Giro d'Italia (2009) Photos May 9th - 31st

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Stage 0:  Teams Presentation in Venice  Full Results and Report

Setting the stage for a great month of racing	Team Astana ready to hit the stage (Looks like Lance and Horner passed on the team supplied yellow Nike sneakers)	Gilberto Simoni (left) and his Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli team are built for the mountain stages
Team Katusha was all business at the rollout	Ivan Basso acknowledging the crowd during the Liquigas roll call. (Warming up the victory salute is a good idea too)	Needless to say, Lance was the focus of attention
The press conference photo-op	Basso, Di Luca, Simoni and Lance share a gondola ride to Arsenale for the Abruzzi earthquake meeting	The gondola may be at maximum passenger capacity but it's well inside the passenger weight limit. ;-)

Stage 1:  Lido di Venezia (TTT), 20.5km  Full Results and Report

Team Columbia was first out of the gate with Australian individual time-trial champ, Michael Rogers, on the front	The first time posted would stand	It looks like a staggered start as Rabobank moves into TTT formation out of the gate. They finished a respectable 7th @38 seconds.
Garmin-Slipstream garnered the wrath of Mark Cavendish for putting too much focus on the first stage (and Maglia Rosa). They finished 2nd, six seconds back of Columbia's best time	LPR placed 4th, best among the Continental teams (non-Pro Tour) finishing 22 seconds back of Team Columbia	Lance Armstrong in the blocks
Lance Armstrong leading Team Astana across the line. The last team posted the third best time @13 seconds.	The winning Team Columbia riders: Pinotti, Siutsou, Renshaw, Barry, Rogers , Lovkvist, Boasson Hagen, Possoni,Cavendish. They all crossed the line together: 20.5k in 21.50 (56.33 km/h)	Mark Cavendish gets the first Maglia Rosa and a brief look at the main prize

Stage 2:  Jesolo - Trieste, 156km  Full Results and Report

Lance Armstrong at the start in Jesolo	Would you like to ride behind a rider decked out in an ISD kit. Definitely not for the recreational cyclist.	When the race started, Leonardo Scarselli played the role of the rabbit so he could show off the new ISD kit.
The pace was slow enough so that Lance could stop and replace/adjust his radio. Astana teammates Jose Luis Rubiera and Yaroslav Popovych stopped to help out and pace him back to the peloton	Filippo Pozzato, Philippe Gilbert and Enrico Gasparotto broke free on the tricky Trieste circuits near the finish	The big field negotiates a twisty corner
Alessandro Petacchi jumped around the Team Columbia leadout with 150 m to go. Cavendish reacted slowly/tiredly and was not able to finish off a good leadout.	Pettachi celebrates while Cavendish curses

Stage 3:  Grado - Valdobbiadene, 198km  Full Results and Report

Only in Italy would you have a see through sign-in "board"	Lance Armstrong gives Mark Cavendish some tips on riding in the leader's jersey	The peloton works their way up a gentle climb through the tifosi in Valdobbiadene
Basso (left) next to Di Luca. Cavendish (center) following Petacchi	Caduta! The worst part of Team Garmin-Slipstream's rough day occurred when their Tour de France leader, Christian Vandevelde, crashed out of the race. The stage did end well though with Tyler Farrar placing 2nd in the sprint finish	Directeur Sportif, Matt White, running through a check list of precautions. According to Garmin-Slipstream, CVV "was taken to the hospital along with the team's medical staff where he was diagnosed with two broken ribs and a severe contusion and sprain to his mid-back"
Alessandro Petacchi claims another tricky sprint finish	Another kiss for the home crowd	The multi-tasking stage winner and the new wearer of the Maglia Rosa

Stage 4:  San Martino di Castrozza - Alpe di Siusi, 125km  Full Results and Report

He may be in the leader's jersey, but Alessandro Petacchi was at the front of the peloton driving the pace for the LPR GC leader and his teammate Danilo di Luca.	Jose Luis Rubiera strikes a familiar pose for those that have watched him set the pace for Discovery and Astana over the years. (Basso left and Armstrong right)	The action started to heat up on the two climbs near the end of the first mountain stage
Mauricio Soler of Barloworld took a flyer inside 3k to go and it almost worked...	... but he was caught with 100m to go with a patented killer move by Danilo di Luca	The TV cameras captured his winning expression better but you get the idea. That's Stefano Garzelli (Ita) of Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo crossing second followed by Franco Pellizotti (Ita) of Liquigas
The Dolomites scenery (in both directions) at the finish in San Martino di Castrozza	Paulo Bettini may be retired but he's still good in front of the camera	Danilo di Luca amidst champagne spray during the third straight stage win celebration for his team LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini

Stage 5:  San Martino Di Castrozza - Alpe di Siusi, 125 km  Full Results and Report

Pretty in pink. Sweden's Thomas Lovkvist of Team Columbia - Highroad starts the day as the race leader	The Dolomites landscape early in the race	Liquigas set the pace at the base of Alpe di Siusi before their team leader, Ivan Basso, took over near the top. On his wheel are Danilo di Luca, Denis Menchov and Astana riders Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner!
It's good to see gaping mouths at the end of a mountain stage	Speaking of gaping mouths, Lance Armstrong struggled today. He stated before today's start he hoped to limit his losses to 2 minutes. He ended up losing almost 3 minutes	Rabobank's Denis Menchov jumped with 500m to go and danced his way to victory. Second was Danilo di Luca and five seconds back, in the distance, are Thomas Lovkvist and Ivan Basso.
A killer never likes to lose even when he gets the Maglia Rosa as a consolation	Not a good day, No doubt not fully recovered from his broken collarbone seven weeks ago.	The tall podium girls lean over to give the diminutive, Danilo di Luca, the kisses he's earned for riding into the Maglia Rosa

Stage 6:  Bressanone/Brixen - Mayrhofen (Aut), 248km  Full Results and Report

The pink bracelet is a sign of Ivan Basso's support for the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake in Danilo Di Luca's home region	A couple sly grins on the faces of Diquigiovanni boys, Leonardo Bertagnolli and Michele Scarponi, belie today's strategy	The peloton entering Austria
Today's main break consisting of (L-to-R) Oscar Gatto (ISD), Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne), Guillame Bonnafond (AG2R La Mondiale), Kasper Klostergaard (Saxo Bank) and Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni)	Your daily fix of Lance Armstrong. He lost more time today finishing 73rd, 1'17" off the winning time.	The remnants of the peloton chasing the remnants of the break down the last (fast) descent roughly 20k from the finish
Vasili Kiryenka (Caisse d'Epargne) and Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni) were the two surviving members of the break on the flats into Mayrhofen	Michele Scarponi is now in full time-trial mode at the end of a long, hard day.	The self-described "mange dog", Scarponi, dropped the cramping Kiryenka and wins Solitario! His first Giro win.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) of Team Columbia - Highroad leads the strung-out, tired peloton in @ 32 seconds

Stage 7:  Innsbruck (Aut) - Chiavenna, 244km  Full Results and Report

Yesterday's winner, Michele Scarponi, signing in this morning	The Maglia Rosa has his eye on the the umbrella girl who has her eye on the Maglia Ciclamino	Beautiful scenery at the start among ominous clouds
One of the American fans on hand to cheer the peloton up the long, gradual climb. (I wonder how this scene played out ie. Does he somehow get off the road or is he eventually run over?)	Lance Armstrong says he's now "working" for Levi. Notice the "new" jerseys with faded Astana logos. That's the riders' protest over unpaid wages.	Alessandro Bertolini (Diquigiovanni) built a maximum lead of two minutes on the peloton with some skillful and questionable descending on the wet, technical road near the finish
After a wet, harrowing descent, a five man break emerges led by Robert Hunter (Barloworld) followed by Pavel Brutt (Katusha), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad), Davide Vigano (Fuji-Servetto) and Alessandro Bertolini (Diquigiovanni)	Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) easily wins the bunch sprint	The young man from Norway is good in foul weather and very pleased to win his first Grand Tour stage. More stage wins are in the future for this rising star.

