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McCartney's Proud in Milan
Another Giro d'Italia over, another historic race to remember. A race decided on the penultimate day, a tight battle fought between three riders all aiming for a prestigious victory in the 83rd edition of this great race. Amongst the history that was written daily was a small but ambitious British professional team whose chances of glory were thought to be at a bare minimum. Stage 7 changed the pre-race perceptions of many; Australian David McKenzie rode an epic race that day, 164kms of solitude, pain and determination that brought much deserved glory to him and his team-mates.
All seven riders who remained after disaster struck the team through illness at the very start in Rome played their part in a magnificent race for the McCartney team. Not content on one victory, British star Max Sciandri was an unlucky 2nd just a day after McKenzie's famous ride; aggressiveness by every McCartney rider was evident throughout the duration of the race, with six riders making the finish in Milan.
Irishman Ciaran Power was a revelation, turning 24 just days before the race started, to young to be expected to be at the finish in Milan after three long weeks, he not only achieved that, but also grabbed two top-ten places, a successful career surely awaits him.
Britain's Matt Stephens was heroic, after a crash on stage 2, which had him laid out on an Ambulance stretcher at one point, he battled to finish the stage and made it to the final week of the race, only retiring when his troublesome knee refused to heal.
General Manager Julian Clark and press officer John Deering arrived back at the team's HQ in Toulouse today for a well earned rest from racing duties, but are both ecstatic about the team's performance, 'fantastic' was how they both described the McCartney's first ride in one of the major tours.
But today the race belonged to the Italians, and Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno-Albacom) in particular. The Italian capital of style played host once again to the grand finale of the Giro, a 198 km stage won by Mariano Piccoli (Lampre-Daikin) from Giuseppe Calcaterra (Saeco-Valli & Valli).
Garzelli took the race lead spectacularly in Saturday's mountain time trial from the shocked and tearful Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola-Sidermec), who had worn the leader's pink jersey for the previous eleven days. The Mercatone Uno-Albacom rider's biggest win before today was the 1998 Tour of Switzerland. The 26 year old is from Varese but resides in Besano in the Lombardy region of Italy.
In yesterday's final stage, a thirteen-man move broke clear of the peloton on the streets of Milan and the McCartney team were once more in evidence, represented once again by McKenzie. Oscar Pozzi (Amica Chips-Tacconi Sport) was the first to attack the group, thought too large to stay away from the chasing peloton. Piccoli was the first to chase him, with Daniele Contrini (Liquigas) and Calcaterrra close behind to form a new front group. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta Design-Rossinis) was the last to catch up with them as Macca and Gianluca Bortolami (Vini Caldirola-Sidermec) the next to try. Unfortunately for them they were unsuccessful, the peloton, largely led by Team Polti for Dutch sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens, caught the second group but were too late to catch the first and Piccoli grabbed a prestigious last day win.
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