Nibali headlines Giro amid mechanical doping concerns

Associated PressMay 4, 2016, 2:43 PM EDT

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ROME (AP) Too many parties and too many extra pounds.

Vincenzo Nibali knows exactly why he struggled so much last year, and this year the Sicilian is determined to return to cycling’s pinnacle when he lines up as the main attraction in the Giro d’Italia, which begins Friday in the Netherlands.

Nibali’s 2014 Tour de France title made him the sixth rider to win all three of cycling’s Grand Tours – the others being Jacques Anquetil, Alberto Contador, Felice Gimondi, Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx.

That’s when the trouble began.

“At this time a year ago I was struggling,” Nibali said. “As the veterans say, `You make the rider in the winter.’ And I didn’t do the right things in winter. There were too many parties after the Tour, too much carelessness and too many extra kilos. Already at the opening training camps I realized that my teammates were ahead of me.”

Nibali finished a distant fourth in last year’s Tour, then was disqualified from the Spanish Vuelta for holding on to his team car.

Now he’s returning to the Giro for the first time since winning the Italian race in 2013. Depending on how the Giro goes, he may also enter the Tour, perhaps as a support rider for Astana teammate Fabio Aru.

“I like the Giro this year because it’s similar to the 2013 edition,” Nibali said. “There are some nervous stages at the start but of course everything will be decided at the end in the big mountains.”

Here are some things to know about this year’s Giro:

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THE ROUTE

The 99th edition of the race opens with three stages in the Netherlands and a rare Friday start.

The opening leg is a flat 9.8-kilometer (6-mile) individual time trial in Apeldoorn followed by two sprint stages before an early rest day.

The real action should start upon the return to Italy in Stage 4, a hilly leg beginning in the southern city of Catanzaro.

The first of six mountain finishes comes on Stage 6 from Ponte to Roccaraso in the central Apennines.

The second individual time trial in Stage 9 features a hilly 40-kilometer (25-mile) route from Radda to Greve in Chianti – which could have a big impact on the general classification.

Another key stage is the 14th leg, which has six classified climbs – including the Passo Pordoi, the Passo Sella and the Passo Giau – on the 210-kilometer (131-mile) route through the Dolomites from Alpago to Corvara. After the so-called queen stage, there are two other legs which have been given the maximum difficulty rating of five stars – the 19th and the 20th.

The race ends in Turin on May 29.

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VALVERDE’S DEBUT

At 36, Alejandro Valverde is making his Giro debut and the Spaniard is expected to be Nibali’s top challenger for the overall title.

In 2009, Valverde was banned for two years by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) for his involvement in the Operation Puerto blood-doping scandal. CONI took samples from Valverde during a rest day in Italy during the 2008 Tour and matched them to blood sacks confiscated in Spain.

While Valverde contested CONI’s jurisdiction in the case, the ban was upheld.

“The past remains in the past,” Valverde said. “I don’t have anything against Italy or Italians.”

After winning the Spanish Vuelta in 2009, Valverde finished third in last year’s Tour.

Other overall favorites include Mikel Landa, Tom Dumoulin, Rigoberto Uran and Esteban Chaves.

The top sprinters include Marcel Kittel, Arnaud Damare and Andre Greipel.

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MECHANICAL DOPING

Giro director Mauro Vegni is taking UCI president Brian Cookson’s word that cycling’s governing body has the definitive test for mechanical doping.

The UCI maintains that its use of a tablet device producing magnetic resistance scans is more effective than “flawed” heat-seeking tests, which it says are only effective if bikes are filmed up close by motorcycles on the road.

Rumors of riders using motors have circulated for several years, and were fueled by a French broadcaster last month using thermal imagery.

“President Cookson assured us that a lot of attention will be paid to this issue,” Vegni said. “We had offered to help buy thermal-imagery equipment. … But I trust (the tablets).”

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CHIANTI CLASSICO

Wine lovers will appreciate Stage 9, a time trial dedicated to Chianti Classico.

