2011 Giro d'Italia
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia
, one of cycling's Grand Tours
. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial
in Turin
to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification
, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.
The route was one of the most difficult in the modern history of the race, with substantial criticism that it was simply too hard for a three-week long race. Of the seven stages categorized as high mountain, six had summit arrivals, highlighted by the three stages before the second rest day ending at Grossglockner in Austria, the exceptionally steep Monte Zoncolan
, and a tall and steep peak near the Fascia Valley
in Gardeccia. There was also, for the fifth consecutive Giro, a climbing time trial, this one to the Nevegal. Of the race's 18 mass-start stages, only three ended with the majority of the field together at the front of the race.
In the third stage, rider Wouter Weylandt
crashed coming down the Passo del Bocco, near the town of Mezzanego
, suffering catastrophic injury. Despite substantial resuscitation efforts, he was established to have died on the spot. The fourth stage was not competitively raced; it was instead run as a cycling procession. On the second rest day, Xavier Tondó
, a member of , was killed in an accident at his home. Although he was not a participant, his death also had an impact on the race, as his teammates and other members of the peloton paid tribute to him in the subsequent stages.
Strong overall favorite Alberto Contador
won the race, his second time doing so, with a margin of over six minutes ahead of second-placed Michele Scarponi
. He also won the points competition as the most consistent high finisher, also with a substantial lead over Scarponi in second place. Vincenzo Nibali
completed the podium, while Stefano Garzelli
and Roman Kreuziger
won the other two jersey awards. With a Court of Arbitration for Sport
hearing pending, regarding Contador's positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, it is as yet uncertain whether all his results will stand.
of 200 riders, but the Giro received special dispensation for a 207-rider peloton, allowing a 23rd team. The three additional invited teams were , , and . Despite talk that ProTeam might be excluded to the doping scandals involving team members Riccardo Riccò
and Ezequiel Mosquera
, they were included pursuant to UCI rules.
The full list of participating teams is:
. The 2008 Giro champion, who had likewise won the 2008 Vuelta a España
and three editions of the Tour de France
, announced in April 2010 that he would contest the Giro in 2011. Though his status was put in doubt after a positive test for clenbuterol
at the 2010 Tour de France
, he was cleared by his national federation in February 2011 and able to return to racing, though the case still pended a final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
later in 2011. Contador was the overwhelming favorite for overall victory. Reigning Giro champion Ivan Basso
chose not to return, preferring to focus on the Tour de France
later in the season. He briefly considered riding as a domestique for Vincenzo Nibali
, but opted against it because of his physical condition at the time and the feeling that doing so would be disrespectful to the race. The 2011 Giro was thus the third successive edition, and fourth in the last five, in which the reigning champion did not return to defend his championship.
The other five former Grand Tour winners in the field were Stefano Garzelli
, Danilo Di Luca
, Denis Menchov
, Carlos Sastre
, and Vincenzo Nibali
. Of the five, only Menchov and Nibali were considered realistic overall contenders. Other riders named as contenders included Roman Kreuziger
, riding as the leader of the team and a protected rider in a Grand Tour for the first time in his career, 2010 Giro d'Italia
runner-up David Arroyo
, captain and 2010 Giro fourth-place finisher Michele Scarponi
, and Joaquim Rodríguez
. Riders further noted as darkhorses included Sastre, Contador's teammate and main support rider Richie Porte
, Di Luca, 's Igor Antón
, Garzelli, Domenico Pozzovivo
, Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti
, and 's dual leaders Tiago Machado
and Yaroslav Popovych
. Visconti was given the irregular race number of 150, wearing it as the Italian national champion to commemorate 150 years of Italian unification. While squads are normally given numbers from the same group of ten, such as 151 through 159, numbers ending in zero are seldom issued. Visconti's squad wore numbers 150 through 158.
The ongoing Mantova doping investigation, involving members of the team, as it was known in 2009, had an affect on the race. It greatly affected the team itself, as their manager Giuseppe Saronni
was implicated in the investigation and stepped down as team manager shortly before the Giro began, being replaced by former sporting director Roberto Damiani. Their contingent for the Giro specifically excluded any riders or staff implicated in the investigation. The foremost of these riders was former Giro winner Damiano Cunego
, though Damiani felt he would eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing. While the was unlikely to field an overall favorite, given that their top man Cadel Evans
chose to focus on the Tour de France, they were also affected by the investigation, for the second year in a row. Just as they had before the 2010 Giro, the team suspended Alessandro Ballan
and Mauro Santambrogio
, members of the team in 2009 who were named in the investigation. Again like they had in 2010, the team reactivated the two riders just after the Giro ended.
The near total dearth of flat, sprinter-friendly stages did not stop the three arguably best sprinters in the world, Mark Cavendish
, Tyler Farrar
, and Alessandro Petacchi
, from all taking the start. One sprinter who was expected to start, 's Andrea Guardini
, was not part of the start list. Though his sporting director at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey
had promised him a place in the Giro should he win two stages at that event, and Guardini indeed did win two stages in Turkey, the team believed he would be better served continuing to take part in somewhat smaller races. Other sprinters in the Giro peloton mainly came from much smaller teams and teams with little overall ambition. and sent two sprinters apiece, Gerald Ciolek
and Francesco Chicchi
for the Belgian team and Robbie Hunter and Robbie McEwen
on the American squad. Giro debutants had among their squad Slovenian sprinter Borut Božič
. 's sprinter was Francisco Ventoso
, one of the season's most prolific winners to date. The small and also sent sprinters, respectively Roberto Ferrari
and 2010 Giro stage winner Manuel Belletti
. The team had intended to send Daniele Bennati
, a former winner of the points classification in the Giro d'Italia who had had great success at the recently-run Circuit de la Sarthe
. After a crash at the Tour de Romandie
where he sustained multiple fractures and a lung contusion, he was forced out of the Giro. That squad therefore turned their sprinting hopes to the rider originally set to be Bennati's leadout man, Belgian sprinter Wouter Weylandt
.
were visited in the race, as the 2011 race commemorated the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. Attention was immediately drawn to the three stages preceeding the second rest day, stages 13, 14, and 15, each of them featuring summit finishes and multiple high-rated climbs, among them the Grossglockner, Monte Zoncolan
, and the Passo Giau, this Giro's Cima Coppi, its tallest climb. The route as it was originally announced was 3496 km (2,172.3 mi) in length, just 4 km (2.5 mi) shy of the maximum length allowed under UCI regulations. The first summit finish was Mount Etna
, which the peloton was faced with twice in stage 9. The final major climb was the Colle delle Finestre
, which made its return after last featuring in the 2005 Giro d'Italia
. While there were five stages classified as flat, and Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi
claimed he saw as many as seven potential sprint finishes, consensus was overwhelming that the majority of the route favored the strongest of the climbers at the expense of other riders.
While the route did get some positive critiques, there was also critical opinion that it was simply too difficult. This was particularly in comparison with the likewise difficult, yet not as difficult, route for the 2011 Tour de France
revealed days earlier. sporting director Sean Yates
called the route "brutal" and said that serious Tour de France contenders would not bother coming to the race since it was so difficult. This was seen as an early indication that his team's leader Bradley Wiggins
would skip the Giro. Additional critical analysis concurred that the route was excessively difficult, for its incredible amount of vertical climbing (409 km (254.1 mi) in the route as originally announced), number of summit finishes and long transfers, and the unpaved or 'white roads' which featured in stages 5 and 20. Race director Angelo Zomegnan balked at the criticisms, saying simply "It's a hard Giro but the Giro has to be hard."
Two stages in the second half of the Giro had their courses altered shortly before they were run. The more notable was stage 14, which had been hyped as the debut of the Monte Crostis
in the Giro d'Italia. Commissaires from the UCI mandated it be removed the night before stage 14 was run. The Crostis is not a well-maintained pass, and Giro officials had set out a detailed protocol wherein team cars would not follow the race up or down the mountain, and only motorbikes offering wheel changes would be present with the riders. Team managers expressed concern that they would not fully be able to fulfill their duties if not present with the riders like normal, and this was given as the basis of the UCI's decision. They held that Giro organizers had sufficiently ensured rider safety on the course, but the necessary protocols did not protect the sporting aspect of the race. Thus, the Crostis was eliminated, and the stage was reduced in length from its originally planned length of 210 km (130.5 mi). The second-category Tualis climb was added to the route for the day to offset the loss of the Crostis. However, protests from spectators disappointed by the removal of the Crostis part of the route, including many who had volunteered for works to make parts of that road safe, led to the cancellation of the Tualis climb. The route was diverted while the stage was in progress to avoid a small village at the foot of the Tualis where protesters had gathered. Therefore, the exact distance of this stage, and likewise of the entire Giro, is unknown. Zomegnan had earlier insisted that the Crostis would stay in the race, but he was obligated to accept the overruling decision of cycling's governing body. Most of the teams in the race lobbied for the removal of the Crostis; riders were satisfied that safety had been assured, but concurred that the sporting aspect of the race was not fairly served by only allowing a motorbike per team up the mountain. Zomegnan appeared on Italian television shortly before the stage was run and had scathing words for the teams and managers who had apparently approved the climb in October 2010 and again in March, in advance of the Giro, but lobbied for its removal at the last moment. The Giro's last stage, an individual time trial in Milan, was also shortened. The course was shortened by 5.5 km (3.4 mi) four days before the stage took place, due to a special election taking place in Milan the same day as the stage. City officials expected high voter turnout and did not want the city center tied up by the race all day, so the revised route began at the outskirts of Milan instead of its center. It still ended, per its original design, at the Duomo di Milano
.
In spite of first-hand criticism from riders, following the race, that the route was excessively difficult and dangerous, Zomegnan remained staunch in his defense of the route.
in the city that served as Italy's first federal capital, Turin
. The squad won this stage, making their rider Marco Pinotti
the first wearer of the race leader's pink jersey. That team's focus the next day was not to defend Pinotti's race lead, but to try to deliver their star sprinter Mark Cavendish
to the victory, which would have the indirect effect of him overtaking Pinotti for the pink jersey. Cavendish indeed became the new race leader, but after an awkward final sprint it was not he but Italian Alessandro Petacchi
who won the day. David Millar
then became the third race leader in as many days when he finished with a breakaway group that was 21 seconds the better of the main field in stage 3, though this result was obviously overshadowed by the death of Wouter Weylandt earlier in the stage.
