Basso Unstoppable in Italy

If there was any doubt before the 16th stage of Il Giro that Ivan Basso will be the new tour winner, you must admit that his win in Monte Bondone has definitely sealed it. After a beautiful stage win for Italian Bettini in the previous stage, it was another breath-taking day for the cycling fans, who were thrilled to watch the cyclists take on the difficult, and yet spectacular, mountain stages.

And Basso proved to be way too good for his opponents. Finishing more than a minute in front of Italy’s Gilberto Simoni (1:26), the crowd’s favorite can consider himself the new winner, with only 5 days before the finish line. His main contender for the final win, J.E. Gutierrez, did not manage to keep the pace with 15 km to go until the finish line, and is now 5 minutes and 24 seconds away in the overall standings.

The Spaniard is practically the only one who spoils the Italian dream in this year’s Giro, since the podium is completed by another Italian cyclist, Paolo Savoldelli. Gutierrez is the only foreigner in the overall Top 6, but his stay on the podium cannot be challenged this year, since he holds a 5 minute margin over the 3rd ranked Savoldelli.

Stage 16 was all Basso though, the Italian leaving no chance for his followers. “This is one of my best wins of my career. It's not often you get a chance to win a stage wearing the leader's pink jersey and so I'm very, very happy. This stage win and the time I've gained in the overall standings makes me even more confident of my ability but there are still four tough stages to come and they're packed with difficult climbs”, said Basso at the end.

After escaping the peloton, the Italian was not to be caught until after the finish line. Still, he does not yet consider himself the tour winner: “I know I've got a good lead but anything can still happen. I'm worried about the Plan de Corones dirt road finish on Wednesday, the uphill finish at San Pellegrino on Friday and the Mortirolo on Saturday. I'll only be sure I've won when I make it to the finish in Milan on Sunday”.

Here is how the overall standings look like, with four stages left in the competition:

1. Ivan Basso (Ita/Team CSC) 64hours 35mins 17secs
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Spa/Phonak) +5mins 24secs
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita/Discovery Channel) +9:17
4. Gilberto Simoni (Ita/Saunier Duval) +9:34
5. Wladimir Belli (Ita/Selle Italia) +11:07
6. Franco Pellizotti (Ita/Liquigas) +11:59
7. Sandy Casar (Fra/Francaise des Jeux) +12:40
8. Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre) +13:55
9. Victor Hugo Pena (Col/Phonak) +14:59
10. Danilo Di Luca (Ita/Liquigas) +15:18