Links

  1999 Giro d'Italia

Other Racing News

The Official Giro Site (In English but obviously written by an Italian)

Map of the Route  with links to elevation charts for the mountain stages

Daily Stages

VeloNews Coverage of the '99 Giro

Click Live TV and then click on the TV Screen to watch Eurosport TV Live through the Internet

Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Stage 10
Stage 11
Stage 12
Stage 13
Stage 14
Stage 15
Stage 16
Stage 17
Stage 18
Stage 19
Stage 20
Stage 21
Stage 22

Cipollini sprints to Giro lead

By Mike Price

CATANIA, Sicily, May 16 - Mario Cipollini produced a fearsome finish to nose out chief rival Jeroen Blijlevens in Sunday's fight for the overall lead on the second day of the Giro d'Italia.

In a town where nearby Mount Etna has left its mark, the Italian erupted in the last 100 metres to snatch his 26th Giro stage victory by centimetres from the Dutchman.

More importantly, it ensured Cipollini would wear the leader's pink jersey but he left nothing to chance in the second stage over 133 kilometres from Noto.

He edged out Blijlevens, who was also second on the first stage, with Italian Dario Pieri third.

But the key to Cipollini's race lead came after the first 33 kms.

There he took second place in an intermediate sprint, worth a deduction of four seconds from his aggregate race time, and his victory was worth a further 12 seconds.

He is now four seconds clear of Blijlevens with overnight leader Italian Ivan Quaranta third, eight seconds in arrears.

Cipollini's teammates controlled the front of the race over the final three kms to give their leader a perfect launch pad.

Blijlevens' final lunge came too late as Cipollini's long arms shot skywards to salute his sixth win of the year and the 135th of his 11 years as a professional.

"I was disappointed about missing a win on Saturday, but I can never complain about my team. They work hard for me," said Cipollini.

Teammate Gian Matteo Fagnini was in a leading group of six for the last half of the race, but once they were caught with eight kms remaining Fagnini joined his team to work for Cipollini.

Fagnini paced Cipollini to within striking distance then peeled off, leaving his number one to snatch victory.

Italian Endrio Leoni crossed the line in fifth place but was later relegated to last place, given a penalty of 30 seconds, and fined 200 Swiss francs for obstructing and pushing another rider.

CATANIA, Sicily, May 16 - Placings in the second stage of the Giro d'Italia after Sunday's 133 kms race from Noto: