THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Bettini back in pink; Di Luca in striking distance
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Well, the maglia rosa only took a day's leave off Paolo Bettini's shoulders before the 31-year-old Italian decided he wanted it again.
When stage winner Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) lit it up on the decisive climb of Santa Tecla, Il Grillo simply hopped, skipped and jumped into the lead group, and held his top-10 position all the way to the end. By virtue of his eighth place in Giffoni Valle Piana, Bettini resumed his place at the top of the leader board, nine seconds ahead of Di Luca and 17 in front of defending Giro champion Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Cafitta).
Today's 205km stage wasn't really expected to be that decisive, but it turned out to be, though not so much for the semi-serious re-ordering on general classification. Certainly it was a day where, three weeks from now, the GC contenders may say it was where they could have lost the 88th Giro d'Italia.
While all of those vying for that top step in Milan made the 50-man first cut - Cunego, Stefano Garzelli, Paolo Savoldelli, Dario Cioni, Michele Scarponi, Gilberto Simoni, Ivan Basso, Serhiy Honchar, Vladimir Karpets, Tom Danielson - there was a time when just half of the stars were represented. So far, 2000 and 2002 Giro champs Garzelli (Liquigas-Bianchi) and Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) look the sharpest, with Kid Cunego and teammate Simoni a small step behind.
The others? Maybe they're biding their time, or aiming to peak once the race hits the mountains. But they had better peak soon, or it will be the mountain peaks of the infamous Dolomiti that will be the essence of their downfall.
The day began with a solo escape by yet another Australian, Russell Van Hout (Colombia-Selle Italia). The 28-year-old South Australian broke away right from the get-go, at the 8km mark, and seemed content to go it alone, quickly settling into his stride for what would be a long day ahead.
After 80km, Van Hout, originally of Dutch heritage (he actually holds dual citizenship), reached a maximum 15 minutes' advantage, and held this margin until the final two hours of racing, when a combination of fatigue and the peloton's patience wearing thin finally got the better of him.
With riders like Bettini, Cunego and Di Luca within striking distance of the maglia rosa, it was only natural to see Quick Step, Lampre-Cafitta and Liquigas-Bianchi respectively at the head of affairs in the closing kilometers. As the plotone approached the 6km climb to Santa Tecla, Van Hout was swept up, and it was game-on for those ready to play ball.
On the climb, it was the angelic, white-clad figure of Danilo Di Luca rising faster and faster, and only a handful of the world's best could hold his wheel. Showing the form that won him Amstel Gold and La Flèche Wallone this spring, the 29-year-old's relentless energy saw the peloton shatter and the maglia rosa, Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), unable to react to the vicious tempo.
Once over the top, the group plunged down into Giffoni Valle Piana at breakneck speed and it was Liquigas 1-2-3 leading the charge, as Di Luca, Garzelli and Cioni strung 'em out single file. Coming into the finish, it seemed only Cunego was willing to take the trio head-on, but Di Luca's superior finishing speed decided the day, with The Kid placing second and Garzelli third.
On Wednesday: Stage 4 - May 11: Giffoni Valle Piana-Frosinone, 197km. From the ankle to the knee, Wednesday sees the riders continue their journey north from Giffoni Valle Piana to Frosinone. A flat, lumpy stage of 211km with no hill in sight is unlikely to change the classifica generale, and puts the onus of opportunity back on the sprinters.
Race note
Belgians Christophe Detilloux and Tom Steels both abandoned on Tuesday. Detilloux has been suffering with a sore right knee, while Steels has had stomach troubles.
Top Ten
1. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 0:00
2. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, 0:00
3. Stefano Garzelli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 0:00
4. Mirko Celestino (I), Domina Vacanze, 0:00
5. Ventoso Alberdi Francisco J. (Sp), Saunier Duval, 0:00
6. Paolo Bettini (I), Quickstep, 0:00
7. Luca Mazzanti (I), Ceramica Panaria - Navigare, 0:00
8. Cristian Moreni (I), Quickstep, 0:00
9. Christophe Le Mevel (F), Credit Agricole, 0:00
10. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, 0:00
Top ten overall
1. Paolo Bettini (I), Quickstep, 15:09:35
2. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 0:09
3. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, 0:17
4. Stefano Garzelli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 0:23
5. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, 0:26
6. Juan Manuel Garate (Sp), Saunier Duval, 0:30
7. Dario David Cioni (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 0:31
8. Ardila Cano Mauricio Alberto (Col), Davitamon-Lotto, 0:32
9. Gilberto Simoni (I), Lampre, 0:33
10. Serhiy Honchar (Ukr), Domina Vacanze, 0:33
To see how the race unfolded, simply CLICK HERE to bring up our Live Update Window.
