News Letter

David Olle in Italy, +39 333 5959 217

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Uphill foggy stage finish sees Saxo Bank's danish rider Sorensen take the win. No other major changes today.

Results
1 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 4:50:48

2 Simone Stortoni (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox 0:00:30

3 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervelo TestTeam 0:00:36

General classification
1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team

3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo

USA report: I neglect our US friends, on this mailout list, with virtually no mention of their riders Giro efforts whatsoever. But it is balanced, as a skip receiver of these missives, currently in Colorado, let me know this morning, there’s been nary a mention in the US press about Cadel & Mattie’s wins. Tour of California starts today, for them.

Cuisine report: Tagliata di Manzo (sliced grilled rare steak) for lunch at an agriturismo in the hills south of Padua today. MBW chose Risotto with fresh white in-season asparagus. Beef for the boys, asparagus for the girls, love it.

‘Yesterday’s Report’ report: Got my Matt’s mixed yesterday. Matt WHITE retired two years ago, but is a favorite of ours, as we have interviewed him many times, in his role as a rider and as a Team Director. Matt LLOYD is the Melbournian-stage-winning-green-jersey-wearing rider in the Giro. Apparently the artistic side of my brain took over, excited about the concept of placing all the colours of the Italian flag into a headline. But what’s a faux pas (or two) between friends? (and yes, I have been on the grappa…)

For those in Australia, SBS does a daily report on the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy) called by Matt Keenan in the evenings, catch them if you can.

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

Topbike Tours (just book it)
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