BikeCal

Click for Home Page

Links

Giro 99

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

Stage 15

Pantani conquers crisis to boost lead

By Mike Price

Marco Pantani and Laurent Jalabert

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