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Stage 15 Pantani conquers crisis to boost lead
By Mike Price
30 MAY 99 - Italian pink jersey rider Marco
Pantani over his shoulder at French Laurent Jalabert during the 15th 143 km stage of the
Giro d'Italia cycling race from Racconigi to Oropa May 30. Pantani won the stage and
retains the overall race leade while Laurent Jalabert was second. pc/Photo by Paolo
Cocco REUTERS |
OROPA, Italy, May 30 - Marco Pantani triumphed over crisis in the Giro
d'Italia on Sunday to more than double his race lead.
Eight kilometres from the finish, at 1,144 metres in the Piedmont mountains, the Italian
had to stop to untangle his chain and quickly lost 22 seconds on his rivals.
But by three kms from the line, outside the huge Santuario di Oropa monastery, he was in
the lead, and raced home 21 seconds clear of former race leader Laurent Jalabert of
France.
"I lost my morale when I saw my opponents were going away from me," Pantani
said, "I felt better though as my team mates brought me closer to the race."
Pantani's gutsy fightback was too much for his chief threat, Italian Paolo Savoldelli, who
is now one minute and 54 seconds adrift, but still second overall.
It also seemed to put pay to the rest of his challengers, yet Pantani was not feeling
completely comfortable after finishing the 147 kms from Racconigi.
"My lead will not be enough when it comes to Wednesday's time trial
which is over a flat 42 kilometres," he said.
Despite his obvious mastery in the mountains, Pantani said he had not changed his decision
to miss the Tour de France, which he won last year two months after winning the Giro.
"I am not thinking about the Tour and I certainly have no reason to change my
mind," said Pantani.
Pantani's chain problem came as he shifted gear at the start of the Oropa ascent. His bike
hit a pothole and the chain unshipped to stick between two gear cogs.
In the developing fray Pantani had to stop to make an adjustment, losing time at a vital
stage.
His team mates dropped back to help pace their leader back to the battle, but attacks at
the front, notably from Spain's Roberto Heras, had the Giro leader suffering.
Then came the fightback that took Pantani clear of everyone and left few doubts about who
was in charge.
There are three days of respite before the Dolomites offer the final mountainous challenge
in the countdown to next Sunday's Milan finale.
OROPA, Italy, May 30 - Leading placings in
the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race over 147 kms between Racconigi to Oropa
on Sunday:
Stage 15 1.
Marco Pantani (Italy) Mercatone Uno 3 hours 47 minutes and 31 seconds
2. Laurent Jalabert (France) ONCE 21 seconds behind
3. Gilberto Simoni (Italy) Ballan 35
4. Ivan Gotti (Italy) Polti 38
5. Daniel Clavero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros same time
6. Nicola Miceli (Italy) Liquigas 44
7. Paolo Savoldelli (Italy) Saeco 49
8. Andrei Zintchenko (Russia) Vitalicio Seguros 54
9. Daniele de Paoli (Italy) Amica Chips 56
10. Davide Rebellin (Italy) Polti 57
11. Oscar Camenzind (Switzerland) Lampre
12. Massimo Codol (Italy) Lampre both same time
13. Jose Manuel Uria (Spain) Kelme 1:08
14. Roberto Heras (Spain) Kelme same time
15. Sergei Gontchar (Ukraine) Vini Caldirola 1:41
16. Richard Virenque (France) Polti
17. Roberto Sgambelluri (Italy) Cantina Tollo both same time
18. Oscar Sevilla (Spain) Kelme 1:50
19. Niklas Axelsson (Sweden) Navigare 2:02
20. Alessandro Spezialetti (Italy) Mobilvetta 2:05 |
Leading overall standings: 1.
Pantani 67 hours 1 minute 19 seconds
2. Savoldelli 1:54 behind
3. Jalabert 2:10
4. Gotti 2:11
5. Clavero 2:12
6. Gontchar 5:40
7. Simoni 5:44
8. Axelsson 6:08
9. Camenzind 6:27
10. De Paoli 7:58
11. Zintchenko 8:02
12. Sgambelluri 8:06
13. Miceli 8:43
14. Codol 9:16
15. Heras 9:20
16. Marco Velo (Italy) Mercatone Uno 9:40
17. Giuseppe di Grande (Italy) Mapei same time
18. Hernan Buenahora (Colombia) Vitalicio Seguros 9:56
19. Sevilla 10:42
20. Uria 11:44 |
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