CyclingRevealed's Giro Perspective
Tappa 9, May 16th, Firenze to Ravenna, 139 km
If at first you don't succeed...
After the individual time trial on Sunday 186 riders lined up for Monday’s short 139 km stage from Florence to Ravenna.
Soon after the start breakaway specialists Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner), Mads Christensen (QuickStep) and Eric Baumann (T-Mobile) escaped. Krauss the Intergiro leader seemed content to use the breakaway to add to his point total.
On the category 2 climb of the Passo del Muraglioni, the only difficulty of the day, Baumann was dropped. Krauss and Christensen soldiered on and gain 3’22” over the summit.
Intergiro leader Krauss (Front) and Christensen on the descent of the Passo del Muraglioni [ Image by La Gazetta ]
As the duo hammer down the 50 km descent to the Forlì Intergiro sprint Christensen hit a parked car on a fast and technical downhill section. Krauss moved easily to the sprint and extended his Intergiro lead. The peloton was charging and the breakaway’s lead stood at 1’40”.
Petacchi’s Silver Train leads the chase [ Image by La Gazetta ]
The sprinter’s teams were not about to let the breakaway steal the day and the capture was made with just under 20 km to go. An Italian “bello sprint royale” was set.
Unlike Friday’s very narrow finishing straight, the finish in Ravenna had sweeping turns and long straights. The ‘Silver Train’ of Fassa Bortolo took control of the lead out 4 km out.
Under the 1 km to go banner Fassa’s sprinter Alessandro Petacchi sat 3rd wheel with two teammates setting an unbelievable pace. Marco Velo delivered Petacchi to the 200 meter mark. “Ale-Jet” kicked in the after burners and finally won his first stage.
Stage winner Alessandro “Ale-Jet” Petacchi [ Image by La Gazetta ]
The ‘Silver Train’ was back on track.
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