Lance Armstrong?s Twitter messages about the dangers of the last two stage finishes got little sympathy from Giro d?Italia race director Angelo Zomegnan.
The former Gazzetta dello Sport cycling reporter has never had time for any complaints from the riders. He refuted that the descent and twisting finish in Mayrhofen on Thursday and Friday?s 35km rain-soaked descent to the finish were dangerous.
Armstrong made it clear what he thought of the long descent to the finish in a Twitter message posted soon after the stage.
"Done with st 7. I've seen it all now. 25 mile fast decent to the finish. In the pissing rain. Makes no sense. The boys in the bunch are livid."
He also fired off an ?Agreed? when Michael Rogers wrote: ?Didn't enjoy that last decent into the finish. Dangerous stuff :-/?
After Thursday's stage to Mayrhofen, Armstrong wrote: ?Done with stage 6. Uh...wow. That was the craziest last 30k I've ever seen. Long, fast decent at 80k (50pmh) plus then a tight circuit.?
?Not sure that's necessary really. Tomorrow is the same kind of finish. It's bike racing, not moto gp??
ZOMEGNAN RESPONDS
Zomegnan initially denied that he had seen Armstrong?s Twitter messages but later admitted it is one of the first thing he reads after each stage to see what his star guest is saying.
?I?m just happy that nothing happened,? he told Cycling Weekly on Friday evening.
?There are some stages that are more technical than others. We?ve taken out a load of roads traffic and railings. It?s getting harder and harder with all the stuff on the road.?
When it was pointed out that Armstrong was talking about the descent all the way to the finish, Zomegnan responded with his usual sarcasm.
?What are we supposed to do?? he asked bluntly.
?Add another 100km to the stage and finish it on the motorway near Bologna??
LANCE GETTING OLD?
Race leader Danilo Di Luca revealed that Armstrong had talked to him about the Mayrhofen finish but he didn?t think the Chiavenna was that bad.
?He talked to me about yesterday and he talked about the unlit tunnels. Today was a little more dangerous because it rained but I don?t think the finish was that dangerous. Things are more dangerous in Belgium.?
Asked if perhaps Armstrong is getting old and is perhaps a little nervous after recently breaking his collarbone, Di Luca responded with a smile and a ?maybe? that said it all.
| Giro d'Italia 2009 links |
Stage reports
Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage
Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break
Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin
Photo galleries
News
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Cavendish overjoyed for Boasson Hagen
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Giro news round-up: 14 May
Wiggins: 'I can't keep smashing away on the climbs'
Wiggins eyes top 20 finish overall
Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'
Cavendish looking for Giro revenge
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Lovkvist will fight to keep Giro lead
Giro could be last race for Armstrong's team
Vande Velde crashes out of Giro
Petacchi claims he didn't know of Cavendish crash
Cavendish struggles to find consolation in pink jersey
Petacchi: I've been working out how to beat Cav
I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish
Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial
Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up
Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial
Team time trial start times
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction
Brits in Venice for Giro presentation
Armstrong overshadows overall favourites at Giro presentation
Armstrong confident of finding new sponsor for Astana
Armstrong working to save Astana team
Wiggins in top form for Giro
Garmin Slipstream kitted out for Giro opener
Dan Lloyd gets late Giro call-up
Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled
Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride
Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia
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David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro
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2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice
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Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro
Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route
Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey
2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features
Find the pink jersey competition
Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview
British riders to have led the grand tours
CW's Giro top ten prediction
Brits in the Giro 2009
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia
2008 Giro d'Italia archive
Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results
From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race
Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special
Five days to go, what's in store?
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview
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