After the procession on day four, the fourth stage to be competitively run featured yet another new race leader. On the dirt roads of Tuscany
, which had provided for one of the more spectacular stages in the 2010 Giro d'Italia
, Dutch rider Pieter Weening
won the stage with an 8-second time gap against the field. That, coupled with the 20-second time bonus for winning the day, gave him the pink jersey. There was some stability in the overall standings at this point, as the race's top riders finished together, or nearly so, in the next three stages.
Stage 9 was the first major mountain stage, featuring two ascents of Mount Etna
, including a summit finish. It was on this day that strong overall favorite Alberto Contador
first seized control of the race. Just after 's José Rujano
attacked out of the leading group on the road on the way up to Etna for the last time, Contador did likewise. Rujano struggled mightily to hold Contador's wheel and no one else came close to reaching the pair. Contador won the stage, his first Giro stage win despite having won the Italian Grand Tour in 2008, and immediately attained a minute's advantage in the overall classification. In his five previous Grand Tour wins, Contador had never lost the race lead after taking it, but he had also never taken it so early on in the race. As teams who have riders with a legitimate chance to win a race overall will generally try to avoid defending the lead for too many days, lest they tire their support riders out early and leave their leader vulnerable, there was speculation that Contador may tactically relinquish the jersey. The Spaniard himself hinted that such a move may be in his plans. This would be likeliest to happen in the heavily undulating stage 11. The breakaway group for this stage was hard-fought and late-forming, since someone from its number could potentially become the new race leader. While 's Christophe Le Mével
, who entered the day third overall and had on two other occasions come within a time bonus of claiming the jersey, made the group, neither he nor anyone in it was destined to take pink. Largely under the impetus of Michele Scarponi
's team, the breakaway group was caught before the finish. Contador and the rest of the overall favorites finished at the front of the race, with riders well down in the standings claiming the time bonuses, meaning Contador retained the race leadership after all.
Contador took the most time against the main field out of any day in stage 13. On this day, which ended at the Grossglockner in Austria, he and Rujano again finished well ahead of the main field. As they approached the finish line, Contador did not attempt to sprint for the win, seemingly content to allow Rujano to take it. Their minute and a half time gap, plus the time bonus for second place, gave Contador a lead of over three minutes in the overall standings. Only in the 2009 Tour de France
had he ever held a larger lead. The next two days were extremely difficult high mountain stages, both won by members of the team. Contador finished the best of any rider in the top five overall on both days, and so further padded his advantage. Wearing a black armband to memorialize fellow Spanish cyclist Xavier Tondó
who, though not a participant in the race, had passed away while it was run, Contador dominantly won the stage 16 uphill individual time trial
. This result put him nearly five minutes clear of the next-best rider, the largest such advantage he had ever held in any race. In stage 19, Contador again finished with another rider ahead of the main field. This time it was 's Paolo Tiralongo
, a former teammate of Contador's. Just as he had with Rujano earlier, Contador appeared to allow his companion a stage win he could have easily taken himself. Contador later commented that the victory, the first of Tiralongo's 12-year career, was meant as a gesture of thanks to the Italian for all the support riding he did for him in 2010 when the two were on the same squad. Although Contador claimed that he was not going to give his strongest effort in the stage 21 individual time trial, the Giro's final stage, his ride was still good enough for third place, extending his winning margin to over six minutes, giving him his sixth and statistically most dominant Grand Tour championship. Contador's two stage wins and numerous top five placings also made him the winner of the points competition, by a substantial margin. Michele Scarponi
and Vincenzo Nibali
completed the podium, in that order, having targeted one another once it became obvious that Contador's advantage was insurmountable. Nibali held second place on stages 13 and 14, but Scarponi overtook him on Gardeccia, finishing a minute and a half better (only six seconds the lesser of Contador), and never relinquished second place. Stefano Garzelli
was in the breakaway on the Gardeccia stage and took maximum points on three of the day's five climbs, and second place points on the other two. It was largely thanks to this performance that he won the mountains classification
at the end of the race. Roman Kreuziger
, still eligible by a matter of months, won the youth competition with his ride to sixth place overall.
On the whole, success proved to be fairly widespread. As did Contador, Cavendish won two stages, stages 10 and 12, but prior to Cavendish's second victory no team, let alone individual rider, had won two individual stages. Four other teams - , , , and - eventually repeated as stage winners. won the ill-fated stage 3 with Ángel Vicioso
and later stage 13 with Rujano. 's wins came on the two most difficult stages in the race, the back-to-back high mountain stages that preceded the second rest day. Their leader Igor Antón
won the controversy-laden day ending at Monte Zoncolan
, when the Monte Crostis
climb was removed from the route. Mikel Nieve
the next day won the stage that Contador described as the hardest of his life, a seven and a half hour day with five high climbs ending at Gardeccia. Following Petacchi's win in the contentious sprint that finished the first road stage, the team took another stage win with young Diego Ulissi
in stage 17, after another contentious sprint in which Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti
actually crossed the line first but was relegated to third for shoving Ulissi. The had winners in stage 6 with Francisco Ventoso
on an uphill sprint and in the Giro's last road race stage with Vasil Kiryienka
in a solo breakaway that finished almost five minutes better than the rest of the field. , , , , , , and each won a single stage. With 's Garzelli claiming the mountains classification and Yaroslav Popovych
from the Trofeo Fuga Pinarello, it could be said that 15 of the 22 teams that completed the race came away with some sort of victory.
Much like had occurred at the final podium celebrations for the 2009 Tour de France
, the wrong national anthem was played for Contador. Race organizers mistakenly played an old Spanish anthem with lyrics favored by former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco
. The Spanish national anthem as it should have been played would have been purely instrumental.
crashed and suffered catastrophic injury. Race doctor Giovanni Tredici, and the doctor for the team were in cars very near Weylandt's group on the road, and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation
for approximately 40 minutes. Doctors also gave Weylandt adrenaline and atropine
to try to restart his heart, though Tredici stated that resuscitation efforts were rather clearly in vain, and that Weylandt was already dead by the time they got to him. Doctors were never able to revive Weylandt, and he was declared dead on the spot. A short time later, Weylandt's body was airlifted off the descent and taken to a nearby hospital, where the pathologist conducting the autopsy concluded that the Belgian had died immediately upon crashing. Weylandt's death was the first at the Giro in 25 years, and the first at one of cycling's Grand Tours
since Fabio Casartelli
died during the 1995 Tour de France
.
Manuel Antonio Cardoso
of had been nearest to Weylandt when he crashed, and stated that Weylandt had touched a small retaining wall on the left side of the road with either his pedal or his handlebars, and was then catapulted across the road to the other side, where he again collided with something. He had looked behind him to ascertain his exact position in the race when he clipped the wall. Teammate Tom Stamsnijder
also witnessed the accident, saying "it was a very hard fall." Italian police, conducting an inquest into Weylandt's death, also took an official statement from the Portuguese rider at Team RadioShack's hotel. A memorial was placed at the crash site, where Weylandt's pregnant girlfriend and his mother, along with cyclists, passersby and residents of nearby villages, placed flowers. The team remained in the race for another day at the encouragement of Weylandt's family. David Millar
, who had taken the race lead that same day, spent the evening discussing with members of , Weylandt's best friend Tyler Farrar
, and his girlfriend and mother how best to pay tribute to the fallen rider.
Race director Angelo Zomegnan said in a post-stage press conference that race officials would respect whatever decision the peloton made regarding the next day's stage. As usually occurs when a rider dies in the midst of a multi-day cycling event, the next day was not competitively raced. Instead, the stage was preceded by a minute's silence, and ridden as a procession in Weylandt's memory. Each of the 23 teams took to the front of the peloton for about 15 minutes, and members of , along with Farrar, were allowed to finish first with their arms around each other. Millar led the rest of the field across the line a few seconds later. No results for the stage were recorded, and it did not count towards the general classification or any of the points competitions. After the stage, instead of any podium presentations, the four jersey classification leaders (Millar, Alessandro Petacchi
, Gianluca Brambilla, and Jan Bakelants
) appeared on stage with the team to lead another moment of silence. Subsequently, Farrar and the remaining squad all decided to leave the race. Farrar later revealed that his inclusion with the Leopard Trek squad in the final moments of the neutralized stage was a decision made solely on their part, one for which he felt extremely grateful.
A moment of silence was also held for Weylandt before stage 11, as his funeral took place the same day. Pieter Weening
also gave the first pink jersey to be presented to him on the podium to Weylandt's surviving family, and stage 11 winner John Gadret
stated that he had had Weylandt in his thoughts as he crossed the line and dedicated his win to him, even though the two were not well acquainted.
, the reigning Vuelta a Castilla y León
champion and one of the leaders on the season for the , was killed in a freak accident at home while preparing to train with teammates. He was reportedly crushed between his car and a garage door.
Despite not taking part in this edition of the Giro, Tondó had taken part in the 2010 edition and was a popular, well-liked rider. Race leader and eventual winner Alberto Contador
, along with many others, rode the stage 16 individual time trial with black armbands. The stage was preceded by a minute of silence. Tondó's teammate Branislau Samoilau
posted a time that was provisionally best much of the day and was visibly overcome with emotion when interviewed by assembled media after his ride. Contador, the day's eventual winner, dedicated the victory to Tondó, as the two were acquainted despite never having been teammates.
Five days later, teammate and close friend Vasil Kiryienka
rode to victory in a solo effort, and he too dedicated the stage victory to Tondó, pointing skyward as he crossed the finish line. The team had met to consider withdrawing from the race after Tondó's death, but instead the riders unanimously voted to ride on. Kiryienka commented that the squad at the Giro hoped to get a further stage win (as Francisco Ventoso
's win had come before Tondó's death) to honor him, while other members of the team grieved with Tondó's family. In the final days of the race, many fans wrote signs memorializing Tondó as they had with Weylandt earlier on.
where his death was part of the reason the first stage of that race was canceled due to safety concerns. Many other races, mostly those held in Weylandt's native Belgium, also began the practice of not issuing the number. The Belgian federation criticized this gesture, saying it would not bring Weylandt back and would only serve to continually remind fans and those in the sport of Weylandt's death. They issued the number for the Belgian national road race championships.
