Rabottini takes tough win in Giro stage 15
Giro d'Italia 2012 stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini) took a hard-fought win from an early escape in stage 15 of the 2012 Giro d'Italia on Sunday after being at the front of the race all day.
A late charge to the line by Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) couldn't stop Rabottini taking the victory atop Piani dei Resinelli. Rodriguez placed second, with Alberto Losada (Katusha) in third at 23 seconds.
Rodriguez rode himself back into the overall leader's pink jersey, with previous leader Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) finishing in 12th spot, 39 seconds down on Rabottini/Rodriguez. Hesjedal now sits in second place overall, 30 seconds adrift of the Spaniard. Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) is third at one minute and 22 seconds.
Sergio Henao (Sky) placed fourth on the stage to relieve Colombian compatriot and team-mate Rigoberto Uran of the white jersey of best young rider.
Long, wet Sunday
Escape duo Rabottini and Guillaume Bonnafond (Ag2r) broke free from the peloton at around 20 kilometres, and pretty quickly built up a lead of nine minutes in rain-soaked conditions.
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Rabottini was the stronger of the two, and struck out alone on the first and highest rated of the day's four categorised climbs, the cat one Valcava.
Behind, Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) set out on the climb to chase the leaders. They were joined by a larger group of riders, and later Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) bridged the gap.
Rabottini forged ahead, building up his lead over Hesjedal to near 10 minutes. The eleven chasers also worked hard to distance Hesjedal's group putting 2004 Giro champion Cunego into the virtual race lead, and causing an element of panic among the overall contenders.
Liquigas-Cannondale and Garmin-Barracuda took control of the front of the peloton to try and whittle away the advantage of Cunego and the riders ahead.
Rabottini looked to be paying for his day-long effort in the final 25 kilometres, as the Cunego-led chasers moved ever closer. The Italian slid out on a wet corner, crashing to the ground and struggled to get himself out from under his bike. Scuffed and dirty, he remounted to continue the charge.
Astana took to the front of the reduced leader's group at the foot on the final climb, with Hesjedal in close attendance. At that point, Cunego was riding with just four others in the chase group, which susequented broke up when Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF Inox) accelerated away. Cunego slipped backwards and was caught the Hesjedal group just as Lampre-ISD team-mate Michele Scarponi attacked.
Rodriguez followed and then passed Scarponi, passed the remnants of the chase group including Pirazzi and then straight past Rabottini in the final 500 metres. Rabottini somehow found the energy to catch up with Rodriguez, overtake him and clinch the win.
Rodriguez's compensation for missing out on the stage win was another pink jersey.
Schleck out
The day saw several riders call it quits, either before or during the stage. Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) abandoned, citing problems with a shoulder injury from a crash earlier in the race. He was a late addition to the Giro start list after team-mate Jakob Fuglsang was withdrawn from the start list due to a knee injury.
Another rider out of the race is British veteran Jeremy Hunt (Sky). Hunt returns home for the birth of his baby.
Mark Cavendish (Sky) strengthened his lead in the points classification by sprinting for third in the day's intermediate sprint - before Valcava - behind the two escapees. Cavendish finished in the 60-rider grupetto that came in 34-48 down on Rabottini.
After 12 days of back-to-back racing the riders get to have a much needed day off Monday, the second rest day of the race.
The race is still pretty open, and a lot can change in the final week with three more high mountain stages and a final time trial showdown in Milan on Sunday, May 27, to sort out the podium positions.
Results
Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 15: Busto Arsizio to Lecco/Pian dei Resinelli, 169km
1. Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Farnese-Vini in 5-15-30
2. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at same time
3. Alberto Losada (Spa) Katusha at 23 secs
4. Sergio Henao (Col) Sky at 25 secs
5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD
6. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at same time
7. Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 29 secs
8. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana
9. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale
10. Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at same time
Other
12. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 39 secs
Overall classification after stage 15
1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha in 65-11-07
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 30 secs
3. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 1-22
4. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana at 1-26
5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 1-27
6. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 1-36
7. Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar at 1-42
8. Sergio Henao (Col) Sky at 1-55
9. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 2-12
10. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 2-13
Other
11. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Sky at 2-56
Sylvester Szmyd on the front for Liquigas-Cannondale leader Ivan Basso
Geraint Thomas
Ryder Hesjedal
Michele Scarponi and Joaquin Rodriguez
Matteo Rabottini wins ahead of Joaquin Rodriguez
Back in pink: Joaquin Rodriguez
Giro d'Italia 2012: Latest news
Cavendish's Sky lead-out still on learning curve
Orica-GreenEdge to strengthen sprint train in Tour de France
Schleck struggles on with dislocated shoulder
Rodriguez up against more experienced rivals in Giro
Bak from worker to winner at the Giro
Cavendish disappointed to lose Giro stage in Montecatini Terme
Goss shaping up as Orica-GreenEdge leader
Hesjedal happy with Giro performance despite losing lead
Pinotti alters Giro plans after losing time in mountains
Pozzato apologises for role in causing crash
Hesjedal has tough day as Giro leader
Schleck building form in Giro for final week in Alps
English speakers on top
Giro favourites to make move in first mountain finish
Malori will relish time in Giro lead
Giro d'Italia 2012: Live coverage
Giro d'Italia 2012 live text coverage schedule
Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage reports
Stage 14: Amador wins Giro's first high mountain stage as Hesjedal reclaims lead
Stage 13: Cavendish makes it three
Stage 12: Bak attacks to win
Stage 11: Ferrari wins Giro stage on ride to redemption
Stage 10: Rodriguez wins thrilling finale to take leadStage nine: Ventoso wins in Frosinone as Goss and Cavendish fall
Stage eight: Pozzovivo takes another Giro win
Stage seven: Hesjedal moves into Giro lead
Stage six: Rubiano solos to epic Giro stage win
Stage five: Cavendish bounces back for another stage win
Stage four: Garmin-Barracuda win TTT to take lead
Stage three: Goss wins in Horsens as Cavendish and Phinney crash
Stage two: Cavendish wins in Herning
Stage one: Phinney wins time trial
Giro d'Italia 2012: Photo galleries
Stage 14 photo gallery
Stage 13 photo gallery
Stage 12 photo gallery
Stage 11 photo gallery
Stage 10 photo gallery
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Giro d'Italia 2012: Teams and riders
Giro d'Italia 2012 start list
Giro d'Italia 2012: TV guide
Giro d'Italia 2012: British Eurosport TV schedule
Related links
Giro d'Italia 2012: The Big Preview
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia section
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Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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