I didn’t manage to see stage seven to Rocca di Cambio – it fell on ‘D minus one’ for the VeloVeritas annual excursion to Italia. The loose ends were many and instead of having plenty of time to pack my bag and watch the Giro, I was ‘running aboot daft’ in the van.
And Saturday evening rituals still had to be observed – a wee bite to eat and a movie.
It’s not as if you can say; ‘I’m off to Italy the morn love, so we’re no’ going out tonight – I have a bag to pack and a Giro stage to skek!’
The first thing that hits you when you step off the plane in Roma is the heat, as Dave says; ‘somebody’s playin’ a blaw lamp on us, son!‘
But we’re not complaining.
However, they could do with giving Giorgio Armani a shift off to do some work on re-designing the airport direction signs.
But I digress, Stage 7 – and despite another tough finale there are only 46 seconds between first and tenth on GC.
Hard man, Paolo Tiralongo took the stage for Astana to give Italy her first stage win of the 2012 Giro.
Scarponi showed his fangs a little and Big Bruv Frank was there, too – maybe he’s going to surprise us?
Hesjedal is in pink, we hinted at that, yesterday – a day or two in pink is ephemeral but it catches the lenses and column centimetres so much more than; ‘7th on GC.’
It’s best then to remember the words of the Good Book; ‘worry not of the morrow.’
In other words, get that maglia rosa today and hang on to it day by day.
Lampre, Liquigas and Astana will all be happy that Garmin have the jersey and are obviously going to defend it, after racing so hard to grab it.
Sky too, it’s always good to have other teams with a vested interest in pulling breaks back.
In Canada it’s big news;
Ottawa– May 12, 2012:
“Canadian road cyclist Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria, British Columbia (Garmin-Barracuda) made Canadian sport history today by becoming the first Canadian cyclist to ever wear the famous Pink jersey, a distinction awarded to the overall leader of the general classification at the Giro d’Italia.
“Hesjedal finished fifth on the seventh stage at the Giro d’Italia, and now leads the overall standings with the performance.”
Jacques Landry, High Performance Director at the Canadian Cycling Association, sees this history-making result as a great step forward for Canadian Cycling.
“This is a great result. Wearing the Pink jersey is what every rider thrives for at the Giro d’Italia.
“Having a Canadian wearing the pink jersey is an indicator that Canada is getting stronger as a cycling nation.
“Every cyclist and cycling fan in Canada should be proud of the accomplishment.”
Canadian cycling legend Steve Bauer, currently directing Team SpiderTech powered by C10 at the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, which starts tomorrow, was the closest Canadian to the Pink Jersey.
Bauer previously missed the pink jersey by only 0.3s, in an opening prologue.
“It’s awesome, certainly a landmark accomplishment. It shows the progress of our nation.
“Ryder is without a doubt a leader in the progress, on a large scale.
“It gives the inspiration of the guys on Team SpiderTech and everyone in Canada to do the same.
“It’s long overdue, and great to see.”
On the subject of ‘Bauers,’ Ryder’s team mate, Jack Bauer has been riding very strongly.
He was one of the ‘bears’ in the TTT and was sent back to get Tyler Farrar when the American went out the back on stage 5 – to no avail, as it transpired.
I sent him a wee ‘congratulations’ and we’re on for a chat with him pre-stage, this week.
Our chariot for the week is a Fiat Panda; we’re nothing if not frugal, you understand.
But we’re not complaining, we’ve got wheels, a Gazzetta and Dave’s setting the satnav for Frosinine – mustn’t grumble.
A domani, ragazzi!
Results - Giro d’Italia 2012 – Stage 7: Recanati - Rocca di Cambio 202 km
Stage Result
2 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre – ISD
3 Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan 0:00:03
4 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team
5 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Barracuda 0:00:05
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:00:09
7 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team
8 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
9 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:00:11
10 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox
11 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky Procycling
12 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team
13 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
14 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
15 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
16 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
17 Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
18 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team
19 José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team
20 Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Movistar Team
21 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
22 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – ISD
23 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
24 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
25 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin – Barracuda
26 Johann Tschopp (Swi) BMC Racing Team
27 Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin – Barracuda
28 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:22
29 José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli
30 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:00:25
31 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
32 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team
33 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan
34 Marco Pinotti (Ita) BMC Racing Team
35 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team
36 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
37 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre – ISD
38 Ivan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
39 Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:00:31
40 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Movistar Team
41 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team
42 Gustav Larsson (Swe) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
43 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
44 Fabio Felline (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
45 Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
46 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Astana Pro Team
47 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team Saxo Bank
48 Jan Bakelants (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan
49 Jan Barta (Cze) Team NetApp 0:00:38
50 Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 0:00:40
51 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling Team
52 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 0:00:42
53 Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Movistar Team 0:00:44
54 Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team NetApp 0:00:49
55 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:50
56 Julien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
57 Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:01:00
58 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:01:07
59 Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 0:01:11
60 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) RadioShack-Nissan 0:01:14
61 Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:01:16
62 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:01:23
63 Mathieu Perget (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:25
64 Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:01:39
65 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox
66 Jon Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:01:44
67 Nelson Oliveira (Por) RadioShack-Nissan 0:01:47
68 Victor Cabedo (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
69 Carlos José Ochoa (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 0:01:51
70 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:41
71 Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 0:03:01
72 Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:24
73 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:04:48
74 Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Farnese Vini – Selle Italia 0:05:38
75 Ben Hermans (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan 0:05:50
76 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha Team 0:06:55
77 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:07:48
78 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
79 Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre – ISD
80 Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
81 Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:08:01
82 Adam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol Team
83 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Procycling
84 Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
85 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
86 Angelo Pagani (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:08:18
87 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep 0:09:26
88 Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
89 Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:10:02
90 Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:10:09
91 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Team Saxo Bank
92 Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Astana Pro Team
93 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Farnese Vini – Selle Italia 0:11:24
94 Francesco Failli (Ita) Farnese Vini – Selle Italia
95 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Farnese Vini – Selle Italia
96 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
97 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
98 Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
99 Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
100 Andreas Dietziker (Swi) Team NetApp
101 Mads Christensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
102 Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
103 Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale
104 Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
105 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha Team
106 Matthias Brandle (Aut) Team NetApp
107 Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha Team
108 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre – ISD 0:11:28
109 Simone Ponzi (Ita) Astana Pro Team
110 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Farnese Vini – Selle Italia 0:14:41
111 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team 0:15:30
112 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
113 Gregor Gazvoda (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale
114 Daniel Schorn (Aut) Team NetApp
115 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Team NetApp
116 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox 0:17:21
117 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
118 Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin – Barracuda
119 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky Procycling
120 Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big Mat
121 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
122 Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
123 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling
124 Stefan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
125 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
126 Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
127 Jesse Sergent (NZl) RadioShack-Nissan
128 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
129 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha Team
130 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team
131 Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha Team
132 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
133 Stefano Locatelli (Ita) Colnago – CSF Inox
134 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
135 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
136 Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team NetApp
137 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
138 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
139 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
140 Timon Seubert (Ger)