Tonkov shows he still has it
Pavel Tonkov (Vini Caldirola) gave the 2004 Giro d’Italia a blast from the past as race leader Damiano Cunego (Saeco) safely fought through some bike problems in Thursday’s 153km 17th stage.
A winner of the 1996 Giro, Tonkov attacked on the day’s major hurdle at the Category 2 Passo della Mendola at 99km and dropped fellow escapee Alessandro Bertolini (Alessio-Bianchi) with 16km to go to win his first Giro stage since 2002.
Tonkov’s finish line gesture wasn’t your typical kisses-to-the-heavens thankfulness. After adjusting his helmet and pointing to himself as No. 1, the 35-year-old Russian slapped his palm against his right arm in a gesture that in Italy can roughly be translated as “up yours.”
“No one’s got any faith in me, everyone thought I was finished,” Tonkov explained after winning in 3 hours, 40 minutes, 5 seconds (41.71 kph). “I am content, happy and satisfied with this victory. My plan was to win a stage of the Giro and I did it today.”
When asked again about his gesture, the long-haired Tonkov simply muttered that he was happy to win for the first time since the 2002 Giro.
“It was a gesture of happiness, because I was satisfied to win the stage,” he said after taking his seventh career Giro stage. “This Giro is all for Stefano and we hoped to be in Milan first or on the podium. Maybe it will still happen.”"It was partly a release and a bit of satisfaction at the same time," said Tonkov, who has experienced his fair share of difficulties over the years. "I've been criticized in the past, so that was my response. I'm at the end of my career and I only wish I'd been born an Italian, I could have done my job a lot better."Tonkov noted that he had almost quit the sport last year despite the fact he feels capable of battling for a top-ten finish overall."I almost threw in the towel at the end of last year,” he said. “I had a hernia operation and then they called me back and so I started training again. I like it in this team, my job is to help Garzelli and I've no regrets except for the fact that I think I could aim for a top ten finish if I was riding for myself."
Bertolini gamble comes up short
Taking second was Bertolini, who attacked with Oscar Pozzi (Tenax) at 66km. Coming to the base of the Mendola, Bertolini and Pozzi worked together up the climb as several riders peeled away from the main bunch, including 2000 Giro winner Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola).
Saeco kept a steady pace despite Cunego’s mechanical problems and brought back Garzelli about midway up the 14.8km climb. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) was the day’s major victim, dropping out of fifth overall after finishing 119th at 13:53 back.
Alexandre Moos (Phonak), a stage-winner at the Tour de Romandie earlier this month, and Raffaele Illiano (Colombia-Selle Italia) were leading the chase group on the long, grinding climb.
Tonkov jumped away from the maglia rosa group after Garzelli was caught and quickly bridged up to the chasers. Bertolini dropped Pozzi and Tonkov bridged up to Bertolini with about 3km to go on the climb.
Bertolini and Tonkov worked together over the final 37.7km finish circuit, but with 16km to go, Tonkov punched the accelerator and left Bertolini choking on his fumes.
“This morning we attacked straight away, I don’t like rest days so I wanted to start right away – I believed it was possible, but I saw that Tonkov was very strong,” Bertolini said after finishing 2:15 back.
Cunego gets scare, stays pretty in pink
The 22-year-old race leader Cunego got a double dose of nerves when the main bunch hit the Mendola. Garzelli made an attack just as he started having problems with his rear derailleur, prompting a frantic bike change.
“It should have been pretty easy day, but it turned out to be quite difficult,” Cunego said. “It was unfortunate to have the bike problems when Garzelli was attacking. I thought it was going to be a big problem, but we made the bike change and my team did the work to keep me out of trouble.”’
Cunego’s Saeco teammates Andrea Tonti and Eddy Mazzoleni waited for their young captain and helped him chase back on. Saeco then set a strong pace that reeled in Garzelli, but Cunego was forced to change bikes again after his spare proved uncomfortable.
“After I changed the bike, it wasn’t mine, and when it’s not yours it’s not the same feeling,” Cunego said. “It was a difficult moment but the team worked wonderfully. Garzelli has his own motives for attacking. Maybe he was seeing how he felt. For a rider like him, he wants to be ahead, in the lead.”
Cunego finished fourth just behind the sprinting Brad McGee (FDJeux.com) to safely retain his 1:14 lead over second place Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) going into Friday’s and Saturday’s epic stages.
