Bike Reviews » Giro d’Italia 2010

Monier Claims First Pro Win at Giro

meredith — Fri, 28 May 2010 00:34:39 +0000

At the Giro d’Italia, Frenchman Damien Monier, sprinted alone for 3 kms and gained is first professional win. Damien fitted with his two breakaway riders, Danilo Hondo and Stefan Kruijswijk on stage 17. It was pure luck when his teammate Tristan Valentin got ill and Monier took his place which brought to colorful start of his career.

After the race, the 27 year old Frenchman explained that it is his eighth season with the team Cofidis and is considered to be a veteran. He said, “Probably I turned pro too young, only four years after starting cycling at 17,” and added, “I almost returned to the amateur ranks because I didn’t have the level of professional cycling. I fought for results and only last year I started to get some.” He placed fourth in the 2009 Tour de 1’Ain and was getting offers by other French teams.

Bernard Quilfen, Directeur Sportif knew…

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Basso Beats Evans at Monte Zoncolan

meredith — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:33:37 +0000

Cadel Evans and Ivan Basso are aiming for the win at the Giro. Both are privileged to have the Italian Alberto Sassi as their coach. Sassi, earlier last month was diagnosed to be suffering from brain cancer and predicted one or the other of his “sons” would win.

On the punishing 222 km 15th stage race, Evans and Basso were the toughest athletes on the field fitting each other. The 2006 champion Basso prevailed.

On the much feared Monte Zoncolan climb to the finish, the duo disposed of everyone. It was a 10.1 km climb with an average of 11.9 percent gradient and Basso distanced himself from Evans with 3.7 km to go for the finish. He won by 79 seconds over Evans and rose to third overall behind David Arroyo of Spain.

The 25 year old Tasmanian and former race leader Richie Porte held on for the second place overall at 2:35…

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Stage 12 of Giro d’Italia goes to Italian Pozzato

meredith — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:38:32 +0000

Filippo Pozzato of Katusha won stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia. His win was special for personal reasons. “This win is special because the Giro is special to me. It’s the race I went to watch with my father. I’m having a difficult time but I won’t say more about that, it’s personal. But I’ve won with my heart.”said the Italian. Another reason for his victory to be special is the fact that it is the first individual stage won by an Italian rider in the Giro.

This year’s race was a first in the corsa rosa wherein the tifosi waited until stage 12 for an Italian to emerge as victor. Although, Liquigas-Doimo did win the team time trial.

Pozzato shares his momentous experience. “At the one kilometre mark, I expected an attack by Thomas Voeckler but not by Nibali and Vinokourov. On the last climb before the finish, I moved up…

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Petrov gets the Gold in Stage 11 at Giro

meredith — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:24:20 +0000

Evgeni Petrov of Katusha finally gave one of the best wins in the longest stage of the Giro d’Italia. Due to a successful break from the peloton, underneath the rain, Petrov rode past all the contenders of stage 11. “I’m very, very happy. I have to thank all my team, they helped me a lot today. Anna, I won!” said Petrov. Celebrating his 32nd birthday on May 25, the Russian was one of the up and coming cyclist ten years ago but somehow his career hadn’t flourished as expected. “This win is very important for Russia, where cycling is picking up again.” Petrov’s last individual pro win was eight years ago in 2002. He won the Duo Normand two-man time trial with Filippo Pozzato.

Petrov finished 7th overall last 2007’s Giro d’Italia and his seemed to jumpstart his pro career. “I don’t know why I haven’t had more success as a…

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Meyer, Bobridge from Track to Giro d’Italia

meredith — Thu, 20 May 2010 07:14:26 +0000

The Giro d’Italia is a three-week stage race and World Track champions Cameron Meyer and Jack Bobridge are having a tough time. To mark the start of their new careers, both took the hardships as part of a long learning process. After ten stages, the two Garmin-Transition riders are more than an hour and a half down on Alexandre Vinokourov.

They shared their teammate Tyler Farrar’s triumph in Bitonto. “This gives you a very good feeling but I wasn’t feeling well during the whole stage,” said Meyer at the finishing line south of Italy.

Meyer, the Australian time trial champion said, “I’ve done thirteen stages of the Giro last year, hopefully I’ll see Verona (the final stage) this year.” He crashed and hurt his left shoulder quite badly the day before but quitting is out of the question.

At the Tour of Oman last February, Meyer finished as third overall and won…

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