Giro d'Italia - Petacchi takes first blood
Lampre's Alessandro Petacchi edged Mark Cavendish of HTC in a controversial finale to stage two of the Giro d'Italia.
The veteran Italian appeared to veer across Cavendish's line twice in the frantic closing moments of the 244-kilometre stage from Alba to Parma.
Despite the confusion, the Manxman almost managed to catch Petacchi but crossed the line a tyre's width behind his rival.
As the home favourite raised his hands aloft in celebration, a clearly angered Cavendish gesticulated widely in annoyance.
But after a short deliberation race organisers confirmed Petacchi's victory - his 22nd career Giro scalp to date.
The pair were well ahead of third-place Italian Manuel Belletti (Colnago) while American Tyler Farrar - whose Garmin-Cervelo team had done much of the work in the lead up to the bunch sprint - finished a disappointing seventh.
Cavendish will be consoled with the overall leader's maglia rosa, which he takes from the shoulders of HTC team-mate Marco Pinotti by virtue of picking up bonus seconds at the finish.
Petacchi will wear the red jersey as leading points rider while Germany's Sebastian Lang secured the green jersey of best climber after the Omega Pharma-Lotto man crossed the first summit of this year's Giro in pole position.
Lang had gone on the offensive as early as the third kilometre of the longest stage in the 94th edition of the race. At one point, the 31-year-old held a lead just shy of 20 minutes before being swept up with 26 kilometres left to race.
Eight riders went on an ambitious counter attack as soon as Lang was reeled in, but disciplined work on the front of the peloton by the teams of the big sprinters ensured that the gap never peaked over 28 seconds.
The leading group were swept up by the bunch with 11km remaining, moments after Russian Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) hit the deck at top speed.
Entering the university town of Parma it was Farrar's Garmin-Cervelo outfit who put in the biggest shift on the front of the peloton.
But Farrar made a rather ham-fisted attempt at closing the stage, allowing Petacchi to take the initiative.
With his controversial victory, Petacchi becomes the second-oldest winner of a Giro stage in history.
The 37-year-old also ties compatriot Fausto Coppi and Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck's record of 22 career wins in the Giro.
Monday's 173km stage from Reggio Emilia to Rapallo features the first significant climb of the race - the third category Passo del Bocco - but the finish could suit the sprinters once again, provided they stay in touch over a late climb 8km from the line.
Comment 14 - 33 of 33
Come on, yes Petacchi moved but he started his sprint in one direction before looking up to see the line and changing it, no sharp movements, nothing dangerous there, that's sprinting!
There was bumping for sure. And Petacchi moved towards Cav, but I've seen decisions go both ways on finishes like that. Fair win for Petacchi, but fair comments by Cav too.
Petacchi got the right decision. You have to do a lot more than that to get penalized at the Giro. I think he had the room to take both lines that he took. Clip Cav's wheel? Didn't see that. Nice win for a good man.
With regards Petacchi's blocking of Cav, at least the ground rules hav been set & he should remember the bigger picture, it's a second place finish in the race for the ciclamino jersey.
Who fckin cars who won sprint, this is tour not one day race. I'm sick of this @#$% that are siting in the back and thwn they sprint 100m, and they are, what? fckin @#$%.
I don't know what Cav's moaning about. The overhead camera showed that Cav wasn't unduly hampered in the sprint.
That was a straightforward finish compared to what used to happen in the 60's and 70's especially. Then there was Abdu later!
What happened to Nocentini? He lost 6+ minutes?
Italian CHEATING NOTHING NEW THERE THEN
@Anthony Martin: "Regards the decision, what does anyone expect from an Italian jury, on an Italian rider in an Italian team."
This is hilarious, you should have watched the second race of this week-end SBK in Monza. Biaggi was penalized with a drive-through, because he cut a corner, just when he was far, far away in fron. And as you may know, Monza is in Italy, and Biaggi is riding for Aprilia, and he's an Italian. So... what you've just stated made be laugh. Rules are rules, Petacchi didn't break the rules, but Biaggi did. Just accept it, today Cav was not good enough to beat an old man. Maybe next time, end of story.
What's with Tyler Ferrar? Garmin Cervelo used a lot of energy catching up with Lang's 20 minute lead, and they were leading the peloton a lot of the time. But it seems like Tyler Ferrar is in really bad form - he couldn't deliver today in the Giro, he was not even close, but really Ferrar haven't done anything to prove that he's still a good sprinter.. If any of you watched Tour of Turkey, you'll know that even at this race, which is not big, he wasn't able to prove anything......
---------DISSAPOINTING---------
Look at the overhead video on sporza and Petacchi switches so fast from left to right he actually clips Cavendish's wheel, yet in the press conference he says he was so far ahead of Cavendish it wouldn't have made any difference! Petacchi was looking sluggish at he end though, so should be easy to beat next time.
"Of course I know this will be thumbed down, because no one can write anything critical of a British darling on this site."
That's just @#$%.
Cavendish, Millar, Wiggins, and the whole of Team Sky are regularly insulted. Even the staunchest of Cavendish supports has always admitted that until very recently, he was a @#$%. They're defended too - as is absolutely every other rider that's ever discussed.
Also, the thumbs up and down are entirely random, and seldom related to the quality or content of a post.
Well done the Italien authorities. Nice to see the most corrupt nation in Europe is still going strong.
It seems the Hamilton moaners have clicked over to the Giro to have a moan for poor Cav.
Surprised Cav didn't spit at Petacchi.
Of course I know this will be thumbed down, because no one can write anything critical of a British darling on this site.
The only reason Cav lost this stage was simply.....the winner was Italian !
Pettachi the gentleman sprinter, no not anymore!!
I cannot imagine that the result would be allowed to stand had it been Cav doing the veering and Pettachi being blocked. Chin up, Cav - you're still the better sprinter by far.
Petacchi you cheating git.
How many times do you want to cut across the front wheel of the people chasing you down?
If you can't play by the rules then don't bother playing.
Cavendish might get a paragraph on the sports page if he wins a stage, if not, none of the mainstream press will even mention the Giro.
Amongst cycling fans though, the Giro does seem to be the most popular GT.
Isn't today some day of Italian celebration..... therefore , Petacchi was never going to be DQ'd. Mind you , I never understand why the narrow side is taken as the line of attack ....trouble always beckons .....and if Cav is going to become one of the "greats" (as he has intimated), then he is going to have to wise-up.
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