BRUSEGHIN WINS GIRO D’ITALIA TIME TRIAL

Giro 2008 stage 10 Marzio Bruseghin
(Image credit: GRAHAM WATSON)

Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) surprised the overall favourites in the first individual time trial at the Giro d?Italia but Alberto Contador (Astana) moved up to fourth place overall and sent another clear message to his Italian rivals that he has quickly found some impressive form.

As expected Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) kept the pink jersey but the hilly 39.4km shook up the overall standings behind him and showed for the first time who are the real contenders for final victory.

Bruseghin set a time of 56-41, finishing strongly on the uphill cobbled streets in the centre of Urbino.

Despite being diagnosed with a crack in his forearm, Alberto Contador (Astana) did perhaps the best time trial of his career, finishing just eight seconds behind Bruseghin.

His high pedal cadence helped him on the climbs and he showed he will be a rival to Ricco in next week?s mountain stages.

The other overall contenders were spread over two minutes, with Gilberto Simoni (Diquigiovanni) the biggest surprise at 1-02. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) was the biggest loser, finishing 2-11 behind Bruseghin. Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) lost 2-05 after an early crash. His track mitts got caught up on his handlebars and was unable to take a corner. He went off the road and landed on his left side. He was quickly back up but claimed he lost 40 seconds.

David Millar (Slipstream) opted not to go at 100% after seeing the hilly profile of the course. He set a time of 1-04-53.

CONTADOR MOVES UP TO FOURTH

Thanks to his impressive ride, Contador is now fourth overall and is expected to take the race leader?s pink jersey when the Giro heads into the Dolomites on Friday.

Bruseghin is fifth at 53 seconds and Kloden is sixth at 55 seconds. Ricco is ninth, 1-33 behind Contador, Di Luca is tenth at 1-34. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) is 12th at 1-58, Simoni is 13th at 2-11, at the same time as Levi Leipheimer, who had a poor time trial, and Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) is 15th at 2-16.

?I?m happy with my time trial and it?s good to gain time on my overall rivals but I would have liked to win the stage. I think I could have won it but the cobbles in the final section up to the finish were wet when I rode. That cost me a few seconds,? Contador said.

?I know I?ve got an advantage on my rivals now but there is still a long way to go in the Giro. The time trial is a good sign but it?s too early to say what will happen in the rest of the race.?

Contador is thinking ahead to the three key mountain stages in the Dolomites at the weekend but even Wednesday?s stage in the Apennines could be important.

The 199km stage from Urbania to Cesena is packed with the steep climbs the late Marco Pantani trained on and could cause some problems after the efforts of the time trial. Riccardo Ricco knows the hills well and could try and gain time with a long-range attack.

If the big hitters do not decide to race, the stage is perfect for a long breakaway by good climbers.

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008 STAGE 10 TT: RESULTS

1. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre 39.4km in 56min 41secs

2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana at 8secs

3. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana at 20secs

4. Marco Pinotti (Ita) High Road at 36secs

5. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) LPR at 44secs

6. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank at 46secs

7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas at 54secs

8. Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) CSC at 59secs

9. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana at 1min 1sec

10. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Serramenti PVC-Androni Giocattoli at 1min 2secs

British

71. Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld at 4min 42secs

79. Steven Cummings (GB) Barloworld at 5min 15secs

99. Charly Wegelius (GB) Liquigas at 6min 2secs

149. Mark Cavendish (GB) High Road at 7min 32secs

155. David Millar (GB) Slipstream at 8min 12secs

157. Bradley Wiggins (GB) High Road at 8min 24secs

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 10

1. Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick Step in 43hours 12min 2secs

2. Matthias Russ (Ger) Gerolsteiner at 3min 31secs

3. Gabriele Bosisio (Ita) LPR at 5min 50secs

4. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana at 6min 59secs

5. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre at 7min 52secs

6. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana at 7min 54secs

7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas at 8min 4secs

8. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) LPR at 8min 9secs

9. Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval at 8min 32secs

10. Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR at 8min 33secs

British

94. David Millar (GB) Slipstream at 44min 53secs

141. Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld at 1hour 10min 34secs

150. Steven Cummings (GB) Barloworld at 1hour 14min 54secs

151. Charly Wegelius (GB) Liquigas at 1hour 17min 3secs

154. Mark Cavendish (GB) High Road at 1hour 20min 15secs

159. Bradley Wiggins (GB) High Road at 1hour 24min 11secs

image

David Millar

image

Levi Leipheimer

image

Alberto Contador

image

Marzio Bruseghin

image

Giovanni Visconti retained the race lead

All photos by Graham Watson

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: STAGE REPORTS

Stage nine: Cavendish misses out in sprint

Stage eight: Ricco wins again

Stage seven: Di Luca, Ricco and Contador gain time on rivals

Stage six: Italians clean upStage five: Millar denied by snapped chain

Stage four: Cavendish wins

Stage three: Bennati romps home

Stage two: Ricco wins Giro d'Italia second stage

Stage one TTT: Slipstream wins Giro team time trial

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: NEWS

Aggressive Cummings comes away empty handed [stage six]

Millar speaks out after missing out in Giro [stage five]

Reaction to Cavendish's Giro stage win

Cav hits back at Pozzato's snipe

Cavendish: This is my biggest win [stage four]

Millar celebrates Slipstream Giro d'Italia success

Bettini looking for final Giro glory

Astana's troubled build-up to the Giro

Petacchi banned for Salbutamol positive

Yates and Astana make last minute rush to Giro

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: PHOTOS

Giro d'Italia 2008: Photo gallery. New photos added daily

GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: FEATURES

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)

Rest day 1: How the favourites are doing

Giro Britannia part two: From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia

Tuesday Comment (May 13): Why Cavendish is a bona fide world-class star

Giro Britannia: how the Brits are doing in Italy

Giro d'Italia 2008 preview

Giro d'Italia 2008: who will win?

Giro d'Italia 2008: The British are coming

Giro d'Italia on Eurosport: TV schedule

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.