About a month after the race concluded, reports began surfacing which stated that Giro director Angelo Zomegnan was going to be ousted from that position. Though praised for his delicate handling of Weylandt's death, Zomegnan's handling of the teams' protest of and eventual removal of the Monte Crostis from the Giro race route was seen much less approvingly. A further month later, RCS Sport, owners of the race, confirmed that Zomegnan had been removed from his largely autocratic position as race director. He was replaced by RCS general director Michele Acquarone and Mauro Vegni, along with a team of former professional riders. Zomegnan remains as an RCS consultant and director of the 2013 UCI Road World Championships in Florence. Zomegnan had held the position since 2004, beginning with the 2005 Giro d'Italia
.
Along with the new organizational team came a certain measure of fan involvement in the direction of the 2012 Giro d'Italia
. Fans of the race were able to vote on its official Facebook
page for two climbs, from an initial pool of 64, to appear in the race. After several rounds of voting, the Passo dello Stelvio and the Passo del Mortirolo
were chosen. They were later announced to be part of the same stage for the 2012 Giro. Fans were also given the opportunity to choose from among three prototypes for the design of the pink jersey in the 2012 Giro. Fans could also participate in a promotion called "Tweet Your Maglia Rosa" where they would submit 140-character or fewer Twitter
messages describing what the pink jersey means to them. They were set to be printed on the jersey along with tweets from Ivan Basso
, Cadel Evans
, Alberto Contador
, and Vincenzo Nibali
, in the respective riders' native languages. Ten tweets - six to be printed in Italian, two in English, and one each in Spanish and French - were eventually chosen by fan voting.
Giro champion Alberto Contador still pends a Court of Arbitration for Sport
hearing regarding his positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, set for November. One of many potential results may be a forfeiture for all of Contador's results in 2011, meaning it remains uncertain who will historically be considered the winner of this race.
, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner was considered the winner of the Giro.
Additionally, there was a points classification
, which awarded a red jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. Unlike in the better known points classification in the Tour de France
, the type of stage had no effect on what points were on offer – each stage had the same points available on the same scale. The win earned 25 points, second place earned 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a green jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized as either first, second, third, or fourth-category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The Cima Coppi, the race's highest point of elevation, awarded still more points than the other first-category climbs.
The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1986 were eligible.
There were also three classifications for teams. In the Trofeo Fast Team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time; the Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team; and the Fair Play classification rewarded those teams that best avoided penalty points for minor technical infringements.
The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run.
of the team.
Other awards included the Combativity classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. General classification winner Alberto Contador
won this award. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were only awarded for the top three finishers in each stage. It was won, like the closely associated points classification, by Alberto Contador
. Additionally, the Trofeo Fuga Pinarello rewarded riders who took part in a breakaway at the head of the field, each rider in an escape of ten or fewer riders getting one point for each kilometre that the group stayed clear. 's Yaroslav Popovych
was first in this competition. Teams were given penalty points for minor technical infringements. Six different teams – , , , , , and – avoided incurring penalties over the course of the race, and so shared in winning the Fair Play classification.
. Points were awarded to the top 20 finishers overall, and to the top five finishers in each stage.
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, one of cycling's Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification
Italian unification
Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...
, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.
The route was one of the most difficult in the modern history of the race, with substantial criticism that it was simply too hard for a three-week long race. Of the seven stages categorized as high mountain, six had summit arrivals, highlighted by the three stages before the second rest day ending at Grossglockner in Austria, the exceptionally steep Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, having been used in the Giro d'Italia four times and the Giro Donne once...
, and a tall and steep peak near the Fascia Valley
Fascia Valley
The Fascia Valley is a valley in the Dolomites in Trentino, northern Italy. As an administrative valley community of Trentino it is called Region Comun General de Fascia.The valley is the home of the Ladin community in Trentino, which make up the majority of the population...
in Gardeccia. There was also, for the fifth consecutive Giro, a climbing time trial, this one to the Nevegal. Of the race's 18 mass-start stages, only three ended with the majority of the field together at the front of the race.
In the third stage, rider Wouter Weylandt
Wouter Weylandt
Wouter Weylandt was a Belgian professional cyclist for UCI ProTeam and later for . His first major win was the 17th stage of the 2008 Vuelta a España. He also won the 3rd stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia...
crashed coming down the Passo del Bocco, near the town of Mezzanego
Mezzanego
Mezzanego is a comune in the Province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about 35 km east of Genoa.-Location:The town is situated on the river Sturla in a valley of the same name...
, suffering catastrophic injury. Despite substantial resuscitation efforts, he was established to have died on the spot. The fourth stage was not competitively raced; it was instead run as a cycling procession. On the second rest day, Xavier Tondó
Xavier Tondó
Xavier Tondo Volpini was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist who specialized in mountain stages of bicycle races- Death :...
, a member of , was killed in an accident at his home. Although he was not a participant, his death also had an impact on the race, as his teammates and other members of the peloton paid tribute to him in the subsequent stages.
Strong overall favorite Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
won the race, his second time doing so, with a margin of over six minutes ahead of second-placed Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .In 2006, Scarponi was implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case...
. He also won the points competition as the most consistent high finisher, also with a substantial lead over Scarponi in second place. Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
completed the podium, while Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but...
and Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger is a Czech professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Kreuziger is an all-rounder, with climbing and time trial abilities, becoming a contender for the General Classification of stage races...
won the other two jersey awards. With a Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
hearing pending, regarding Contador's positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, it is as yet uncertain whether all his results will stand.
Teams
All 18 UCI ProTeams were invited automatically and obligated to attend. Two UCI Professional Continental were announced well ahead of time, and . UCI rules normally limit races to a pelotonPeloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...
of 200 riders, but the Giro received special dispensation for a 207-rider peloton, allowing a 23rd team. The three additional invited teams were , , and . Despite talk that ProTeam might be excluded to the doping scandals involving team members Riccardo Riccò
Riccardo Riccò
Riccardo Riccò is a professional road bicycle racer from Italy, currently under contract to UCI Continental team Meridiana-Kamen, and suspended from competition. He was ejected from the 2008 Tour de France for doping violations and suspended...
and Ezequiel Mosquera
Ezequiel Mosquera
Ezequiel Mosquera Míguez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He has finished in the top 5 of the Vuelta a España in all appearances, and finished second in the 2010, after putting in a strong time trial and winning the penultimate stage to Bola del Mundo.On September 30,...
, they were included pursuant to UCI rules.
The full list of participating teams is:
Race previews and favorites
While the Giro had in its peloton many notable riders, including six former Grand Tour winners, the odds-on favorite was always 's Alberto ContadorAlberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
. The 2008 Giro champion, who had likewise won the 2008 Vuelta a España
2008 Vuelta a España
The 2008 Vuelta a España was the 63rd edition of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The event took place from 30 August to 21 September 2008 over 21 stages covering . The first stage was a team time trial in Granada. The event finished in Madrid 23 days later...
and three editions of the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, announced in April 2010 that he would contest the Giro in 2011. Though his status was put in doubt after a positive test for clenbuterol
Clenbuterol
Clenbuterol is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier...
at the 2010 Tour de France
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
, he was cleared by his national federation in February 2011 and able to return to racing, though the case still pended a final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
later in 2011. Contador was the overwhelming favorite for overall victory. Reigning Giro champion Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
chose not to return, preferring to focus on the Tour de France
2011 Tour de France
-Pre-race favourites:2010 winner Alberto Contador was suspended from cycling during a doping investigation from September 2010 to February 2011, during which time 2010 runner-up Andy Schleck was regarded as the favourite. When the suspension was lifted, Contador declared his desire to compete in...
later in the season. He briefly considered riding as a domestique for Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
, but opted against it because of his physical condition at the time and the feeling that doing so would be disrespectful to the race. The 2011 Giro was thus the third successive edition, and fourth in the last five, in which the reigning champion did not return to defend his championship.
The other five former Grand Tour winners in the field were Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but...
, Danilo Di Luca
Danilo Di Luca
Danilo Di Luca is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rode for numerous UCI Professional Continental teams throughout his career including Liquigas-Bianchi and . He holds victories in the Giro di Lombardia in 2001, the 2005 UCI ProTour and won both the Giro d'Italia and the spring...
, Denis Menchov
Denis Menchov
Denis Nikolayevich Menchov , born 25 January 1978 in Oryol, is a professional Russian road bicycle racer for . He is a general classification rider and a climber. In 2005 he won the Vuelta a España, which he won for a second time in 2007...
, Carlos Sastre
Carlos Sastre
Carlos Sastre Candil is a retired Spanish professional road bicycle racer and champion of the 2008 Tour de France. Sastre rides in 2011 for UCI Professional Continental team...
, and Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
. Of the five, only Menchov and Nibali were considered realistic overall contenders. Other riders named as contenders included Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger is a Czech professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Kreuziger is an all-rounder, with climbing and time trial abilities, becoming a contender for the General Classification of stage races...
, riding as the leader of the team and a protected rider in a Grand Tour for the first time in his career, 2010 Giro d'Italia
2010 Giro d'Italia
The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country...
runner-up David Arroyo
David Arroyo
David Arroyo Durán is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding on the UCI ProTeam . He is one of the best climbers on his team along with team leader Alejandro Valverde. After Valverde crashed on the first week of the 2006 Tour de France, Arroyo was made team leader, until Pereiro claimed...
, captain and 2010 Giro fourth-place finisher Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .In 2006, Scarponi was implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case...
, and Joaquim Rodríguez
Joaquim Rodríguez
Joaquim Rodríguez Oliver is a Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He has been competing since 2001, and currently rides for the UCI ProTour team .- Palmarès :2001...
. Riders further noted as darkhorses included Sastre, Contador's teammate and main support rider Richie Porte
Richie Porte
Richard "Richie" Porte is an Australian professional road bicycle racer on . In his first year in the UCI Pro Tour, Porte has been a consistent performer in the General classification at several stage races....
, Di Luca, 's Igor Antón
Igor Antón
Igor Antón Hernández is a Basque professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi....
, Garzelli, Domenico Pozzovivo
Domenico Pozzovivo
Domenico Pozzovivo s an Italian professional road racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team Colnago-CSF Inox.- Palmarès :20072008...
, Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti
Giovanni Visconti (cyclist)
Giovanni Visconti is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team . Visconti won the Italian National Championship road race on 1 July 2007, beating Paolo Bossoni and Davide Rebellin at the end in a sprint. At 12 km to go, Rebellin made his move...
, and 's dual leaders Tiago Machado
Tiago Machado
Tiago Machado is a Portuguese professional cyclist. He rides for the UCI ProTour team .-Notable Results:2008...
and Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych is a Ukrainian cyclist with the UCI ProTour team . He was born in Drohobych, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. Under-23 road race champion in 2001, Popovych turned professional in 2002 with , where he performed particularly strongly in the Giro d'Italia, finishing third in 2003...
. Visconti was given the irregular race number of 150, wearing it as the Italian national champion to commemorate 150 years of Italian unification. While squads are normally given numbers from the same group of ten, such as 151 through 159, numbers ending in zero are seldom issued. Visconti's squad wore numbers 150 through 158.
The ongoing Mantova doping investigation, involving members of the team, as it was known in 2009, had an affect on the race. It greatly affected the team itself, as their manager Giuseppe Saronni
Giuseppe Saronni
Giuseppe Saronni , also known as Beppe Saronni, is an Italian former racing cyclist.-Biography:Born in Novara, Piedmont, Saronni turned professional in 1977. During his career, that lasted until 1989, he won 193 races...
was implicated in the investigation and stepped down as team manager shortly before the Giro began, being replaced by former sporting director Roberto Damiani. Their contingent for the Giro specifically excluded any riders or staff implicated in the investigation. The foremost of these riders was former Giro winner Damiano Cunego
Damiano Cunego
Damiano Cunego is an Italian professional road racing cyclist who rides for the Italian UCI ProTeam . His biggest wins are the 2004 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Amstel Gold Race, and the Giro di Lombardia in 2004, 2007, 2008. He finished second in the UCI Road World Championships in 2008 and in the...
, though Damiani felt he would eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing. While the was unlikely to field an overall favorite, given that their top man Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in...
chose to focus on the Tour de France, they were also affected by the investigation, for the second year in a row. Just as they had before the 2010 Giro, the team suspended Alessandro Ballan
Alessandro Ballan
Alessandro Ballan is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team , and is a former world champion. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years...
and Mauro Santambrogio
Mauro Santambrogio
Mauro Santambrogio is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2004Mauro Santambrogio is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam ....
, members of the team in 2009 who were named in the investigation. Again like they had in 2010, the team reactivated the two riders just after the Giro ended.
The near total dearth of flat, sprinter-friendly stages did not stop the three arguably best sprinters in the world, Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
, Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar is an American professional road racing cyclist since 2003.-Cycling career:Farrar started racing at 13, and rode for in 2003, in 2004, and in 2006 and 2007. In April 2006 he crashed near the finish of the Circuit de la Sarthe and broke his collarbone and missed most of the season...
, and Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
, from all taking the start. One sprinter who was expected to start, 's Andrea Guardini
Andrea Guardini
Andrea Guardini is an Italian cyclist, who rides for the Italian team, .-Palmarès:2011*Tour de Langkawi** 1st, Stage 1** 1st, Stage 2** 1st, Stage 6** 1st, Stage 7** 1st, Stage 10** 3rd, Stage 3* Tour of Qatar** 1st, Stage 5...
, was not part of the start list. Though his sporting director at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey
2011 Tour of Turkey
The 2011 Tour of Turkey is the 47th edition of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey cycling stage race. It is being held from 24 April–1 May 2011, and is rated as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour. The last edition was won by 's rider Giovanni Visconti...
had promised him a place in the Giro should he win two stages at that event, and Guardini indeed did win two stages in Turkey, the team believed he would be better served continuing to take part in somewhat smaller races. Other sprinters in the Giro peloton mainly came from much smaller teams and teams with little overall ambition. and sent two sprinters apiece, Gerald Ciolek
Gerald Ciolek
Gerald Michael Ciolek is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . In 2005, Ciolek won the German National Championship road race at age 18, the youngest ever rider to do so....
and Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Pro Tour team .- Major results :200220052006...
for the Belgian team and Robbie Hunter and Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen
Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes...
on the American squad. Giro debutants had among their squad Slovenian sprinter Borut Božič
Borut Božic
Borut Božič is a Slovenian professional road racing cyclist, who currently rides for . Considered a sprinter in the mould of Óscar Freire, Božič's career highlights include winning the 2007 Tour de Wallonie, victory in the first stage of the 2009 Tour de Pologne , winning the sixth stage of the...
. 's sprinter was Francisco Ventoso
Francisco Ventoso
Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi is a Spanish road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . Ventoso turned professional with in 2004 before moving to in 2008. He won the 2010 Paris-Bruxelles in a bunch sprint...
, one of the season's most prolific winners to date. The small and also sent sprinters, respectively Roberto Ferrari
Roberto Ferrari (cyclist)
Roberto Ferarri is an Italian cyclist who is riding for the UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmarès:2006* 1st, GP Citta di Felino* 1st, Trofeo Citta di Brescia2007* 12th, GP Costa degli Etruschi2008...
and 2010 Giro stage winner Manuel Belletti
Manuel Belletti
Manuel Belletti is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team .-Palmares:20082009...
. The team had intended to send Daniele Bennati
Daniele Bennati
Daniele Bennati is an Italian road racing cyclist specializing in fast sprint finishes. He currently rides for UCI ProTeam . He turned professional in 2002, when he joined the team and wore zebra stripes as part of Mario Cipollini’s leadout train...
, a former winner of the points classification in the Giro d'Italia who had had great success at the recently-run Circuit de la Sarthe
Circuit de la Sarthe
The Circuit des 24 Heures, also known as Circuit de la Sarthe, located near Le Mans, France, is a semi-permanent race course most famous as the venue for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. The track uses local roads that remain open to the public most of the year...
. After a crash at the Tour de Romandie
2011 Tour de Romandie
The 2011 Tour de Romandie, was the 65th running of the Tour de Romandie cycling stage race. It started on 26 April in Martigny and ended on 1 May in Geneva and consisted of six stages, including a race-commencing prologue stage and also a penultimate day individual time trial...
where he sustained multiple fractures and a lung contusion, he was forced out of the Giro. That squad therefore turned their sprinting hopes to the rider originally set to be Bennati's leadout man, Belgian sprinter Wouter Weylandt
Wouter Weylandt
Wouter Weylandt was a Belgian professional cyclist for UCI ProTeam and later for . His first major win was the 17th stage of the 2008 Vuelta a España. He also won the 3rd stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia...
.
Route and stages
The route for the 2011 Giro was unveiled in Turin on October 23, 2010. It was immediately recognized as being quite difficult, featuring 40 categorized climbs among its 18 mass-start stages, seven of them summit finishes. Seventeen of the 20 regions of ItalyRegions of Italy
The regions of Italy are the first-level administrative divisions of the state, constituting its first NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, of which five are constitutionally given a broader amount of autonomy granted by special statutes....
were visited in the race, as the 2011 race commemorated the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. Attention was immediately drawn to the three stages preceeding the second rest day, stages 13, 14, and 15, each of them featuring summit finishes and multiple high-rated climbs, among them the Grossglockner, Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, having been used in the Giro d'Italia four times and the Giro Donne once...
, and the Passo Giau, this Giro's Cima Coppi, its tallest climb. The route as it was originally announced was 3496 km (2,172.3 mi) in length, just 4 km (2.5 mi) shy of the maximum length allowed under UCI regulations. The first summit finish was Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
, which the peloton was faced with twice in stage 9. The final major climb was the Colle delle Finestre
Colle delle Finestre
Colle delle Finestre is a mountain pass in the Cottian Alps, in the Italian reigion of Piemonte, Italy, linking Susa Valley and Val Chisone. The road was built around 1700 to gain access to the fortresses in the zone, mainly the Forte di Fenestrelle.The road serves as tourist attraction although...
, which made its return after last featuring in the 2005 Giro d'Italia
2005 Giro d'Italia
The 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h...
. While there were five stages classified as flat, and Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
claimed he saw as many as seven potential sprint finishes, consensus was overwhelming that the majority of the route favored the strongest of the climbers at the expense of other riders.
While the route did get some positive critiques, there was also critical opinion that it was simply too difficult. This was particularly in comparison with the likewise difficult, yet not as difficult, route for the 2011 Tour de France
2011 Tour de France
-Pre-race favourites:2010 winner Alberto Contador was suspended from cycling during a doping investigation from September 2010 to February 2011, during which time 2010 runner-up Andy Schleck was regarded as the favourite. When the suspension was lifted, Contador declared his desire to compete in...
revealed days earlier. sporting director Sean Yates
Sean Yates
Sean Yates is an English former professional cyclist and head Directeur Sportif at Team Sky.-Career:Yates competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics, finishing sixth in the 4,000m individual pursuit. He also competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics...
called the route "brutal" and said that serious Tour de France contenders would not bother coming to the race since it was so difficult. This was seen as an early indication that his team's leader Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....
would skip the Giro. Additional critical analysis concurred that the route was excessively difficult, for its incredible amount of vertical climbing (409 km (254.1 mi) in the route as originally announced), number of summit finishes and long transfers, and the unpaved or 'white roads' which featured in stages 5 and 20. Race director Angelo Zomegnan balked at the criticisms, saying simply "It's a hard Giro but the Giro has to be hard."
