2012 Giro d'Italia, Stage 12 to Stage 21

Cycling race stages thumb|350px|Overview of the stages; purple lines represent distances covered in the individual stages, while black dotted lines are the distances covered in transfers between the stages. Stage 12 of the 2012 Giro d'Italia was contested on 17 May, and the race concluded with Stage 21 on 27 May. The second half of the race was situated entirely within Italy; starting with a medium mountain stage from Seravezza to Sestri Levante, before the customary race-concluding time trial was held in Milan. Following his victory in the tenth stage, KAT 2012's Joaquim Rodríguez held the lead into the second half of the race. He maintained his lead on stage 12 – after the breakaway succeeded in staying away until the end of the stage as LTB 2012 rider Lars Bak held on to win by eleven seconds ahead of the remnants of the breakaway group – and on stage 13, as Mark Cavendish picked up his third stage victory of the race on one of the few sprinter-suited stages during the second half of the race. Rodríguez gave up the lead of the race at the end of stage 14, after GRM 2012a rider Ryder Hesjedal attacked on the climb to the stage finish at Cervinia – the first that the climb had featured in the Giro since 1997 – taking 26 seconds out of his rival, and reclaimed the maglia rosa that he held for three days in the first half of the race. Rodríguez immediately retook the lead of the race the following day at the summit finish at the Pian dei Resinelli. Although he finished second to FAR 2012 rider Matteo Rabottini on the day, Rodríguez gained 39 seconds on Hesjedal through his late-stage attack. After the race's second rest day which came after that stage, the gap between Rodríguez and Hesjedal remained at the half-minute mark for the next three stages; the breakaway succeeded once again on stage 16 as EUS 2012 rider Jon Izagirre soloed away from a group of riders in the closing stages, while on stage 17, Rodríguez won the stage after a group of the leading overall contenders escaped on the Passo Giau. Also among that group were Hesjedal, former winners Ivan Basso (LIQ 2012) and Michele Scarponi (LAM 2012), with SKY 2012 rider Rigoberto Urán and CSF 2012's Domenico Pozzovivo making up the sextet. Stage 18 saw the sprinters' last chance of victory with Andrea Guardini of FAR 2012 yes edging out Cavendish for victory. Hesjedal and Rodríguez took near-identical gaps out on one another during stages 19 and 20; Hesjedal reduced the lead to 17 seconds in the former stage finishing at the Alpe di Pampeago, while Rodríguez moved it back out to 31 seconds following the Cima Coppi finish at the Stelvio Pass. VCD 2012 rider Thomas De Gendt moved into overall podium contention by winning the stage to the Stelvio, taking between three and five minutes from all of the other overall contenders, and moved from ninth place to fourth place at the end of the stage. Hesjedal's better time trial abilities enabled him to take the lead of the race on the final day from Rodríguez; he overturned the 31-second deficit, and ultimately became the first Canadian rider to win a Grand Tour. Hesjedal had turned the deficit into a 16-second margin of victory, the closest such margin since Eddy Merckx beat Gianbattista Baronchelli by 12 seconds in the 1974 edition of the race. De Gendt moved ahead of Scarponi for third place, to become the first Belgian rider to finish on a Grand Tour podium since Johan Bruyneel finished third at the 1995 Vuelta a España. LegendJerseys appearing in the table on the left of the page indicate those worn by the cyclist during the particular stage, while those appearing in the table on the right of the page indicate those awarded to the cyclist after the stage.   20px|alt=A pink jersey   Denotes the leader of the General classification   20px|alt=A blue jersey   Denotes the leader of the Mountains classification   20px|alt=A red jersey   Denotes the leader of the Points classification   20px|alt=A white jersey   Denotes the leader of the Young rider classification   s.t. indicates that the rider crossed the finish line in the same group as the one receiving the time above him, and was therefore credited with the same finishing time. Stage 12 17 May 2012 — Seravezza to Sestri Levante, 155 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_12.pdf Stage 12 Profile: Seravezza – Sestri Levante La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF The stage had been scheduled to be held over a distance of 157 km 1 on,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-giro-ditalia-route-unveiled-in-milan 2012 Giro d'Italia route unveiled in Milan Barry Ryan Cycling News 16 October 2011 17 May 2012 but in April 2012, prior to the start of the Giro, the itinerary was changed slightly to 155 km 1 on. Due to torrential rains which caused floods and mudslides in October 2011, the roads through the Cinque Terre were considered unusable for the race.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cinque-terre-roads-unusable-for-giro-ditalia Cinque Terre roads unusable for Giro d'Italia Cycling News 18 April 2012 17 May 2012 As such, the second half of the race began with an undulating stage along the Ligurian coast, with four categorised climbs over the parcours, the last of which coming just 11 km 1 on from the stage finish in Sestri Levante. Mini-attacks set the course for the stage as the field remained as one, for much of the first hour of racing; it was not until after 40 km 1 on that the stage's primary breakaway had been formed.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11896/Giro-dItalia-Lars-Bak-escapes-the-break-to-take-stage-twelve-in-Sestri-Levante.aspx Lars Bak escapes the break to take stage twelve in Sestri Levante Ben Atkins VeloNation 17 May 2012 17 May 2012 An initial move of seven riders representing seven different teams went clear, with the septet later joined by two more riders, Jackson Rodríguez (AND 2012) and VCD 2012's Martijn Keizer,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-12/results Bak wins in Sestri Levante Susan Westemeyer Cycling News 17 May 2012 17 May 2012 the latter again making it into the breakaway move. FDJ 2012's Sandy Casar was the best-placed of the nine riders in the group, trailing overnight leader Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012) by four minutes, and as the stage wore on, became more of a threat to Rodríguez's lead. The breakaway's gap surpassed that figure, reaching a high of seven minutes,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532831/bak-attacks-to-win-giro-stage-12.html Bak attacks to win Giro stage 12 Cycling Weekly Future Publishing Limited 17 May 2012 17 May 2012 Richard Abraham with 40 km 1 on remaining on the stage. As LIQ 2012 set the pace on the front of the peloton, OPQ 2012 rider Michał Gołaś soloed off the front of the lead group, but he was caught prior to the summit of the day's final climb, the Villa Tassani. More attacks occurred between the leaders prior to the finish, but Lars Bak produced the decisive attack with 2 km 1 on remaining, and eventually went clear to an 11-second winning margin at the finish, winning his first individual Giro stage. Casar led a group of six riders across in second, but his time gap to the peloton was only 3' 23".https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/lars-bak-powers-to-victory-on-12th-stage-of-giro/article2435844/ Lars Bak powers to victory on 12th stage of Giro The Globe and Mail Phillip Crawley; The Globe and Mail Inc. 17 May 2012 17 May 2012 Associated Press Despite the twelve bonus seconds on offer for second at the line, Casar was still 26 seconds shy of taking the race lead, but moved into third in the general classification, behind Rodríguez and GRM 2012a's Ryder Hesjedal.