2008 Giro D'Italia - Stage 19
Danilo Di Luca Closes in on Race Leader Alberto Contador
An eventful Stage 19 of the 2008 Giro D'Italia means that with only two stages remaining in the 2008 Giro D'Italia just 21 seconds separate the top three riders.
Stage 19 of the Giro D'Italia saw a series of attacks launched against race leader Alberto Contador of the Astana team. At the start of the stage, from Legnano to Monte Pora the Spanish rider had a slender lead of some 41 seconds over Italian Riccardo Ricco with other Italian favourites Gilberto Simoni and Danilo Di Luca one minute 21 seconds and two minutes 18 seconds behind respectively.
Mountain Mayhem
The riders set off from Legnano with atrocious weather hitting the alps causing problems not only for the professional peloton but also for the race broadcasters, as the rain, coupled with the geography of the area combined to cause major technological headaches for the television companies as live pictures of the race either broke up, froze or were lost completely.
With the back end of the 228 kilometre long stage taking the riders over three mountain passes the time was ripe for an attack on the pink jersey and the peloton did not disappoint. With 45 kilometres to go and with a group of four riders, none of whom were a threat to the overall race lead, eight minutes up the road, last year's winner Danilo Di Luca, supported by expert mountain descender and LPR Brakes teammate Paolo Salvoldelli, attacked on the descent of the Passo del Vivione.
Significant Lead
Salvoldelli worked tirelessly for team leader Di Luca and with 25 kilometres to go they had a significant advantage over the pink jersey group that contained not only Contador but also other contenders Gilberto Simoni and Riccardo Ricco. Meanwhile further up the road, on the penultimate climb of the day Belarussian rider Vasil Kiryienka struck out by himself.
Di Luca and Salvoldelli continued to take time out of the Contador group with Di Luca, sensing that this could prove to be a pivotal moment in this year's Giro, relentlessly pressing on even when Salvoldelli could no longer stay with him and opening up a gap of over two minutes.
Ricco Attacks, Simoni in Trouble
On the last climb - the Monte Pora - and with Contador attempting to minimise his losses to Di Luca things got worse for the Astana rider when Riccardo Ricco attacked. Contador could not react and Ricco had soon opened up a gap of over 30 seconds. Meanwhile Gilberto Simoni was struggling to maintain contact.
As Kiriyienka crossed the line to take a deserved stage victory all eyes were further down the mountain intent on seeing if Contador could keep hold of the his pink jersey.
Di Luca was second over the line four minutes and 36 seconds and stopwatches were set running to see who was going to be in pink going in to the final two stages.
Contador Still in Pink - Just!
Riccardo Ricco continued his attack managing to increase his lead over Contador, but the pink jersey dug in and dragged himself up the final slopes finishing some six minutes and 21 seconds down on the stage winner.
Amazingly despite his torrid time in the saddle Contador managed to keep hold of his pink jersey. But there can be no question that this was a great day for Ricco and Di Luca who now lie only four and 21 seconds behind respectively. With stage 20 bringing another big day in the mountains to it is clear that this race is going to go to the wire.
Sources:
Contador falls behind, Gazzetta Dello Sport, 30th May 2008.
Stage 19 Preview, Steephill, 30th May 2008.