Stage 8:  Morbegno - Bergamo, 209km  Full Results and Report

Mark Cavendish signs in this morning. He's looking forward to tomorrow's flat circuit race in Milano.	The start on Lago Como: good cycling and gorgeous scenery if you've never been.	Spanish rider Pedro Horrillo (Rabobank) has gone over the guardrail on the first descent of the day
He fell 150 ft and it took rescuers 10 minutes to locate him (unconscious). According to team officials, Horrillo has a broken femur and knee, several broken ribs and a punctured lung, plus head and chest trauma.	When the break containing Leipheimer, Horner, Cunego and Rogers was caught with 15 km to go by the LPR led peloton, Kanstantsin Siutsou of Team Columbia-Highroad attacked	The famous finish in the old part of Bergamo always has a large, enthusiastic crowd
Lance Armstrong looked better today doing numerous pulls at the front of the peloton	It was a special win for Kanstantsin Siutsou. The Belarus native won by 21 seconds in his new home region with his wife making a rare race appearance.	Team Columbia almost swept the podium, but Danilo Diluca (center) nipped in for third with a better bike throw to capture a eight second time bonus which extends his overall GC lead

Stage 9:  Milano Show 100, 165km  Full Results and Report

Fashionable Mario Cipollini is right at home in Milano	Mark Cavendish rolling to the start. We'll see him again later.	Michael Rogers during the rollout. He later tweeted after the race, "Funny that everyone is blaming the riders for our protest today. No one mentions the parked cars on the circuit, the on coming traffic, tram tracks in the middle of corners, people walking onto the circuit."
Lance Armstrong at the front of the peloton going 30 kph	Sciopero! (Midrace Strike)	Killing time while Danilo Di Luca addresses the crowd
Race Director, Angelo Zomegnan was furious. Post race he said "When one becomes old, the legs grow shorter, the tongue grows longer." Who do you think he's referring to? And it's not the UCI rider rep, Dario Cioni, although he gave him a tongue lashing too.	More "race action"	The pace picked up to 50 kph for the last three laps. People wondered why after the riders deemed the course too dangerous earlier. Anyway, here's Canadian Michael Barry driving the pace for teammate Mark Cavendish.
Mark Cavendish in control of the sprint finish with 25m to go	Same time, different angle	Cavendish reminding the crowd he's the best. Allan Davis of QuickStep (right) was second while Tyler Farrar of Garmin (left) was third.

Stage 10:  Cuneo - Pinerolo, 262km  Full Results and Report

Lance and scary looking Girbecco (the new Giro d'Italia mascot)	Don't be fooled. We are headed towards the mountains.	A killer biding his time
Danilo Di Luca commented post-race that Lance Armstrong is getting stronger each day. Here he leads the peloton in chase of...	... Stefano Garzelli who, at the top of Sestriere, had a 6:24 lead on the GC contenders	Descending Sestriere
Much to the delight of the crowd, Danilo Di Luca made his move on the steep pitch just before the finish. Sastre and Pellizotti (in the rear) couldn't match his acceleration.	The other GC favorites (Basso, left and Leipheimer, right) were gritting it out to minimize their losses	By the finish, Danilo Di Luca had extended his lead to 10 seconds over 2nd place Franco Pellizotti and 3rd place Denis Menchov (both in the distance). With the 20 second winner's time bonus, Di Luca extended his overall lead by 49 seconds over Basso and Leipheimer.

Stage 11:  Torino - Arenzano (Genova), 214km  Full Results and Report

Rolling to the start in Torino. This is the sixth straight day that Danilo Di Luca has worn the Maglia Rosa.	Are you getting use to the new ISD kit yet or do you think it's butt ugly?	Some in peloton enjoyed the nice countryside
Levi Leipheimer tweeted his crash: "Not my day, one hand on the bars while drinking and someone dropped a full waterbottle in front of me, hit it straight on w/ my front wheel. I went head over heels and lost a lot of skin on the hot pavement, 100 degrees! Crashing sucks!!"	Filippo Pozzato of Team Katusha crashed today as well. He would finish 5.48 back.	Lance Armstrong led the descent to the shores of Arenzano
Team Columbia's Mark Renshaw and Edvald Boasson Hagen (peeling off right wearing the Maglia Ciclamino) provided another great lead out for Mark Cavendish	A textbook win for Cav. (What's Tyler Farrar about to say?)

Stage 12:  Sestri Levante - Riomaggiore (ITT), 60.6km  Full Results and Report

Lance Armstrong is ready too roll at the start in Sestri Levante.	Denis Menchov preparing for the start of the epic 61k Cinque Terre time-trial	Lance gave it everything and all things considered posted a decent time finishing 13th 2.26 minutes back of the winner
Levi Leipheimer was the pre-start favorite and he did dial-in a great time; however...	Denis Menchov was the winner beating Levi's time by 20 seconds. Winning time: 61k in 1.34.29.	Danilo Di Luca was expected to lose more time to the best time trialists. He did lose his maglia rosa, but he's just 34 seconds off the overall lead after posting the 6th best time @1.57
Andrea Masciarelli of Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo carves one of the 600 corners along the 61k route	Breathtaking is the word everyone is using	Two huge wins so far... After winning the Alpe di Siusi mountaintop finish on stage 5, Denis Menchov has now won the pivotal Cinque Terre time trial
It's too early to really celebrate, but Menchov is in Pink with nine stages remaining. Is his Rabobank team good enough to keep it that way? Stay tuned...

Stage 13:  Lido di Camaiore - Firenze, 176km  Full Results and Report

This morning's sign-in was located at the end of a pier on Lido di Camaiore	The race leader, Denis Menchov, gets the pink carpet treatment	With a break up the road, Team Columbia is pacesetting for Mark Cavendish while Rabobank is also at the front doing obligatory work for the race leader
Mark Cavendish had a small crash, but was back on his way in no time	It wasn't a tough stage but it wasn't all downhill either. Seriously, the terrain may not have been difficult but the pace was fast. Winning time: 176 km in just 3.48.36 (45.931 km/h)	Another hot day in the saddle
Team Garmin-Slipstream set the pace in the last few kilometers, but the Team Columbia leadout pulled through again	Mark Cavendish wins ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (2nd) and Allan Davis (3rd)	A couple farewell kisses before Cavendish officially announces he's quitting the race

Stage 14:  Campi Bisenzio - Bologna (San Luca), 172km  Full Results and Report

It was no secret that Danilo Di Luca (2nd from left) wanted the win and the ensuing time bonus today so his LPR Brakes team spent most of the day chasing the break up the road	Without help from others teams, it was a good effort down the drain. A lot of matches burnt for nothing as the break stayed away...	The first two men to hit the pivotal 16% grade one km from the finish in San Luca. Simon Gerrans (left) pedals like a winner while Christopher Froome (right) literally hit the wall weaving his way backward to 7th. Froome was overgeared and needed a 27T by his own admission.
Francesco Reda of Quick Step suffering miserably much to the delight of the onlookers. He finished 8th @1.01.	The GC contenders arrived together... a missed opportunity for Danilo Di Luca. Franco Pellizotti of Liquigas (green in the rear) crossed 10th, best among this group.	Simon Gerrans gets his 2nd Grand Tour win and the first for Cervelo Test Team
Surprisingly, former Giro winner Gilberto Simoni lost 30 seconds to his GC rivals on the steep finishing climb. Gibo is now 5.07 back on GC in 8th place in likely his last Giro.	Nice to see a different team atop the winner's podium today. Aussie Simon Gerrans of Cervelo Test Team (sans braces)	A heavenly celebration for Denis Menchov's second day in Pink