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18108869 Joaquim Rodriguez retains pink jersey in Giro d'Italia BBC Sport 17 May 2012 17 May 2012 Stage 12 result RiderTeamTime 1 Lars Bak DEN LTB 2012 3h 58' 55" 2 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 11" 3 Andrey Amador CRC MOV 2012 + 11" 4 Jan Bakelants BEL RNT 2012 + 11" 5 Ivan Santaromita ITA BMC 2012 + 11" 6 Jackson Rodríguez VEN AND 2012 + 11" 7 Amets Txurruka ESP EUS 2012 + 11" 8 Martijn Keizer NED VCD 2012 + 43" 9 Michał Gołaś POL OPQ 2012 + 48" 10 Juan Antonio Flecha ESP SKY 2012 + 3' 34"General classification after stage 12 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 51h 19' 08" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 17" 3 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 26" 4 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 32" 5 Ivan Santaromita ITA BMC 2012 + 49" 6 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2012 + 52" 7 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 52" 8 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 57" 9 Damiano Caruso ITA 20px|White jersey LIQ 2012 + 1' 02" 10 Dario Cataldo ITA OPQ 2012 + 1' 03" Stage 13 18 May 2012 — Savona to Cervere, 121 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_13.pdf Stage 13 Profile: Savona – Cervere La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF thumb|In the shortest mass-start stage of the 2012 Giro, FAR 2012's Francesco Failli (left) and VCD 2012 rider Martijn Keizer formed the breakaway early in the stage, but were caught around 20 km 1 on from the finish in Cervere. At 121 km 1 on, stage 13 was the shortesthttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9275649/Giro-dItalia-2012-Mark-Cavendish-sprints-to-victory-on-stage-13-as-Joaquim-Rodriguez-retains-leaders-pink-jersey.html Mark Cavendish sprints to victory on stage 13 as Joaquim Rodríguez retains leader's pink jersey The Daily Telegraph 18 May 2012 18 May 2012 non-time trial stage of the entire Giro; again, the stage was undulating, with only one categorised climb at Montezemolo, 31.7 km 1 on into the itinerary. The stage was ideally set for the sprinters,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532651/giro-d-italia-2012-stage-13-preview.html Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage 13 preview Cycling Weekly 2 May 2012 18 May 2012 potentially their last possible attempt to win a stage, with the final week of the Giro set to be all about the climbers and overall contenders for the race. The primary breakaway of the stage was formed early in the stage, when VCD 2012 rider Martijn Keizer and FAR 2012's Francesco Failli went clear in the opening stages of the day's running.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-13/results Cavendish wins Giro stage 13 in Cervere Cycling News 18 May 2012 18 May 2012 Peter Cossins By the 30 km 1 on point of the stage, the lead duo held their maximum lead of the day, when they were five-and-a-half minutes, after the peloton – led by SKY 2012 and FDJ 2012 – elected to ease their pace.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11902/Giro-dItalia-Mark-Cavendish-relaunches-himself-to-take-stage-thirteen.aspx Mark Cavendish relaunches himself to take stage thirteen Ben Atkins VeloNation 18 May 2012 18 May 2012 The peloton steadily closed down the lead duo after that climb, and with around 20 km 1 on to go in the stage, Keizer and Failli were absorbed by the main pack. Once they were all together, the pace slowed again as many teams tried to get their protected riders into a safe enough position prior to the finish in Cervere. Having slowed the pace before, FDJ 2012 yes were on the front again, hoping to set up the sprint for their sprinter, Arnaud Démare; they were later joined on the front by the RAB 2012 and OGE 2012b teams, both of whom were looking to set up their respective Australian sprinters Mark Renshaw and Matthew Goss. Inside the final 10 km 1 on, three riders – Julien Bérard of ALM 2012, OPQ 2012's Julien Vermote and AND 2012 rider Fabio Felline tried to advance clear to alleviate an expected bunch sprint, but the sprint trains of GRM 2012a and SKY 2012 yes managed to close them down. Brett Lancaster launched Goss into his sprint, with Mark Cavendish (SKY 2012 yes) on his wheel. Cavendish tried to come down the left of Goss in the closing metres, but Goss closed the gap and Cavendish had to drop his pace, but recovered effortlessly and took Goss, and held on to win his third stage of the Giro.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532844/cavendish-makes-it-three-at-the-giro.html Cavendish makes it three at the Giro Andy McGrath Cycling Weekly 18 May 2012 18 May 2012 His 33rd Grand Tour stage win,http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cycling-giro-idUKBRE84H0UU20120518 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080202/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cycling-giro-idUKBRE84H0UU20120518 dead March 5, 2016 Cavendish plans to head for mountains after stage win Reuters Alasdair Fotheringham 18 May 2012 18 May 2012 Alasdair Fotheringham Cavendish also extended his lead in the points classification,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/stage-13-lucky-for-cavendish-as-he-collects-third-win-in-2012-giro-ditalia_219542 Stage 13 lucky for Cavendish as he collects third win in 2012 Giro d’Italia VeloNews 18 May 2012 18 May 2012 as Goss could only finish sixth behind KAT 2012's Alexander Kristoff, Renshaw, CSF 2012 rider Sacha Modolo and Elia Favilli of FAR 2012 yes. Goss left the race following the stage,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/goss-leaves-giro-ditalia-with-july-on-his-mind Goss leaves Giro d'Italia with July on his mind Cycling News 19 May 2012 19 May 2012 Barry Ryan further extending Cavendish's lead. Stage 13 result RiderTeamTime 1 Mark Cavendish GBR 20px|Red jersey SKY 2012 3h 02' 07" 2 Alexander Kristoff NOR KAT 2012 s.t. 3 