2010 Giro d’ Italia: Stage 19 Results

The Giro d’Italia returned to the mountains for Friday’s 19th 195km stage from Brescia to Aprica. The route starts out with 90km of relatively flat road before hitting three rated climbs on the way to the uphill finish.

Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions), who was part of the finish line sprint in yesterday’s stage, droppped out of the race overnight. Yesterday’s winner Andre Greipel apparently decided that one stage win was enough and dropped out as well.

It takes a little time, but a nine man break finally gets off the front. Duque (COF), Bakelandts (OLO), Failli (ASA), Samoilau (QST), Mazzanti (LAM), Krivtsov (ALM), Rodriguez (AND), Bonnet (BTL) and Tondo (CTT) build up a 7’50″ gap by km 70. The gap briefly bumps up over 8 minutes, but with 84km to go, it’s down to 6’40″.

Vladimir Karpets once again tossed himself into no man’s land and managed to open a 2 minute gap on the field. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) was out there as well and was making his way up to the leaders.

The climbs were really taking it out of the lead group and by 70km to go, only Samoilav (Quick Step), Rodríguez (Androni Giocattoli), Duque (Cofidis) and Failli (Aqua e Sapone) were still at the front. Liquigas and Caisse d’Epargne were leading the peloton.

Garzelli was rapidly gaining on the leaders and Failli had dropped back to help his teammate make the bridge. As the leaders crest Trivigno, Garzelli and Failli were 1’25″ back and the G.C. group was within 3 minutes.

As the leaders were on the brief flat between Trivigno and the Mortirolo, it increasingly looked like Garzelli and Failli would be able to make up the 30 second gap to the leaders. They were joined by Bakelandts and Samoilau in the chase.

Back in the peloton, David Arroyo was riding with a couple of teammates, while most of the Liquigas squad was sitting at the front protecting Ivan Basso. Cadel Evans and Alexander Vinokourov were keeping with the G.C. group as well, though they were reportedly riding without support.

As expected, Garzelli’s group caught the leaders and the six riders started on the ascent of the Mortirolo. The G.C. group was now just 2’39″ behind, but started eating into the lead as Basso took the pace up. Scarponi, Evans, Nibali, Vino, Gadret were hanging with him, but Sastre was struggling.

Basso and his group were able to move to within 1’10″ of Garzelli and the other leaders. We were almost certainly looking at a change in the G.C. today as Sastre, Evans, Vinokourov and a couple of others were struggling to hang on.

As expected, Stefano Garzelli, Vincenzo Nibali, Ivan Basso and Michele Scarponi were able to move into the lead. Carlos Sastre and Cadel Evans were working together a little farther back, and Arroyo was nearly 2 minutes behind.

Garzelli was not able to hold Basso’s pace and started to fall back. He  quickly fell back through the the Sastre/Evans group.  Vinokourov jumped out of that group and was starting to chase after Basso and Nibali.

Basso was the first over the top, with Vino passing over 55 seconds later. Evans was at 1’43″ and race leader David Arroyo was nearly two minutes back. At this point it could very likely come down to who was the most fearless descender on the slippery wet roads.

Sastre, Evans  and Gadret were able to group with Arroyo and Vinokourov to take up the chase. Evans moved to the front of that group, which was now trailing the leaders by 45 seconds. Basso and crew seemed to have the gas, however, as they continued to open up the gap. With 2.5km to go, Basso, Nibali and Scarponi had moved out to a 2’38″ lead.

What was clear at this point is that Arroyo was going to lose the pink jersey.

At the summit, it’s Scarponi that pulls away for the win, snagging a 20 second time bonus. Basso comes across second and gets an extra 12 seconds.

Brief Results:

1. Michele Scarponi (ITA) Androni Giocattoli-Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni, 195KM in 5:27:04
2. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo s.t
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo s.t
4. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana at 3:05
5. John Gadret (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale to 3:05
6. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing Team at 3:06
7. David Arroyo Duran (ESP) Caisse d’Epargne at 3:06
8. Carlos Sastre Candil (ESP) Cervélo Test Team at 3:06
9. Branislau Samoilau (BLR) Quickstep at 5:27
10. Marco Pinotti (ITA) HTC-Columbia at 5:27

General Classification:

1. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo in 81:55:56
2. David Arroyo Duran (ESP) Caisse d’Epargne at 0:51
3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo at 2:30
4. Michele Scarponi (ITA) Diquigiovanni at 2:49
5. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing team at 4:00
6. Carlos Sastre Candil (ESP) Cervélo Test Team at 5:32
7. Richie Porte (AUS) Team Saxo Bank at 6:00
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana at 6:22
9. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) Liquigas-Doimo at 12:44
10. Marco Pinotti (ITA) HTC-Columbia at 13:40
11. Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini at 15:23
12. Bauke Mollema (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team at 18:36
13. Linus Gerdemann (GER) Milram at 20:05
14. John Gadret (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale at 21:57
15. Vladimir Karpets (RUS) Team Katusha at 23:03
16. Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (COL) Rabobank Cycling Team at 26:38
17. David Cioni Dario (ITA) Team Sky at 29:50
18. Steven Kruijswijk (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team at 35:51
19. Alexander Efimkin (RUS) Ag2r La Mondiale at 36:10
20. Francis De Greef (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 40:48