[Giro 2003]Stage 10 - Shuffling in the Appinines

[Giro Reporter]

Stage 10 - Montecatini - Faenza - 200 km

Everyone's favorite boxer, Andris Nauduzs of CCC-Polsat has been
disqualified for his behaviour in yesterday's finish and will not 
continue this Giro D'Italia.  In additon to the visible fisticuffs from 
yesterday, the feeling was that he was generally riding in an unsafe 
manner during the sprint stages, and that his actions yesterday were 
just the last straw.

Allessandro Petacchi did not get off scot-free either, as he was docked
a minute on overall time for his thwack on the helmet to Nauduzs.

162 riders have begun today's stage, with the retiring of Daniele
Contrini, leader of the Gerolsteiner squad.

No changes in the general classification after yesterday's stage - 
althrough there had been some gaps attributed, they were rescinded, 
officials blaming the transponders which the bicycles have onboard for 
the error.

Today's stage cuts west to east across the Appinines for 200 kilometers. 
This will be a demanding stage today, as there are four GpM peaks and a 
number of difficult climbs.

Brett Lancaster of Panaria exits the race to drop the total to 161 
riders remaining.

A group of 16 riders have broken away after the first climb and
InterGiro sprint point.
The riders include:
Constantino Zabala of Kelme
Dario Cioni of Fassa Bortolo
Paolo Tiralongo of Ceramiche Panaria
Leonard Bertagnolli of Saeco, who at 4:19 off the lead, is the highest 
placed rider in the bunch.
Obviously, there are others in as well, but the Italian television is 
not being terribly vigilant about listing the numbers. I guess they 
figure that they have a lot of roadway before them, including the 4 
climbs which count for the GpM, with one to 2700 feet, and a couple more 
steep but uncategorized climbs which will take a big chomp out of the 
legs.

Bob's Italian phrasebook terms this stage "pizante" or "brutal" -
twisting narrow roads through these mountains with nowhere to rest.
Paul shares that the final climb of Monte Trebbio is a savage, narrow
ascent with an equally sketchy drop off the back side. If the
threatening thundershowers decide to share with the riders today, blood 
will run in the gutters on the descent.

Over the top of Colle Albano, with the Vini Caldorola squad chopping 
down the break to under 3 minutes now.  The efforts over this climb has 
caused some splitting in the main bunch.

At the head of the break, the two Panaria riders tick over the cadence,
working out of the saddle as the group chips away a few more seconds.
Francesco Casagrande has worked his way to the front of events back in
the group, sitting more than three minutes down on the GC.  He looks
smooth today, and maybe fancies himself kicking it out to join the
break, though so far, he's looked smooth and lacked the firepower. He
takes over the pace making in front of Vini Caldirola and Garzelli. Just
behind him, Pavel Tonkov from CCC-Polsat marks his efforts.

Bertagnolli keeps punching the pace at the front of the break, he seems 
determined to make the chasing group work for every second.

 From the front of the peleton, Simoni punches past Garzelli in the
grassy gutter and rolls unmolested away from the Vini Caldirola leader
and his teammates. He has noted the severity of this day and wants to
regain his missing time. This is a gutsy break - serious stage and lots 
of time to go.

Simoni has cut down the 2 and half minute gap and has begun picking up
the remnants of the breakaway members.  At the front of the break, 
Bertagnolli attacks again causing further splintering.  In what was the 
peleton,a mere handful of men remain, with two Vini Caldirola teammates 
punching out a more desperate pace, leading Garzelli and dragging 
Casagrande, Tonkov and a few other leaders up this 
for-some-reason-uncategorized Monte Casale climb.  But they must be 
starting to see odd visions of pink-clad rabbits with the effort they 
are making.

Zaballa from Kelme takes a flyer off the front of the breakaway. Simoni 
streaks downhill after him, with extremely good descending form.

Somewhere back inthe splintered peleton, Charlie Wegelius overcooks it a 
bit on a narrow right hand bend, and solidly thumps the thankfully 
placed hay bales before tumbling back into the center of the road.  He 
stays down for a while, before being assisted  to his feet.  He rubs his 
low back while the mechanic tries to figure out whether to shoot his mount.

Now on his own or passing flailing riders, Simoni punches out his own 
cadence, ascending the final climb with frightening ease.

This final climb tops out just below 2000 feet with some pitches at 10%,
and Simoni isn't even giving a second look at the riders he's passing -
but the group of the Maglia Rosa is not too far behind any longer - they 
  aren't quite in sight of him, but aren't too distant.

Simoni is only 28 seconds behind Zaballa, now linking up with his
Saeco teammate Bertagnolli, and is shown to have 58 seconds up on the 
group of the Maglia Rosa. Garzelli may feel the jersey being peeled off 
his shoulders.

Casagrande now flies off the front, with no direct answer from Garzelli.
Michele Scarponi, the climbing zebra from Domina Vacanze, grabs his wheel

Up front, 10 seconds separate the Saeco pair from Zaballa. Seconds 
later, there is no gap as Simoni zips around the faltering Kelme climber.

