Talking about the last stage, it was won by Millar, who also got advantage from Alex Rasmussen's misfortune. The HTc Columbia rider in fact punctured in the last part of race and decided not to change his wheel. In the end, the poor thing lost the stage for just 7 seconds.
Here you have the Top 20 of the race:
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp)
2 Michele Scarponi (Ita) 0:06:10
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) 0:06:56
4 John Gadret (Fra) 0:10:04
5 Joaquin Rodriguez (Esp) 0:11:05
6 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) 0:11:28
7 José Rujano (Ven) 0:12:12
8 Denis Menchov (Rus) 0:12:18
9 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) 0:13:51
10 Kanstantin Sivstov (Blr) 0:14:10
11 Mikel Nieve (Esp) 0:16:08
12 Hubert Dupont (Fra) 0:18:06
13 Dario Cataldo (Ita) 0:18:23
14 David Arroyo (Esp) 0:26:56
15 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) 0:32:08
16 Johan Tschopp (Swi) 0:35:20
17 Matteo Carrara (Ita) 0:37:08
18 Igor Anton (Esp) 0:37:39
19 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) 0:38:21
20 Tiago Machado (Por) 0:39:59
So, another Giro is over. Personally I found it boring, although some of the stages were really exciting. For example, I loved the stage won by De Clerq and the Zoncolan stage. However, I think that the stages that will always remain in our hearts will be the one from Rapallo to Reggio Emilia and the one from Quarto to Livorno. As the supporters have said for the last 3 weeks, '108 presente'.
So, dear readers, what are your opinions? Did you like this year Giro? And what was your favourite stage (if you had one)?
This post is really short, but I'm preparing a better one that will be ready in the next days... In the meanwhile, let's wish the riders a well deserved period of holiday!!
(Pic by Bettini)
Hello Fede! As you may see, I'm still alive. :D Actually, I've been reading all the time, but as I wasn't very committed to the Giro this year, I hardly had anything to add.
RispondiEliminaI actually did actively (attempt to) watch the first week, the rest of the thing it was just playing in the background on my TV while I was busy doing something else. For me it became rather boring the second Contador took the maglia rosa. And got all five-year-old about not wanting to waste his precious recovery time on a press conference, may I add.
Zoncolan was a nice enough stage, though. I was very happy for Anton. I have a soft spot for him. :D
On the other hand, even if it had been a crazy interesting Giro, it would still be overshadowed by the death of Wouter Weylandt. Life can end in a split second, in the most bizarre of circumstances. You should never assume that it won't happen to you. That's what I'll remember about this year's Giro.
Kruijswijk!! :D Finally, a Dutch rider I can get enthusiastic for.
RispondiEliminaFede, you like him, right?
Fede,
RispondiEliminaI enjoyed the Giro this year. The main reason is, for the first time, I was able to see daily coverage on TV in English, instead of watching it on RAI International and not understanding a word the commentators said!
My favorites stages were the back to back wins for Anton and Nieve. I also like Stage 20 with Kiryenka soloing to victory and pointing to the sky in remembrance of Xavi Tondo.
Despite the fact I enjoyed it, I will always remember it as the Giro that was touched by sadness.
Brenda
It was quite boring, especially if you were not so inclined in rooting for Contador, then add also a slight sense of irritation and distrust. He dominated this Giro since Etna and the rest was cruise control. It was also not so much exciting for sprinters too, but then their stages are the most boring.
RispondiEliminaI liked that the remembrance of WW was so present and felt everywhere during the Giro, cycling world is really a family.
Francesca
Ps: Bella ciao! :P
@ Cristin: Hello mummy! How's the little Olivia? I hope you're both doing fine! :)
RispondiEliminaI can understand why you've been busy in the last days ;) Actually, after Contador got the pink jersey, I didn't even feel like watching the other mountain stages. 'If he rides in this way on an easy climb like Etna', I thought, 'the other guys have no hope of creating him problems on the Zoncolan or on the Gardeccia!' Moreover, Contador also found some very good allies and that fact made my will of watching the Giro decrease even more. In the end, I started to pretend that the pink jersey didn't exist and I just cared about the fights for the stage victories (and for the white jersey). And in that way, I even managed to feel happy for Contador and to enjoy his way of riding in the moutanins.
The post-stage conference is very boring for the riders and it steals precious rest time, but it's part of the game. After all, there's a reason why everyone says that the pink jersey has less time to rest than the other riders...
Another mummy who loves Anton! ;) My mum went crazy as she saw him for the first time on tv, the other day in Bergamo she kept on asking me where Igor was! :P
And yeah, you're absolutely right about Wouter. His death rememebered us that life is very fragile and the whole Giro was influenced by it. And then, the way the people remembered him day after day was simply amazing.
@ Mar: I must admit that this year I followed the white jersey classification with a particular interest :P In the end I was actually confused, since I adore Roman Kreuziger, but Steven Kruijswijk is such a nice boy...I didn't know who I should support!! :P
Talking about Steven, everyone praised him here in Italy, whereas Kreuziger was sharply criticised in the last days. A newspaper, on its special 'mark page', gave Kreuziger a pretty low mark and added 'Grow up, boy, grow up'. I was very offended by that comment, since no one seems to remember that Roman is younger than Nibali and Andy Schleck and that this was his first GT as a main captain.
@ Brenda: Watching RAI can be annoying if you speak Italian, I can't imagine how terrible it must be to watch it without understanding what the journalists and the chronists say! (ok, I'm kidding: RAI did an excellent work also at this year's Giro)
Kiryenka's victory was really moving, I almost burst into tears when he remembered Tondo!!
