[Giro 2003]Stage17 - Short and Sweet

[Giro Reporter]

Stage 17 - Salice Terme - Asti - 117 km

Martin Hvastija of the Tenax squad seems to have drawn the short straw 
today, and juggled himself off the front on a solo breakaway on this 
shortest of stages in this year's Giro D'Italia.

He's dangled out to the mid 2 minutes, but Fredy Gonzalez' Selle Italia 
teammates have taken up the chase to get the Cat 3 climb that looms 
immediately ahead.  The effort has paid off as the green jersey wearing 
Gonzalez pips off the front.  He is chased through the town by Fortunato 
Baliani from Formaggi Pinzolo.  The opportunistic climber just surges 
past Gonzalez at the line.  This is the same rider who attacked Gonzalez 
at a moderate climb a few stages back, and received quite a 
tongue-lashing from the Selle Italia rider, who didn't feel that it was 
appropriat for the upstart to nick GpM points.

Both riders are almost immediately absorbed by the accelerating peleton, 
so any suggestions from Gonzalez are not visible to the viewers. Fassa 
Bortolo takes up the pacemaking with 47 km to go.

Suprisingly, the judges have given the GpM point victory to Gonzalez, 
who still seems to have gotten nicked before the line when they show the 
replay.

The InterGiro point looms out on the road, and rumor has it that Magnus 
Backstedt's Fakta director has promised the use of his Lamborghini to 
the rider, if he holds the blue jersey to the end of the Giro.  How the 
massive viking will fit in the Italian auto is a matter of conjecture.

The speed of the Fakta riders has continued to string things out, 
creating a bit of a gap that actually leaves race leader Gilberto Simoni 
  behind a few teammates, struggling to regain the lead group.

At the InterGiro point, Backstedt drives away from everyone, and has 
enough time to grab his 2-way radio mic and tell the team director.

Luis LaVerde of Formaggi Pinzolo joins Julian Usano from Kelme take 
advantage of the post-sprint lull and move away on the twisting roads. 
They move away to an 8 second lead as the group squeezes down on the 
narrowing roads.  Others flutter away - Julian Winn from Fakta, Adolfo 
Garcia from Kelme and Hector Mesa Mesa from Formaggi Pinzolo among 
others. Kelme's Alexis Rodriguez ends up with a bit of a gap - now 
hovering around 18 seconds with 20 km to go.

The post-war stage record is 7 wins in a single Giro, held jointly by 
Freddie Maertens, Bepe Saronni and Roger de Vlamenck.  Last year, Mario 
Cipolini  managed 6, and Petacchi could - on paper at any rate - tie 
either by the end of the Giro.

Fassa Bortolo clicks up the effort a bit, and draws Rodriguez back into 
the fold.  FDjeux.com begin to form at the front, perhaps to put their 
rider Sandy Casar out into the frenzy. With 10 km to go on this hottest 
day so far, the riders must be happy to see the banner which claims the 
finish is not too far away.

The Vini-Calidirolians have massed at the front perhaps to nip some 
cheap seconds away for Stefano Garzellil.  Fassa Bortolo has ceased to 
be the dominant team at the front as everyone rolls under the 5 km to go 
banner.  Fakta arranges themselves next to the FDJeux.com train, who in 
turn find some zebras who plan to push their young sprinter Daniele 
Bennati.  The hurtling zebras immediately take to the front, while 
Petacchi notches in behind them.  Fast man Giovanni Lombardi has snuck 
in on Petacchi's wheel, ready to pounce.

FDJeux.com moves up, but Sandy Casar loses th wheel of his leaders, and 
they crumple a bit as the speed takes its toll.

Three riders have a short gap after a right turn, and the howl of 
turbines is in the air as the sprinters hit hard.  Petacchi goes off the 
wheel of his leadout man from what looks like a long, long way out. 
Lombardi accellerates hard to make a go of it, and from nowhere Lampre's 
Jan Svorada pops out off the wheel of a Bernhard Eisel from FDJeux.com. 
  He's running up on the heavily bandanged Fassa Bortolo sprinter but 
runs out of roadway - the lunging Petacchi takes it by half a wheel. 
Stage victory number six! This sets him up well to join the hallowed 
group of men who have taken seven Giro stages.

Stage 17 - Results
1 - Alessandro Petacchi
2 - Jan Svorada
3 - Giovanni Lombardi

Overall - no changes as Simoni completes his 8th day in the Maglia Rosa

Tomorrow:
Stage 18 - Santuorio Vico - Chianale  - 175 km
The riders will head over the Cima Coppi tomorow - the highest spot in 
this year's race, with the crest of Colle d'Esischie reaching 2366 
meters.  Put on your light climbing wheels, boyos, and fit the big cogs 
in place, tomorrow will be a pummeler.