“I was able to overcome the problems today and it gives me hope for the coming days,” said Cunego, who’s facing just three more days in the Giro. “There’s some pressure, but I am trying not to think about that. Tomorrow is a decisive day. I have to do well if I want to try to win the Giro and the next two days will decide who will win the Giro.”
McGee stays in race, Svorada, Pagliarini crash out
An unhappy McGee started Thursday morning in sunny Brunico despite threatening to pull out if the race jury didn’t overturn a 20-second penalty imposed on the Australian in Tuesday’s 16th stage.
The ruling wasn’t overturned and McGee carried on, but vented his anger by taking third and earning the 8-second time bonus.
“If I lose 20 seconds like that I have to take them back in time bonuses,” McGee said.
The race jury ruled Tuesday he took two illegal tows from the FDJeux.com team car at 152km and 154km while climbing up the Category 1 Passo Furcia on Tuesday. Each infraction included a 10-second penalty, a loss of 5 points in the points classification and a fine of 50 Swiss francs.
“On Tuesday, my director sportif didn’t tell I was penalized in the stage because he knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep,” McGee said. “I never did that. We spoke with the jury and they said I grabbed the car two times, which I never did. I am third in the GC, how can he know it wasn’t me? We made the protest and I said I will go home. If they don’t respect me, how can I respect the race?”
Lampre, meanwhile, lost two riders when Brazilian sprinter Luciano Pagliarini and Czech sprinter Jan Svorada went down in part of a crash at 49km. Alberto Loddo (Saunier Duval) also pulled out. With three stages remaining, 142 riders continue in the Giro.
Rodriguez promises Milan finish
Giro stage winner Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone) has promised his team he’ll try his best to make it to Milan to fight for the final stage, but doesn’t want to risk burning too many matches looking ahead to the U.S. championships on June 6.
“I’ve talked about it with the team. It’s important for them that we try to win the stage in Milan, but at the same time the U.S. championships are just as important. We’ll take it day by day,” Rodriguez told VeloNews before Thursday’s start.
Rodriguez was sporting a new paint job on his Moser frame with “Fast Freddy” painted over the stars and stripes on the top tube.
Rodriguez said Milan’s important finale timing could prove challenging as he is scheduled to fly to the United States on Monday to prepare for the Wachovia week. Rodriguez is a two-time national champion and wants to wear the national jersey again.
“Those races have always been very important to me, so I want to do well,” Rodriguez said. “We’re bringing over four or five guys that are here now, so I think we will have a good team.”
Rodriguez made it through safely in 81st at 13:52.
Cioni hoping for top 10
Riding a fine Giro is former mountain biker Dario Cioni (Fassa Bortolo). Cioni has done his fair share of work to help push sprinter Alessandro Petacchi to a record eight stage victories, but has also rode well in the decisive mountain stages.
“I’ve done a lot of work for Alessandro, for us it’s been a very successful Giro,” said Cioni, who’s eighth at 4:26 back. “I’m the only rider for the team in the GC. We’ll see how I do, but we want to win another stage in Milan.”
Cioni admits he’ll have a tough time on the Gavia and the Mortirolo, climbs he’s rarely ridden, let along raced on.
“I am feeling good. I’m not a big GC rider, so for me to finish in the top 10 would be very nice for me,” said Cioni, who often rooms with new teammate Tom Danielson. “I’m the only rider in the GC who’s had to do so much work.”
Cioni has done well for himself since switching to the road in the 2000 season, when he decided to walk away from mountain biking after being overlooked for the Sydney Olympic mountain bike team.
Last year, Cioni was only one of three Fassa Bortolo riders to finish the 2003 Tour de France. Following the Giro, Cioni said he’ll likely not race in this year’s Tour and instead reload for the Vuelta and a shot at the Italian world championships team.
Up next
The 87th Giro d’Italia continues Friday with the short, but very difficult 118km 18th stage from Cles Val di Non to Bormio 2000. The stage hits the Category 2 Passo del Tonale at 45km and takes a dangerous descent to the base of the Giro’s highest point, the Cima Coppi at the 2,618m (8,639-foot) Passo di Gavia. The legendary course climbs 1322m (4,362 feet) in 16.7km with an average grade of 7.9 percent, with sections as steep as 16 percent in the highest point of this year’s Giro. The course descends to 1210m (3,993 feet), hits a small unrated climb at La Motta before arriving to the base of the 9.9km climb up the twisting switchbacks to the ski station at Bormio 2000. The climb rises 742m (2,448 feet) with an average grade of 7.5 percent and sections as steep as 12 percent.
It should make for an explosive day of racing. Results are now posted
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