Mark Renshaw AUS RAB 2012 s.t. 4 Sacha Modolo ITA CSF 2012 s.t. 5 Elia Favilli ITA FAR 2012 s.t. 6 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b s.t. 7 Arnaud Démare FRA FDJ 2012 s.t. 8 Lucas Sebastián Haedo ARG SAX 2012a s.t. 9 Sonny Colbrelli ITA CSF 2012 s.t. 10 Manuel Belletti ITA ALM 2012 s.t.General classification after stage 13 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 54h 21' 15" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 17" 3 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 26" 4 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 32" 5 Ivan Santaromita ITA BMC 2012 + 49" 6 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2012 + 52" 7 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 52" 8 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 57" 9 Damiano Caruso ITA 20px|White jersey LIQ 2012 + 1' 02" 10 Dario Cataldo ITA OPQ 2012 + 1' 03" Stage 14 19 May 2012 — Cherasco to Cervinia, 206 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_14.pdf Stage 14 Profile: Cherasco – Cervinia La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF The first categorised mountain stage of the race featured a near-flat opening 137 km 1 on to the stage, before almost 50 km 1 on worth of climbing in the remainder of the stage, with two first-category climbs, the Col de Joux – climbing up to an altitude of 1640 m ft on – and the finishing climb to Cervinia, reaching up to a height of 2001 m ft on via an average gradient of 5.5% over the 27 km 1 on. The climb to Cervinia was being used in the race for the first time since 1997, when eventual race winner Ivan Gotti took the race lead from Pavel Tonkov,http://www2.raisport.rai.it/giro97/tappa14.htm Gotti maglia rosa Italian Gotti pink jersey RAI Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. 20 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193542/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/giro97/tappa14.htm 3 March 2016 dead and never relinquished the lead to the end of it. Prior to the stage, a minute's silence was held as a mark of respect to victims of a bombing at a school in Brindisi, earlier in the day.http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19052012/2/cycling-amador-takes-costa-rica-first-giro-win.html Amador takes Costa Rica's first Giro win Yahoo! Eurosport 19 May 2012 20 May 2012 TF1 Group Reuters thumb|left|MOV 2012's Andrey Amador leading the breakaway during the stage. Amador ultimately won the stage in Cervinia ahead of APP 2012 rider Jan Bárta and Alessandro De Marchi of AND 2012; Amador's victory was the first by a Costa Rican in a Grand Tour. With the stage parcours as such, there were no major movements off the race for the first hour of racing, before the weather conditions changed; rain would play in the rest of the day's proceedings. Eight riders went clear at around the 60 km 1 on mark,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-14/results Amador climbs to Giro d'Italia stage 14 victory Cycling News 19 May 2012 20 May 2012 Susan Westemeyer building up a lead of in excess of thirteen minutes over the main field.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11911/Giro-dItalia-Ryder-Hesjedal-attacks-into-pink-on-the-Cervinia-mountaintop.aspx Ryder Hesjedal attacks into pink on the Cervinia mountaintop VeloNation 19 May 2012 20 May 2012 Ben Atkins Three of the eight were dropped on the lower parts of the Col de Joux, while LIQ 2012 set the pace on the front of the field, reducing their advantage to around ten-and-a-half minutes. APP 2012's Jan Bárta had gone clear, while José Rujano (AND 2012) had linked up with LAM 2012 rider Damiano Cunego to try and chase him. They could not do so, and instead it was left to Andrey Amador of the MOV 2012 to foot the chase to Bárta. He caught him and eventually proceeded to drop him on the descent, and held a half-minute lead by the time he had reached the final climb to Cervinia. He extended the lead on the lower slopes of the climb itself, and soon held an advantage of over a minute over Rujano's team-mate Alessandro De Marchi, ALM 2012's Matteo Montaguti, Bárta and FAR 2012's Pierpaolo De Negri. De Marchi and Bárta both later made solo attacks out of the group, and eventually caught up to Amador as the peloton grew ever-closer on the parcours. The peloton had been around five minutes behind with 10 km 1 on remaining, but the gap had been halved by the time they had reached the 5 km 1 on to go mark. De Marchi tried to break his two companions but could not do so; while in the peloton, there were several movements but it was not until Ryder Hesjedal got clear for GRM 2012a that there was more animation in the peloton. Joaquim Rodríguez tried to follow his rival but was ultimately unsuccessful. At the front however, it was down to the three leaders for the sprint; Bárta tried to launch his sprint first, but fell short at the line as Amador achieved the first stage victory for a Costa Rican rider in any Grand Tour.http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/andrey-amador-climbs-to-win-on-first-major-mountain-stage-at-2012-giro_219822 Andrey Amador climbs to win on first major mountain stage at 2012 Giro; Hesjedal back in pink VeloNews 19 May 2012 20 May 2012 22 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120522150200/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/andrey-amador-climbs-to-win-on-first-major-mountain-stage-at-2012-giro_219822 deadhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/amador-puts-nightmare-behind-him-with-giro-ditalia-stage-win Amador puts nightmare behind him with Giro d'Italia stage win Cycling News 19 May 2012 20 May 2012 Jean-François Quénet De Marchi finished a couple of seconds behind in third, while Hesjedal gapped the Rodríguez group by 26 seconds to retake the maglia rosa.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532850/amador-wins-giro-s-first-high-mountain-stage-as-hesjedal-reclaims-lead.html Amador wins Giro's first high mountain stage as Hesjedal reclaims lead Gregor Brown Cycling Weekly 19 May 2012 20 May 2012 Hesjedal later stated that his attack on the climb was "unplanned", and that he was confident of taking the race victory in Milan.