Two stages in the second half of the Giro had their courses altered shortly before they were run. The more notable was stage 14, which had been hyped as the debut of the Monte Crostis
Monte Crostis
Monte Crostis is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. The Giro d'Italia intended to pass Monte Crostis in 2011, but after the death of Wouter Weylandt and ongoing protests of the peloton, the jury decided to remove the Crostis from the route.-...
in the Giro d'Italia. Commissaires from the UCI mandated it be removed the night before stage 14 was run. The Crostis is not a well-maintained pass, and Giro officials had set out a detailed protocol wherein team cars would not follow the race up or down the mountain, and only motorbikes offering wheel changes would be present with the riders. Team managers expressed concern that they would not fully be able to fulfill their duties if not present with the riders like normal, and this was given as the basis of the UCI's decision. They held that Giro organizers had sufficiently ensured rider safety on the course, but the necessary protocols did not protect the sporting aspect of the race. Thus, the Crostis was eliminated, and the stage was reduced in length from its originally planned length of 210 km (130.5 mi). The second-category Tualis climb was added to the route for the day to offset the loss of the Crostis. However, protests from spectators disappointed by the removal of the Crostis part of the route, including many who had volunteered for works to make parts of that road safe, led to the cancellation of the Tualis climb. The route was diverted while the stage was in progress to avoid a small village at the foot of the Tualis where protesters had gathered. Therefore, the exact distance of this stage, and likewise of the entire Giro, is unknown. Zomegnan had earlier insisted that the Crostis would stay in the race, but he was obligated to accept the overruling decision of cycling's governing body. Most of the teams in the race lobbied for the removal of the Crostis; riders were satisfied that safety had been assured, but concurred that the sporting aspect of the race was not fairly served by only allowing a motorbike per team up the mountain. Zomegnan appeared on Italian television shortly before the stage was run and had scathing words for the teams and managers who had apparently approved the climb in October 2010 and again in March, in advance of the Giro, but lobbied for its removal at the last moment. The Giro's last stage, an individual time trial in Milan, was also shortened. The course was shortened by 5.5 km (3.4 mi) four days before the stage took place, due to a special election taking place in Milan the same day as the stage. City officials expected high voter turnout and did not want the city center tied up by the race all day, so the revised route began at the outskirts of Milan instead of its center. It still ended, per its original design, at the Duomo di Milano
Duomo di Milano
Milan Cathedral is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente , it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola....
.
In spite of first-hand criticism from riders, following the race, that the route was excessively difficult and dangerous, Zomegnan remained staunch in his defense of the route.
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 May | Venaria Reale Venaria Reale Venaria Reale is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 8 km northwest of Turin.... to Turin Turin Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... |
19.3 km (12 mi) |  |
Team time trial Team time trial A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart... |
||
| 2 | 8 May | Alba to Parma Parma Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world.... |
244 km (152 mi) |  |
Flat stage | ||
| 3 | 9 May | Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia.... to Rapallo Rapallo Rapallo is a municipality in the province of Genoa, in Liguria, northern Italy. As of 2007 it counts approximately 34,000 inhabitants, it is part of the Tigullio Gulf and is located in between Portofino and Chiavari.... |
173 km (107 mi) | |
Flat stage | ||
| 4 | 10 May | Quarto dei Mille Génova Génova may refer to:* Spanish spelling of the city of Genoa, Italy* Génova, Quindío, a municipality in the department of Quindío, Colombia* Génova, Quetzaltenango, a municipality in the department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala... to Livorno Livorno Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :... |
216 km (134 mi) |  |
Medium mountain stage | Stage neutralised | |
| 5 | 11 May | Piombino Piombino Piombino is an Italian town and comune of circa 35,000 inhabitants in the province of Livorno . It lies on the border between the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in front of Elba Island and at the northern side of Maremma.-Overview:... to Orvieto Orvieto Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff... |
191 km (119 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage | ||
| 6 | 12 May | Orvieto Orvieto Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff... to Fiuggi Fiuggi Fiuggi is a comune in the province of Frosinone in the region of Lazio in central Italy.-History:Fiuggi, originally called Anticoli di Campagna, gained fame as early as the 14th century, when Pope Boniface VIII claimed his kidney stones had been healed by the mineral waters from the nearby Fiuggi... |
216 km (134 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage | ||
| 7 | 13 May | Maddaloni Maddaloni Maddaloni is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, in the province of Caserta, about 5 km SE of Caserta, with stations on the railways from Caserta to Benevento and from Caserta to Avellino.-Main sights:... to Montevergine di Mercogliano Montevergine thumb|250px|The Sanctuary of Montevergine.The Montevergine, also known as Partenio or Monti di Avella, is a limestone massif in Campania, central Italy, part of the Apennine chain. It is located near Avellino, in the comune of Mercogliano... |
110 km (68 mi) |  |
Mountain stage | ||
| 8 | 14 May | Sapri Sapri Sapri is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is one of the southernmost towns of the region of Cilento and its population is 7,105.- History :... to Tropea Tropea Tropea is a municipality located within the province of Vibo Valentia, in Calabria .The town is a famous bathing place, situated on a reef, in the gulf of St... |
217 km (135 mi) | |
Flat stage | ||
| 9 | 15 May | Messina to Etna Mount Etna Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in... |
169 km (105 mi) | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 16 May | Rest day | ||||||
| 10 | 17 May | Termoli Termoli Termoli is a town and comune on the Adriatic coast of Italy, in the province of Campobasso, region of Molise. It has a population of around 32,000, having expanded quickly after World War II, and it is a local resort town known for its beaches and old fortifications... to Teramo Teramo Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast... |
159 km (99 mi) | |
Flat stage | ||
| 11 | 18 May | Teramo Teramo Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast... to Castelfidardo Castelfidardo Castelfidardo is a town and comune in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region of central-eastern Italy.It is particularly remembered for the Italian victory over a "volunteer" army defending the Papal States, on September 18, 1860... |
142 km (88 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage | ||
| 12 | 19 May | Castelfidardo Castelfidardo Castelfidardo is a town and comune in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region of central-eastern Italy.It is particularly remembered for the Italian victory over a "volunteer" army defending the Papal States, on September 18, 1860... to Ravenna Ravenna Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome... |
184 km (114 mi) | |
Flat stage | ||
| 13 | 20 May | Spilimbergo Spilimbergo Spilimbergo is a town, with a population of 11,635, located northeast of Venice in the province of Pordenone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy... to Grossglockner |
167 km (104 mi) | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 14 | 21 May | Lienz Lienz Lienz is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of Patriasdorf.-Geography:... to Monte Zoncolan Monte Zoncolan Monte Zoncolan is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, having been used in the Giro d'Italia four times and the Giro Donne once... |
172 km (107 mi) | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 15 | 22 May | Conegliano Conegliano Conegliano is a town and comune of the Veneto region, Italy, in the province of Treviso, about north by rail from the town of Treviso. The population of the city is of around 36,000 people. The remains of a castle that was built in the 10th century remain on a nearby hill... to Gardeccia-Val di Fassa |
229 km (142 mi) | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 23 May | Rest day | ||||||
| 16 | 24 May | Belluno Belluno Belluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area... to Nevegal |
12.7 km (7.9 mi) | |
Individual time trial Individual time trial An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials... |
||
| 17 | 25 May | Feltre Feltre Feltre is a town and comune of the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about 4 km from its junction with the Piave, and 20 km southwest from Belluno... to Tirano Tirano Tirano is a town in Valtellina, located in the province of Sondrio, Northern Italy. It has about 9,044 inhabitants and is adjacent to the Switzerland-Italy boundary. The river Adda flows through the town.... |
230 km (143 mi) | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 18 | 26 May | Morbegno Morbegno Morbegno is a little town in the low Valtellina Valley in Italy, on the left side of the Adda river. It is part of the province of Sondrio of Lombardy. In 2007, Morbegno started a project to become a leader in sustainability, by involving the population in a participatory design process,... to San Pellegrino Terme San Pellegrino Terme San Pellegrino Terme is a comune in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy, best known for being the location where San Pellegrino, a carbonated mineral water drink is produced.-Twin towns:*Burgdorf, Switzerland, Switzerland,*Larino, Italy,... |
151 km (94 mi) | |
Medium mountain stage | ||
| 19 | 27 May | Bergamo Bergamo Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan... to Macugnaga Macugnaga Macugnaga is a mountain village at 1327 m altitude, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, in the north of Piedmont region .It is placed at the base of Dufourspitze 4638 m, the second tallest peak in Europe, in the Monte Rosa Massif, along Anzasca valley, one of the seven valleys around the... |
209 km (130 mi) | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 20 | 28 May | Verbania Verbania Verbania is a city and comune on the shore of Lake Maggiore, Piedmont, in northwest Italy, about north-west of Milan and about from Locarno in Switzerland.-Overview:... to Sestriere Sestriere Sestriere is an alpine village in Italy, a comune of the Province of Turin. It is from the French border. Its name derives from Latin: ad petram sistrariam, that is at sixty Roman miles from Turin.... |
242 km (150 mi) | |
Mountain stage | ||
| 21 | 29 May | Milan Milan Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... |
26 km (16.2 mi) | |
Individual time trial Individual time trial An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials... |
||
Race overview
The Giro began with a team time trialTeam time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
in the city that served as Italy's first federal capital, Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. The squad won this stage, making their rider Marco Pinotti
Marco Pinotti
Marco Pinotti is an Italian road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam . Pinotti is a specialist of individual time trial, in which he is a five-time Italian Time Trial Champion ....
the first wearer of the race leader's pink jersey. That team's focus the next day was not to defend Pinotti's race lead, but to try to deliver their star sprinter Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
to the victory, which would have the indirect effect of him overtaking Pinotti for the pink jersey. Cavendish indeed became the new race leader, but after an awkward final sprint it was not he but Italian Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
who won the day. David Millar
David Millar
David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...
then became the third race leader in as many days when he finished with a breakaway group that was 21 seconds the better of the main field in stage 3, though this result was obviously overshadowed by the death of Wouter Weylandt earlier in the stage.
After the procession on day four, the fourth stage to be competitively run featured yet another new race leader. On the dirt roads of Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, which had provided for one of the more spectacular stages in the 2010 Giro d'Italia
2010 Giro d'Italia
The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country...
, Dutch rider Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening is a road bicycle racer from Harkema, Friesland, the Netherlands, currently riding for .-2005:In 2005 Weening won a stage in the Tour de France. As of today, Weening is the last Dutch stage winner in the Tour de France. After one of the closest finishes in the Tour ever, Weening won...
won the stage with an 8-second time gap against the field. That, coupled with the 20-second time bonus for winning the day, gave him the pink jersey. There was some stability in the overall standings at this point, as the race's top riders finished together, or nearly so, in the next three stages.
Stage 9 was the first major mountain stage, featuring two ascents of Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
, including a summit finish. It was on this day that strong overall favorite Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
first seized control of the race. Just after 's José Rujano
José Rujano
José Humberto Rujano Guillen is a Venezuelan professional road bicycle racer who is currently riding for UCI Professional Continental team ....
attacked out of the leading group on the road on the way up to Etna for the last time, Contador did likewise. Rujano struggled mightily to hold Contador's wheel and no one else came close to reaching the pair. Contador won the stage, his first Giro stage win despite having won the Italian Grand Tour in 2008, and immediately attained a minute's advantage in the overall classification. In his five previous Grand Tour wins, Contador had never lost the race lead after taking it, but he had also never taken it so early on in the race. As teams who have riders with a legitimate chance to win a race overall will generally try to avoid defending the lead for too many days, lest they tire their support riders out early and leave their leader vulnerable, there was speculation that Contador may tactically relinquish the jersey. The Spaniard himself hinted that such a move may be in his plans. This would be likeliest to happen in the heavily undulating stage 11. The breakaway group for this stage was hard-fought and late-forming, since someone from its number could potentially become the new race leader. While 's Christophe Le Mével
Christophe Le Mevel
Christophe Le Mével is a French road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . He signed with them for the 2011 season, after they sought to add a leading French rider to their roster.-Palmares:...
, who entered the day third overall and had on two other occasions come within a time bonus of claiming the jersey, made the group, neither he nor anyone in it was destined to take pink. Largely under the impetus of Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .In 2006, Scarponi was implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case...
's team, the breakaway group was caught before the finish. Contador and the rest of the overall favorites finished at the front of the race, with riders well down in the standings claiming the time bonuses, meaning Contador retained the race leadership after all.
Contador took the most time against the main field out of any day in stage 13. On this day, which ended at the Grossglockner in Austria, he and Rujano again finished well ahead of the main field. As they approached the finish line, Contador did not attempt to sprint for the win, seemingly content to allow Rujano to take it. Their minute and a half time gap, plus the time bonus for second place, gave Contador a lead of over three minutes in the overall standings. Only in the 2009 Tour de France
2009 Tour de France
The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...
had he ever held a larger lead. The next two days were extremely difficult high mountain stages, both won by members of the team. Contador finished the best of any rider in the top five overall on both days, and so further padded his advantage. Wearing a black armband to memorialize fellow Spanish cyclist Xavier Tondó
Xavier Tondó
Xavier Tondo Volpini was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist who specialized in mountain stages of bicycle races- Death :...
who, though not a participant in the race, had passed away while it was run, Contador dominantly won the stage 16 uphill individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
. This result put him nearly five minutes clear of the next-best rider, the largest such advantage he had ever held in any race. In stage 19, Contador again finished with another rider ahead of the main field. This time it was 's Paolo Tiralongo
Paolo Tiralongo
Paolo Tiralongo is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team .He joined Astana for the 2010 season, on a 2 year contract.- Palmares :1999* 1st, Triptique Ardennais Overall2001...
, a former teammate of Contador's. Just as he had with Rujano earlier, Contador appeared to allow his companion a stage win he could have easily taken himself. Contador later commented that the victory, the first of Tiralongo's 12-year career, was meant as a gesture of thanks to the Italian for all the support riding he did for him in 2010 when the two were on the same squad. Although Contador claimed that he was not going to give his strongest effort in the stage 21 individual time trial, the Giro's final stage, his ride was still good enough for third place, extending his winning margin to over six minutes, giving him his sixth and statistically most dominant Grand Tour championship. Contador's two stage wins and numerous top five placings also made him the winner of the points competition, by a substantial margin. Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi
Michele Scarponi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .In 2006, Scarponi was implicated in the Operación Puerto doping case...
and Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
completed the podium, in that order, having targeted one another once it became obvious that Contador's advantage was insurmountable. Nibali held second place on stages 13 and 14, but Scarponi overtook him on Gardeccia, finishing a minute and a half better (only six seconds the lesser of Contador), and never relinquished second place. Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but...
was in the breakaway on the Gardeccia stage and took maximum points on three of the day's five climbs, and second place points on the other two. It was largely thanks to this performance that he won the mountains classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
at the end of the race. Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger is a Czech professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Kreuziger is an all-rounder, with climbing and time trial abilities, becoming a contender for the General Classification of stage races...
, still eligible by a matter of months, won the youth competition with his ride to sixth place overall.
On the whole, success proved to be fairly widespread. As did Contador, Cavendish won two stages, stages 10 and 12, but prior to Cavendish's second victory no team, let alone individual rider, had won two individual stages. Four other teams - , , , and - eventually repeated as stage winners. won the ill-fated stage 3 with Ángel Vicioso
Ángel Vicioso
Ángel Vicioso Arcos is an Spanish road racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmarès :20002001...
and later stage 13 with Rujano. 's wins came on the two most difficult stages in the race, the back-to-back high mountain stages that preceded the second rest day. Their leader Igor Antón
Igor Antón
Igor Antón Hernández is a Basque professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi....
won the controversy-laden day ending at Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan
Monte Zoncolan is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It is one of the most demanding climbs in professional road bicycle racing, having been used in the Giro d'Italia four times and the Giro Donne once...
, when the Monte Crostis
Monte Crostis
Monte Crostis is a mountain in the Carnic Alps, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. The Giro d'Italia intended to pass Monte Crostis in 2011, but after the death of Wouter Weylandt and ongoing protests of the peloton, the jury decided to remove the Crostis from the route.-...
climb was removed from the route. Mikel Nieve
Mikel Nieve
Mikel Nieve Iturralde is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi. Nieve won the sixteenth stage of the 2010 Vuelta a España, and the fifteenth stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, with a 50 km solo, the queen stage of that years edition, which Alberto...
the next day won the stage that Contador described as the hardest of his life, a seven and a half hour day with five high climbs ending at Gardeccia. Following Petacchi's win in the contentious sprint that finished the first road stage, the team took another stage win with young Diego Ulissi
Diego Ulissi
Diego Ulissi is an Italian road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team .-Professional career:He won the UCI Road World Championships - Junior Men's Road Race in 2006 and 2007. He is the second cyclist ever - after Giuseppe Palumbo - to achieve two consecutive World Junior Road titles...
in stage 17, after another contentious sprint in which Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti
Giovanni Visconti (cyclist)
Giovanni Visconti is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team . Visconti won the Italian National Championship road race on 1 July 2007, beating Paolo Bossoni and Davide Rebellin at the end in a sprint. At 12 km to go, Rebellin made his move...
actually crossed the line first but was relegated to third for shoving Ulissi. The had winners in stage 6 with Francisco Ventoso
Francisco Ventoso
Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi is a Spanish road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . Ventoso turned professional with in 2004 before moving to in 2008. He won the 2010 Paris-Bruxelles in a bunch sprint...
on an uphill sprint and in the Giro's last road race stage with Vasil Kiryienka
Vasil Kiryienka
Vasili Kiryienka is a Belarusian racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam . Kiryienka finished 2nd in the 10th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, he was outsprinted at the line by Sérgio Paulinho after basically leading him out to the finish...
in a solo breakaway that finished almost five minutes better than the rest of the field. , , , , , , and each won a single stage. With 's Garzelli claiming the mountains classification and Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych is a Ukrainian cyclist with the UCI ProTour team . He was born in Drohobych, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. Under-23 road race champion in 2001, Popovych turned professional in 2002 with , where he performed particularly strongly in the Giro d'Italia, finishing third in 2003...
from the Trofeo Fuga Pinarello, it could be said that 15 of the 22 teams that completed the race came away with some sort of victory.
Much like had occurred at the final podium celebrations for the 2009 Tour de France
2009 Tour de France
The 2009 Tour de France was the 96th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on 4 July in the principality of Monaco with a individual time trial which included a section of the Circuit de Monaco...
, the wrong national anthem was played for Contador. Race organizers mistakenly played an old Spanish anthem with lyrics favored by former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
. The Spanish national anthem as it should have been played would have been purely instrumental.
Death of Wouter Weylandt
During the descent of the Passo del Bocco in stage 3, rider Wouter WeylandtWouter Weylandt
Wouter Weylandt was a Belgian professional cyclist for UCI ProTeam and later for . His first major win was the 17th stage of the 2008 Vuelta a España. He also won the 3rd stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia...
crashed and suffered catastrophic injury. Race doctor Giovanni Tredici, and the doctor for the team were in cars very near Weylandt's group on the road, and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
for approximately 40 minutes. Doctors also gave Weylandt adrenaline and atropine
Atropine
Atropine is a naturally occurring tropane alkaloid extracted from deadly nightshade , Jimson weed , mandrake and other plants of the family Solanaceae. It is a secondary metabolite of these plants and serves as a drug with a wide variety of effects...
to try to restart his heart, though Tredici stated that resuscitation efforts were rather clearly in vain, and that Weylandt was already dead by the time they got to him. Doctors were never able to revive Weylandt, and he was declared dead on the spot. A short time later, Weylandt's body was airlifted off the descent and taken to a nearby hospital, where the pathologist conducting the autopsy concluded that the Belgian had died immediately upon crashing. Weylandt's death was the first at the Giro in 25 years, and the first at one of cycling's Grand Tours
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
since Fabio Casartelli
Fabio Casartelli
Fabio Casartelli was an Italian cyclist and an Olympic gold medalist who died in a crash on the descent of the Col de Portet d'Aspet, France, during the 15th stage of the 1995 Tour de France.He was born in Como, Italy....
died during the 1995 Tour de France
1995 Tour de France
The 1995 Tour de France was the 82nd Tour de France, taking place July 1 to July 23, 1995. It was Miguel Indurain's fifth and final victory in the Tour. On the fifteenth stage Italian rider Fabio Casartelli died after an accident on the Col de Portet d'Aspet....
.
Manuel Antonio Cardoso
Manuel Antonio Cardoso
Manuel Antonio Cardoso is a Portuguese professional road bicycle racer for . He made his Grand Tour debut in the 2010 Tour de France, but had to pull out after the Prologue due to injuries sustained in a crash....
of had been nearest to Weylandt when he crashed, and stated that Weylandt had touched a small retaining wall on the left side of the road with either his pedal or his handlebars, and was then catapulted across the road to the other side, where he again collided with something. He had looked behind him to ascertain his exact position in the race when he clipped the wall. Teammate Tom Stamsnijder
Tom Stamsnijder
Tom Stamsnijder is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam , and son of former cyclo-cross world champion Hennie Stamsnijder.- Palmares :2000...
also witnessed the accident, saying "it was a very hard fall." Italian police, conducting an inquest into Weylandt's death, also took an official statement from the Portuguese rider at Team RadioShack's hotel. A memorial was placed at the crash site, where Weylandt's pregnant girlfriend and his mother, along with cyclists, passersby and residents of nearby villages, placed flowers. The team remained in the race for another day at the encouragement of Weylandt's family. David Millar
David Millar
David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007...
