Was Basso denied this year’s Giro by less than 10 micrometers (10µm of stomach virus, that is)? After his second stage win in a row (his rivals can’t play the GC card in a TT), it sure looks that way. While race leader Savoldelli held tough for 4th on the day, his closes rivals, the quiet Jose Rujano and blather-prone Gilberto Simoni each lost over two minutes. I guess Gibo didn’t find “dinner” quite to his liking. Still, the Lampre rider has one last shot at getting his just dessert (how’s that for beating a dead metaphor?). Tomorrow’s stage, with three categorized climbs and a hilltop finish, however, plays well to these two climbers, and with the Giro on the line, the action should be *hot*.
It wasn’t all business as usual on the stage today, as Russell Van Hout can attest. The Aussie, who rides for Selle Italia, crossed the line holding onto his clip-on aerobar, which had become dislodged somehow during the race. Van Hout credited his mechanic with the mishap, describing him as both a “wanker,” and another term which the Cyclingnews crew referred to only as “an obscene gerund.” In other funny news, Sheryl Crow made some very confused dedications at a recent concert. As this report states:
Onstage, Crow dedicated two songs to Crow – a survivor of testicular cancer – and his three children.
Call me ignorant, but I was unaware Sheryl has children. Or was a cancer survivor. Or a he.