News Letter

David Olle (NOW) in Italy, +39 333 5959 217, anytime

For those in Australia, SBS does a daily report on the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) close to 7.15am, along with a report in the evenings, called by Matt Keenan, catch them if you can.

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Results
1 Wouter Weylandt (Bel)

2 Graeme Brown (Aus)

3 Robert Forster (Ger)

General classification
Vinokourov made the front group, in a day when the field was splintered all over the place, he now sleeps in the pink leader's jersey (Maglia Rosa). Although Cadel lost the lead, it is not all bad. There is plenty in this race for the Aussies, as Richie Porte is now second overall, on the same time as the leader, and still leads the young riders competition, it's a great first week for his first grand tour.

Skippy report: In today's final 30 minutes, we watched helplessly as Cadel was caught behind a crash, he gamely chased back on his own, where he immediately moved to the front of the chase group, and drove it home, to minimize his losses against Vinokourov in the lead group. We watched as a Liquigas rider pushed Cadel back onto the front at one point, when he (Cadel) looked like fading. No one else would help the lead rider chase. It was cruel. Once again Cadel had no team support...and the opposition just stood by, almost smiling, waiting for him to go under. I know this is bike racing, but there was no fair play AND no Team BMC? Where were they?  But on the bright side, he doesn't have to protect the lead, in the first week of the race...

Cuisine report: Last night, after arriving late at our hotel, for primi, Tagliolini con Burro e Salvia (butter & sage) was on offer. If ever there was a classic example of a great dish made from an empty pantry, this is it.

Yesterday's report report: With ten hours of driving to do on Sunday, between Morzine (France) and Cuneo (Italy) and picking up all the gear needed for our Giro tours en route, it was never likely we'd be able to cover the stage in Holland. While we were negotiating two snow covered, foggy, rainy mountain passes, one of Australia's greatest day's of cycling was fought out, and all we received, by text, was a ‘Greipel Report' from our Team Colombia Aussie snout. As we arrived late at our hotel near Cuneo, I knew nothing of Cadel's ‘Maglia Rosa' until I picked up the Gazetta Della Sport this morning. C'est la vie!

Tomorrow: Tuesday, May 11, restday Savigliano, Piedmonte, Italy.

The Bike Race:

Three stages kick start the race in Holland, before they transfer to Savigliano in Italy's north west Piedmonte region. From here the race heads further south, through Tuscany, across to Abruzzo before returning to the Dolomites in the north-east and the event's Grand Finale in Verona. 198 riders (14 from Australia) complete 21 stages over 3 weeks, visiting 2 countries en route, with just 2 rest days. 3,416 kilomtres, running May 8 - 30.

The Writer:

David Olle's cycling reports are used by ABC radio's 774 DRIVE show in Melbourne, ABC radio

702 breakfast show in Sydney, ABC national overnights and 3RRR FM's Breakfasters. He chats regularly with all. He also created and produces the magazine style TV show ‘Topbike TV' which is seen throughout Australia and New Zealand on community televison. The reports are also published here, www.cyclesportnews.com, along with any photos.

These reports are independent, opinionated, Australian biased, and could miss a day here and there, along with containing the odd error.

We aim to send these reports daily, while any worthy bike race is on. You have the power to control your interest in these reports, see details below.

We also run good bike tours.

David Olle

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