Pro Cycling: Giro di Sardegna 2010
Feb 23 - Feb 27

Giro di Sardegna Dashboard

Stage 1:  Olbia - Bornova 144.2km  Full Results and Report

Team RadioShack at the pre-start teams presentation. That's Chris Horner second from the left and Janez Brajkovic fourth from the left	Footen-Servetto making their way to the stage. However you look at it, their team kit is just butt ugly.	A beautiful morning at the start in Olbia... just what these riders are looking for at this time of the year
This would be a hilly stage, but Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi is practically out the back even before the stage is underway	Team ISD attacked at the base of the steep finishing hill into Bornova then Acqua e Sapone's Francesco Failli moved into the lead heading into the final corner with 400m to go	RadioShack's Chris Horner (right) was near the front during his first race of the year before he stepped off the train in the final corner. That's Giovanni Visconti (left) on his ISD teammate Oscar Gatto's wheel flanked by Francesco Gavazzi (obscured) followed by Przemyslaw Niemec (center), the only non-Italian to crack the top 10 today.
The strung out finish: Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) of Lampre-Farnese Vini wins ahead Gatto and Visconti of ISD	After finishing a close second place at last weekend's one-day Trofeo Laigueglia, Gavazzi gives Lampre their fourth win of the year	Today's podium: 2nd Oscar Gatto (Ita) ISD - Neri, 1st Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini and 3rd Giovanni Visconti (Ita) ISD - Neri
A fish-eye view of the jersey leaders and the huge race trophy. L-R: Gavazzi, Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Miche (mountains classification) and Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia

Stage 2:  Macomer - Monte Ortobene (Nuoro) 172.6km  Full Results and Report

Killing time at the finish line. The climb wasn't too difficult if a front wheel wasn't needed.	A spectacular view from the slopes of Monte Ortobene overlooking Nuoro	The lead group with 400m to go. That's the RAI motorcycle on the right capturing footage so that only Italians can watch video highlights of this fine race.
Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) of Colnago leads the way to the line followed by Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli, Damiano Caruso (Ita) De Rosa - Stac Plastic, Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo , Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack, Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom, Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Miche and Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack	Chris Horner looking good during his second day of racing this year	A classic Romandie sort of win for Roman Kreuziger on Monte Ortobene ...
... followed by Chris Horner and Thomas Voeckler	A tidy little win to kick off his 2010 campaign	It appears the trophy for this event is big enough to stand in
Your stage 2 podium: 2nd Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack, 1st Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo and 3rd Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom

Stage 3:  Nuoro - Oristano 206km  Full Results and Report

Unlike yesterday morning, nice weather at the start of today's stage (in Nuoro) with Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi contemplating a dry sprint finish 206 km later in Oristano.	Leaving the hills and mountains around Nuoro for the coast	There are only sixteen teams for this race and the field (minus the five-rider break) looks small from this perspective
Liquigas doing obligatory pacesetting with some nice Lago Omodeo scenery in the background	Race leader Roman Kreuziger third from the right. In addition to their overall GC aspirations, the men in neon green wanted to bring the five man break back for their sprinters today...	... where Jacopo Guarnieri of Liquigas took third
But, it's hard to beat Alessandro Petacchi on flat, dry, Italian soil... mainland or not... sick or healthy	Petacchi relishing another win	Your stage 3 podium: 2nd Enrico Rossi (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia, 1st Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini and 3rd Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo

Stage 4:  Carbonia - Iglesias 181.5km  Full Results and Report

The 20% chance of rain materialized at the start in Carbonia, but it was just a slight drizzle and then we'd be done for the day	As the signage indicates, this early break formed just 2 km from the start	Lampre's workhorse Danilo Hondo leads the chase. He would be unexpectedly rewarded for his work later on.
Caduta! Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) and Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas) collide at the front during the slightly uphill sprint finish.	Petacchi's leadout man Danilo Hondo watches the ensuing pile up involving his team leader...	... before realizing he can now win the stage. The red and green arrows indicate where Chris Horner and Roman Kreuziger were positioned when this unfolded.
Danilo Hondo crosses first ahead of Giovanni Visconti (ISD)	ISD's Oscar Gatto took the worst of the fall from the third position when his head was driven into the pavement. Both knees, elbows and his face were cut up. (Update from @driskok: note the derailleur on Petacchi's bike (#11) post crash. Halfway up the seat stay! Snapped pre-crash?) However reportedly, Petacchi clipped a spectator with his arm.	Amazingly, Liquigas' Fabio Sabatini (left) came away with few visible marks. Of course, all attention was directed at Petacchi's status. Petacchi would have won his fifth race of the year.

Stage 5:  Sant' Antioco - Cagliari 140.6km  Full Results and Report

Sardinian pre-race snacks. The always smiling Androni - Diquigiovanni team would have good reason to smile at the end of the stage as well.	RadioShack's Chris Horner was smiling too at the beautiful start on Sant'Antioco	Sant'Antioco is the name of both an island and a municipality (comune) in southwestern Sardinia. A fish-eye view of the start.
Returning across the causeway to Sardinia proper	Some of the great scenery...	... The peloton weaving its way along the coast with Liquigas at the front for their GC leader, Roman Kreuziger
The corner sprint finish in Sardinia's capital city, Cagliari	Alberto Loddo beats yesterday's crash victims (Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi and ISD's Oscar Gatto)	His third win of the year
Androni - Diquigiovanni's team manager, Gianni Savio, (left) is smiling again post-race	Roman Kreuziger (Cze) of Liquigas gets to keep the final leader's jersey	Rehashing the stage 2 podium photo because it's also the final GC podium: 2nd Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack, 1st Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo and 3rd Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom