Is it possible to have four-day battle, overcoming heavy height differences, get a stage being on the spotlights every day and finally lose Giro del Trentino because of needy 12 hundredth seconds? Yes, it is. Riccardo Riccò experienced such uncomfortable situation along the way of his back to top-level competitions.

Such was Alpe di Pampeago verdict, where Domenico Pozzovivo upset main favourites deserving his stage solo win: “This is not a climb where you can cheat”, he said. Cool Alexandre Vinokourov achieved the overall despite his narrow margin over second Riccò, 12” hundredth seconds indeed. According to “Vino”’s statements drom opening time-trial onwards, he had most gain with the least pain, looking forward to Sunday’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege. “I realized how Giro del Trentino was a prestigious win to get, being the overall leader I had to respect the race and I did, although I suffered a lot to climb”. Warning to Giro d’Italia favourites: Vinokourov will be in the action for sure.

Last km towards Pampeago put the Kazakh in pain, having Pozzovivo and Riccò 20” ahead of him plus 6” time-bonus, notwithstanding he was lucky to succeed anyway. Riccò was right to feel disappointed, after having lost both the stage and the race: furthermore, despite he was the Giro del Trentino’s best climber, Giro d’Italia shall remain a dream for him. What a tricky day…

Scarponi and Basso’s performances remained lower than expected. Basso made his team work hardly, without maintaining the pace of his opponents. For sure, he was much more satisfied last year after getting Giro del Trentino’s overall.

Gilberto Simoni remained faraway from the leaders in his special day. Trentino’s fans showed to him all their affection as he had been awarded a special prize in memory of Enzo Moser. “For the time being, I’m not sure Giro d’Italia might be feasible for me. However, I fully enjoy Giro del Trentino, becoming every year more glamorous and exciting, as all riders realized afterwards”.


34th Giro del Trentino's 4th stage (Arco-Alpe di Pampeago, km 162) - Results: 1. Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF, Ita) in 4h44’54”, km/h             34,117, 10” bonus; 2. Riccardo Riccò (Ceramica Flaminia, Ita) at 3”, 6” bonus; 3. Sergio Pardilla (Carmioro, Esp) at 20”, 4” bonus; 4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) at 23”; 5. Przemyslav Niemec (Pol) at 37”; 6. Michele Scarponi (Ita) at 38”; 7. Ivan Basso (Ita) at 42”; 8. Damiano Caruso (Ita) at 49”; 9. Vladimir Miholjevic (Hrv) at 54”; 10. Johann Tschopp (Sui) at 58”.

Final classification: 1.  Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana, Kaz) 13h50’23”; 2. Riccardo Riccò (Ceramica Flaminia, Ita) st; 3. Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-Csf, Ita) at 42”; 4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) at 44”; 5. Ivan Basso (Ita) at 56”; 6. Sergio Pardilla (Esp) at 1’28”; 7. Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) at 1’37”; 8. Vladimir Miholjevic (Hrv) at 1’41”; 9. Evgueni Petrov (Rus) at 1’51”; 10. Damiano Caruso at 1’59”.

 

Photo 1: Domenico Pozzovivo is happy with his win in Pampeago ahead of Riccardo Riccò
Photo 2: Riccò and Vinokourov together on the podium stage