edgy with that character, the desire to attack all and maybe not ever win, Gilberto Simoni is now one of the symbols of the Tour of Italy. Sometimes exaggerated, but this is part of the character: rough and controversial, but also loyal and generous. A real fighter, love cycling and climbing.
Antipersonaggio for excellence instead Paolo Savoldelli, the rival that flies downhill with no fear but to look too. Discreet, for the many unfortunate incidents, he never tamed. And even if enough sample authentic media.
Together, and often against each other, have written memorable pages of the Giro in the new millennium, it is to scommmetterci, others will write.
That day of reckoning in 2005 Tours of Italy is one of the most exciting seen in recent years and dedicates a new rivalry, all Italian, the one between Paolo Savoldelli and Gilberto Simoni. Two runners able to give their best in the mountains, but with contrasting styles and characters, running as in life: the first dominates downhill, the second uphill. Generous and brave, like the people in the race because you do not save or make calculations. Except that the number of free spins won: sin there, one for two for the Bergamo and Trento. More introverted and affable
the Hawk, the most aggressive and controversial "Gibo", the two roosters battle it seamlessly. The check that Savoldelli even the score at the end a grueling marathon of 3464 km and 650 meters, divided into 20 stages and only two time trials.
The pink race number 88 leaves from Reggio Calabria and the peninsula back in a hurry to find the places across the Stelvio and the upcoming Winter Olympics in Turin, climbing on the penultimate day of the race to the finish in Sestriere. It is a wonderful tour, but also "bad", severe and selective. For
Savoldelli, the so-called "doomsday" becomes one of triumph. "Baby Face," as fans call him by the face as a child, in fact, won his second Giro stage in its most beautiful, intense and full of surprises.
Paul keeps the jersey pink 28 "ahead of Simoni, after the tough mountain stage and long-awaited" Olympic ", repeating the first rose in 2002. But at Sestriere, the goal of 19 th village 190 km long starting from Savigliano, is the day of triumph, in part, for José Rujano, Venezuelan green jersey of best climber, which on the final climb off Simoni and Di Luca, thus gaining the deserved partial success.
Sull'inedita climb the Hill of windows (18.5 km leading to the 2178 meters with an average gradient of 9.2% and 7.9 km of dirt road), anything goes. Simoni and Rujano stretch immediately, while the excellent Di Luca leads the dances. Basso comes off, Savoldelli feeling the pinch then rises with its own way. The climb is terrible, the dirt gives feelings of epic cycling. At the top passes through the first Di Luca, Simoni and Rujano with a wheel. The leader of the Discovery Channel accumulate a delay of 2'20 "that delivers a virtual pink jersey Simoni (2 ° 2'09" in the standings).
But then there is the descent. In Falco likes resting 30 and sews up the hole with the help of the failure of Ardila and Simoni, thus leaving the green light to the Venezuelan Selle Italy. Trent comes to the finish line the 26 "delay Rujano, Di Luca - the victim of cramps on the last climb to the sixth - the third is at 1'35 ". Savoldelli comes to 1'55 "and 1'29 from Rujano" by Simon (which is the rebate of 12 ") and in the overall standings with 28 wins" on Simoni, 45 "and up Rujano 2'42" on Di Luca.
On the podium, three kings runners in 45 seconds. Only in 1974 there was more uncertainty when Merckx left Gibi Baronchelli to 12 "and Gimondi to 33".
SAVOLDELLI STORY
won two Tours of Italy, reserved and intelligent, Paolo Savoldelli got at his own expense to get there without too much pressure on the eve of a big race is an advantage. Even if you enjoy a better and would be unfair not to have once in a while 'annoys me.
Bergamasco Clusone, where he was born May 7, 1973, in 2002 he won his first Tour of Italy at the finish line with the company of Passo Coe, the first cut from Tonkov, when ripping the pink jersey to Evans and then defend it from Hamilton in the time trial to Monticello Brianza.
the Tour of 2005 and bring difficult than sull'inedito Hill of Windows. With Basso out of the game for the malaise suffered in the stage of the Stelvio, Paul rejects the attack Simoni, Di Luca and Rujano first with the intelligence and then with his legs.
In 2006, the year after suffering from allergy, placed a deviation of nasal septum, as passes Astana aims for big races stages.
Nicknamed the Hawk for the extraordinary quality of descent (in the specialty, one of the strongest ever), excellent long-distance rider and chrono-climber, go professional in 1996 thanks to Roslotto-Mg Furniture team led by Moreno Argentin.
The following season, the Ghirotto, is ranked 13th in the Tour of Italy in '98 and go to the Saeco team, which is even better: he won the Giro del Trentino and reaches 9 th in the Giro d'Italy.
In '99, again with the colors of Saeco, repeating the success in Trentino, requires the Laigueglia and submit to the Giro as a major antagonist favorite Marco Pantani. Paul won the 14th stage, the Bra-Borgo San Dalmas, ahead of almost 2 'the Pirate (new pink jersey). It is then in the second trial of Treviso, and after exclusion of Pantani in Madonna di Campiglio, it is for him to start with the symbol of supremacy in Tappone through the Cima Coppi Gavia door to Aprica. Paul, however, as a sign of solidarity with the sample Romagna, rejects the pink jersey before leaving on the ramps of the Mortirolo, the leadership of the Tour with Ivan Gotti. Unable to defend second place ahead of Milan just one second Gilberto Simoni, but is conscious of having missed a great chance.
In 2000, won the Tour of Romandie and a stage of the Giro del Trentino, is the Tour of Italy as a favorite but falls and closes the race in 24th place. Also participates in the Tour (where he arrived 41 °) but with physical problems in 2001 and only able to get back on track thanks to an osteopath in Parma. At the 2001 Giro
rarely comes from anonymity, is second in the penultimate stage with arrival in Arona, and concludes in the table 14 ° to almost twenty minutes behind the winner, Simon. After the Giro
seek him Lance Armstrong, but the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers on 11 September to destroy it. Paul signed a lucrative two-year the same, but with Deutsche Telekom, which was bereft of Ullrich, hunting is another tip for the Tour
In 2002, after four years at Saeco Index Alexia moved to Aluminium, the second floor but the team captain who is single. The Tour of Italy's leading street (doping) Garzelli and Simoni, and he took advantage of snatching the pink jersey Australian Cadel Evans. Savoldelli was not among the favorites, did not help the team, but above all with strength and tactical acumen finally achieving the success that had eluded him three years earlier.
The victory comes in pink thanks to the misfortunes that occurred to rival his former captain Simoni and Stefano Garzelli disqualified for a positive doping control, Wladimir Belli to punch a fan Simoni, Dario Frigo retired for physical problems; Cadel Evans crisis of hunger in the last stage of ascent, Tyler Hamilton tilt in the final time trial, Francesco Casagrande ejected for pushing a bicyclist to the ground.
Since then, however, to Savoldelli fortune turned its back.
In February 2003, during training camp in Tenerife with Deutsche Telekom, down from the bike Teide, crashing into a motorcycle that goes from the opposite direction. Savoldellli remains on the ground unconscious. When shooting, she finds herself in hospital with five fractures: nasal septum, upper jaw, a finger and thorny two vertebrae. The hospital in Bergamo, where it is transferred as soon as his physical condition allows, Dr. Losada's call together the bones, apply a rigid collar and a great way cerottone to cover the nose.
summer's here, he tries to regain confidence with the bike, he feels a persistent fatigue. At first blames the long period of inactivity. Instead, in a German hospital, where the leaders of the Deutsche Telekom do admit, diagnose a virus that's busted blood values: this has to stop again and start from scratch. Goodbye season.
In May 2004, at the start of the Tour of Germany, conclusive testing in view of the Tour, alongside Ullrich, meanwhile returned to the fold. But bad luck was lurking again: another fall and fracture of the radius was fractured, more head trauma.
Paul riding comeback in the late summer, dispute Trittico Lombardo and a decent ride with the first in Zurich, the World Cup. He wants to go to the Vuelta, but not even convene Telekom. Time to move air. After two years
very black, in 2005 the Discovery Channel. But bad luck has not yet abandoned. In January, while training with Captain Armstrong in California, broke the front wheel and ends on the ground: a broken collarbone, then sealed with a plate and nine screws. But Paul has his inborn hardiness Bergamo who does not know the word surrender. Doctors are categorical: a month without a bike. He, with a hint of recklessness, after fifteen days is already on the rolls, in three weeks on the road. In April, faced the first race, then head on friends Presolana ramps before the last test, in western Switzerland. Won
with the new team at the 2005 Giro Simoni, success that gave him the final consecration, he participated in the Tour as Armstrong's wingman. After contributing to victory in the team time trial, won the 17th stage.
After finishing fifth at the Tour of Italy in 2006, during which you require in the first trial and wearing the pink jersey, he was hired in August dall'Astana, the team of Kazakhstan, which takes its name from the capital.
In 2007 she won the preliminary time trial in Fribourg in the Tour of Romandie and then the 20th stage of the Tour of Italy, the chrono-Bardolino Verona. Its ambitions, however, the classification will be compromised, yet time, from a fall. Since 2008, racing for Team LPR Brakes along with Danilo di Luca, the leader of the Giro in 2007.
SIMONI STORY
Gilberto Simoni was born August 25, 1971 in Palu of Jupiter, the country's Francesco Moser, which is relative and for some features, such as courage and laggressività running, Lerede, although its best it gives in the mountains and not on the pitch or timing. Gibo
Nicknamed by his many fans and sometimes too warm in the last ten years has been one of the best Italian riders for stage races, winning two Tours of Italy (2001 and 2003) and reaching the podium in the Giro to five times .
Having reaped successes in series as an amateur (in 1993 winning the Tour of Italy baby, the national championship and Giro del Friuli), go pro in 1994 with the shirt of the Joker. Colorless closed five seasons, during which it is held back by physical problems and family losses, the team proposes in 1997, Cantina Tollo, to decrease the salary. In the same year the Mg Ferretti, won his first race (a stage in the Giro del Trentino), but is stopped for high hematocrit in the Tour of Portugal.
In 1998, contemplates quitting. To change his mind is the eighth place in the Lombardy.
In 1999, the Ballan with Flavio Miozzo flagship in the transformation. At the Giro, went down in history for the disqualification of the pink jersey, Marco Pantani, June 5, after the stage of Madonna di Campiglio, Trentino won the first of his seven podium finishes at the Giro: is third, at 3'36 "behind winner Ivan Gotti, and a second by Savoldelli.
Third place in the Tour of Italy and the Tour of Switzerland (where he won the stage Grindlewald) give the incentives to tackle the 2000 season with the air of the leader.
the Giro, the year of Jubilee, salt once again on the lowest rung of the podium (at 1'33 "behind winner Garzelli and 5" by Francesco Casagrande) after they attacked and won the Dolomites, in Bormio, the 14th stage . At
wins Vuelta stage with the finish in the top of the terrible climb and Port. Here comes the first national team, in Plouay. Simoni is triggered in the final but they are just some of his companions to fight back, bringing him under the group of pursuers.
2001, the first victory in the Tour of ITALY
In 2001 he won the Giro, but success is overshadowed by stories of doping and the blitz of Sanremo. Simoni attacked immediately, demonstrating courage and condition. Grab the shirt on Pordoi, defends in the time trial of Salò and settles by winning the decisive blow in solitary in the rain at Arona.
This edition is plagued by doping scandal involving, in particular, Dario Frigo, the main rival for Gilberto, who attacks in the first stage and then to Montebelluna Pordoipass, where he won that held the pink jersey until the end. Simoni is defended in the time trial of Salo, won by Frigo. On the eve of the stage of Sant'Anna di Vinadio, take the overnight raid in the hotel where the caravan pink in Sanremo. The result is disqualification and cancellation of the stage of Fridge dell'indomani (controls will continue into the night and the next day, in protest, the runners did not run). Remained the only star of the race, Simoni for the remaining stages are transformed into a long walkway to Milan.
At the World Cup Lisbon comes with the role of free batter. On the last lap shoot upward. Ullrich and the other big favorites are watching. There a moment of uncertainty and Simoni continues to gain seconds. A 5 km from the finish line is basically a world champion. A to sap their pursuers, however, thinks the blue Paolo Lanfranchi, who will say, after the race had not seen the shooting teammate. The group swoops on Simoni just over a mile. Spaniard Freire wins the sprint. It will be controversy throughout the winter season when the leaves Lampre for Saeco.
In 2002, requires in the stage of Campitello Matese, but must leave the Giro because of a positive (urine, traces of cocaine metabolites).
2003, THE TOUR TO A
the Giro del Trentino 2003, after being beaten in a sprint finish Moena by Stefano Garzelli, Simoni pulls out the nails in Ronzone pulling the opponent's 9 "and then caught the lead held until the epilogue of Arco di Trento. The victory in the Tour of the Apennines, where the beats on the record pace of striker, a record that belonged to Marco Pantani, Simoni makes the first favorite to win the Tour.
In the first stages of Giro Garzelli gives the impression of being able to tick, but when the going gets tough, Simoni leads blows at every opportunity. The pink jersey comes with a drain-trap to Faenza, and then start the show at high altitude. Before undertaking the Monte Zoncolan, the hardest climb in Europe, then the Alpe di Pampeago: first Simoni, Garzelli seconds. Even in the time trial of the leader of the Saeco Bolzano gains on Varese. And the advantage gained in the Dolomites becomes a chasm in the day from horde of Pontechianale, where the Trent hits the third and final seal requiring Toce Falls. Evidence against time in Milan is a formality for the team captain of Corti and Martinelli.
Gibo is the way to the Tour de France, but is now in difficulties, particularly the Alps now out of the standings, wins in the Pyrenees, the Tappone of Loudenvieille.
2004, THE CRISIS
2004 was a difficult season for Gibo. Saeco in the house explodes the phenomenon Cunego. At the Giro, Simoni wins a stage and wearing for four days, the pink jersey but bypassed by the young fellow, in the end had to settle for another third place overall. Within the team the relationship is not idyllic, and few seem to Gibo's side, at the end of 2005 signing for Saunier Duval Prodir, which will be one captain in the Tour of Italy, its stated goal of the Tour after rivinto 'Appennino. In
pink is the new star but has to settle for second place, spaced 28 "from the leader Savoldelli.
In 2006, again in the first row in the Tour of Italy and finishing third at 11'59 "behind winner Ivan Basso. Gibo and Piepoli are the only companion to embarrass the Varese, Simoni is particularly contentious in which the arrival of the 20th stage. A warm, Simoni says it no longer wants to run around and they probably would have retired, only to backtrack renewing the contract with the team. Then take part in the Tour de France, but without great results.
In the season finale begins to try their hand at mountain bike races and achieved success, the first of the big wheel, the path Rampilonga Classic Sept. 24 and won the top tricolor Italian championship marathon in Costa Folgaria. Climber with long
a physical relationship in spite of weak at first sight, Simoni, despite his age, still runs in his career as he always did: attacking uphill and words. And Savoldelli, continues to respond by Falco: dive, with its crazy descents, and in silence. Have, as of duels.
CHRISTIAN GIORDANO
ch.giord @ gmail.com
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