The May 15 leg features a hilly 40.5-kilometer (25-mile) route from Radda to Greve in Chianti – the heart of the Tuscan red wine-making region.

The route will also pass through Castellina in Chianti, Madonna di Pietracupa, Sicelle, Panzano in Chianti before ending in Greve’s triangular Piazza Matteotti.

Wine was also the theme for a time trial in last year’s race from Barbaresco to Barolo.

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Thomas sees Giro d’Italia lead cut slightly by Roglič; Buitrago wins Stage 19

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 7:13 PM EDT

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TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas maintained his bid to become the oldest Giro d’Italia champion although his lead was cut slightly by Primož Roglič during the toughest stage of the race.

Roglič crossed the summit finish of the so-called “Queen Stage” three seconds ahead of Thomas at the end of the race’s final mountain road leg.

There were no flat sections and five tough, classified climbs on the 114-mile route from Longarone to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which had gradients of up to 18%.

Stage 19 was won by Santiago Buitrago, who finished 51 seconds ahead of Derek Gee and 1 minute, 46 seconds ahead of Magnus Cort and Roglič, who just missed out on bonus seconds.

“I’m really happy with this victory. It was the most difficult moment of a difficult Giro for me personally,” said Buitrago, who rides for Bahrain Victorious. “I wanted to try and raise my arms before the end and coming here at Tre Cime di Lavaredo is amazing.

“This is the recompense for all the work that I’ve done. … There’s a lot of motivation for me and the whole team having seen the fruits of our labors.”

The 37-year-old Thomas, who rides for Ineos Grenadiers, is 26 seconds ahead of Roglič going into what will be a decisive penultimate stage

Third-placed João Almeida lost more time and was 59 seconds behind Thomas.

Roglič changed his bicycle shortly before the start of the penultimate climb and he made his move inside the final kilometer. However, Thomas was able to stick to his wheel and the British cyclist made his own attack in the final 500 meters and looked to have slightly distanced his rival.

But Roglič came back and gained what could be a vital few seconds.

The winner will likely be decided in the mountain time trial that ends in a demanding climb up Monte Lussari, with an elevation of over 3,000 feet and gradients of up to 22%.

“Tomorrow we go full again,” Roglič said. “It’s good. We got a bit of legs back, so tomorrow we go full, eh?

“If I wouldn’t be confident then I don’t start. The best one at the end wins.”

The race ends in a mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, where Thomas could beat the age record held by Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Thomas celebrates 37th birthday by retaining Giro d’Italia lead; Roglic into 2nd

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 12:28 PM EDT

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VAL DI ZOLDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas celebrated his 37th birthday with another strong ride in the mountains to retain the pink jersey during Stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia.

Thomas crossed immediately behind Primoz Roglic, who moved up from third place to second.

“The legs have been good,” Thomas said. “Need to enjoy these moments.”

Joao Almeida dropped from second to third overall after losing 21 seconds over the 100-mile route from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, which included two first-category climbs followed by two second-category climbs in the finale – including an uphill finish.

Thomas – the 2018 Tour de France champion – leads Roglic by 29 seconds and Almeida by 39 seconds.

“It’s a pleasant day. I take time on Almeida and didn’t get dropped by Primoz,” Thomas said. “I felt pretty good, always under control but Primoz obviously went hard. It wasn’t easy. … I just want to be consistent until the end.”

Italian champion Filippo Zanna won the stage ahead of fellow breakaway rider Thibaut Pinot in a two-man sprint.

With only two more climbing stages remaining before the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, Thomas is poised to become the oldest Giro winner in history – beating the record of Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Chris Horner holds the record for oldest Grand Tour champion, set when he won the Spanish Vuelta in 2013 at 41.

However, Thomas will still be tested over the next two days.

Stage 19 is considered perhaps the race’s toughest, a 114-mile leg from Longarone to Tre Cime Di Lavaredo featuring five major climbs. Then there’s a mountain time trial.