A Wet Rag

All the hyperbole that accompanied Stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia from its inception a year ago, by some sadistic organizers, amounted to nothing more than a wet rag, literally, as weather not only diverted the riders away from the penultimate climb, the Passo della Erbe, but also caused organizers to take out the steepest and final 5km of the Plan de Corones (the section whose "grooming" has been monitored by everyone). The shortened stage was won by Leonardo Piepoli, (great first name, if I do say so myself) who also won earlier on Stage 13.

Said a somewhat surprised (though delighted) and frozen Piepoli after the victory, "Now that I've warmed up I can talk. I don't like this weather at all, but I've had two of my best wins in this weather. I usually don't ride well in the cold and rain like this, but I have to thank Simoni even more today than last time [in La Thuile]. Simoni said to me 'Go, go!' a few times and so I did. For sure, it was him who gave me the motivation to attack today."

Photo: Graham Watson

Of note: It looks as if the final podium has been decided as none seem to have the legs to keep up with Basso, Gutierrez, and Simoni (especially when you have such a mountain goat in Piepoli to help you).

Overall, after 17 Stages
1. Ivan Basso (I) CSC), 67:56:31
2. José E. Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp) Phonak, at 5:43
3. Gilberto Simoni (I) Saunier Duval), at 10:34
4. Paolo Savoldelli (I) Discovery, at 10:58
5. Franco Pellizotti (I) Liquigas-Bianchi, at 12:30
6. Wladimir Belli (I) Colombia-Selle Italia, at 13:00
7. Sandy Casar (F) Francaise des Jeux, at 14:06
8. Damiano Cunego (I) Lampre, at 14:48
9. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) Phonak, at 16:40
10. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Sp) Discovery, at 17:48

17. Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery, at 21.23