Cycling

Good morning and welcome to this Friday edition of the Rocacorba Daily. Today we’ve got the latest from the Giro d’Italia after last night’s uphill ITT, we’ve got the results from a handful of other races happening elsewhere in Europe and much more. Enjoy and have a great weekend! Nibali smashes rivals to tighten Giro grip Italian Vincenzo Nibali took a giant step towards his maiden Giro d’Italia triumph by smashing his rivals on his way to winning a rain-soaked 18th stage uphill time trial from Mori to Polsa on Thursday. Australian Cadel Evans began the day only 1min 26sec behind the Italian, but the 2011 Tour de France champion battled his way to 25th place at 2:36 behind. Ahead of two key mountain stages in the Dolomites, which will be altered depending on the severity of the wintry weather expected at high altitude, Nibali now leads Evans by 4:02. Colombian Rigoberto Uran is third overall at 4:12 with former pink jersey winner Michele Scarponi, who is aiming for a podium finish, fourth at 5:14. It was Nibali’s first stage win of this year’s race, and third Giro win overall, and should be enough to see him become the first Italian to win the Giro since Scarponi was handed the 2011 title after Alberto Contador of Spain was disqualified for doping. “I have a significant advantage now and that will allow me to control the coming two stages in more tranquil fashion,” said Nibali, who rides for the Astana team. Nibali, the 2010 Tour of Spain winner and runner-up on the 2011 Giro d’Italia, came to this year’s race extra determined having been pushed into third place by Bradley Wiggins at last year’s Tour de France. However despite being well suited to the rolling, uphill test, few expected the Italian to dominate as he did. Nibali said after Wednesday’s stage to Vicenza that Evans had been “pedalling well”. On Thursday the Italian said: “I thought he [Evans] would be better today. But he’s been hidden in the peloton in recent days so we didn’t know what to expect from Evans.” Spaniard Samuel Sanchez set the early pace from among the big names in a time of 45:27 — when the course was still fairly dry. He took the provisional lead with a time that was 22secs faster than Italian Damiano Caruso but, despite heavy rain hitting the course later on, Sanchez was unceremoniously pushed into second place when Nibali, punching his arms in triumph, posted a time that was 58secs faster. “I’m happy with my performance,” said Sanchez, the 2008 Olympic champion. “It wasn’t enough to beat the pink jersey, but he’s been the strongest rider here. To beat Nibali today was mission impossible.” Wiggins began the Giro as Nibali’s main threat, but the Englishman, as well as Canada’s defending champion Ryder Hesjedal, quit the race due to illness last week. Evans, too, said Nibali would be a deserving winner. “Nibali here is in a class of his own. Maybe, more than maybe, he deserves to win the Giro,” added the Australian. Click here for full Giro d’Italia stage 18 results and video highlights. Text via AFP. Evans loses time: ‘Not For Lack Of Trying’ Cadel Evans finished the 20.6-kilometer test in rainy conditions in 47:05 (25th place) while Nibali’s winning time was 44:29, 58 seconds ahead of runner-up Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). Evans remains 10 seconds ahead of third-placed Rigoberto Uran (Sky Procycling), who finished sixth. The 2011 Tour de France winner said his performance was not what he was looking for or what he was expecting. “It’s not for lack of trying that I lost a minute or two minutes,” Evans said. “I came to this Giro with high hopes, but not high expectations. My real objective was to give my best, and, until this point, I’ve made a few mistakes, but nothing big. So in that regard, in te

