Basso aims high
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ByEurosport
Published 23/05/2006 at 09:46 GMT
The race for the maglia rosa continues on Tuesday as the Giro d'Italia enters the Dolomites for the 173km stage 16 from Rovato to Trento. Overall leader Ivan Basso of CSC has set his sights on one of the most celebrated climbs to produce his first win of
CYCLING 2006 Giro Ivan Basso (CSC) La Thuile
Image credit: Imago
"I want to win at least one stage wearing the pink jersey, it's the only thing left to do in this Giro" explains Basso.
"And I would like that stage to be Tuesday's, on the Bondone" concluded the overall leader.
The stage consists of the legendary climb up the Monte Bondone, an altitude of 1,650 metres and 17.5 kilometres long.
It is a climb that Charly Gaul (who passed away at the end of 2005) captured the cycling world 50 years ago in 1956 with an historic stage victory riding in near impossible weather conditions to claim the stage win - and the Giro.
Tuesday's stage could see the CSC team leader widen the gap at the top in the event of victory, almost to the point of no return for his closest rivals.
A strategy which race director Giorgio Albani believes would be the best course of action for the CSC team.
"If they [CSC] continue with the same rhythm, they will end up extremely tired. The best thing for Basso to do now would be to give the coup de grace," remarked Albani.
The Monte Bondone is not the only obstacle in Tuesday's stage 16 as the group will also face the climb to Lodrino - a category three climb at 41 kilometres - and the long slog up to Passo D'Ampola at the 92 kilometre mark.
Follow LIVE coverage of the 2006 Giro D'Italia all the way up to the last finish line in Milan on May 28, right here on www.eurosport.com.
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