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Live Coverage - Stage 13 Giro d'Italia

Published: May. 23, 2008
  • 01:32 PM: Good day and welcome

    to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the 13th stage of the 91st edition of the Giro d'Italia, a dead flat ride from Modena, home of Ferrari Motors, to Cittadella.

    It's the last flat day for a while, folks. Tomorrow will offer a tough mountain-top finish and we can expect to see major changes in the GC picture from here on out. Today, however, is a day for the sprinters.

    We've seen a few early digs, including an early effort by one of our fav's Jens Voigt (CSC), but at 30km the peloton is all together again. The most recent escapee, Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), never managed to get much time, topping out at about 10 seconds before he got swallowed up.

  • 01:36 PM: Today's weather

    The rain that prompted the special rule at the finish yesterday (they took the official finishing time, 3km from the line) has mellowed. There are still scattered showers here in northern Italy, but it appears to be clearing up. Temperatures are in the mid-70s (23c) and winds are light topping out at around 8kph.

  • 01:39 PM: Drop us a line

    Don't forget to hit the "contact our editors" link below the Live Update Window if you have a question, comment or complaint. We'll try to answer as many as possible and post a few during our updates.

  • 01:41 PM: At 36km

    we se another dig, this time coming from Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis) who is 115th on GC, at 1:13:59. We'll get a gap as soon as we can.

  • 01:48 PM: Buffaz has company

    Josu Agirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 160th at 1:49:43, has joined the break and the two men at the front have an advantage of 1:35 at km 39.

    Obviously, neither man poses much of a threat on GC - unless the entire peloton stops to catch the new Indiana Jones movie today - so it will probably be the sprinters' teams who take up the chase as the finish line approaches today.

  • 01:51 PM: They are making progress

    Agirre and Buffaz have reached 44km and are already 3:10 ahead of the field.

  • 02:01 PM: So who are these guys?

    The Cofidis man, Mickael Buffaz, who turned 29 on Wednesday, is French, but lives in Switzerland. He's been a pro since 2003, the year he won Prix des Moissons. He came in fifth overall at this year's Tour down Under.

    We don't know too much about Euskaltel's Josu Agirre. He's 27 and was born in Tolosa, Spain. He's had a couple of wins since turning pro in 2006 with Orbea, including stage wins at the Giro delle Valli Cuneesi nelle Alpi del Mare (2004) and the Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid (2006).

    If they stay away, a win would look awfully nice on either man's resume. They're at 50km right now and they are holding on to a lead of 3:15. It doesn't look like they'll do much more than get a bit of TV time in today, though.

  • 02:09 PM: The gap

    is growing, albeit slowly. At 53km, the two leaders have an advantage of 4:55. It's okay, but if you expect a break like this to succeed, it's going to take a lot more than that. The peloton can pull back five minutes pretty quickly if you have powerhouse teams like High Road, Quick Step and Liquigas driving the chase. For now, though, the sprinters' teams will probably let these two go for a while. Having a non-threatening break off the front tends to keep things relaxed in the main field. They have another 123km to go, and a lot of folks - including the maglia rosa - are still recovering from the carnage we all saw on Wednesday. Hopefully we won't see another day like that for a while.

  • 02:15 PM: A reader comment

    Matt writes

    Just wanted to drop you guys a line and thank you for bringing this live update to us here in Afghanistan. I catch as much as the job allows me to and read it all at the end if nothing else. Thanks from the Army riders in Afghanistan.
    Matt

    No, Matt, thank you.

    We're always amazed to hear from folks all over the world during these things and especially pleased to hear from those troops checking in from places like Iraq and Afghanistan. We even made a good friend in Major Jason Bryan who began writing a regular column for VeloNews.com while he was trying to put in as many miles as he could, riding a crappy old mountain bike around the perimiter of his base. We still keep in touch.

    Matt, keep your head down and come home safe.

  • 02:18 PM: At 58km

    our two leaders are now 5:16 ahead of the field.

