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So Close For Sciandri
Max Sciandri away with Elio
Aggiano (Vitalicio Seguros) - (50kb)
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British star Max Sciandri of the Linda McCartney Foods Pro Cycling Team came
within touching distance of a brilliant win at the Giro d'Italia today.
Only a frantic and desperate chase by Saeco and Polti thwarted Max's bid for
victory, when they caught him a mere 3km from the finish line in Vasto. He
had been away for the last 30km.
Racing didn't start today until just 55km left of the 170km stage, clearly everyone needed a rest after nearly a week of racing in this great event.
Two riders broke the deadlock, Diego Ferrari (Amica Chips) attacked with Alessio Girelli (Aguardiente Nectar-Selle Italia) with Saeco rider Dario Pieri policing the pair for his super sprinter Mario Cipollini, winner two days earlier. Mobilvetta chased for their sprinter Ivan Quaranta, who has already won a stage in the race, and the trio were brought back just after the InterGiro sprint.
A few more riders tried to break free from the now rapid peloton and with over 30km to go Britain's Max Sciandri and Elio Aggiano (Vitalicio Seguros) were succesful. Max took some risks through the tricky streets hungry to get his third Giro stage win of his career. As they passed the finish line for the first time, one more lap preceded them before the finish and a win. Unfortunately Saeco and Polti organised themselves well for the chase and the pair were caught with just over 3km to go.
Next Sciandri's Aussie team-mate David McKenzie gave chase to Fortunato Baliano (Aguardiente Nectar-Selle Italia). McKenzie couldn't thwart the red Saeco train for the final dash to the line, with Cipollini, unfortunately for them, too far back to win. Fellow Italian team Fassa Bortolo took advantage with veteran Russian Dmitri Konyshev winning from Polti's Dutch sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens, team-mate of defending Giro champion, little Italian Ivan Gotti.
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