[Giro 2003]Stage 9 - Rated [R] Violence may be disturbing to younger viewers

[Giro Reporter]

Stage 9 - Arezzo-Montecatini 160 km

In non-Giro news today, the Societe Tour de France (or I guess we call 
them the ASO now) made the relatively unexpected decision to snub the 
stripes and stripes of Domina-Vacanze, instead extended the four wild 
card decisions to Ag2r, Brioches la Boulangere, Jean Delatour and 
Euskaltel-Euskadi for the centenary edition of the Tour.

Mario Cipollini said, "This is completely absurd.  This piece of news 
leaves us completely puzzled.  I don't understand this unrelenting 
attack on my reputation, considerintg I am wearing an important jersey. 
  They will be remembered for being the first ones not to invite the 
World Champion to their race."

But, was this unexpected? Digging back into the memory banks, didn't the 
ASO try to get Cipo into last year's edition of the race while he wore 
the World Cup Leader's Jersey, only to be snubbed - which if I remember 
correctly was a snub from him because they had snubbed him - crikey...

Maybe if the whole Coast debacle continues to decay... they are 
currently attempted to stay formed under a "Team Bianchi" moniker.  But, 
if they bow out, their entry could be up for grabs.

Regardless, Mario begins the race sharing a phenomenal milestone - tied 
with Alfredo Binda for career stage victories in the Giro D'Italia. 
Hopefully, the other news doesn't take the wind from his sails.

The stage will bring the riders into the town of Montecatini, where they 
will complete a 6km circuit in the streets of the city.  According to 
those who have viewed the course, it is not a typical Mario finish 
today, with undulations and sharp turns very close to the finish.

But, before the riders can contend with the narrow streets, they must 
reel in a six rider break which has been out and away since the 85 km to 
go mark.

Vladimir Miholievic of Alessio
Marsio Bruseghin of Fassa Bortolo
Thomas Brozyna of CCC-Polsat
Sandy Casa of FDJeux.com
Gianni Faresin of Gerolsteiner
Fabio Sacchi of Saeco

with the pack about a minute and half behind, Casar pops out and takes 
first at the InterGiro point, followed by Miholievic and Faresin.  The 
peleton seems relatively untroubled by the break, even as they stretch 
their lead out toward a couple minutes.  Even without a serious chase, 
the pace has remained over 42 km/hr so far.

As the main group rolls under the 25 km to go banner, the time check has 
dropped significantly, as the sprinters teams muscle up the effort and 
shake off the cobwebs.  For some reason Lotto-Domo and Alessio seem the 
most interested in the pacemaking - the sharp accellerations necessary 
for the win today do favor a rider like Robbie McEwen.

Crash in the field!
It looks like a few riders have bounced off the pavement, including 
Kelme's sprint man, Isaac Galvez Lopez.  He may have trouble regaining 
the field as they less than 10 km from the line.  It looks like one of 
Cipo's zebras got caught in the tumble as well - Alberto Ongarato 
hammers through the team cars to try to regain contact.

Onto the finishing circuit with 6 km left - the Ultimo Giro into the 
town of Montecatini Terme - this "preview" shows a nasty, nasty finish, 
with a few turns and then a hard right turn just about 3-400 meters to go.

One of the stoic norsemen from Team Fakta, Kurt Arvesen fires away 
toward the finish - maybe no one told him that they have to complete 
another circuit, because he is flat out firing away.  He quickly gets 
reabsorbed as Domina Vacane asserts their authority in this town.

The aerial footage is incredible to behold - 5 trained zebras leading 
Cipollini, who hugs the tire in front of him as if velcroed to it. 
Behind him, anywhere between 3 to 5 different riders are leaning, 
elbowing, spitting, cursing and growling to get his wheel - it looks 
like Petacchi, McEwen, Angelo Furlan from Alessio and Andris Nauduzs 
from the CCC-Polsat team are the most serious about not losing it. 
Occasionaly some riders try to throw themselves up and in the train of 
Domina-Vacanze, but that is a futile effort.

Something must have happened that we didn't see, as Petacchi gets nasty 
enough to fling a hand toward the face of Nanduzs as they pull around 
another of the heinous bends at horrific speeds. Within another block, 
Nanduzs hammers up next to Petacchi and whacks him solidly on the 
helmet! A full-on scrum to get Cipollini's wheel continues - McEwen 
pushes in and three riders are trying to be in the place of one. Hip 
checks that would make the seediest NHL players blush...

Under the 1 km banner, Carlos DaCruz from FDJeux.com takes  lyer, 
quitcly reabsorbed by the snorting Zebras - two riders o the ront.  Cipo 
in third at the last corner, perfectly  placed but tightly followed by a 
horde of challengers.  They fly around the 90 degree bend and a rider 
goes down - it's Nandusz! Somehow, the other riders adapt and 
counterbalance to stay upright, but someone else seems to be on the deck 
just under the view of the corner camera.  Nandusz stands up, facing 
backwards on the course towards the 100 odd riders still coming his way. 
  He probably won't contest this sprint...

They are firing toward the line, both Petacchi and McEwen came through 
the corner unscathed.  McEwen is perfectly placed to blaze around Cipo 
after final zebra Giovanni Lombardi pulls off - Afterburner time!

McEwen follows the move of Cipolli and challenges toward the line. 
Mario has got to feel the lube flying off the Aussie's chain as they 
hurtle toward the finish.  But again, McEwen lacks something, or Cipo 
finds something within him and stamps his authority onto this stage - 
arms aloft, he wins by half a bike length!

Cipo wins! Mario Cipollini takes his 42nd stage victory at the Giro 
D'Italia!


Stage 9 -
1 - Mario Cipollini - 3:41:58
2 - Robbie McEwen
3 - Alessandro Petacchi
4 - Jan Svorada - Lampre
5 - Daniele Bennati - Domina Vacanze

All riders same time.

Stage 10 - Montecatini-Faenza - 200 km
A brutal stage awaits the riders, even though the Dolomites are still 
off in the distance.  Four climbs for the GpM and at least three others 
which are "uncategorized" but serious scaling.  If Cipo notches another 
victory tomorrow, I'll eat my modem.