  • 02:25 PM: A reader question

    Erico in Brazil writes to ask:

    Well, I dont't have Idea how is the feed zone, the peloton stop riding for eating? Or they receive food while riding in a slow way?
    Thanks from a number one fan from Brazil.
    Hello Erico!
    The feedzone is an old concept, and pretty simple. Teams place staff on a predetermined section of road, often with a slight uphill grade, and they hand lunch off to riders in a musette bag... a simple bag made of two pieces of cotton fabric with a large loop, so the rider can stick an arm through it and unload the contents into his pockets. Nope, they don't stop riding, but it does slow things a bit. The reason we say it's an old concept is that these days riders also fuel up by dropping back to their team cars for water and food. As you can imagine, the feedzone poses certain dangers, with riders missing feeds or, worse, getting a bag caught in wheel. Some riders are forced - or opt - to go back to the car.

    Hope that helps.

  • 02:27 PM: At 62km

    our two escapees are putting in an effort. They've upped their lead to 8:15. Enough? Doubt it.

  • 02:31 PM: Cittadella

    Today's finish is in one of Italy's most beautiful cities. Citadella was first built in the 13th century as a fortress and the walls are still there and still just as beautiful as ever. A lot of you may appreciate and benefit from one of the local products. Selle San Marco, Selle Italia and Selle Royal all have factories in the neighborhood. Indeed, while this morning's start was in the heart of Ferrari country, the closer we get to the finish, the closer we get to bike-geek heaven, including the Holy Grail itself, the Campagnolo factory in Vicenza.

  • 02:32 PM: At 68km

    the gap is now up to 8:24.

  • 02:39 PM: Duck and cover

    We're also sending out good wishes to folks in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming, who had a visit by a fairly large tornado yesterday. Word is that the power is back up in Laramie (who'da thought of tornadoes at 7300 feet?) and so we hope those folks can follow our Giro coverage from there, as well.

  • 02:40 PM: At 70km

    we see that the gap has already drifted down from its peak above 8:00 to 7:05. So that is apparently about as much leash as the peloton is willing to give these two

  • 02:52 PM: 6:00 at 76km

    Josu Agirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis) are slowly being pulled back. Frankly, the reeling in is coming in a little sooner than we might have expected. There are still 116km to go. We'll see if the pull-back is just to keep things manageable

  • 02:57 PM: Reader Question

    Chris writes in to ask

    Since you're in Italy, let's talk Italian framemakers. Do you know how Dario Pegoretti is doing?


    As you know, Chris, he's been ill, with lymphoma. Our last report was that he has improved lately and is building bikes. We all wish him well.

  • 02:58 PM: the gap

    continues to drop. Our two leaders are now 5:10 ahead of the field. The pace for two hours of racing has been pretty moderate - just under 42kph - so maybe these two are easing off, rather than the peloton ramping up the pace.

  • 03:05 PM: In San Vito

    the leaders are now 5:20 ahead of the field. So maybe the gap has hit a plateau... for now.

  • 03:25 PM: The gap

    has held at around 4:45 as our two escapees reach Torretta at 106km.

  • 03:28 PM: At the day's sprint mark

    our two leaders passed through, taking top points, and Bennati comes through at the front of the peloton to grab the remaining point.

  • 03:38 PM: Our two leaders

    are now just around 4:00 ahead of the main field, with Mark Cavendish's High Road team doing the bulk of the work.

  • 03:41 PM: The weather is

    still holding. We see clouds on the horizon, but it's not bad out there.

  • 03:43 PM: The gap

    is now down to 3:45. We might imagine that these two are aware of the declining advantage... it's got to be disheartening.

  • 03:47 PM: The crowds

    along the route are quite good today. The reasonable weather sure helps. Our two leaders are 3:50 ahead of the field at 121km.

  • 03:49 PM: Great

    just as we begin talking about how we're getting a break on the weather, the rain is starting. We see quite a few umbrellas appearing on the side of the road.

  • 03:53 PM: After 3 hours of racing

    our two leaders are holding on to advantage of 3:40. There's a long way left, so we can't see this thing lasting.

  • 03:55 PM: Chatting

    We see Alberto Contador and Robbie McEwen chatting.

