[Giro 2003]Stage 21 - Time Trial to the Finish

[Giro Reporter]

Stage 21 - Milano Idroscalo - Piazza Dumo - 33 km Individual Time Trial

The final stage of the 2003 Giro D'Italia rises today, and barring
divine intervention or a couple of poorly placed throat candies, Simoni
should hold his jersey today.  But down in the next slot, Stefano
Garzelli narrowly holds a 2 second lead over Yaroslav Popovych.

Dario Frigo could notch himself a couple of spots with a good effort as
well, but it will require a supreme effort.

There are 33 corners on this relatively short TT course.

Fakta's Magnus Backsted rumbles across the line with the first
competitively low time of 39:28. Interestingly, he doesn't seem to be
using a set of prayer bars - he finishes on a traditional looking road
bike.  He has notched into first even with what seems to have been a
bike change.

Fassa Bortolo's ace time trialist, Aitor Gonzalez has been reported with
good times at the second time check.

Saeco's Leonardo Bertagnolli moves up through the finishing cobbles and
turns the screw down to 39:22 - Backstedt had been ahead of him by 17
seconds earlier on the course, which lends credence to the theory of a
bike change late on the course.

The effort from Marzio Bruseghin from Fassa Bortolo sends us all to the
datbase, to try to find what else he's ever done - he comes through with
a screaming time of 38:23 - 51 km/hr - more than a minute faster than
Backstedt.

We've been seeing some photos of a burning building which has been
taking some of the emergency vehicles away.  Report comes in that a
plane crashed into it - a mere 500 meters away from the course. That has
grounded the overhead helicopters, so we're not yet getting a lot of
images from out on the course - just those from the fixed cameras.

De Nardi-Colpack rider and previous World Champion in the Time Trial,
Sergei Gontchar has rolled through twith the fastest time at the first
check, coming across the line in his tortured style at just over 13
minutes. He's an extremely powerful rider, and has managed not to lose
any time on the multitude of turns on this circuit.

Aitor Gonzaelez nips across the line two seconds behind teammate
Bruseghin - They've clearly told Bruseghin that he needed to go out and
blaze the course to figure out what splits to hit - but they forgot to
let him know he needed to run out of energy near the end. Oh well, it'll
give 'em something to talk about on the bus.

Well, it look like the camera motos are back in action, and we get shots
of Andrea Noe rolling through what looks like a bike path in a municipal
park.

Popovych crosses himself and rolls down the ramp from the start house.
Quickly driving along at speed, his time trial position is flawless.

Dario Frigo has nipped the second fastest time at the first check with a
13:09.

Simoni of the roses of his shorts and the pnk of his jersey, gloves,
glasses, helmet and - yes - pink Cannondale frame complete with pink
disk rear wheel and saddle.

At the first time check at 11 km, Popovych rolls through at 13:24.
Exactly three minutes later, Garzelli records 13:24 at the same point.
Tremendous courage and classy effort seem to elevate the efforts of the
Caldirola rider.

Eddy Mazzoleni from Caldirola is having an excellent ride as well, and
blazes across the finish at 39:54 - it gives him a 12 second lead in the
GC over Wladimir Belli, locking down his 10th place finish for this year.

Gontchar hammers toward the homeland as the former World TT Champion
records a finishing time of 38:03, 19 seconds the better of Bruseghin.

Popovych at the second time check at 20 km: 23:31. Garzelli has lost a
second at 20 km point at 23:32, but continues to hammer out a powerful
cadence.

Frigo hurtles around the last couple tight cobbled turns with a time of
38:30 at the line, finishing behind Bruseghin and Gonzalez.

Simoni continues to roll relatively easily through the streets of Milano
- he's missed an easy one: should've had pink shoe covers.  But, he does
gain points for the deep section front rim is pink too...

Ramondas Rumsas notches into 5th overall with a strong effort.  A
strangely "invisible" rider until you realize he's turned in a strong
effort, or made the decisive break.

Popovych is looking like he's hurting a bit - the pain and urgency is
evident as he continually drops his chin on the straightaways. He still
moves an an incredible pace, but so far, Garzelli has nearly matched it.

Andrea Noe of Alessio clicks in with a darned decent effort - currently
8th overall.

Popovych arcs around the hard final turns and screams toward the finsh -
out of the saddle as his 39:23 8th place. Now begins a very long three
minutes for that young man.

Garzelli rolls through the streets past a continual backdrop of
spectators. Mouth open, he's reaching deeply into himself and punching a
huge gear on his nearly all black bicycle.  He's under the 1 km banner
at 38 minutes exactly.  He can not afford to finish after the time of
39:25.  He's flying!  He banks onto the final hard right cobbled corner,
then through the nearrow left - it looks like he didn't hold that much
speed into the final corner. Punching the gear and locked into his aero
tuck, Garzelli crosses the finish line at 39:20 - an unbelieveable
effort to hold second place.

Simoni crosses the finsh with a broad salute to the crowd, a kiss of his
wedding ring and victory in the 86th edition  of the Giro D'Italia.
Cheering crowds descend up him, and he is lifted on the shoulders of his
well-wishers - they heave him continually into the air and march towar

Stage 21 -
1 - Sergei Gontchar - De Nardi- Colpack - 38:04
2 - Marzio Bruseghin - Fassa Bortolo - @:19
3 - Aitor Gonzalez - Fassa Bortolo - @:20
4 - Dario Frigo - Fassa Bortolo - @:26
5 - Raimondas Rumsas - Lampre - @1:03
6 - Sandy Casar - FDJeux.com - @1:05
7 - Stefano Garzelli - Caldirola-Sidermec - @1:16
8 - Leonardo Bertagnolli - Saeco - @1:18
9 - Yaroslav Popovych - Landbouwkrediet-Colnago - @1:19
10 - Georg Totschnig - Gerolsteiner - @1:21

Overall -
Maglia Rosa - Gilberto Simoni - 89:32:09
2 - Stefano Garzell - @7:06
3 - Yaroslav Popovych - @7:11
4 - Andrea Noe - Alessio - @9:24
5 - Georg Totschnig - @9:42


Coming up - Final standings and comments.