Giro d'Italia news shorts

Bruyneel's Warm Welcome

In anticipation of the Tyler Hamilton 60 Minutes interview, Radioshack team manager Johan Bruyneel was in no mood to talk to Cycling Weekly at the Giro on Saturday.

"Everytime you come up to me, it's always bad news," he said when we approached him. When we asked if he'd already anticipated what we'd come to talk about, he simply replied: "I have nothing to say."

The low-down on Rujano

Exactly how small is that mini Venezuelan climber Jose Rujano? "I weigh 49 or 50kg and am 1.62m tall," he confirmed from somewhere behind a table at his post stage win press conference at Grossglockner on Friday. A former coffee farm worker, the 29 year old also revealed he still holds the local record for planting the most coffee plants in a day.

Omega on the naughty bench

Omega Pharma-Lotto are clearly the bad boys of this year's Giro, sitting firmly on the bottom of the Giro's fair play table before the start of today's stage. They have 170 penalty points. Next up the list are Acqua & Sapone then Contador's Saxo Bank team. There are six teams at the top of the table that have yet to be penalised at all. The goodie-two-shoes of the race are Liquigas, Androni Giocattali, HTC-Highroad, Quickstep, BMC and Colnago-CSF.

The Apollo rocket

"Having fast men in the team is key to gaining wins," David Brailsford told CW.

Team Sky's principle saw his Italian sprinter, Davide Appollonio nearly stop the world's best last Thursday in Ravenna. Appollonio latched onto Mark Cavendish's wheel and took second on the stage.

"I tried from the start of the Giro, I was getting better and remaining optimistic," said Appollonio. "Ravenna was the first time in my life that I tried to get and stay on Cavendish's wheel. I remained there, but I can say that I'm happy."

Sky signed Appollonio from Cervélo TestTeam at the end of last year.

"Sky was fantastic. [Michael] Barry, Pete [Kennaugh], Russ Downing were up there in the sprint for me, but all through the stage, the whole team lent a hand."

We had to listen closely to Appollonio as his accent is different from most Italians.

He is the only professional cyclist from Italy's Molise region.

Green Garzelli

He couldn't hold off Mikel Nieve for the stage win but by breaking away on his own on the road from Conegliano to Gardeccia, Stefano Garzelli came away with more than just second place on Sunday.

Leading the race over three of the day's climbs, Garzelli catapulted himself into the green king of the mountains jersey. Before the start of today's mountain time trial, Garzelli had 62 points to Nieve's 39 and Contador's 38.

The competition is far from over, though, with a maximum of 82 points available over the six remaining days of the race. Garzelli also claimed the Clima Coppi prize that day, awarded to the first man to the top of highest climb in the race. That was the Passo Giau at 2236m.

When the cold sets in

So cold was Laurent Didier in the soaking aftermath of the Monte Zoncolan stage, the Saxo Bank domestique couldn't even afford his mechanic a high five. Last man back to the team bus, 4km down the back side of the climb, the mechanic raised his hand but a sodden and shivering Didier could only leave him hanging.

The Luxembourg rider comes from a family of professional cyclists. His Grandfather Bim Diederich held the yellow jersey at the Tour de France for three days and won three stages. His father Lucien Didier rode for Renault and helped the team win six editions of the Tour with Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon. He also won a stage of the Giro in 1982.

Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news

Controversial Crostis climb removed from Giro route

Sky leader Lofkvist loses more time at the Giro

Giro contenders struggle with Contador's dominance

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Porte reflects, one year after Giro success

Le Mevel goes on attack for Giro's pink jersey

Giro fines Contador for missing press conference

Cavendish responds to 'team car' accusations at Giro

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 15)

Giro's Sicilian cyclists proud to face Mount Etna

Contador surprises at Giro with attack ahead of mountains

Contador minds food at Giro as CAS decision nears

Weening supported by Rabobank and model Kroes

Local lad Appollonio bears fruit in Fiuggi

Giro d'Italia News Shorts (May 12 edition)

Blythe finding way in second Grand Tour

Leopard-Trek withdraws from Giro d'Italia

Leopard-Trek uncertain to continue in Giro

Tuesday's Giro stage in memory of Weylandt

Giro doctor describes actions to save Weylandt

Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro crash

Giro news shorts (May 8)

Cavendish likely to take Giro lead tomorrow

Giro 2011: Who will win?

Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports

Stage 15: Nieve wins mountain marathon as Contador continues at the top

Stage 14: Anton conquers Zoncolan in shortened stage

Stage 13: Contador consolidates Giro overall as Rujano takes stage

Stage 12: Cavendish holds off Appollonio to take second victory

Stage 11: Gadret grabs dramatic stage win

Stage 10: Cavendish opens his Giro account

Stage nine: Contador storms Etna to take Giro lead

Stage eight: Gatto springs late attack to take win

Stage seven: Neo-pro De Clercq wins by a whisker

Stage six: Ventoso steals Giro stage six win

Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa

Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line

Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash

Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead

Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial

Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries

Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage

Giro d'Italia stage 11 live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage seven live text updates

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates

Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index