Measured Redemption, Scarponi Solos- Stage 6 Giro d'Italia Centoanni

Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli ) took the victory in Stage 6 of the 100th Giro d'Italia well ahead of Team Columbia - Highroad's Edvald Boasson Hagen and a rejuvenated Allan Davis (Quick Step).

But seeing Scarponi cross the finish line to take the monstrously long stage into Austria was somewhat bittersweet. The self-confessed client of Operacion Puerto's Dr. Fuentes, Scarponi had just accomplished what few ever had; made it all the way back from the required two year doping suspension to not only compete at the highest level of cycling but also to take a stage in one of it's greatest races.

But that, unfortunately, is the current and confusing nature of our sport. Life, is at best gray. But, the introduction of performance enhancers in sport has shown us that even gray has different shades. Why are Alessandro Petacchi's recent victories extolled, while Scarponi's win begs for further investigation?

Scarponi's victory should be viewed as a sort of redemption, but because of the rampant and varying degrees by which riders have attempted to cheat in cycling's past, we, as fans, are left in a state of ambiguity, deciphering who to believe in and when to believe in them. Superlatives, once thrown out with excited regularity, now should be withheld until further testing.

Results
1. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad
3. Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step

General Classification After Stage 6
1. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini
2. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad
3. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
6. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
7. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
8. Christopher Horner (USA) Astana
9. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
10. David Arroyo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

Next: Stage 7 - Innsbruck (Aut) - Chiavenna, 244km
On a stage that began in the Austrian town that twice hosted the Winter Olympic Games, it was only fitting for a Scandinavian to take the win.