CyclingRevealed's Giro '08 Perspective

Tappa 6, May 15th, Potenza to Peschici, 231.6 km (originally 265 km) Rolling Stage

We'll Serve NoWhine Before Its Time

Rider's frustration nearly caused a strike before stage 4 after traffic jams and ferry delays caused the transfer to the main land to be a torturous affair. Most teams arrived at their hotels after mid-night, some 4 to 6 hours later than scheduled. Cooler minds prevailed and stage 4 was raced. Festering complaints within the peloton came to a head after yesterday's stage and stage 6 looked to be in jeopardy.

Every whine has its time. Disgruntled riders and team personnel fed up with the stresses of early tough stages and lengthy post race transfers, approached Giro d'Italia director Angelo Zomegnan prior to stage 6 to seeking relief. Hearing the lingering complaints race organizers gathered and cut the 34 km finishing Gargano circuit. The stage will finish directly into Peschici . The start of the stage was also pushed back by a half hour.

Stay tuned to Giro between stage news, because the teams face three more long transfers over the next four stages. Monday's rest day can't come too quickly.

The race was off at 10:45. A lethargic peloton allowed an 11 rider group to escape and build a 15+ minute lead. The best placed rider in the group was Gerolsteiner's Matthias Russ, 1'39” behind race leader Franco Pellizotti. But the danger man was Tinkoff's Maxim Iglinsky.

When the breakaway went under the 35 km to go banner the peloton was passing the 45 km to go banner. The peloton began a token, late chase to limit damages, but the race of the day came from the breakaway.

Over the Bosco della Risega Alan Pérez and Matteo Priamo attacked the breakaway and opened a 20 second gap. Under the 1 km banner, all up hill, the hard earned gap held solid. Pérez and Priamo set up for the finish. Leading through the final bend Priamo opened the sprint. Spanish climber Alan Pérez couldn't answer. CSF Group Navigare's Matteo Priamo gained the biggest win of his career. Daniele Bennati led the Pellizotti group 11'05” behind Priamo.

Stage winner Matteo Priamo [ Images © La Gazetta ]

Giovanni Visconti finished the day in an overall tied in the General Classification with Matthias Russ and was awarded the Maglia Rosa for a higher placing on the stage.

Tomorrow: to the hills! With the first climb to the finish of this years Giro. Will we see another GC shakeup?

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