1. Daryl IMPEY, Orica-GreenEdge, in 4:41:30 2. Gerald CIOLEK, MTN-Qhubeka, at :00 3. Adriano MALORI, Lampre-Merida, at :00 4. Diego ULISSI, Lampre-Merida, at :00 5. Romain BARDET, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :00 6. Michel KREDER, Garmin-Sharp, at :00 7. Martin ELMIGER, IAM Cycling, at :00 8. Geraint THOMAS, Sky, at :00 9. John GADRET, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :00 10. Christophe RIBLON, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :00 11. Warren BARGUIL, Argos-Shimano, at :00 12. Maxime BOUET, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :00 13. Marcel WYSS, IAM Cycling, at :00 14. Silvio HERKLOTZ, Stölting, at :00 15. Cédric PINEAU, FDJ, at :00 16. Mikel NIEVE ITURALDE, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :00 17. Simon GESCHKE, Argos-Shimano, at :00 18. Simon CLARKE, Orica-GreenEdge, at :00 19. Sergio PARDILLA BELLON, MTN-Qhubeka, at :00 20. Heinrich HAUSSLER, IAM Cycling, at :00 21. Bram TANKINK, Blanco, at :00 22. David LELAY, Sojasun, at :00 23. Jan BARTA, NetApp-Endura, at :00 24. Jérémy ROY, FDJ, at :00 25. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar, at :00 26. Dominic KLEMME, IAM Cycling, at :00 27. Davide MALACARNE, Europcar, at :00 28. Ben SWIFT, Sky, at :00 29. Bjorn THURAU, Europcar, at :11 30. Stefan DENIFL, IAM Cycling, at :11 31. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ, at :11 32. Patrick SCHELLING, IAM Cycling, at :11 33. Mikael CHEREL, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :11 34. Thomas LÖVKVIST, IAM Cycling, at :15 35. Ian STANNARD, Sky, at :15 36. Yannick TALABARDON, Sojasun, at :15 37. Manuele MORI, Lampre-Merida, at :22 38. Andreas SCHILLINGER, NetApp-Endura, at :23 39. Brice FEILLU, Sojasun, at :26 40. Daniel MARTIN, Garmin-Sharp, at :41 41. Biel KADRI, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :41 42. Damiano CUNEGO, Lampre-Merida, at :50 43. Matteo BONO, Lampre-Merida, at :50 44. Peter KENNAUGH, Sky, at :56 45. Nikodemus HOLLER, Thüringer Energie, at 2:13 46. Cyril GAUTIER, Europcar, at 2:49 47. Nikias ARNDT, Argos-Shimano, at 4:00 48. Jack BAUER, Garmin-Sharp, at 10:28 49. Yoann OFFREDO, FDJ, at 12:38 50. Meran RUSSAN, MTN-Qhubeka, at 12:38 51. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 12:38 52. Martin REIMER, MTN-Qhubeka, at 12:38 53. Ignatas KONOVALOVAS, MTN-Qhubeka, at 12:38 54. Alexander WETTERHALL, NetApp-Endura, at 12:38 55. Simon GERRANS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 12:38 56. Juan Jose LOBATO DEL VALLE, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 12:38 57. Sam BEWLEY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 12:38 58. Davide CIMOLAI, Lampre-Merida, at 12:38 59. Ruben PEREZ MORENO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 12:38 60. David LOZANO RIBA, Novo Nordisk, at 12:38 61. Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano, at 12:38 62. Fabian WEGMANN, Garmin-Sharp, at 12:38 63. Javier MEGIAS LEAL, Novo Nordisk, at 12:38 64. Johannes WEBER, Heizomat, at 12:38 65. Francois PARISIEN, Argos-Shimano, at 12:38 66. Jonas AHLSTRAND, Argos-Shimano, at 12:38 67. Maximilian WERDA, Stölting, at 12:38 68. Max WALSLEBEN, Nutrixxion Abus, at 12:38 69. Jonathan TIERNAN-LOCKE, Sky, at 12:38 70. Laurent MANGEL, FDJ, at 12:38 71. William BONNET, FDJ, at 12:38 72. Arnaud DEMARE, FDJ, at 12:38 73. Joseph Lloyd DOMBROWSKI, Sky, at 12:38 74. Sebastian LANGEVELD, Orica-GreenEdge, at 12:38 75. David TANNER, Blanco, at 12:38 76. Cyril LEMOINE, Sojasun, at 12:38 77. Jerome COUSIN, Europcar, at 12:38 78. Christophe KERN, Europcar, at 12:38 79. Jay Robert THOMSON, MTN-Qhubeka, at 19:30 80. Jasha SÜTTERLIN, Thüringer Energie, at 19:30 81. Alex RASMUSSEN, Garmin-Sharp, at 23:00 82. Jon ABERASTURI IZAGA, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 23:00 83. Andreas STAUFF, MTN-Qhubeka, at 23:00 84. Grischa JANORSCHKE, Nutrixxion Abus, at 23:00 85. Jetse BOL, Blanco, at 23:00 86. Fabian SCHORMAIR, Heizomat, at 23:00 87. Lucas LIß, Rad-Net Rose, at 23:00 88. Jan-Niklas DROSTE, Heizomat, at 23:00 89. Raymond KREDER, Garmin-Sharp, at 23:00 90. Aidis KRUOPIS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 23:00 91. Robert WAGNER, Blanco, at 23:00 92. Fabio CALABRIA, Novo Nordisk, at 23:00 93. Alex FRAME, Thüringer Energie, at 23:00 94. Jan DIETEREN, Stölting, at 23:00 95. Thomas KOEP, Stölting, at 23:00 96. Luke ROBERTS, Stölting, at 23:00 97. Jan Oelerich, Stölting, at 23:00 98. Jure KOCJAN, Euskaltel-Euska

