Bob Schwartz
12-31-1969, 08:00 PM
The correct analogy for this year's Giro is
the one 12 years ago, not the one 20 years
ago.
That Giro ended with two nasty stages in the
mountains of northern Italy, including a
particularly nasty ride in the Dolomites on
the day before the finish in Milan. The final
two passes were the Gavia and the Mortirolo
before the stage finish on the gradual uphill
slog to Aprica.
Abraham Olano and Pavel Tonkov entered the
final mountain stage equal on time, with
Olano being awarded the pink jersey by virtue
of a tie breaker. TTs are timed to the .01
second and that gave Olano a .46 second
advantage over Tonkov.
Olano maintained his lead over the Tonale and
the massive Passo Gavia. At the base of the
Mortirolo all he needed to do was ride one more
pass and not get dropped.
It was not to be. By the time the race reached
the Mortirolo, Olano's team was spent. Attacks
there would isolate the Spaniard and he would
ride the last 40km alone, finishing 2:49 after
Tonkov in Aprica.
With luck we will get to witness a similar stage
tomorrow.
Bob Schwartz
http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/archives/giro96/giro.html
the one 12 years ago, not the one 20 years
ago.
That Giro ended with two nasty stages in the
mountains of northern Italy, including a
particularly nasty ride in the Dolomites on
the day before the finish in Milan. The final
two passes were the Gavia and the Mortirolo
before the stage finish on the gradual uphill
slog to Aprica.
Abraham Olano and Pavel Tonkov entered the
final mountain stage equal on time, with
Olano being awarded the pink jersey by virtue
of a tie breaker. TTs are timed to the .01
second and that gave Olano a .46 second
advantage over Tonkov.
Olano maintained his lead over the Tonale and
the massive Passo Gavia. At the base of the
Mortirolo all he needed to do was ride one more
pass and not get dropped.
It was not to be. By the time the race reached
the Mortirolo, Olano's team was spent. Attacks
there would isolate the Spaniard and he would
ride the last 40km alone, finishing 2:49 after
Tonkov in Aprica.
With luck we will get to witness a similar stage
tomorrow.
Bob Schwartz
http://www.cyclingnews.com/results/archives/giro96/giro.html