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hesjedals-return-to-pink-at-giro-ditalia-was-unplanned Hesjedal's return to pink at Giro d'Italia was unplanned Cycling News 19 May 2012 20 May 2012 Jean-François Quénet Stage 14 result RiderTeamTime 1 Andrey Amador CRC MOV 2012 5h 33' 36" 2 Jan Bárta CZE APP 2012 s.t. 3 Alessandro De Marchi ITA AND 2012 + 2" 4 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 20" 5 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 46" 6 Rigoberto Urán COL SKY 2012 + 46" 7 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 + 46" 8 Thomas De Gendt BEL VCD 2012 + 46" 9 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 46" 10 John Gadret FRA ALM 2012 + 46"General classification after stage 14 RiderTeamTime 1 Ryder Hesjedal CAN 20px|Pink jersey GRM 2012a 59h 55' 28" 2 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP KAT 2012 + 9" 3 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 41" 4 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 1' 05" 5 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 1' 06" 6 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2012 + 1' 07" 7 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 1' 07" 8 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 1' 19" 9 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 1' 20" 10 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA CSF 2012 + 1' 21" Stage 15 20 May 2012 — Busto Arsizio to Lecco–Pian dei Resinelli, 169 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_15.pdf Stage 15 Profile: Busto Arsizio – Lecco-Pian dei Resinelli La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF Just like the previous day's stage, the first element of the stage was largely flat, before approaching the first of four categorised climbs, the Valico di Valcava. After the descent from the climb and another uncategorised climb immediately after, the riders took in the third-category Forcella di Bura before two second category climbs; the Culmine di San Pietro with its summit at 25 km 1 on remaining, as well as the final climb of the Pian dei Resinelli. Heavy rain again dominated the roads, with fog in places, making conditions treacherous for any major attacks. The breakaway was instigated by a pair of riders at the 18 km 1 on mark, when ALM 2012 rider Guillaume Bonnafond and FAR 2012's Matteo Rabottini were allowed to get clear. Bonnafond and Rabottini soon garnered a gap of around nine minutes some 30 km 1 on later,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-15/results Rabottini wins stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia Peter Cossins Cycling News 20 May 2012 20 May 2012 but the pair reached the footslopes of the Valico di Valcava with an eight-minute lead.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11917/Giro-dItalia-Heroic-Matteo-Rabottini-wins-on-the-Pian-dei-Resinelli-after-day-long-attack.aspx Heroic Matteo Rabottini wins on the Pian dei Resinelli after day-long attack Ben Atkins VeloNation 20 May 2012 20 May 2012 thumb|left|After dropping Guillaume Bonnafond during the stage, FAR 2012's Matteo Rabottini contested the rest of the parcours solo. Despite a crash and pressure from KAT 2012's Joaquim Rodríguez, Rabottini was able to win his first Giro stage. At the same time as seven riders making their break from the GRM 2012a-led peloton, Rabottini soon left Bonnafond on the climb, beginning a solo attack of the parcours. Five riders also bridged up to the chase group, making it a dozen riders chasing after Rabottini on the road. Rabottini crossed the summit almost five minutes clear of the chasers, with the peloton several minutes further behind. GRM 2012a yes and LIQ 2012 continued to set the pace on the front of the main group, looking to bring Ryder Hesjedal and Ivan Basso back into the equation for the overall classification. Rabottini suffered a crashhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18139264 Joaquim Rodriguez reclaims lead BBC Sport 20 May 2012 20 May 2012 inside the final 30 km 1 on of the stage, but still held an advantage of over two minutes to the chase group. AST 2012 took their turn on the front of the peloton, with numbers reducing in the gruppetto down to around twenty riders. Rabottini took a lead of two-and-a-half minutes into the final 10 km 1 on of the stage, but Stefano Pirazzi launched an attack from the chase group for CSF 2012; his second such attack of the stage, having attacked on the Culmine di San Pietro, before he was closed down by other riders. With Damiano Cunego (LAM 2012) and Amets Txurruka (EUS 2012) marking each other in the small group, KAT 2012's Alberto Losada counter-attacked, and Cunego could not follow his move as Txurruka joined Losada. Losada went clear of Txurruka and Pirazzi and set off after Rabottini, while in the group of overall contenders, Cunego's team-mate Michele Scarponi attacked with only Basso, SKY 2012's Sergio Henao and Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012 yes) for company. Rodríguez accelerated further, catching and passing Pirazzi and Txurruka, while team-mate Losada waited for him to help his team-mate on the climb; he carried on without Losada, catching Rabottini inside the final 300 m on.http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/matteo-rabottini-outsprints-rodriguez-on-the-line-for-stage-15-win-purito-regains-overall-lead_220100 Matteo Rabottini outsprints Rodriguez on the line for stage 15 win; Purito regains overall lead VeloNews 20 May 2012 20 May 2012 24 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120524103142/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/matteo-rabottini-outsprints-rodriguez-on-the-line-for-stage-15-win-purito-regains-overall-lead_220100 dead Rabottini latched on to Rodríguez, and took him on the outside of the final left-hand turn and beat him to the line for his first victory since the 2011 Tour of Turkey.http://road.cc/content/news/58630-giro-ditalia-stage-15-lone-escapee-rabottini-hangs-win-rodriguez-spaniard-takes Lone escapee Rabottini hangs on to win from Rodriguez, Spaniard takes back overall lead Road.cc Farrelly Atkinson Ltd. 20 May 2012 20 May 2012 Simon MacMichael Rodríguez reclaimed the maglia rosa from Hesjedal,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532853/rabottini-takes-tough-win-in-giro-stage-15.html Rabottini takes tough win in Giro stage 15 Nigel Wynn Cycling Weekly 20 May 2012 20 May 2012 while fourth-placed Henao claimed the young rider classification lead from team-mate Rigoberto Urán.http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,25248_7767705,00.html Henao leads the way SKY 2012 BSkyB 20 May 2012 20 May 2012 Stage 15 result RiderTeamTime 1 Matteo Rabottini ITA FAR 2012 5h 15' 30" 2 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP KAT 2012 s.t. 3 Alberto Losada ESP KAT 2012 + 23" 4 Sergio Henao COL SKY 2012 + 25" 5 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 25" 6 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 25" 7 Stefano Pirazzi ITA CSF 2012 + 29" 8 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2012 + 29" 9 John Gadret FRA ALM 2012 + 29" 10 Amets Txurruka ESP EUS 2012 + 29"General classification after stage 15 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 65h 11' 07" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 30" 3 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 1' 22" 4 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 1' 26" 5 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2012 + 1' 27" 6 