Stage 5: DiLuca Takes the Lead
The first day we actually had some climbs, and Bettini was still dictating all of the action. He lead a chase group for most of the day, surrounded by a collection of nobodies. The leader, Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Saunier Duval), is not exactly a star either. Bettini gamely held on until about 15 km from the finish.
How did he get reeled in? Let's give credit to Liquigas, which absolutely dominated the peleton. They dictated the pace, they caught the leaders, and they set up their man for the stage win. In the last 10 km, they ceded control of the peleton to FDJ and T-Mobile, probably because the team was just spent after spending the whole day at the front.
But they surged in the final 2 km, so it was probably just brilliant tactics. Let some other teams do some damn work for awhile while we get re-organized. DiLuca outsprinted Bruseghin (Fassa) while Bettini came in with the pack. Due to the time bonus, DiLuca ends up in pink.
And let's face it, that's notright. Bettini has been all over the palce in the first week. The story of the giro so far is Paolo Bettini and no one else, yet he's somehow losing by two seconds to DiLuca, who hasn't even attacked once. Give credit to his team on this one, and it's not like he's cheated his way to the top of the standings, but Bettini has earned the pink jersey. It feels right to think of him as the race leader right now.
The Giro can be so cruel.
How did he get reeled in? Let's give credit to Liquigas, which absolutely dominated the peleton. They dictated the pace, they caught the leaders, and they set up their man for the stage win. In the last 10 km, they ceded control of the peleton to FDJ and T-Mobile, probably because the team was just spent after spending the whole day at the front.
But they surged in the final 2 km, so it was probably just brilliant tactics. Let some other teams do some damn work for awhile while we get re-organized. DiLuca outsprinted Bruseghin (Fassa) while Bettini came in with the pack. Due to the time bonus, DiLuca ends up in pink.
And let's face it, that's notright. Bettini has been all over the palce in the first week. The story of the giro so far is Paolo Bettini and no one else, yet he's somehow losing by two seconds to DiLuca, who hasn't even attacked once. Give credit to his team on this one, and it's not like he's cheated his way to the top of the standings, but Bettini has earned the pink jersey. It feels right to think of him as the race leader right now.
The Giro can be so cruel.
posted by Poseur at 8:15 AM
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