  • 03:57 PM: News from the finish

    They're trying to decide if the time will be taken at the first passage of the final loop instead of at the final sprint

    The final 6km loops around the Medieval walls at Citadella - there's a very closed turn in the final kilometer that one local said "only two bikes" will be able to fit through at a time. A disaster in the making.

  • 04:00 PM: The maglia rosa

    The buzz is that Quick Step will give up the maglia rosa without a fight. A team source told VN that Bettini still wants to win a stage and assuming that he doesn't win today, the troops will not want to burn themselves out to defend the jersey for Visconti in what's a lost cause anyway.

  • 04:01 PM: Montegalda

    the peloton is riding through the beautiful town of Montegalda, Our two leaders have bumped their advantage up to four minutes, a sure sign that the sprinters's teams are monitoring the gap.

  • 04:04 PM: Reader qestion

    Kyle writes

    Do you think the "rocket" is loosing his boost?


    Well, we'd never write the guy off, but he is getting older. He may be a little more cautious these days, but we are certain to see him fight it out... maybe even today.

    Speaking of Robbie the Rocket, he's expected to exit the Giro after today's stage. There aren't many chances for sprinters from here to Milan.

    Our two leaders are now 45km from the finish.

  • 04:04 PM: Contador

    If Visconti gives up the jersey without a fight, Alberto Contador is poised to ride into pink in Saturday's summit finish. Contador said before the start on Friday that he's not taking things for granted, but admits he's feeling better.

    "As my form improves, my confidence grows and so do the doubts of my rivals," Contador said. "I continue with the line we've taken from the start of this Giro. We'll take it day by day and take what comes our way."

  • 04:05 PM: At the finish

    It's humid as hell at the finish, but the clouds are keeping the temperatures down to the low 70s - perfect weather for a bike race, but bad for the hair gel.

  • 04:08 PM: Reader Question

    When the time is taken at the 3km mark, is that where the stage is decided and time is stopped, but the winner is still decided with the sprint at the "normal" finish line?
    Thanks,
    Douglas in Raleigh

    Yes, that's how they did it yesterday. That allows the sprinters' to fight it out, with the GC riders able to ease up a bit and stay out of the argy-bargy on dicey roads.

  • 04:11 PM: Sella

    has scooted out of the peloton. Nope it's not an attack. He has family to visit. Big hug for dad.... or grandpa. Who ever it is, Sella gave the guy a green climber's jersey. Nice.

  • 04:15 PM: We saw

    Jens Voigt try something early today, but he has been pretty quiet this Giro for good reason. The popular German attacker is here to hone his form for the Tour de France, though we'll probably see him on the attack in the final week. Voigt missed out on some key winter training because his wife had a complicated birth of the couple's fifth child. Mother and child are fine now, but they were both in the hospital for a month. That's why Voigt skipped the spring classics - he just didn't have the miles in legs to ride like he normally does.

  • 04:20 PM: 2:35 with 35km to go

    All the big sprint teams have one man each up front, with High Road, Milram, Silence and Liquigas all lending a hand on the chase.

  • 04:20 PM: It is starting to sprinkle

    at the finish; more ingredients for a disaster finale.

  • 04:26 PM: 30km

    to go and our two escapees are still 2:30 ahead of the main field.

    Fabio Baldato - oldest rider in the pack at 38 - is now at the front of the peloton.

  • 04:30 PM: Bugno

    Gianni Bugno - one of the greats in the go-go 1990s - is now one of the top helicopter pilots working in Italian sport. He's flying the lead RAI TV helicopter that follows each day's stage from high above the action.

  • 04:31 PM: 25km to go

    and the two leaders are now 1:55 ahead of the field. Anyone out there willing to be the rent on these two?

  • 04:33 PM: The weather ahead

    Word has it that it won't be snowing over the Marmolada this weekend, but it will be cold. Temperatures were in the 40s over the highest cols for this weekend's shootout in the Dolomites. There's also a chance for rain - that could turn into snow if it gets cold enough ... perfect for the 20th annivesary of Andy Hampsten's epic ride in the 1988 Giro.

  • 04:34 PM: Tick tick tick

    the gap is coming down and is now 1:45.

