[Giro 2003]Stage 16 - Sprinters Again

[Giro Reporter]

Stage 16 - Arco di Trento - Pavia - 207 km

A more traditional day of racing over almost completely flat roads
today.  The stage began a bit briskly, much to the chagrin of those who
punched it hard for an hour yesterday in the Time Trial.  But, with
riders under control, things calmed a bit.  Properly fed and rested, the
bunch has managed to keep things more or less intact, but with an
InterGiro Sprint point looming, teams are becoming a bit frisky once again.

Lampre's Jan Svorada and Formaggi Pinzolo's Moreno Dibiase go wheel to
wheel for the sprint point, pushing Magnus Backstedt to third as Svorada
takes the time bonus for first in the InterGiro.  That doesn't change
the leader position, with Backstedt still in the lead, but moves Svorada
up a little bit in third place, chipping away at DiBiase's lead over him.

A Mercatone Uno rider - Franco Fonantelli - uses the momentum of the
sprint to move away from the peleton, with Frankie Hoy from Fakta moving
out to follow him.  Oscar Pozzi from Tenax scoots across the gap and
joins in on today's ever-flat roads.  They enjoy a lead for 5 minutes or
so, while behind them, the bunch argues a bit about whose responsible to
run the errant riders down.

Petacchi has sent his men to the front, so he must be loosening up a bit
after yesterday's dramatic crash.  Fassa Bortolo has been able to keep
all of their men in the race, and have a full complement of riders left.

A mixed group of sprinter's gregarios keep the pace high now that they
have achieved the "Groupo Compatto".

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Today's Trivia Challenge:
Who was the first cyclist to win the Giro D'Italia?
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One of the last Lotto riders (only three in the bunch) takes a bit of a
flyer, but he is quickly reabsorbed.  Fassa Bortolo has had just enough
of the nonsense, and takes up the reigns with their zebra buddies.
Lampre joins in to add variety.

In Tour de France News: Danilo DiLuca went down in a training accident,
breaking his collarbone.  He was gearing his midseason for the Tour, and
despite the break, has been reported to already be logging miles on the
trainer to keep his form.

Other bouncy rider News: Mario Cipollini has been reported back on his
bike for the first time since the high speed cross-road scoot and bump
he experienced a few days back.  Still no official word whether the ASO
(Societe du Tour de France) will make an exception to allow the team to
compete.

A Fakta rider touches wheels while talking about the upcoming meal,
skids 10 feet to his left through other riders (somehow not impacting
one!) and tumbles cleats over helmet into a deep, water-filled ditch.
He comes up looking like a cyclocross rider, his entire backside covered
in mud.  The cameras show that it was Werner Riebenbauer, who throws his
bike up the embankment and hopes on as soon as he can.  He seems a touch
embarrassed at his sudden fame. He pulls over with a front wheel change,
then the mechanic pulls handfuls of goop out from his machine as he
speeds along.  He finally gets towed back up by three teammates, who
take the opportunity to describe his new jersey style...

Other Tech-Geek News: Simoni switched his 54T chainring for a 53
yesterday, after correctly judging the winds to be a factor. He managed
to hold higher cadence and better speeds over the final 10 km of the
time trial than most of his competition.

An almost-casualty of yesterday's Time Trial, Alessandro Petacchi's left
elbow and knee joints are swathed in thick bandages today, but he rolls
over the gears smoothly.  Under 10 km to go now, and the zebras notch in
behind the Fassa Bortolians.  Garzelli's Caldirola-Sidermec team
position themselves up front as well, hoping that their man can nick a
couple of seconds from Simoni with a decent finish, as he has managed a
few times already.

At 6 km to go, and the pace begins to arc up exponentially.
Domina-Vacanze riders are positioned to leadout either Giovanni Lombardi
or possibly their young sprinter Daniele Bennati.

Norwegian national champion Kurt Arvesen from Fakta finds himself at the
lead of the bike race for a bit, but he washes away in the wake, Saeco
and Mercatone Uno riders squeeze in to the narrowing groupu.  Backstedt
shows up in the mix, with Bennati and Petacchi trading spots behind the
leadout men.

With 3 km to go, a mixed group with the zebras at the front, but without
the organizatoin they have shown in earlier stages - Fasso Bortolo
riders have shufffled in with a couple of Denardi riders, who may be
looking to set up their Estonian sprinter, Andrus Aug.

Bennati is tucked in right behind Petacchi and knows not to let anyone
nip him off the wheel.  Angelo Furlan tries to mix in behind Petacchi,
looking smooth as well.

Under 1 km banner, oldest rider in the race, Mario Sciera cranks up the
pace to drive out the unwanted.  They swing through a wider turn at
about 800 meters, the pace is at full throttle with Lombardi at second
position behind Sciera, who then pulls off, his pacemaking stint over.
They switch to a camera on the final hard right turn, catching a race
official encouraging them to keep their speed down as they careen toward
it.  Right.

Lombardi leads his sprint man Bennati (Cipollini light?) through the
tight turn, which, thanks to dry streets and no thanks to the
organizers, everyone negiotiates without incident.

Bennati follows the leadout by Lombardi and makes his move with a couple
hundred meters to go, but while he has good speed, he cannot quite move
away with authority.  Petacchi screams up from behind the young sprinter
who just doesn't have the speed to maintain the lead.  From four riders
back, Jimmy Casper from FDJeux.com loops around and moves up on the
striped rider.  Way to the other side of the road, Jan Svorada from
Lampre stomps it up toward the finish, not quite quickly enough to catch
Casar.  Petacchi takes his fifth stage by just under a bike length.

As well-wishers descend upon him, the soigneurs link arms and
aggressively deflect people from the injuries on his back - they've
learned a thing or two while watching the sprints.

Stage 16 - Ordine D'arrivo
1 - Allesandro Petacchi - 4:39:34
2 - Jimmy Casper - FDJeux.com
3 - Jan Svorada - Lampre
4 - David Bennati - Domina-Vacanze
5 - Graziano Gasparre - De Nardi-Colpack
6 - Dario Pieri - Saeco
7 - Andrus Aug - De Nardi-Colpack
8 - Angelo Furlan - Alessio
9  - Lars Bak - Team Fakta
10 - Marco Pantani - Mercatone Uno
(not a typo!)

(all with same time)

Overall -
Maglia Rosa - Gilberto Simoni - Saeco - 71:21:26
2 - Stefano Garzelli - Calidrola-Sidermec - @1:58
3 - Yaraslav Popovych - Landbouwkrediet-Colnago - @4:05
4 - Andrea Noe - Alessio - @5:16
5 - Raimodas Rumsas - Lampre - @6:16


Tomorrrow:
Blessed Rest Day to lick the wounds and keep the legs loose.

Wednesday:
Salice Terme - Asti - 130 km
When the GpM point is at 300 meters, you know it isn't a "mountain"
stage. Still, these undulating stages usually feature unnmentioned
climbs that will tax the riders after a day off.  The mountains will
bite again on Thursday.

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Trivia Answer

Luigi Ganna - 1909

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