Basso wins Giro del Trentino

Ivan Basso Giro de Trentino 2009

Ivan Basso (Liquigas) showed he is the big favourite for overall victory at the Giro d?Italia by winning the Giro del Trentino on Saturday.

Basso struggled at the start of the four-day stage race in the Dolomites after a two-week training altitude training camp in Tenerife, but was strong in the mountains and dropped previous race leader Jani Brajkovic (Astana) on the last climb of the race.

It was Basso's first victory since winning the Giro d?Italia in 2006 and since he was implicated in Operacion Puerto just after. Basso went on to race for the Discovery Channel team for several months but eventually confessed and was banned for two years.

?The difficult moments in life make you stronger. I wish it had never happened and it's left its mark but I also know I?ve started again from scratch with absolute humility,? Basso said after his win.

ivan basso danilo di luca giro del trentino 2009

Ivan Basso and Danilo Di Luca head the escape

ivan basso danilo di luca giro del trentino 2009

Danilo Di Luca wins the final stage

RELATED LINKS

Andreas Kloden storms to opening Trentino TT win

Basso edges close to race lead in Giro del Trentino

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