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 1' 36" 7 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 1' 42" 8 Sergio Henao COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 1' 55" 9 Dario Cataldo ITA OPQ 2012 + 2' 12" 10 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 2' 13" Stage 16 22 May 2012 — Limone sul Garda to Falzes-Pfalzen, 173 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_16.pdf Stage 16 Profile: Limone sul Garda – Falzes-Pfalzen La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF thumb|The day's breakaway being led by EUS 2012's Jon Izagirre. Izagirre attacked with 4 km 1 on remaining and soloed to his first Grand Tour stage victory, and the second win of his professional career. Following the second and final rest day of the race the previous day, the race returned with a stage classified "medium-mountain" without any categorised climbs over the 173 km 1 on parcours. Despite this, the stage gradually rose during its course, before reaching the highest point at the finish – via a closing climb with a gradient reaching 12% in places, yet uncategorisedhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/izagirre-marks-grand-tour-debut-with-stage-win-at-giro Izagirre marks Grand Tour debut with stage win at Giro Jean-François Quénet 22 May 2012 22 May 2012 Cycling Newshttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11930/Giro-dItalia-Jon-Izagirre-takes-breakaway-stage-sixteen-as-the-peloton-sleeps.aspx Jon Izagirre takes breakaway stage sixteen as the peloton sleeps VeloNation 22 May 2012 22 May 2012 Ben Atkins – in Pfalzen, 998 m on above sea level. After a previous thirteen-rider breakaway move had earlier been unsuccessful, a second batch of ten riders launched their attack on the peloton after around 60 km 1 on, but none of the riders posed a threat to overall leader Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012); the best-placed rider of the group was MOV 2012's José Herrada, who was over 32 minutes behind Rodríguez at the start of the stage.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-16/results Izagirre triumphs in Giro stage 16 to Falzes Susan Westemeyer 22 May 2012 22 May 2012 Cycling News With such an advantage over their rivals in the lead group, the peloton elected not to chase them down at any point, and as such, the gap to them moved up to an unassailable advantage of almost 13 minutes with under 30 km 1 on remaining in the stage. While the main field managed to marginally cut into the lead that the breakaway had held, inside the final 10 km 1 on, with SKY 2012 upping the tempo to allow their jersey-wearers Mark Cavendish (points) and Sergio Henao (young rider) to stay out of the way of any potential hazards in the closing stages.http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,25248_7772159,00.html Steady day at the Giro SKY 2012 BSkyB 22 May 2012 22 May 2012 25 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120525202257/http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,25248_7772159,00.html dead At the front, BMC 2012's Mathias Frank chased down moves by Herrada, AND 2012 rider Alessandro De Marchi and Jon Izagirre of EUS 2012, but Izagirre managed to break the confines of the group with around 4 km 1 on to go. Izagirre was not caught, eventually soloing away to a 16-second victory for his first Grand Tour win, and second in a month after a previous victory in the time trial of April's Vuelta a Asturias.http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/race-report/izaguirre-wins-stage-16-of-the-giro-ditalia_220304 Izaguirre wins stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia VeloNews 22 May 2012 22 May 2012 Agence France-Presse De Marchi beat Stef Clement (RAB 2012) for second place,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532885/izagirre-claims-basque-breakaway-victory-at-giro.html Izagirre claims Basque breakaway victory at Giro Andy McGrath Cycling Weekly 22 May 2012 22 May 2012 while the peloton trimmed the gap to the breakaway to under nine minutes at the finish, following injections of pace from LIQ 2012 and GRM 2012a. Stage 16 result RiderTeamTime 1 Jon Izagirre ESP EUS 2012 4h 02' 00" 2 Alessandro De Marchi ITA AND 2012 + 16" 3 Stef Clement NED RAB 2012 + 16" 4 Mathias Frank SUI BMC 2012 + 19" 5 José Herrada ESP MOV 2012 + 21" 6 Manuele Boaro ITA SAX 2012a + 37" 7 Matthias Brändle AUT APP 2012 + 43" 8 Nikolas Maes BEL OPQ 2012 + 45" 9 Lars Bak DEN LTB 2012 + 45" 10 Luca Mazzanti ITA FAR 2012 + 48"General classification after stage 16 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 69h 22' 04" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 30" 3 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 1' 22" 4 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 1' 26" 5 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2012 + 1' 27" 6 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 1' 36" 7 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 1' 42" 8 Sergio Henao COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 1' 55" 9 Dario Cataldo ITA OPQ 2012 + 2' 12" 10 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 2' 13" Stage 17 23 May 2012 — Falzes-Pfalzen to Cortina d'Ampezzo, 186 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_17.pdf Stage 17 Profile: Falzes-Pfalzen – Cortina d'Ampezzo La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF thumb|upright|Ivan Basso and Ryder Hesjedal during the ascent of the Passo Giau. Basso and Hesjedal were both beaten to the line by general classification leader Joaquim Rodríguez. Following the previous day's summit finish in Pfalzen, the race continued in the Dolomites with four high-mountain passes over the 186 km 1 on parcours, culminating in the first-category Giau Pass, the highest point of the previous year's race. The Passo Giau, a 9.9 km 1 on climb reaching up to an altitude of 2236 m ft on – an average gradient of 9.3% – was set to break up the peloton prior to the near-20 km 1 on descent into Cortina d'Ampezzo; where the race was being hosted by the town for the first time since 1977.http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/2012-giro-ditalia-stage-17-start.html 2012 Giro d'Italia, Stage 17 Start Italian Cycling Journal Blogspot 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 With much of the focus upon those closing climbs – three inside the final 70 km 1 on of the stage – with the Passo Duran and the Forcella Staulanza coming before the Passo Giau, there was no immediate breakaway from the start.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11939/Giro-dItalia-Joaquim-Rodriguez-wins-the-battle-of-the-favourites-on-stage-seventeen.aspx Joaquim Rodríguez wins the battle of the favourites on stage seventeen Ben Atkins VeloNation 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 Instead, it was not until the end of the first hour of racing that the breakaway had been instigated. Five riders broke the confines of the peloton at the 35 km 1 on mark, consisting of mountains classification leader Matteo Rabottini (FAR 2012), José Serpa of AND 2012, AST 2012 rider Kevin Seeldraeyers as well as MOV 2012's Branislau Samoilau and Matteo Montaguti representing the ALM 2012 team.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-17/results Rodriguez wins stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia Mark Robinson Cycling News 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 The quintet held a lead of almost six minutes on the stage's first climb, the Passo Valparola, but their advantage was cut by the time Rabottini had extended his mountains points lead, by cresting the summit first. LIQ 2012 and EUS 2012 were the prominent teams on the front of the field, with EUS 2012 yes rider Mikel Nieve eventually attacking off the front, replacing Montaguti as the fifth member of the breakaway, as he had been dropped. All five were later caught before the Passo Giau, where the LIQ 2012 yes squad were again leading the reduced peloton. As was expected, the Passo Giau defined the remainder of the stage. With three LIQ 2012 yes riders setting the pace for their team captain Ivan Basso,https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/cycling-joaquim-rodriguez-tightens-hold-on-pink-jersey-with-second-stage-win-in-giro-ditalia-7782318.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/cycling-joaquim-rodriguez-tightens-hold-on-pink-jersey-with-second-stage-win-in-giro-ditalia-7782318.html 2022-05-01 subscription Joaquim Rodriguez tightens hold on pink jersey with second stage win in Giro d'Italia Ben Parfitt The Independent 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 numerous riders were being dislodged from the back of the group; as such, only six riders remained with the group halfway up the climb, with Basso being joined by overall leader Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012), GRM 2012a's Ryder Hesjedal, LAM 2012 rider Michele Scarponi, as well as Rigoberto Urán of SKY 2012 – after team-mate Sergio Henao had been dropped – and CSF 2012 rider Domenico Pozzovivo. Scarponi and Urán were both dropped in the closing stages of the Passo Giau, but they both made it back into the lead group on the descent into Cortina d'Ampezzo; the sextet battled it out for the stage honours in a sprint finish, where Rodríguez came from last position in the line to out-sprint his rivals for his second stage win of the race.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532906/rodriguez-wins-stage-to-consolidate-giro-lead.html Rodriguez wins stage to consolidate Giro lead Richard Abraham Cycling Weekly 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 His overall lead remained at 30 seconds however,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/hesjedals-consistency-causing-panic-among-giro-big_220596 Hesjedal's consistency causing panic among Giro ‘big’ Andrew Hood VeloNews 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 as there was no bonus seconds on offer at the finish; but he also stated that Hesjedal was the favourite,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/purito-outsprints-gc-favorites-for-stage-17-win-overall-top-three-unchanged_220520 Purito outsprints GC favorites for stage 17 win; Hesjedal holds steady, still has advantage with TT looming VeloNews 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 25 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120525184226/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/purito-outsprints-gc-favorites-for-stage-17-win-overall-top-three-unchanged_220520 dead due to his superior abilities in the time trial. Rodríguez also dedicated his stage victory to Xavier Tondo, on the first anniversary of his death while preparing for a training session.http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/23052012/58/giro-d-italia-rodriguez-pips-basso-second-win.html Rodriguez pips Basso for second win Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 Felix Lowe The only jersey to change hands at the end of the stage was Urán, moving into fifth place overall, taking the young rider classification lead from team-mate Henao.http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,25248_7773993,00.html Gutsy Uran up to fifth SKY 2012 BSkyB 23 May 2012 23 May 2012 Stage 17 result RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 5h 24' 42" 2 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 s.t. 3 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a s.t. 4 Rigoberto Urán COL SKY 2012 s.t. 5 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 s.t. 6 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA COG 2012 + 2" 7 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 1' 22" 8 Daniel Moreno ESP KAT 2012 + 1' 22" 9 Thomas De Gendt BEL VAC 2012 + 1' 22" 10 Johann Tschopp SUI BMC 2012 + 1' 22"General classification after stage 17 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 74h 46' 46" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 30" 3 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 1' 22" 4 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 1' 36" 5 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 2' 56" 6 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 3' 04" 7 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA COG 2012 + 3' 19" 8 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 4' 13" 9 Thomas De Gendt BEL VAC 2012 + 4' 38" 10 Sergio Henao COL SKY 2012 + 4' 42" Stage 18 24 May 2012 — San Vito di Cadore to Vedelago, 149 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_18.pdf Stage 18 Profile: San Vito di Cadore – Vedelago La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF thumb|upright|The stage's original breakaway being headed by RAB 2012's Stef Clement in the foreground. The peloton, in the background, caught the quartet prior to the stage's intermediate sprint in Cesiomaggiore. Starting from a height of 974 m on above sea level, the stage steadily descended throughout its entire 149 km 1 on parcours, except for a few lumps, all the way down to Vedelago at just 45 m on above sea level. The stage was set up for the sprinters' final chancehttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/cycling-stage-goes-downhill-as-tired-mark-cavendish-lets-slip-in-giro-ditalia-7785871.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/cycling-stage-goes-downhill-as-tired-mark-cavendish-lets-slip-in-giro-ditalia-7785871.html 2022-05-01 subscription Stage goes downhill as tired Mark Cavendish lets slip in Giro d'Italia The Independent Ben Parfitt 24 May 2012 24 May 2012 to claim stage honours in the race; the following two stages were summit finishes in the high mountains – ruling the sprinters out of contention – before the race-concluding individual time trial in Milan. The finish in Vedelago came after a 5 km 1 on straight run-in, with no potential hazards for late crashes. The opening breakaway of the stage came after just 3 km 1 on, when four riders attacked off the front of the peloton.