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Brajkovic moves into lead at Giro del Trentino
Basso shows hints of Giro form
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In an exciting preview of what awaits next month in the Giro d’Italia, some of Italy’s big guns went mano-a-mano in Thursday’s summit finish at Alpi di Pampeago in the Giro del Trentino.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) walked away with neither the stage victory nor the race leader’s jersey, but he put everyone on notice that he could be the man to beat come next month.
Basso showed glimpses of his former winning form – everyone is assuming without the help of Dr. Fuentes – and finished second in the stage and pulled within four seconds of the leader’s jersey in the important Giro warm-up race.
“I had good legs today and I think I've shown it in the finale attempting many attacks,” said Basso.
It was a couple of eastern Europeans, however, who stole the spotlight from the Italians.
Przemyslaw Niemec (Miche-Selle Italia) attacked with just under 2km to go to win the stage ahead of the chasing Basso while Janez Brajkovic, who started the day second at one second back, took over the leader’s jersey from Astana teammate Andreas Klöden.
The pack broke into pieces on the final climb up the 1700m Pampeago climb, with ramps as steep as 16 percent. An early break was reeled in with about 5km to go, giving the favorites a chance to stretch their legs.
Basso was the first to play his card, with a surge with about 3km to go. That move was marked by Gilberto Simoni (Diquigiovanni), but Basso punched the accelerator again, drawing out Niemec and Giampaolo Caruso (Flaminia).
Niemec jumped clear about 1500m to go, finishing 22 seconds clear of Basso to win the stage. Caruso crossed the line third at 39 seconds back.
Brajkovic came through fifth at 1:01 back, just good enough to inherit the leader’s jersey from Klöden.
“Andreas told me this morning I could go for the jersey, as he has not yet seen any big climbs like this so far in the season,” Brajkovic said on Astana’s web page. “I could ride in the pack the entire day and the team worked so hard. I finished fifth and took the jersey, but I only have four seconds to Basso. That will be difficult, but not impossible. Also, Niemec is riding very strong.”
Klöden, winner of Wednesday’s time trial, finished 28th and dropped to 11th in GC at 1:36 back.
Brajkovic will carry his slender, four-second lead on Basso into Friday’s hilly stage that dips into Austria. The profile shouldn’t present too much of trouble, but a short climbing finish into Innervillgraten will favor the better sprinter of the GC challengers.
Niemec is also within striking distance, third overall at 19 seconds back, with Simoni in fourth at 1 minute back. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone) is seventh at 1:13 back while Caruso slotted into ninth at 1:32 back.
