Basso maintains control

ByEurosport

Published 20/05/2006 at 15:14 GMT

Ivan Basso thinned out the field with a mighty climb up the massive San Carlo, while Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) won Stage 13 of the Giro on Saturday. The day's biggest loser was Danilo Di Luca, ceding three more minutes in G.C. to move 10:36 behind

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

The CSC leader pushed up the 12.5-km long Colle San Carlo ascent (average gradient 9.8%, maximum gradient 15%) with the determination of a man who knew he could be riding for the overall victory.

"I rode well and improved my overall lead but the Giro isn't over until Milan," Basso told reporters.

CYCLING 2006 Giro Stage 13 Basso (CSC) Piepoli (Saunier Duval)

Image credit: Reuters

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"I'll only look at the overall standings next Saturday before the final flat stage. This is another positive stage for me but I'm keeping my feet on the ground."

With Basso carrying the work-load in the rain, Piepoli latched onto the pink jersey's wheel in an impressive climb of his own.

Basso took the wet and winding descent slowly and cautiously in order to preserve his commanding overall lead, allowing Piepoli to easily claim the 16th victory of his career 43 seconds in front of the man in the pink jersey.

"I was worried about the cold and the dangerous corners and there was no point in taking risks," Basso said.

"I didn't put my cape on for the descent and so I got cold but I'm happy after another good day."

The cold conditions and heavy rain in the final part of the stage caused many riders to lose time. Venezuelan climber Jose Rujano, third overall in the 2005 Giro, retired due to the cold three kilometres from the finish.

José Enrique Gutierrez and Gilberto Simoni finished in third and fourth place respectively, one minute and 18 seconds behind Piepoli, losing 35 seconds to Basso in the general classifications.

Gutierrez is second in the race for the pink jersey with the best chance of catching Basso at 3:27 behind the race leader.

Simoni is in fifth-place overall eight minutes behind the lead time, while last year's winner Paolo Savoldelli moves to third overall 5:30 behind Basso.

Savoldelli struggled greatly on the San Carlo ascent, but made up ground with a speedy downhill attack finishing 2:36 behind the eventual winner along with 2004 champion Damiano Cunego.

Piepoli's win is the 34-year-old's first in his home-race and his second in a major Tour, adding the win to a palmares which includes a stage nine victory at the 2004 Vuelta à Espana.