Cadel Evans dropped out of contention for pink on Friday, but is taking positives out of the Giro with an eye toward the Tour. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.comPOLSA, Italy (VN) — Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) looked for the positive side of losing out on the overall title at the Giro d’Italia on Thursday afternoon. Despite slipping further back in today’s stage 18 uphill time trial, he maintained good spirits and an eye on the Tour de France. “The glass is half-full, yes,” Evans said after changing out of his rain-soaked skinsuit. “As a professional, as a competitor, I want to win, but the thing about bike racing is that you start with 200 and there is one winner and 199 losers.” Evans placed 25th in the 20.6-kilometer test, 2:36 back from the race’s overall leader and stage winner, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). Evans now sits second overall, at 4:02. He sat, cold, ready to go to the hotel to reflect on the Giro. The 38-year-old at one point had been within striking distance of Nibali and the overall win. He said that he is used to these difficulties. “That’s something you have to learn as a bike rider … It’s something you have to learn to live with,” Evans said. “There are two ways to look at this: I was second place in the Giro at 30 or 35 seconds and maybe I can win this Giro, but at the same time I came here to come back to my best to recover lost days of racing due this illness and so on last year. In that regard, it is not something that I should be kicking myself in the backside for.” Evans suffered last year. As defending Tour de France champion, he could only manage seventh. It wasn’t until after the race and a stint in the U.S. that he realized a virus had sapped his fitness. The setback put Evans on the back foot coming into 2013. To be certain to be ready for the Tour, he and BMC Racing’s staff decided to race the Giro d’Italia. Not only did he find his legs, but he challenged for the Giro’s overall win. As he said, Evans has reason to be happy. “I came to this Giro with high hopes but not high expectations. My real objective was to give my best at the Giro and at this point, I have made a few mistakes but nothing big. So in terms of giving it my best, it’s great,” Evans said. “But when you are near winning you want to be winning, and that is where your hopes might rise above your capabilities.” Evans’ woes and podium hopes Evans suffered in Thursday’s 20.6km time trial. He said the short stages featured in the 96th edition of the race do not favor him. “The time trial was a lot worse than what I expected,” he explained. “I gave what I could, but I saw in this Giro that when there are short stages, like above Bardonecchia and today, I’m not at the level of the best.” A podium is still within reach, but it will be a hard fight. Rigoberto Urán (Sky) sits only 10 seconds back and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) is approaching, at 1:12. Two mountain stages await, with Friday’s rerouted leg to Val Martello finishing atop a 22km first-category climb and Saturday’s 20th stage set to conclude on the Tre Cime climb. “Of course second is better than third place, and fourth is a pretty horrible place to finish in a Grand Tour,” Evans added. “But at this point, relax, recover, and look to tomorrow.” Evans the fighter is also looking to the Tour with a big Giro base under him.

Colombian further from Giro d'Italia lead but closer to second

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Vincenzo Nibali all but assured himself a pink ride into Brescia on Sunday. Photo: Luk Benies | AFPPOLSA, Italy (VN) — Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) erased any doubt Thursday over who is the strongest in this Giro d’Italia and will carry a nearly insurmountable lead into the final three days of racing this week. Only Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) could come within one minute of the Sicilian as Nibali won Thursday’s 20.6-kilometer climbing time trial. He tightened his grip on the pink jersey, pushing second overall Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) to 4:02 adrift and celebrated with a fist pump as he crossed the finish line. “My legs don’t hurt,” Nibali said. “Over the past week, I’ve started to feel better and better. I was very calm this morning. When I woke up and did a course inspection, I knew I had good legs.” Nibali was right. He stopped the clock in 44:29 (27.785 kph) to win his first stage of this Giro and confirm once and for all that he’s a step above everyone else in the peloton. “What Nibali did today was impressive. He’s the just winner,” said Sánchez, who posted a fast early time and watched rider after rider fall short until Nibali surged across the line in the rain. “He had the extra stimulus of riding for the pink jersey. He’s clearly the strongest rider in the race.” “The Shark” once again proved he’s immune to cold and wet conditions in what’s been a terrible Giro. Conditions are so bad organizers confirmed Thursday afternoon that the Gavia and Stelvio climbs are unsafe for passage and laid out a new route for Friday’s climbing stage, with the original finale at Val Martello remaining intact. With the Giro still hanging in the balance, a determined Nibali took gains on all of his GC rivals, including a deathblow of 2:36 to Evans. The Australian started the day in second, at 1:26 — the only real threat to Nibali. Evans struggled across the line a distant 25th as rain pelted the late starters on the upper reaches of the winding course from Mori to Polsa. Evans retained second by just 10 seconds over Rigoberto Urán (Sky), and slipped to 4:02 back, a difference that will be all but impossible to recoup despite two brutally steep climbing stages across the snow-bound Dolomites. Anticipation was high ahead of what many expected to be a race-breaking stage. It was a breaker, but in the wrong direction for Evans. The 2011 Tour de France champion needed to take time on Nibali, not lose it. Evans, who decided to race the Giro just five weeks before the start in order to prepare for the Tour de France, essentially threw in the towel after studying the GC. “I am unlikely to win, but since I came here as training for the Tour de France, second is not so bad,” Evans said. “And Nibali, he’s in a class of his own right now, so he deserves to win the Giro.” Nibali said he was expecting more from Evans. “Cadel has been hidden away in the peloton these past few days, so it was hard to judge his legs. I expected he would go better today,” Nibali said. “He was my rider of reference [starting three minutes apart], so when I could see that I was close to catching him, I pushed even harder.” Nibali looks firm in his grip on pink. He’s shown no cracks since the start of the Giro, and has ridden with confidence since taking the maglia rosa in the individual time trial at Saltara in stage 7. Evans, Uran packed tightly in the race for the podium The real race is now on for the podium, and Nibali knows it. “The most important thing now is to defend the lead that I now have,” Nibali said. “Now we can breathe a little easier.” Urán rode well in a discipline that’s not his specialty to defend third, stopping the clock sixth, 1:26 back. The Colombian is now just 10 seconds behind Evans, at 4:12, so there’s still a lot to race for at Sk

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