2012 giro-d-italia photos stage-15

Giro d'Italia (2012) Photos; Stage 15: Busto Arsizio → Lecco/Pian dei Resinelli, 172 km
« Stage 14 photos	return to: « Giro d'Italia 2012 Live Dashboard \| Giro d'Italia (2012) photo gallery	Stage 16 photos »

The Lombardy tifosi lining up in the start area. The racing in this region is always classic and today didn't disappoint the fans.		share this photo


The roll out from Busto Arsizio for the second mountain stage as the rain started coming down		share this photo

Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) and Guillaume Bonnafond (AG2R) started the early break before Rabottini decided go solo after the first of four categorized climbs and 80 km still to go		share this photo

This group which included Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) rolled off the peloton in persuit of Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) through the steep, treacherous Bergamo Alps		share this photo

There were remarkably few descending crashes on this treacherous stage, but with 10 km to go, race leader Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) spun out on a descent leading up to the final climb		share this photo

Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) gathered himself and preceded up the 7.8 km @ 7.8 % finishing climb to Pian dei Resinelli with a 2 minute advantage over the chase and 3 minutes over the peloton		share this photo

After having done no work in the chase Alberto Losada (Katusha) attacked the chase at the base of Pian dei Resinelli		share this photo


Lonely Matteo Rabottini could take any support he could get at this point. It must have worked because his lead wasn't coming down very fast.		share this photo

Michele Scarponi attacking from the GC group		share this photo

Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and a few others caught the remnants of the chase (Damiano Cunego) with 2 km to go		share this photo

1.5 km to go and it was just Scarponi, Rodriguez, Henao and Basso left among the GC contenders		share this photo

Meanwhile, the lights were going out for Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) at the front of the race		share this photo

With 1 km to go, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) launched an attack on the uphill finish like only he can and he caught Matteo Rabottini with just 200m to go... but it wasn't over...		share this photo


Matteo Rabottini regained the lead in the final corner with 50m to go		share this photo

It looked all over for Rabottini when Joaquim Rodriguez caught him, but then he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat		share this photo

An incredible finish to an epic day of cycling in the Bergamo Alps		share this photo

After being caught by Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) with 200m to go, Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) regained the lead with an inside move on the final corner just 50m from the line to take a deserving win		share this photo

Storytale finish; this has to be the sweetest first Grand Tour win you can ever imagine. His only other pro win came last year at Tour of Turkey.		share this photo

“I didn’t really think I’d win when I went on the attack but on days like this it’s important not to crack mentally. When Rodriguez passed me I thought I’d lost but then in the last 50 metres, when I managed to pass him, I could hardly believe it.” “On the last climb I used a low gear because I couldn’t go any harder. I knew that it was the only way of having a chance of making it to the finish. I only changed gear when Rodriguez caught me.” “I have a great relationship with Luca Scinto my team manager. We’ve focused on the Giro d’Italia since last winter. He told me: ‘Ride the Giro and win a stage.’ I just laughed at the idea but then started to believe him and worked really hard. It has paid off now.”		share this photo


25 seconds back crossed Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Sky), Michele Scarponi (Lampre - ISD) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale)		share this photo

It was a better day than most people believed for defensive Ivan Basso as he moved up to 3rd overall + 1:22		share this photo

The Pink Jersey (Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin - Barracuda) and Dario Cataldo (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) crossed 12th and 13th + 39s		share this photo

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Barracuda) lost the race lead today and is now 2nd + 30s		share this photo

As the pain of a solo win was wearing off...		share this photo

... the wheels were coming off for Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox who was still on the course		share this photo


The descents and chasing back on took there toll on Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago - CSF Inox as he creaked on the final climb and finished 24th + 2:05		share this photo

34th was Christian Vande Velde (Garmin - Barracuda) + 4:52, the top U.S. rider		share this photo

As the fans descended, trailing riders were still negotiating the 15 switchbacks on the final climb.		share this photo

Mark Cavendish finished in the grupetto 35 minutes later at the back of the race and retains he's points competition lead. He even added to it with an early intermediate sprint on today's stage.		share this photo

24 year old Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) looks a little stunned on the stage 15 podium as his win sinks in		share this photo

Back in Pink, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) recaptured the race lead heading into the final rest day on Monday. He now leads Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Barracuda) by 30s. “Yesterday I tried to stay with Hesjedal when he attacked but he was really strong. Today I was perhaps a little stronger than him but the Giro d’Italia is far from over. Basso made a strong move and I suffered when he accelerated, and so I think he’s strong. I’ve won in the cold and I’m not really affected by cold conditions but I’d rather not race in the rain.”		share this photo
Giro d'Italia (2012) Photos; Stage 15: Busto Arsizio → Lecco/Pian dei Resinelli, 172 km
« Stage 14 photos	return to: « Giro d'Italia 2012 Live Dashboard \| Giro d'Italia (2012) photo gallery	Stage 16 photos »