Garzelli has stayed in the saddle, ticking over an ever-increasing
cadence to work his way back up to Casagrande.

Simoni and Bertognalli churn away.  Bertagnolli is just dying  as he can 
barely hold Simoni's wheel. But, the climb has flattened before the 
summit, and another three riders tack back on.  There's still another 25 
km to go and Simoni wisely has matched up with Kurt Arvesen from Fakta, 
Zaballa from Kelme, Paolo Tiralongo of Ceramiche-Panaria, all the last 
men who survived in the original break.

The roads grow ever more narrow as they spread out toward the GpM point,
and Simoni turns around to look for his dropped teammate while Tiralongo
grabs the points for first over the top.

The group of the Maglia Rosa has managed to set a good cadence up this
climb, and they are within sight of the crest of the hill.

They begin the descent and after making peace with their makers latch
deep into the drops and forget about the brakes.  They have cut the
defecit to around 48 seconds, while Pantani and Frigo hook back on from
behind.  As riders screech through twisting descents, the gap drops down
another 10 seconds.

Arveson was an under 23 World Champion, having beating none other than
Oscar Freire to take that title. He should not be underestimated in a 
sprint.

Casagrande keeps pushing the pace, and the creating minor gaps among the
20 riders who have coalesced for the serious chase.  Riders taking huge
risks on narrow roads. You might squeeze a motorcycle past an auto on
these roads which the riders approach 50 mph. The only bright spot is
that the skies have in fact remained bright and clear.

The roads have flattened a bit, although they haven't grown any wider.
The Garzelli-led group is only about 20-30 seconds back.  Casagrande
again hammers out the pace as they go up another hidden rise on the
course.  Garzelli pokes his nose out into the wind and sets pace, but
isn't sure he wants to be the only rider making an effort.  The impetus 
seems to leave whenever he finishes taking a pull.

Alas, when you are wearing the Maglia Rosa, there are not a lot of 
riders who will go out of their way to protect you. The question becomes 
how seriously Casagrande gauges his chances, and how hard he's willing 
to work today. Pantani grasps the end of the bunch after what seems to 
have been a slight overshooting of a corner. Casagrande has two 
teammates in this bunch, Garzelli has no one.

There is a 20 second time bonus for win today, and Simoni began the day
only :31 seconds behind Garzelli. Simoni drives the pace up the road as 
the gap creeps down to 15 seconds as Garzelli leads them through the 5 
km to go banner.  He visibly pleads with the other riders for help, as 
they echelon slightly.

But they seem to be losing a little bit of time.

The lead group of four go under the 1 km to go banner, Simoni fires
away, and Tiralongo leads Arveson up to him, now Arveson guns his spint
gear and gets the stage, with Tiralongo trailing in his wake and Simoni
taking the 8 second bonus for third!

Behind him, the group scrambles over somewhat slick roads, and the clock
ticks slowly upward.  Casagrande can afford no more than a 23 second
deficit without relinquishing the Maglia Rosa, and the roadway must be
seeming to stretch before him. Just a couple of more effective pulls
would have made the difference as the group comes across the line at
nearly 26 seconds back....

Arveson gets a huge splotch of lipstick for Fakta's first stage win in
the Giro D'Italia.  After a noticably long wait to make sure times were
correctly tabulated, Gilberto Simoni strides to center stage and puts on
his first Maglia Rosa of the 2003 Giro.

Stage 10 -
1 - Kurt Arvesen - Team Fakta - 5:34:23
2 - Paolo Tiralongo - Ceramiche-Panaria - @:01
3 - Gilberto Simoni - Saeco - @:01
4 - Leonardo Bertagnolli - Saeco - @:10
5 - Giuliano Figueras - Ceramiche-Panaria - @ :26
6 - Michele Scarponi - Dominoa-Vacanze - @ s.t.
7 - Kim Kirchen - Fassa Bortolo
8 - Yaroslav Popovych - Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
9 - Sandy Casar - FDJeux.com
10 - Francesco Casagrande - Lampre
11 - Dario Frigo - Fassa Bortolo
12 - Georg Totschnig - Gerolsteiner

Maglia Rosa - Gilberto Simoni
2 - Stefano Garzelli - Vini Caldirola - @ :02
3 - Andrea Noe - Alessio - @ :56
4 - Franco Pellizotti - Alessio - @ 1:38
5 - Pavel Tonkov - CCC-Polsat - @ 1:52
6 - Yaroslav Popovych - @ 1:58


Stage 11 - Faenza - San Dona 199 km
Completely flat stage. No. Flatter than that.  No.  Even Flatter. The
course profile includes speed bumps...

Of course, they will pay for the flat day with Stage 12, as they head
into the Dolomites.  But for tomorrow, the sprinters should be battling
- hopefully while keeping their hands on the bars.