Mon, May 25, 2009 page19

• Simon Gerrans wins 14th stage of Giro, while Denis Menchov keeps pink jersey

  • AP
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  Simon Gerrans of Australia won the 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia with a long breakaway on Saturday, but Denis Menchov held on to the overall leader’s pink jersey.

  Menchov remained 34 seconds in front of Danilo Di Luca, while Levi Leipheimer dropped three seconds in an uphill finish and now trails Menchov by 43 seconds in third place.

  Gerrans clocked 4 hours, 16 minutes and 48 seconds over the hilly 172km leg from Campi Bisenzio to Bologna.

  

  Australian Simon Gerrans celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the 14th stage of the 92nd Giro of Italy between Florence and Bologna on Saturday.

  PHOTO: AFP

  Rubens Bertogliati of Switzerland finished second, 12 seconds behind, and Francesco Gavazzi of Italy was third, 18 seconds back.

  Gerrans was part of a 14-man group that broke away from the main pack 12km into the stage. The Cervelo team rider left behind his final breakaway companions shortly before the finish.

  Gerrans won a stage in last year’s Tour de France with a similar breakaway and uphill finish. This time, his plan was only to go up the road in case defending Tour champion Carlos Sastre needed him later in the stage.

  “Our tactics were to put men in the front and be ready in case Carlos [needed] us there,” Gerrans said. “It was only in the last 20K that I knew that our break would go all the way to the finish. From there, Phillip [Deignan] set me up perfectly for the final. It was perfect tactics.”

  Di Luca’s LPR squad chased the breakaway for much of the stage, but then gave up when other teams refused to help.

  “We pushed until the 50K mark and then I told my teammates to slow down because we couldn’t catch them,” Di Luca said. “We spent too much energy today. Liquigas could have helped more today. They keep saying they’re going to attack.”

  The stage began on the outskirts of Florence and featured three climbs as it traversed the Appenine mountains, then concluded with a short — 2.1km — but steep ascent to the San Luca shrine.

  The stage was perfectly suited for Di Luca and the 2007 winner would have liked to finish in the top three to gain a time bonus.

  Even though he knew the stage would be won by a rider from the breakaway, Di Luca attacked on the climb to San Luca.

  Menchov was able to keep up with Di Luca on the climb, while Leipheimer dropped about 25m behind on the steepest section with a 16 percent gradient, but was able to close most of the gap before the finish and keep his losses to a minimum of only three seconds.

  “I kind of expected it,” Leipheimer said. “It’s not a big deal but I don’t want to give up seconds.”

  Di Luca, Menchov, Sastre and a few other riders finished 1:04 behind Gerrans, while Leipheimer and pre-race favorite Ivan Basso, who rides for Liquigas, crossed 1:07 back.

  “Three seconds is not so much, but maybe it’s a good sign for us,” Menchov said. “It’s too early for us [to attack]. This climb is unique. It’s perfect for an explosive rider like Danilo.”

  Lance Armstrong, who is still regaining his form after three-and-a-half years of retirement and breaking his collarbone in March, finished 1:58 back and dropped from 12th to 14th overall, 7:28 behind Menchov.

  Armstrong is supporting Leipheimer in his bid to win the Giro, and it was an unusual sight to see the seven-time Tour de France winner in the role of a domestique — helper — carrying water bottles up from the team car to Leipheimer and another teammate late in the stage.

  For a third consecutive day, the stage was shaped by severe heat and humidity, with the temperature hovering at about 30°C.

  British sprinter Mark Cavendish withdrew after winning stage 13 for his third victory in this year’s race and his leadout man Mark Renshaw also left. The Katusha team leader, Filippo Pozzato, pulled out citing a knee injury.

  Another undulating stage was scheduled yesterday, with a 161km route from Forli to Faenza. A tough uphill finish to Monte Petrano awaits today before the race ends in Rome next weekend.

  “Tomorrow is a tough stage but it’s not as tough as today was, so we’ve got to try and recuperate for Monday,” Di Luca said. “A big part of this Giro is going to be decided Monday.”
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