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11945/Giro-dItalia-Andrea-Guardini-comes-of-age-with-a-sprint-victory-in-Vedelago.aspx Andrea Guardini comes of age with a sprint victory in Vedelago VeloNation Ben Atkins 24 May 2012 24 May 2012 The breakaway was made up of Pierpaolo De Negri (FAR 2012), CSF 2012 rider Angelo Pagani, RAB 2012's Stef Clement, and Manuele Boaro of SAX 2012a, but with Clement being best-placed at over an hour down on overall leader Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012), there was no real hurry to close them down. The leaders held a lead of around three minutes at the conclusion of the first hour of racing,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-18/results Guardini has Cavendish's number in Vedelago Cycling News Daniel Benson 24 May 2012 24 May 2012 but SKY 2012 were on the front of the peloton in the hopes of extending the points classification lead that Mark Cavendish held over Rodríguez; prior to the stage, Cavendish held a one-point lead over the race leader, after Rodríguez's victory in stage 17.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/23/joaquim-rodriguez-stage-17-giro-ditalia James Callow Joaquim Rodríguez holds on to Giro d'Italia lead with win on stage 17 The Guardian 23 May 2012 24 May 2012 Ian Stannard was given the main duties of setting the tempo, following the withdrawal of Peter Kennaugh during stage 17,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532907/kennaugh-withdraws-from-giro-next-stop-olympics.html Kennaugh withdraws from Giro, next stop Olympics Gregor Brown 23 May 2012 24 May 2012 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited and managed to bring the breakaway back prior to the intermediate sprint point; Cavendish led across the line in Cesiomaggiore, following a lead-out from Geraint Thomas. Several mini-attacks occurred prior to a second breakaway being instigated.http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24052012/58/giro-d-italia-guardini-surprises-cavendish-win.html Guardini surprises Cavendish for win Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 24 May 2012 24 May 2012 Felix Lowe Clement was again part of a quartet in front, being joined by LTB 2012 rider Olivier Kaisen and VCD 2012's Martijn Keizer – the two most active riders in the Premio della Fuga classification for most cumulative kilometres spent in a breakaway of fewer than ten riders – with Mickaël Delage completing the quartet for FDJ 2012. SKY 2012 yes remained at the front of the peloton with added assistance from OPQ 2012, as they looked to keep the breakaway's advantage as little as possible; it was around a minute with 45 km 1 on to go. Delage later advanced clear on his own with 14 km 1 on to go, with Kaisen's team-mate Lars Bak attacking out of the peloton once again to join him in a short stint off the front; the pair were caught inside of 4 km 1 on to go, setting up the bunch sprint. Bernhard Eisel and Thomas positioned Cavendish at the head of the bunch, but Andrea Guardini (FAR 2012 yes) finished quickest, having launched his sprint off the wheel of AND 2012's Roberto Ferrari,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/guardini-overpowers-cavendish-for-giro-stage-win_220676 Guardini overpowers Cavendish for Giro stage win VeloNews 24 May 2012 24 May 2012 and the eleven-time Tour de Langkawi stage winner took his first Giro stage victory.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/guardini-marks-giro-debut-with-dramatic-sprint-victory Guardini marks Giro debut with dramatic sprint victory Cycling News 24 May 2012 24 May 2012 Jean-François Quénet Guardini's win came after he had been criticised by the Italian media prior to the stage. Cavendish extended his points lead to 29 with second at the line,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532919/guardini-beats-cavendish-to-final-giro-sprint-stage.html Guardini beats Cavendish to final Giro sprint stage Andy McGrath Cycling Weekly 24 May 2012 24 May 2012 while Rodríguez maintained his 30-second lead in the overall classification. Stage 18 result RiderTeamTime 1 Andrea Guardini ITA FAR 2012 3h 00' 52" 2 Mark Cavendish GBR 20px|Red jersey SKY 2012 s.t. 3 Roberto Ferrari ITA AND 2012 s.t. 4 Robert Hunter RSA GRM 2012a s.t. 5 Lucas Sebastián Haedo ARG SAX 2012a s.t. 6 Giacomo Nizzolo ITA RNT 2012 s.t. 7 Alexander Kristoff NOR KAT 2012 s.t. 8 Francesco Chicchi ITA OPQ 2012 s.t. 9 Geoffrey Soupe FRA FDJ 2012 s.t. 10 Dennis Vanendert BEL LTB 2012 s.t.General classification after stage 18 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 77h 47' 38" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 30" 3 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 1' 22" 4 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 1' 36" 5 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 2' 56" 6 Beñat Intxausti ESP MOV 2012 + 3' 04" 7 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA COG 2012 + 3' 19" 8 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2012 + 4' 13" 9 Thomas De Gendt BEL VAC 2012 + 4' 38" 10 Sergio Henao COL SKY 2012 + 4' 42" Stage 19 25 May 2012 — Treviso to Alpe di Pampeago, 198 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_19.pdf Stage 19 Profile: Treviso – Alpe di Pampeago La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF Like several of the other mountain stages during the Giro to that point, the stage started just above sea level in Treviso before steadily climbing back towards the Dolomites, and the foot of the first of five categorised climbs during the stage, the third-category Sella di Roa. Having descended from that climb, the riders were then immediately climbing once again after that, with the first-category Passo Manghen, a 20.5 km 1 on climb with an average gradient of 7.4%; before the first of two ascents of the finishing climb at the Alpe di Pampeago, the first of which going to the Reiterjoch, reaching 2006 m ft on in altitude. On the finishing circuit of 38 km 1 on, the riders encountered the second-category Passo di Lavazè, before the Alpe di Pampeago once again. It was expected that this stage, rather than the queen stage 20, would cause the most alterations in the general classification, but the race winner would become clearer over the two stages,http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/5/24/3041445/giro-ditalia-stage-19-preview-mountaintop-finish-on-the-alpe-di Giro d'Italia Stage 19 Preview: Mountaintop finish on the Alpe di Pampeago Jen See 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 Podium Cafe Vox Media, Inc. and the final