[Giro 2003]Stage 5 - Sprinting in Sicily

[Giro Reporter]

Stage 5 - Messina to Catania (on the isle of Sicily) - 170 km

After the day's strong climb, we check in on the action with around 36
km to go.  In the heat (and beauty) of Sicily, the riders remained
intact for much of the Category 1 climb, until the climbers got bored
(or received their ticket to go from the Consigliares of the group) and
broke away near the summit.  The ever-opportunistic climber Fredy
Martinez of Selle Italia, and his Kelme shadow, Ignacio Cataluna
Guiterrez hold a 1:36 lead as they edge up toward the InterGiro sprint
on ever-flattening roads, dropping considerably from 3:00 they held
after the GpM (Italian for KoM).

Frighteningly enough, Marco Pantani finished 9th in the sprint
yesterday. One of the markers of his past Giros has been his inability
to do anything other than wobble along at the back of the peloton.
Maybe the fact that he's riding smart could be a precursor to a stronger
ride from the bald one. Perhaps the combination of his ear job and the
aero holes of the now-required helmet have cut down his wind resistance.

Back at the front of today's stage, Martinez rolls away and takes the
Intergiro sprint while crowds cheer.  The next small group is led by a
Kelme rider who suddenly veers to the edge and hits the brakes - He's
trying to give the time bonus to Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave teammate Moreno
DiBiase. The teammate does a trackstand just short of the line - a good
way to cause carnage on the roads - and DiBiase gets the points - but
what do you expect for a team named after cheese...

The big boys may have suffered through the climbs, but they now roll
intact through the heat.  Petacchi and Cipollini ride fully protected
and both envision wins while wearing their respective jerseys.

The Tenax rider Daniele Pietropolli pips away on the broad finishing
roads and scrambles his way up to the leading pair. The reinforced
threesome rolls under the 15 km to go with the least little bit of
daylight ahead of the chasers - now only 11 seconds behind.  Fassa
Bortolo had assumed the effort at the front - perhaps wasting a few too
many pedal strokes before the race gets serious.  Behind them, Cipollini
hovers behind a strong-looking phalanx of stripers.  The roads undulate
and climb slightly next to the Sicilian coast, but no one will let
themselves get caught out today - they sweep up the breakaway riders and
begin focusing of the final charge. 10 km to go.

They are cruising downhill at 90 km/hr (yep, that's around 50
mph)...Nothing like a tailwind and a descent.

Now just under 5 km to go and teams organize themselves, as Domino
Vacanza mill around just behind the Fakta squad.

Crash in the field - four or five riders down including riders from
Kelme, Alessio and the Cheese-Boys - they'll lose some silly GC time,
but it doesn't look like anyone is hurt.

Back up front, the riders punish the pedals and the zebras hold four
riders at the front Cipo sits patiently in fifth position.  His patience
does not extend to the riders who try to pull up and edge into his train
     -- one is dismissed with a none too subtle shove.  Others find that
there's no gap in the armor and slide behind as they are unable to match
the pace of the zebras.  They curve into a hard left turn, and one rider
gets dumped onto the grass at way too high a speed as the road necks
down slightly.  It looks like an Alessio or Lotto rider who tumbles
across the turf.

Cipo has three riders in front of him, but the confusion of the turns
have allowed pink jersey wearing Petacchi just ahead of him. That may be
a tactical error, unless his leadout can correct for that.

The peloton screams under the 1 km to go banner and the pacesetters
begin to falter.  The trusted zebra Giovanni Lombardi has the final
pull, leading both Petacchi and Cipollini to the line.  Last year,
Lombardi had just this same situation, and dropped away early forcing
the second rider into the wind a bit early.  But, today, Lombardi seems
to hold the pace a bit longer, before pulling off to the left.

Petacchi now sees the finish line, leading the entire peloton at warp
speeds, and guns it for his anticipated victory. It does seem as though
Lombardi held the leadout a bit too long, and Petacchi goes continues to
accelerate along the right hand barriers.  But, Mario continues to
calculate the remaining distance and notches up his speed as well.  Cipo
comes around to the left to contest the sprint and begins crawling up
even with Petacchi. It looks like he just might have the speed to carry
it off, but the extreme lunge of Petacchi at the line seems to just
punch out out a victory.  Petacchi holds his arms up in triumph, but for
those of us watching at home, it's not quite so clear a victory.  We
finally get the side replay and there can barely be a tire width between
them, but Cipo comes up short at the line... There will be no tie of the
elusive Binda record today.

Stage 5 -
1 - Allessandro Petacchi
2 - Mario Cipollini
3 - Bernhardt Eisel
4 - Christian Moreni
5 - Robbie McEwen

Overall
M-R - Allessandro Petacchi - Fassa Bortolo - 22:31:44
2 - Stefano Garzell - Caldirola-Sidermec - @ :49
3 - Francesco Casagrande - Lampre - @ :59

Tomorrow: Rest Day - Transfer back to the Mainland

Friday: Aversa - Avezzano 210 km

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