I really liked also the Zoncolan stage, with Nibali ,Scarponi and Menchov showing great things. But still, De Clerq's victory was unbelievable and breathtaking, so it was my favourite one. Also Tiralongo's victory was really moving, he deserved it so much!
The most evident thing about this Giro, imo, was Wouter Weylandt's omnipresence. Everyone kept on naming him, the supporters kept on writing his name on the streets, his colleagues kept on dedicating him victories... Even in the moments of joy, the thoughts of most of the riders and of the supporters went to WW Special. And this simply amazing, because it showed once again that the family of cycling is the best one.
@ Francesca: You're right about the irritation. In the Gardeccia stage I would have liked to reach Lastras and ask him why he was pulling that hard for Alberto, I was so frustrated!
Actually, I must admit that the sprint/fight between Ulissi and Visconti was something special ;) Especially because I'm becoming a big fan of Diego, he has such a strong personality!
PS: Dear, shall we go to Milan and celebrate the victory together? Or do you prefer Napoli? Or Trieste? Or Cagliari, Novara, Pavia and Mantova? Let me know! ;)
Sorry if this brings everyone's mood down - I just thought this was such a lovely article about Tondo: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/xavier-tondo-a-victim-of-circumstance
RispondiEliminaA
Hi Girls! I haven't been commenting for a long time! I watched the highlights of the Giro most days. But only stayed up a few nights to watch the actual stages. It was my first time watching the Giro. I almost didn't continue watching it after Wouter died. :(
RispondiEliminaI did find it a little boring. But I too, Fede, was mostly interested in the white jersey. I like Roman. Why were they saying for him to grow up??
I enjoyed the final TT the most, because I was excited to see that Alex came second!! So disappointing for him to miss out on the win by 7 seconds. Especially since he thinks he lost about 20-30 seconds from that damn flat tyre!!
The best part of the Giro this year to me was Pieter Weening's stage victory. I've been a fan of him for years now, so that was really cool :-) And Steven Kruijswijk's spot in the GC and the young riders classification.
RispondiEliminaI have to agree that this year's Giro was not that spectacular when it comes to the 1st place. It was a Contador show right from the start.. I hope and think that will be different in the Tour :-)
A part of me wishes this Giro never happened.. the saddest part is of course Wouter Weylandt's sudden death. So tragic and heartbreaking. But yes, the way we all remembered him shows that the cycling family is one, which is beautiful. 108 forever.
PS: I'm looking forward to your photos Fede (and my sister too) :-)
ciao Fede, check the mail box...I sent you my text...but I m not shure the mail address worked well...thanks
RispondiEliminaclaudia
@ A: Thank you very much for pointing out that article. It is very beautiful but, at the same time, it is also extremely sad. In particular, the part about the Tour 2011 is one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever read, since I really believed that Xavi could have ended up at least in the top 10.
RispondiEliminaI don't know why, but when I think about Tondo I have the impression of thinking about an interrupted book which, if finished, could have become a masterpiece with a very happy ending. This boy had finally made it to the top category, he had almost made it to the Tour, he was one of the best climbers of his sport, he had fallen in love again with his former wife and then, all of a sudden, everything ended. I still can't believe it has happened, it's so strange, senseless and ridicolous!!
@ Leela: I can understand why you didn't watch the Giro after Wouter's death. After that damned third stage, I had to fight with myself every day in order to put myself in front of the tv... :(
The fight for the white jersey was really interesting, especially because this year the young guns did really well! Btw, does it show that I have a weakness for Ulissi? :P
I actually don't understand why that journalist said 'Grow up' to Kreuziger. Here in Italy that sentence is sometimes used by people who want to tell adults to stop whining and become more mature. However, I think that Roman is already a very mature boy and I don't think he likes ranting. Perhaps some journalists should remember that Roman is just 24 and that Basso won his first GT when he was almost 30...
Alex was so unlucky on the last day! One of the Italian chronist was really sorry for him and he said that he lost 'at least' 15 seconds because of that puncture. Let's hope Alex will soon have another chance to shine in an important race!
@ Marleen: I don't know why, but I suspected that Weening's victory could have been your personal highlight from Giro 2011 ;)
I think things will be different in the Tour, because Andy Schleck is as motivated as never before and also because Conti may be a bit tired in July.
Some things that have recently occurred in my private life, as well the deaths of Wouter and Tondo, have made me come to the conclusion that there is something (or someone) that controls our lives. Call it fate or call it God, I think that what causes our deaths isn't just a casuality. Or, perhaps, I should say that this is not what I think, but what I desperately hope.
Ok, this is getting too philosophical for me :P The pictures will arrive soon, unfortunately I'm very busy at the moment - exams approaching, teachers as crazy as never before, the American relatives of my aunt on visit to Italy... Expect something new in the next hours! :)
after many troubles, I sent the text to your personal mail account!but not shure it worked..again!!ok let me know about..:)we can do it!I believe!
RispondiEliminaClaudia
I'm proud to tell you that I've received your e-mail!!! Hooray! :D
RispondiEliminaIt is a really great story and we'll publish it as soon as I have enough free time to translate it (the Maturità is approaching, so I'm pretty busy in this period) :)
ahah!what a great success! oh, thanks!I ll help u if I could....but exames put me in your same condition!!GRRRRR!however..., if you need, you can divide the text into parts so that we can traslate it together ( 'coz, I must admit, I also wrote it in a pretty difficult way ;) ).
RispondiEliminabye, Claudia
If you have some free time, I'd be very happy if you could help me with the translation. But if you're too busy with your exams, don't worry: it'll take me a few days, but your post will probably be ready before the end of the week anyway.
RispondiEliminaHowever, if you decide to give me a hand, just let me know which parts you'd like to translate (I'll translate the other ones)!