, who had taken the race lead that same day, spent the evening discussing with members of , Weylandt's best friend Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar is an American professional road racing cyclist since 2003.-Cycling career:Farrar started racing at 13, and rode for in 2003, in 2004, and in 2006 and 2007. In April 2006 he crashed near the finish of the Circuit de la Sarthe and broke his collarbone and missed most of the season...
, and his girlfriend and mother how best to pay tribute to the fallen rider.
Race director Angelo Zomegnan said in a post-stage press conference that race officials would respect whatever decision the peloton made regarding the next day's stage. As usually occurs when a rider dies in the midst of a multi-day cycling event, the next day was not competitively raced. Instead, the stage was preceded by a minute's silence, and ridden as a procession in Weylandt's memory. Each of the 23 teams took to the front of the peloton for about 15 minutes, and members of , along with Farrar, were allowed to finish first with their arms around each other. Millar led the rest of the field across the line a few seconds later. No results for the stage were recorded, and it did not count towards the general classification or any of the points competitions. After the stage, instead of any podium presentations, the four jersey classification leaders (Millar, Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
, Gianluca Brambilla, and Jan Bakelants
Jan Bakelants
Jan Bakelants is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for the team. His major wins include the 2008 Tour de l'Avenir. He also rode the 2010 Giro d'Italia, in which he finished 36th.-References:...
) appeared on stage with the team to lead another moment of silence. Subsequently, Farrar and the remaining squad all decided to leave the race. Farrar later revealed that his inclusion with the Leopard Trek squad in the final moments of the neutralized stage was a decision made solely on their part, one for which he felt extremely grateful.
A moment of silence was also held for Weylandt before stage 11, as his funeral took place the same day. Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening
Pieter Weening is a road bicycle racer from Harkema, Friesland, the Netherlands, currently riding for .-2005:In 2005 Weening won a stage in the Tour de France. As of today, Weening is the last Dutch stage winner in the Tour de France. After one of the closest finishes in the Tour ever, Weening won...
also gave the first pink jersey to be presented to him on the podium to Weylandt's surviving family, and stage 11 winner John Gadret
John Gadret
John Gadret is a French professional racing cyclist in cyclo-cross and road racing disciplines for UCI ProTour team . He became a stagiaire for Cofidis in 2003 before turning professional with the team in 2004....
stated that he had had Weylandt in his thoughts as he crossed the line and dedicated his win to him, even though the two were not well acquainted.
Death of Xavier Tondó
On May 23, during the second rest day of the Giro, Xavier TondóXavier Tondó
Xavier Tondo Volpini was a Spanish professional road racing cyclist who specialized in mountain stages of bicycle races- Death :...
, the reigning Vuelta a Castilla y León
Vuelta a Castilla y León
The Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y León is a professional road bicycle stage race held in Castile and León, Spain. Since 2005, Vuelta a Castilla y León has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour.-Past winners:-External links:*...
champion and one of the leaders on the season for the , was killed in a freak accident at home while preparing to train with teammates. He was reportedly crushed between his car and a garage door.
Despite not taking part in this edition of the Giro, Tondó had taken part in the 2010 edition and was a popular, well-liked rider. Race leader and eventual winner Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
, along with many others, rode the stage 16 individual time trial with black armbands. The stage was preceded by a minute of silence. Tondó's teammate Branislau Samoilau
Branislau Samoilau
Branislau Samoilau is a Belarusian professional road bicycle racer. He rides for UCI ProTeam , having ridden professionally for between 2007 and 2008, a brief stint for in 2009, and for . Samoilau has won the National Road Race of Belarus in 2007, but his strength lies in the individual time...
posted a time that was provisionally best much of the day and was visibly overcome with emotion when interviewed by assembled media after his ride. Contador, the day's eventual winner, dedicated the victory to Tondó, as the two were acquainted despite never having been teammates.
Five days later, teammate and close friend Vasil Kiryienka
Vasil Kiryienka
Vasili Kiryienka is a Belarusian racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam . Kiryienka finished 2nd in the 10th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, he was outsprinted at the line by Sérgio Paulinho after basically leading him out to the finish...
rode to victory in a solo effort, and he too dedicated the stage victory to Tondó, pointing skyward as he crossed the finish line. The team had met to consider withdrawing from the race after Tondó's death, but instead the riders unanimously voted to ride on. Kiryienka commented that the squad at the Giro hoped to get a further stage win (as Francisco Ventoso
Francisco Ventoso
Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi is a Spanish road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . Ventoso turned professional with in 2004 before moving to in 2008. He won the 2010 Paris-Bruxelles in a bunch sprint...
's win had come before Tondó's death) to honor him, while other members of the team grieved with Tondó's family. In the final days of the race, many fans wrote signs memorializing Tondó as they had with Weylandt earlier on.
Aftermath
Immediately after Weylandt's death, Giro officials announced that they would not issue his dossard number 108 in future editions of the race. His number was a prominent part of signs held by fans on the roadside at not just the Giro but other events later in the season as well, including the Tour of California2011 Tour of California
The 2011 Amgen Tour of California was the sixth running of the Tour of California cycling stage race. It was held from May 15–22, and was rated as a 2.HC event on the UCI America Tour. Originally scheduled for eight stages, the race was due to begin in South Lake Tahoe, but snow around the Lake...
where his death was part of the reason the first stage of that race was canceled due to safety concerns. Many other races, mostly those held in Weylandt's native Belgium, also began the practice of not issuing the number. The Belgian federation criticized this gesture, saying it would not bring Weylandt back and would only serve to continually remind fans and those in the sport of Weylandt's death. They issued the number for the Belgian national road race championships.
About a month after the race concluded, reports began surfacing which stated that Giro director Angelo Zomegnan was going to be ousted from that position. Though praised for his delicate handling of Weylandt's death, Zomegnan's handling of the teams' protest of and eventual removal of the Monte Crostis from the Giro race route was seen much less approvingly. A further month later, RCS Sport, owners of the race, confirmed that Zomegnan had been removed from his largely autocratic position as race director. He was replaced by RCS general director Michele Acquarone and Mauro Vegni, along with a team of former professional riders. Zomegnan remains as an RCS consultant and director of the 2013 UCI Road World Championships in Florence. Zomegnan had held the position since 2004, beginning with the 2005 Giro d'Italia
2005 Giro d'Italia
The 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h...
.
Along with the new organizational team came a certain measure of fan involvement in the direction of the 2012 Giro d'Italia
2012 Giro d'Italia
The 2012 Giro d'Italia is scheduled to be the 95th edition of Giro d'Italia. It is scheduled to start in the Danish city of Herning, and end in Milan. The complete route of the 2012 Giro d'Italia was announced in mid October...
. Fans of the race were able to vote on its official Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page for two climbs, from an initial pool of 64, to appear in the race. After several rounds of voting, the Passo dello Stelvio and the Passo del Mortirolo
Passo del Mortirolo
The Mortirolo Pass is a high mountain pass in the Alps in Italy. Also known as Passo di Foppa, it connects Mazzo di Valtellina and Val Camonica...
were chosen. They were later announced to be part of the same stage for the 2012 Giro. Fans were also given the opportunity to choose from among three prototypes for the design of the pink jersey in the 2012 Giro. Fans could also participate in a promotion called "Tweet Your Maglia Rosa" where they would submit 140-character or fewer Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
messages describing what the pink jersey means to them. They were set to be printed on the jersey along with tweets from Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who is currently racing with UCI ProTeam . Basso, nicknamed Ivan the Terrible, is among the best mountain riders in the professional field in the 21st century, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders...
, Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans is an Australian professional racing cyclist and winner of the 2011 Tour de France. Early in his career, Evans was a champion mountain biker, winning the World Cup in 1998 and 1999 and placing seventh in the men's cross-country mountain bike race at the 2000 Summer Olympics in...
, Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
, and Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
, in the respective riders' native languages. Ten tweets - six to be printed in Italian, two in English, and one each in Spanish and French - were eventually chosen by fan voting.
Giro champion Alberto Contador still pends a Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
hearing regarding his positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, set for November. One of many potential results may be a forfeiture for all of Contador's results in 2011, meaning it remains uncertain who will historically be considered the winner of this race.
Classification leadership
In the 2011 Giro d'Italia, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classificationGeneral Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner was considered the winner of the Giro.
Additionally, there was a points classification
Points classification
The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
, which awarded a red jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. Unlike in the better known points classification in the Tour de France
Points classification in the Tour de France
The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition...
, the type of stage had no effect on what points were on offer – each stage had the same points available on the same scale. The win earned 25 points, second place earned 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a green jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized as either first, second, third, or fourth-category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The Cima Coppi, the race's highest point of elevation, awarded still more points than the other first-category climbs.
The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1986 were eligible.
There were also three classifications for teams. In the Trofeo Fast Team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time; the Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team; and the Fair Play classification rewarded those teams that best avoided penalty points for minor technical infringements.
