Basso escapes to victory
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Published 23/05/2006 at 16:33 GMT
CSC's Ivan Basso of Italy extended his overall race lead with victory in stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia from Rovato to Monte Bondone, near Trente, on Tuesday. Basso dominated the monumental climb to Bondone crossing the line one minute and 26 seconds ahead
CYCLING 2006 Giro Stage 13 Basso (CSC) Piepoli (Saunier Duval)
Image credit: Reuters
Italian Leonardo Piepoli of Saunier Duval and Spain's Jose Gutierrez (Phonak) were unable to keep up with the blistering pace set by Basso and Simoni in the final 15km and crossed the line together one minute and 37 seconds back.
Gutierrez retains second place in the overall standings five minutes and 24 seconds back.
2005 Giro winner Paolo Savoldelli came home in 12th position at three minutes and 27 seconds, which keeps him in third place in the overall classification trailing by nine minutes and 17 seconds.
Simoni held on in front of fans from his home region, despite a late burst by Gutierrez in the dying kilometres.
The Italian did enough to jump into fourth place in the overall standings and put the pressure on Savoldelli - who is now 17 seconds ahead.
Basso struck a heavy blow to Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) as both men suffered under the relentless determination of the CSC leader.
The result has put Cunego just under 14 minutes off the pace while Di Luca occupies tenth in the race for the maglia rosa, over 15 minutes back.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement