Few occasions in sports, as in life, rarely match their expectations. The big game fizzles or the big fight ends up being one-sided. Stage 19 of the 93rd Giro d'Italia was certainly not one of those occasions.
Sitting 2:27 in arrears from David Arroyo's (Caisse d'Epargne) maglia rosa, Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo), along with teammate Vincenzo Nibali, put forth a massive offensive on the slopes of the Mortirolo in an effort to wrestle the jersey and ultimately the race from the Spaniard. The effort ended up being so decisive that only Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli) could follow his two Italian countrymen.
For that point forward, the stage turned into a sheer battle of wills, and of time, between the the two leaders with Basso turning himself inside out to capture his lost time and Arroyo, behind, doing the same to prevent it. Distance and time gaps were followed at every instance by two neighboring nations, whose hopes rose and fell with each passing kilometer as the lead teetered back and forth. Sadly, on the day's final climb, the elastic finally snapped on Spain's chances to take another grand tour.
At the finish in Aprica, some 195km later, Scarponi would claim the third Giro d'Italia stage of his career. But the real winner on the day was Basso, who pulled back all the time he had lost to Arroyo in the course of the three week event and was even able to put 51 seconds into the valiant Caisse d'Epargne rider. Nibali rounded out the podium in third.
"I had seen Arroyo in great condition in the previous days with a team that is used to controlling Grand Tours, Basso would tell Cyclingnews. "We had a plan for our team to stay united. We believed in our chances to get the pink jersey, but the goal hasn't been reached yet. Tomorrow is a super hard stage before Sunday's time trial."
Results - Stage 19
1. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
2. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
Ivan Basso may have claimed the lead today, but it is anything but safe. If the Gavia is in the picture for tomorrow's stage, expect more of the same between David Arroyo and Basso. The biggest loser on the day was undoubtedly Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), who despite finishing in the maglia rosa group now sits four minutes back with only two stages to go.
General Classification - After Stage 19
1. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
2. David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
5. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
6. Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
7. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana
9. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-Doimo
10. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia
Jersey Leaders - After Stage 19
maglia rosa - Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
maglia ciclamino - Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
maglia verde - Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
maglia bianca - Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
Next: Stage 20 - Bormio to Passa del Tonale (178 km)
Photo: Reuters
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