The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run.
| Stage | Winner | General classification |
Points classification |
Mountains classification Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...  |
Young rider classification Young rider classification in the Giro d'Italia Since 1976, The Giro d'Italia has had a young rider classification. The leader in this classification wears the maglia bianca . The classification is determined by the best overall time, but only young cyclists were in the competition....  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco Pinotti Marco Pinotti Marco Pinotti is an Italian road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam . Pinotti is a specialist of individual time trial, in which he is a five-time Italian Time Trial Champion .... |
not awarded | not awarded | Bjørn Selander Bjørn Selander Bjørn Kristian Selander is an American racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . He is from Hudson, Wisconsin.-External links:*, CyclingNews... |
|
| 2 | Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling... |
Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling... |
Sebastian Lang Sebastian Lang Sebastian Lang is a German professional road bicycle racer and time trialist for UCI ProTour team . He rode on Team Gerolsteiner from 2002 until its demise in 2008, and in 2006 became Germany's national time trial champion.... |
|
| 3 | Ángel Vicioso Ángel Vicioso Ángel Vicioso Arcos is an Spanish road racing cyclist for UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmarès :20002001... |
David Millar David Millar David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007... |
Gianluca Brambilla | Jan Bakelants Jan Bakelants Jan Bakelants is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for the team. His major wins include the 2008 Tour de l'Avenir. He also rode the 2010 Giro d'Italia, in which he finished 36th.-References:... |
|
| 4 | Stage neutralised | ||||
| 5 | Pieter Weening Pieter Weening Pieter Weening is a road bicycle racer from Harkema, Friesland, the Netherlands, currently riding for .-2005:In 2005 Weening won a stage in the Tour de France. As of today, Weening is the last Dutch stage winner in the Tour de France. After one of the closest finishes in the Tour ever, Weening won... |
Pieter Weening Pieter Weening Pieter Weening is a road bicycle racer from Harkema, Friesland, the Netherlands, currently riding for .-2005:In 2005 Weening won a stage in the Tour de France. As of today, Weening is the last Dutch stage winner in the Tour de France. After one of the closest finishes in the Tour ever, Weening won... |
Martin Kohler Martin Kohler Martin Kohler is a Swiss road racing cyclist, currently riding for the American UCI ProTeam .He competed in the 2010 Giro d'Italia but had to withdraw in the second stage due to a crash.-External links:*... |
Steven Kruijswijk Steven Kruijswijk Steven Kruiswijk is a Dutch road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam Rabobank. In 2009 he won the Under 23 category of the Dutch National Road Race Championships-Palmares:200720092010... |
|
| 6 | Francisco Ventoso Francisco Ventoso Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi is a Spanish road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . Ventoso turned professional with in 2004 before moving to in 2008. He won the 2010 Paris-Bruxelles in a bunch sprint... |
||||
| 7 | Bart De Clercq Bart De Clercq Bart De Clercq is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for the team. His first professional victory was the 7th stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia -Palmares:200920102011-References:General* at Omega Pharma-LottoSpecific... |
Bart De Clercq Bart De Clercq Bart De Clercq is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for the team. His first professional victory was the 7th stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia -Palmares:200920102011-References:General* at Omega Pharma-LottoSpecific... |
|||
| 8 | Oscar Gatto Oscar Gatto Oscar Gatto is an Italian racing cyclist with UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmarès :* 2007 - Gerolsteiner* 2008 - Gerolsteiner* 2009 - ISD-Neri** 1st, Stage 3, Giro di Sardegna... |
||||
| 9 | Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
Filippo Savini Filippo Savini Filippo Savini is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmarès :20052006- External links :... |
Roman Kreuziger Roman Kreuziger Roman Kreuziger is a Czech professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Kreuziger is an all-rounder, with climbing and time trial abilities, becoming a contender for the General Classification of stage races... |
| 10 | Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling... |
|||
| 11 | John Gadret John Gadret John Gadret is a French professional racing cyclist in cyclo-cross and road racing disciplines for UCI ProTour team . He became a stagiaire for Cofidis in 2003 before turning professional with the team in 2004.... |
||||
| 12 | Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season... |
||||
| 13 | José Rujano José Rujano José Humberto Rujano Guillen is a Venezuelan professional road bicycle racer who is currently riding for UCI Professional Continental team .... |
Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
||
| 14 | Igor Antón Igor Antón Igor Antón Hernández is a Basque professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi.... |
||||
| 15 | Mikel Nieve Mikel Nieve Mikel Nieve Iturralde is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi. Nieve won the sixteenth stage of the 2010 Vuelta a España, and the fifteenth stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, with a 50 km solo, the queen stage of that years edition, which Alberto... |
Stefano Garzelli Stefano Garzelli Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but... |
|||
| 16 | Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
||||
| 17 | Diego Ulissi Diego Ulissi Diego Ulissi is an Italian road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team .-Professional career:He won the UCI Road World Championships - Junior Men's Road Race in 2006 and 2007. He is the second cyclist ever - after Giuseppe Palumbo - to achieve two consecutive World Junior Road titles... |
||||
| 18 | Eros Capecchi Eros Capecchi Eros Capecchi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He turned professional with in 2005 before moving to in 2008.- Palmares :200420082011- External links :... |
||||
| 19 | Paolo Tiralongo Paolo Tiralongo Paolo Tiralongo is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team .He joined Astana for the 2010 season, on a 2 year contract.- Palmares :1999* 1st, Triptique Ardennais Overall2001... |
||||
| 20 | Vasil Kiryienka Vasil Kiryienka Vasili Kiryienka is a Belarusian racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam . Kiryienka finished 2nd in the 10th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, he was outsprinted at the line by Sérgio Paulinho after basically leading him out to the finish... |
||||
| 21 | David Millar David Millar David Millar is a British road racing cyclist riding for . He has won three stages of the Tour de France, two of the Vuelta a España and one Stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was the British national road champion and the national time trial champion, both in 2007... |
||||
| Final | Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro... |
Stefano Garzelli Stefano Garzelli Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but... |
Roman Kreuziger Roman Kreuziger Roman Kreuziger is a Czech professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Kreuziger is an all-rounder, with climbing and time trial abilities, becoming a contender for the General Classification of stage races... |
|
Final standings
| Legend | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |
Denotes the winner of the General classification | |
Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage... |
| |
Denotes the winner of the Points classification | |
Denotes the winner of the Young rider classification Young rider classification in the Giro d'Italia Since 1976, The Giro d'Italia has had a young rider classification. The leader in this classification wears the maglia bianca . The classification is determined by the best overall time, but only young cyclists were in the competition.... |
General classification
| Rider | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
84h 05' 14" | |
| 2 | + 6' 10" | ||
| 3 | + 6' 56" | ||
| 4 | + 10' 04" | ||
| 5 | + 11' 05" | ||
| 6 | |
+ 11' 28" | |
| 7 | + 12' 12" | ||
| 8 | + 12' 18" | ||
| 9 | + 13' 51" | ||
| 10 | + 14' 10" |
Points classification
| Rider | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
186 | |
| 2 | 122 | ||
| 3 | 116 | ||
| 4 | 107 | ||
| 5 | 97 | ||
| 6 | 87 | ||
| 7 | |
85 | |
| 8 | |
81 | |
| 9 | 70 | ||
| 10 | 66 |
Mountains classification
| Rider | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
67 | |
| 2 | |
58 | |
| 3 | 43 | ||
| 4 | 39 | ||
| 5 | 29 | ||
| 6 | 24 | ||
| 7 | 23 | ||
| 8 | 23 | ||
| 9 | 22 | ||
| 10 | 21 |
Young rider classification
| Rider | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
84h 16' 42" | |
| 2 | + 2' 23" | ||
| 3 | + 38' 41" | ||
| 4 | + 43' 39" | ||
| 5 | + 42' 46" | ||
| 6 | + 1h 06' 01" | ||
| 7 | + 1h 07' 16" | ||
| 8 | + 1h 20' 14" | ||
| 9 | + 1h 22' 10" | ||
| 10 | + 1h 42' 22" |
Trofeo Fast Team classification
| Pos. | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 252h 44' 52" | |
| 2 | + 10' 00" | |
| 3 | + 11' 23" | |
| 4 | + 24' 46" | |
| 5 | + 38' 41" | |
| 6 | + 45' 23" | |
| 7 | + 1h 07' 35" | |
| 8 | + 1h 07' 57" | |
| 9 | + 1h 20' 35" | |
| 10 | + 1h 24' 01" |
Trofeo Super Team classification
| Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 338 | |
| 2 | 299 | |
| 3 | 298 | |
| 4 | 285 | |
| 5 | 277 | |
| 6 | 221 | |
| 7 | 266 | |
| 8 | 242 | |
| 9 | 239 | |
| 10 | 202 |
Minor classifications
Other less well-known classifications, whose leaders did not receive a special jersey, were awarded during the Giro. These awards were based on points earned throughout the three weeks of the tour. Each mass-start stage had one intermediate sprint, the Traguardo Volante, or T.V. The T.V. gave bonus seconds towards the general classification, points towards the regular points classification, and also points towards the T.V. classification. This award was known by various names in previous years, and was previously time-based. It was won by Jan BakelantsJan Bakelants
Jan Bakelants is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for the team. His major wins include the 2008 Tour de l'Avenir. He also rode the 2010 Giro d'Italia, in which he finished 36th.-References:...
of the team.
Other awards included the Combativity classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. General classification winner Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
won this award. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were only awarded for the top three finishers in each stage. It was won, like the closely associated points classification, by Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
. Additionally, the Trofeo Fuga Pinarello rewarded riders who took part in a breakaway at the head of the field, each rider in an escape of ten or fewer riders getting one point for each kilometre that the group stayed clear. 's Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych is a Ukrainian cyclist with the UCI ProTour team . He was born in Drohobych, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. Under-23 road race champion in 2001, Popovych turned professional in 2002 with , where he performed particularly strongly in the Giro d'Italia, finishing third in 2003...
was first in this competition. Teams were given penalty points for minor technical infringements. Six different teams – , , , , , and – avoided incurring penalties over the course of the race, and so shared in winning the Fair Play classification.
World Rankings points
The Giro was one of 27 events throughout the season that contributed points towards the 2011 UCI World Tour2011 UCI World Tour
The 2011 UCI World Tour was the third edition of the ranking system launched by the International Cycling Union in 2009. The series started with the Tour Down Under's opening stage on 18 January, and consisted of 14 stage races and 13 one-day races, culminating in the Giro di Lombardia on 15...
. Points were awarded to the top 20 finishers overall, and to the top five finishers in each stage.
| Name | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 243 | ||
| 146 | ||
| 119 | ||
| 114 | ||
| 93 | ||
| 75 | ||
| 48 | ||
| 44 | ||
| 40 | ||
| 38 |
| Remaining points earners | ||
|---|---|---|
| 36 | ||
| 28 | ||
| 24 | ||
| 24 | ||
| 23 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 21 | ||
| 18 | ||
| 17 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 12 | ||
| 10 | ||
| 10 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 1 | ||
| 1 | ||
| Rank | Prev. | Name | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 356 | |||
| 2 | 349 | |||
| 3 | 348 | |||
| 4 | 236 | |||
| 5 | 232 | |||
| 6 | 220 | |||
| 7 | 210 | |||
| 8 | 203 | |||
| 9 | 202 | |||
| 10 | 197 |