Stage 15:  Forli - Faenza, 161km  Full Results and Report

The daily releasing of balloons by the maglia rosa	Like yesterday, another big break is up the road. Rabobank keeps the gap under control in the sweltering heat	Idyllic cycling roads all day long; the peloton passing through Valico La Valletta
The Appenine mountains are not spectacular but what a route today... nothing but one-lane roads. Book me a tour!	With the main break still up the road, Ivan Basso attacked on Monte Casale. He was reluctantly followed by Danilo Di Luca and Denis Menchov... and eventually Levi Leipheimer (in the rear) clawed his way back on.	Leonardo Bertagnolli of Diquigiovanni attacks the break on Monte Trebbio, the last climb of the day
Going over the top of Monte Trebbio, Leonardo Bertagnolli is joined by Serge Pauwels of Cervelo Test Team. Pauwels was later called back to the chasing group in case team leader Carlos Sastre needed him; thus, clearing the way for a solo win by Bertagnolli.	Denis Menchov remained in control of the race going over Monte Trebbio	Local (Trentino) boy Leonardo Bertagnolli of Diquigiovanni celebrates his first Giro win at age 31 for his new team

Stage 16:  Pergola - Monte Petrano, 237km  Full Results and Report

Astana's Yaroslav Popovych drives the main break while unwrapping an energy bar early in the race. Popovych, the last surviving break member, was later caught just 2 km from the finish.	Winner of the first KOM over Monte delle Cesane, Michele Scarponi, attacks the break with Damiano Cunego in tow. Popovych later joined them. Scarponi, the self-described "mange dog" would later fade before the finish.	Denis Menchov, Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong descending the narrow roads in 90+F heat
The Giro d'Italia unlike the Tour de France is willing to use roads not much wider than a golf cart path	On the last climb of the day, Monte Petrano, Carlos Sastre breaks free from the GC contenders in pursuit of Popovych and time.	Ivan Basso was also in attack mode just behind Sastre
Denis Menchov (rear) was only concerned with marking Danilo Di Luca, his nearest Maglia Rosa/GC threat	Further back, Lance Armstrong is towing Levi Leipheimer, who has blown a gasket in the heat. Levi would finish 11th @ 2.51 off the winning time	Fans lining a switchback as the crowds start to get thicker near the top
Carlos Sastre of Cervelo Test Team wins the Queen Stage featuring 17000 ft of climbing in a sufferfest-like time of 7 hours and 11 minutes	Menchov takes the 2nd place time bonus from Di Luca. Basso (4th) was obviously caught in the last few km	Sastre has moved into 3rd overall and may well stand on the final podium in Rome

Stage 17:  Chieti - Blockhaus, 83km  Full Results and Report

With Franco Pellizotti up the road, Danilo Di Luca jumped from the peloton and was joined by Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso and Stefano Garzelli	Carlos Sastre was caught out by the move and never regained touch with the Maglia Rosa group. He would end up slipping from 3rd to 5th on GC. Lance Armstrong continues to look better each day.	Di Luca tried repeatedly to drop Menchov
But Menchov continues to look in control. Di Luca's facial expression the entire climb seemed to indicate he was about 50m from the finish.	Meanwhile, Franco Pellizotti, having attacked at the base of the climb, continued to grind away up the road. Inside one km to go, it was clear he would stay away.	Franco Pellizotti of Liquigas wins Blockhaus and moves up to third on GC, two minutes back of Menchov
Di Luca's final attempt to shed Menchov finally works	However, Stefano Garzelli after sitting at the back the entire climb pipped the home favorite (Di Luca) at the line for 4 extra bonus seconds that Di Luca could use. Garzelli was later booed loudly by the partisan tifosa during the podium ceremony.	For the first time, race leader Menchov showed a crack today; gapped at the line and grimacing in pain at the finish. Photographer Roberto Bettini had a much better angle (camera lower-left) of this photo

