Basso Is the 99% Winner of Il Giro

Not so long ago, Lance Armstrong, arguably the best cyclist in the history of the sport, launched a new challenge for the Italian cyclists. “Ivan Basso is one of the most promising newcomers in the world of the sport. He will certainly have a great impact on cycling in the next few years”.

Well, if the great Lance Armstrong says that, it has to be so. And Basso might just prove it in the current Tour of Italy. After a slow start in the Italian race, Basso took the Red Jersey after the 5th stage and never let go. More, he managed to build up a consistent lead over fellow countrymen Paolo Savoldelli and G. Simoni, as well as Spain’s J. E. Gutierrez.

The history took the same turn on yesterday’s stage, on Termeno to Passo di Furcia, when he finished second, but with the same timing as stage winner Leonardo Piepoli. Somehow, it was not the day that will remember Piepoli as the hero, but Basso as the triumphant. Considering the form that he’s in, the Italian can hope to be the next cyclist to win both Tour de France and Il Giro in the same year, after Marco Pantani has done the same thing in 1998.

“We are now in a very good position and only a crash or illness can stop Ivan from winning. Of course, we cannot let our guard down and we cannot celebrate anything until Milan. We saw what happened last year – Basso lost nearly an hour on one stage due to illness in the 2005 Giro – and we won't forget that”, said team manager of CSC Bjarne Riis.

Basso may already consider himself the conqueror of his home country competition, once he looks at the overall standings. Which is what we’ll do right now. So:

1. Ivan Basso (Italy/Team CSC) 67:56:31"
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Spain/Phonak) +5:43"
3. Gilberto Simoni (Italy/Saunier Duval) +10:34"
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Italy/Discovery Channel) +10:58"
5. Franco Pellizotti (Italy/Liquigas) +12:30"