  • 04:36 PM: With 22km remaining

    the two leaders are just 1:35 ahead of the field.

  • 04:38 PM: 1:28

    The roads are a little damp. We've still not heard anything from the race organization about treating the finishing circuit as they did yesterday's.

  • 04:38 PM: 20km to go

    the gap is now 1:25.

  • 04:41 PM: The peloton

    hits the 20km to go mark at 1:24. This break will be swept up in a few.

  • 04:42 PM: Media draw?

    Talk about the media clout of Contador - a half dozen Spanish journalists showed up today in the Giro pressroom. Everyone is dreaming of AC in pink. No Spanish rider has won the Giro since Miguel Indurain won twice in the early 1990s.

  • 04:44 PM: Unlike McEwen

    Mark Cavendish said he's going to try to hang in the race for the next few days. If he can survive the next three days, the team says the profile of the 17th stage into Locarno could be another sprint.

  • 04:46 PM: Of local interest

    Another race prone to evil weather is coming up tomorrow: the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

    (www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com)

    The forecast is 30-50 percent chance of precip' - "dress appropriately," advise the organizers. This may mean starting in a snowmobile suit.

  • 04:47 PM: 15km to go

    the peloton reaches the 15km to go mark, just 33 seconds behind our two leaders.

  • 04:49 PM: Surrender

    Our two leaders - Agirre and Buffaz - are shrugging their shoulders and smiling at the camera. Their time is up... the peloton is just about to make the catch.

  • 04:50 PM: A congratulatory handshake

    Buffaz shakes Agirre's hand .... and there is the catch. 13.5km to go.

  • 04:53 PM: Timing at the finish

    given the weather conditions at the finish, coupled with narrow, winding roads, the race organization will do what they did yesterday. That means that the official time will be assigned at the 3km to go mark and the stage win - along with bonus points and time - will be awarded at the real finish line. It will allow the GC contenders to avoid danger as the sprinters fight it out. It worked yesterday.

    After four hours in the saddle, riders are 9km from the finish

  • 04:55 PM: 7.5km to go

    the peloton is approaching the edge of town. The pace is high and we're seeing the argyle crew up front setting a high tempo. Are they setting up Dean or just trying to avoid the dangerous part of the peloton?

  • 04:56 PM: Ding ding ding

    the peloton passes through the finish area... one lap to go. So we have 6km to go.

  • 04:58 PM: A good decision

    even on dry roads, that last turn is going to be a toughy.

    Wow... the peloton is flying. 61kph.

  • 04:58 PM: 5km to go

    Ag2r is driving the pace.

  • 04:59 PM: 4km to go

    We see a lot of the big sprinters working their way up to the front. This is a twisty approach to the line.

  • 05:00 PM: 3km to go

    the GC guys can ease off a bit... but there is a lot of bumping up front. High Road is working hard for Cavendish.

  • 05:01 PM: A big visible split

    once the peloton hit 3km, there was a big split in the field... now that it doesn't matter.

  • 05:02 PM: 2km to go

    Millar is pulling hard for Dean... Koldo Fernandez is on his wheel.

  • 05:03 PM: 1km to go

    Milram moving up. Zabel is getting a lead out. Here comes Cavendish.

  • 05:04 PM: Here comes the turn

    Milram gets the good line.

    But Cavendish comes on hard.... he passes Bennati and Cavendish makes it look EASY!

  • 05:06 PM: Nice win

    Mark Cavendish gets his second victory of this Giro, with an official time of 4:11:07. He got a perfect leadout from Andre Greipel. Greipel delivered his man right on to Bennati's wheel and then Cavendish launched off of Bennati's wheel. Nice win.

  • 05:11 PM: Top five

    1. Mark Cavendish (GB) High Road, 4:11:07
    2. Daniele Bennati (I), Liquigas
    3. Koldo Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
    4. Erik Zabel (G), Milram
    5. Julien Dean (NZ), Slipstream, all s.t.

    and there is no change in G.C. to speak of. We won't be able to say that tomorrow.

    Well, that's a wrap folks. Thanks for tunig in - and writing in - and we'll be back tomorrow, when the Giro hits the mountains.