News Letter

David Olle in Italy, +39 333 5959 217

Giro d'Italia, May 8 - 30, 2010, Stage 11 Wednesday, May 19 256 km

Lucera → L'Aquila

profile | map | timetable | preview

Hump day. Middle of the Giro. 11 stages down, 10 to go, and it all got turned upside down.
Tasmania's Richie Porte is in Pink and it went pear-shaped for today's GC leaders. A break so big almost no one could count it accurately (ok, maybe 56?), got away, and aided by bad weather, managed to resurrect some GC riders who were nearly ten minutes down. Sastre and Wiggins being the prominent ones. AND Richie Porte, who's lead is now so great, has an excellent chance of taking the overall. The second half of this Giro is looking to be as good, or better than the first!

Today's leader came in so late, they almost presented the NEW pink jersey before the current one finished.

Anyone who wants to wax lyrical about living the dream as a pro-bike-rider need only watch today's fairy tale stage, in the rain and cold.....it was grimm. The Maglia Rosa's teeth were chattering with 10k to go (maybe with fear?).

Results
1 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Team Katusha 6:28:29  
2 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quick Step 0:00:05  
3 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team

General classification
1 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 45:30:16  
2 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:01:42  
3 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-Doimo 0:01:56
Cadel & Vino are way down (but not out).

Skippy re-Porte: Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte- Richie Porte! Leading both the young rider classification, and the overall. Legend!

Cuisine report: http://twitpic.com/1p5m3u

Media report: Oh, talk about putting Tasmania on the map! Inbetween commiserating about their own poor performances, the Italian press are loving banging on about Tassie.

For those in Australia, SBS2 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)
www.topbike.com.au

Topbike TV
www.topbiketv.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/TopbikeTV

PO Box 1717
Collingwood
Vic     3066
AUSTRALIA

M:  + 61 (0)415 866 061
Ph:  + 61 (0)3 9419 2040
Fx:  + 61 (0)3 9419 3969
Twitter feed @DavidOLLE
Skype:  topbiketours

Thanks, as always to GIANT bikes, SMP Saddles, Salice Sunglasses, Excell Travel, Nalini Clothing, Brunetti, Divella pasta, MTBskills.com.au, Videocraft, Channel 31 and cyclesportnews.com.au.

Your Subscription: