News Letter

David Olle in Italy, +39 333 5959 217.

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. Particularly this one. The images of the ‘bianca strada' (translated literally as ‘white roads' or what we know as dirt roads) are spectacular in this wet, decisive, stage.

Giro d'Italia, May 8 - 30, 2010, Report Stage 7, Saturday, May 15, 215 km

Carrara → Montalcino

profile | map | timetable | preview |

White in Green, Pink slips on Black, and Cadel conquers White.
While Matt White started today in the green climbers jersey, after his excellent ride yesterday not only won him the stage, but the lead in the GPM category, also. Italy's favorite Tuscan/Sicilian pink attired race leader, Vincenzo Nibali, went skidding across the road, into a ditch, like a skipped stone (‘cept there wasn't a skip anywhere near him). Cadel, looking the most relaxed as I've ever seen him, rode with the front group, across the ‘muddy white roads' he followed Vinokourov's attacks with ease, and sat on when required, until putting in the final attack as the road rose in the last kilometre, where he lead them all home.

Remember that Individual Time Trial at the TdF in Albi, back in 2007, when Vino took the win from Cadel, then went positive a few days later? Today's a little sweet revenge-payback.

Results
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 5:13:37

2 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:00:02

3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana

General classification
1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 24:09:42

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:12

3 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Transitions 0:01:29

Skippy report: See above. It couldn't get any better, and we're only one week in. Just to re-cap, we've had every jersey, and two stage wins. Enjoy it, these are the golden days.

Cuisine report: As we were carrying out reconnaissance today, near the passes of Mortirolo and Gavia, we stopped in Ponte di Legno (where the Giro's penultimate stage will finish on May 29) for lunch. For antipasto we were served cured ‘Cervo' (deer). Dried and hung like proscuito, for 2 years. If blindfolded, I doubt I could pick it (if not for the fat).

Gavia Pass Report: CHIUSO, CLOSED, FERME, GEOFFNET (today anyway).

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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