Stage 18:  Sulmona - Benevento, 182km  Full Results and Report

All smiles still for Team Faded after riding a difficult Giro without pay. (They will get some money for winning the Team Classification as it stands)	Being the wearer of the Maglia Bianca affords you a few privileges. With a 2.09 lead, Kevin Seeldrayers of QuickStep should win the under-25 competition barring a rookie mistake.	Starting under a Roman Aquaduct in Sulmona to an appreciated crowd
A huge break is up the road	There was a pile up in the break during a brief shower; Jackson Rodriguez of Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli won't enjoy sitting on plastic chairs for the next week.	The mange dog has done it again; Michele Scarponi of S. Diquigiovanni-Androni timed his bunch sprint perfectly.
The field sprint went uncontested	Being a two-time winner will get you the attention of the podium girls	Looking tanned and relaxed in Pink with three days left

Stage 19:  Avellino - Vesuvio, 164km  Full Results and Report

The peloton dwarfed by the spectacular Amalfi Coast	Amalfi Coast	The peloton passing through a village, Positano, on the Amalfi Coast
When the road turned inland at Sorrento up to Monte Vesuvio, Ivan Basso went on the attack later joined by Carlos Sastre	With 4 km to the top of the 13 km finishing climb, Franco Pellizotti launched off the front of the peloton to join his Liquigas teammate, Ivan Basso up the road	The remnants of the peloton: Stefano Garzelli, Danilo Di Luca, Denis Menchov followed by Levi Leipheimer, Serge Pauwels (obscured), David Arroyo Durran, Lance Armstrong and Gilberto Simoni
Once again, Menchov matched Di Luca pedal stroke for pedial stroke up the finishing climb	Sastre rode the last 5 km (mostly) on his own	Carlos Sastre wins his second mountaintop finish this Giro in spectacular fashion in every respect
Di Luca and Menchov crossed after Pellizotti. Both riders showed the effects of going beyond the limit for three weeks. Basso in the rear.	Menchov lost a few more bonus seconds but despite appearances still looks good in Pink	Carlos Sastre celebrates another win for Cervelo Test Team

Stage 20:  Napoli - Anagni, 203km  Full Results and Report

Likely the jersey winners: Kevin Seeldraeyers, best young rider; Stefano Garzelli, mountains classification leader; Denis Menchov, overall leader; and Danilo Di Luca, points leader.	The peloton chasing the break	Up the road: Anthony Charteau, Marco Pinotti, , Paolo Tiralongo and Bartosz Huzarski
When the race came back together, Philippe Gilbert jumped with 1.5 km to go	A rare win for Slience-Lotto this year	Thomas Voeckler of BBox Bouygues Telecom couldn't chase him down
Philippe Gilbert getting a couple authentic podium kisses	Stefano Garzelli of Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo won the field sprint for 3rd, but he's on the podium because he leads the Mountains classification	Starting to cut loose; Denis Menchov of Rabobank added two bonus seconds from an intermediate sprint and now leads the race by 20 seconds over the inferior time trialist, Danilo Di Luca

Stage 21:  Roma (ITT), 14.4km  Full Results and Report

	Awe-inspiring Roman architecture early in the race before the weather turned	The technical course on wet cobbles was treacherous
Giovanni Visconti cheered on at the finish	Gasps could be heard around the world when the Maglia Rosa slid out on the wet cobbles inside 2 km to go	Lithuanian Ignatas Konovalovas of Cervelo Test Team benefited from an early start time in dry conditions. His winning time: 18.42 (46.203 km/h)
The cool customer cuts loose		The Final Podium in front of the Coliseum... not superimposed ;-) 2nd Danilo Di Luca @ 41 seconds, 1st Denis Menchov and 3rd Franco Pellizotti @1.59