Betancur (AG2R)  5:19

69. Robert Kiserlovski (RadioShack)  5:21

72. Taylor Phinney (USA) (BMC)  5:28

90. Danilo Di Luca (Vini Fantini)  6:14

104. Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)  6:52

And my pick for last place was correct. Mattia Gavazzi was the slowest of the 200 finishers today coming in 16:42 slower than stage winner Alex Dowsett.

General classification after stage 8

1	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team	29:46:57
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:29
3	Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:01:15
4	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	0:01:16
5	Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida	0:01:24
6	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp	0:02:05
7	Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling	0:02:11
8	Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	0:02:43
9	Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida	0:02:44
10	Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling	0:02:49
11	Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge	0:02:50
12	Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team	0:03:02
13	Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:03:26
14	Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team	0:03:36
15	Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi	0:03:43
16	Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale	0:04:05
17	Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:04:09
18	Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team	0:04:31
19	Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp	0:04:37
20	Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team	0:04:50
21	Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team	0:04:57
22	Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	0:05:03
23	Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:05:09
24	Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha	0:05:17
25	Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack Leopard	0:05:29
26	Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Lampre-Merida	0:05:41
27	Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:05:42
28	Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) AG2R La Mondiale	0:06:08
29	Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step	0:06:22
30	Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Katusha	0:06:36
31	Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling	0:06:51

Points classification

1	Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step	58	pts
2	Elia Viviani (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling	52
3	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	49
4	Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox	45
5	Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol	39
6	Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha	35
7	Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ	31
8	John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Argos-Shimano	30
9	Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp	30
10	Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	29
11	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling	28
12	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge	28
13	Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team	27
14	Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar Team	25
15	Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) RadioShack Leopard	25

Mountains classification

1	Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team	14	pts
2	Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	13
3	Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox	12
4	Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol	12
5	Robinson Eduardo Chalapud Gomez (Col) Colombia	9
6	Willem Wauters (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team	9
7	Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	5
8	Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	5

Premio della fuga classification

1	Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team	290	pts
2	Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	278
3	Ioannis Tamouridis (Gre) Euskaltel-Euskadi	263
4	Cameron Wurf (Aus) Cannondale Pro Cycling	221
5	Ricardo Mestre (Por) Euskaltel-Euskadi	204
6	Brian Bulgac (Ned) Lotto Belisol	204
7	Fabio Taborre (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	202
8	Miguel Minguez Ayala (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi	197
9	Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling	178
10	Tomas Aurelio Gil Martinez (Ven) Androni Giocattoli	177
11	Rafael Andriato (Bra) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	177
12	Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ	176
13	Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia	167
14	Jackson Rodriguez (Ven) Androni Giocattoli	167
15	Manuele Boaro (Ita) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	167
16	Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Lotto Belisol	167
17	Willem Wauters (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team	167
18	Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ	151
19	Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol	147
20	Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Argos-Shimano	145

Young riders classification

1	Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team	29:50:23
2	Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:00:43
3	Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team	0:01:05
4	Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) AG2R La Mondiale	0:02:42
5	Diego Rosa (Ita) Androni Giocattoli	0:05:13
6	Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox	0:05:27
7	Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) Colombia	0:06:26
8	Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox	0:11:53
9	Stefano Locatelli (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox	0:12:38
10	Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia	0:13:06

Teams classification

1	Astana Pro Team	88:40:51
2	Blanco Pro Cycling Team	0:00:34
3	Sky Procycling	0:02:06
4	Lampre-Merida	0:04:55
5	Movistar Team	0:08:05
6	BMC Racing Team	0:08:23
7	Katusha	0:09:40
8	Team Saxo-Tinkoff	0:10:02
9	RadioShack Leopard	0:10:23
10	Vini Fantini-Selle Italia	0:10:32
11	Garmin-Sharp	0:14:49
12	Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox	0:16:38
13	Euskaltel-Euskadi	0:17:12
14	Androni Giocattoli	0:17:27
15	Cannondale Pro Cycling	0:21:10
16	Ag2R La Mondiale	0:21:30
17	Colombia	0:23:18
18	Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team	0:29:54
19	FDJ	0:34:48
20	Orica-GreenEdge	0:41:26
21	Omega Pharma-Quick Step	0:48:44
22	Lotto Belisol	0:51:34
23	Team Argos-Shimano	1:27:09