time trial. thumb|left|RAB 2012's Juan Manuel Gárate leads APP 2012 rider Cesare Benedetti and Andrey Zeits of the AST 2012 team. All three riders were part of the 17-man breakaway during the stage. Seventeen riders representing seventeen different teams made it into the breakaway at the 20 km 1 on mark,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11951/Giro-dItalia-Roman-Kreuziger-climbs-to-victory-in-Alpi-di-Pampeago.aspx Roman Kreuziger climbs to victory in Alpi di Pampeago Ben Atkins VeloNation 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 including the most recent winner of a stage finishing at the Alpe di Pampeago, AND 2012's Emanuele Sella, who won the stage by more than four-and-a-half minutes in 2008. As well as Sella, FDJ 2012 rider Sandy Casar was part of the breakaway, who in 19th place, was the highest-placed rider in the general classification, having trailed overall leader Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012) by 12' 25" overnight. By the time that the lead group had reached the Passo Manghen, the advantage was around the ten-minute mark. With Rodriguez's team, as well as the teams of Ivan Basso (LIQ 2012) and Michele Scarponi (LAM 2012), that advantage steadily fell during the stage, and the margin had been more than halved by the intermediate sprint point of the stage, coming prior to the first ascent of the Alpe di Pampeago, in Tesero. On the climb, Casar pulled clear with Tirreno–Adriatico mountains classification winner Stefano Pirazzi of CSF 2012 and RNT 2012's Thomas Rohregger.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-19/results Kreuziger victorious on Alpe di Pampeago Mark Robinson Cycling News 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 Rohregger faded on the climb, and Pirazzi and Casar went clear to the summit.http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25052012/58/giro-d-italia-kreuziger-solos-stunning-stage-19-win.html Kreuziger solos to stunning stage 19 win Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 Felix Lowe Approaching the summit in the peloton, OPQ 2012 rider Dario Cataldo went clear off the front of the pack, and was joined by AST 2012 pairing Kevin Seeldraeyers and Roman Kreuziger; Kreuziger and Cataldo then left Seeldraeyers behind, and joined up with Cataldo's team-mate Serge Pauwels, who had dropped back from the breakaway. Sella had bridged himself back up to Rohregger, with both riders later rejoining Casar and Pirazzi at the 11 km 1 on to go mark; the group only remained together for another 4.5 km 1 on as Casar and Pirazzi again ventured clear of the other pair. By now, Kreuziger and Cataldo had gathered ground on Rohregger and Sella, joining them after the latter pair had no response to the attack. Pirazzi went clear again, with Kreuziger and Casar trying to follow, while in the main bunch, Scarponi was trying to break the group up into a handful of riders, but it was not until Ryder Hesjedal (GRM 2012a) attacked with 2.5 km 1 on remaining that the group splintered. Kreuziger went past Pirazzi and eventually soloed away to his first Giro stage victory,https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18211104 Joaquin Rodriguez Giro d'Italia lead cut as Kreuziger wins stage BBC Sport 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 although he – and directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli – remained disappointed with his Giro as a whole.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kreuziger-not-consoled-by-giro-stage-win Kreuziger not consoled by Giro stage win Cycling News 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 Jean-François Quénet Behind, Hesjedal attacked once again, and was not chased down; eventually gaining thirteen seconds on Rodríguez, reducing the latter's advantage to 17 seconds ahead of the final two stages of the race.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532929/kreuziger-bounces-back-with-giro-stage-win.html Kreuziger bounces back with Giro stage win Cycling Weekly 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 Hugh Gladstone Scarponi, who finished fourth on the stage behind Rodríguez,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/kreuziger-rebounds-with-big-stage-win-hesjedal-gains-on-purito-for-pink_220889 Kreuziger rebounds with big stage win; Hesjedal gains on Purito for pink VeloNews 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 moved into third place overall; a 20-second margin over Basso on the stage swung third place in the defending champion's favour by six seconds. Both Rodríguez and Basso felt that the Giro title was Hesjedal's to lose, due to the final stage time trial.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-and-basso-accept-their-defeat-at-giro-ditalia Rodriguez and Basso accept their defeat at Giro d'Italia Cycling News 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 Jean-François Quénethttp://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532932/hesjedal-edges-closer-to-being-first-canadian-giro-winner.html Hesjedal edges closer to being first Canadian Giro winner Cycling Weekly 25 May 2012 25 May 2012 Gregor Brown Stage 19 result RiderTeamTime 1 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2012 6h 18' 03" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 19" 3 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 + 32" 4 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 35" 5 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA COG 2012 + 43" 6 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 55" 7 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 57" 8 Mikel Nieve ESP EUS 2012 + 1' 18" 9 Stefano Pirazzi ITA COG 2012 + 1' 22" 10 John Gadret FRA ALM 2012 + 1' 22"General classification after stage 19 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 84h 06' 13" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 17" 3 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 1' 39" 4 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 1' 45" 5 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 3' 21" 6 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA COG 2012 + 3' 30" 7 John Gadret FRA ALM 2012 + 5' 36" 8 Thomas De Gendt BEL VAC 2012 + 5' 40" 9 Sergio Henao COL SKY 2012 + 5' 47" 10 Damiano Cunego ITA LAM 2012 + 6' 09" Stage 20 26 May 2012 — Caldes–Val di Sole to Stelvio Pass, 219 km 1 onhttp://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_20.pdf Stage 20 Profile: Caldes-Val di Sole – Stelvio Pass La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF thumb|The peloton approaching the town of Aprica, where the riders climbed the Passo dell'Aprica. The race's queen stagehttps://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/story/2012-05-26/giro-d-italia-stage-20/55218588/1 De Gendt wins penultimate Giro stage; Rodriguez retains lead USA Today Associated Press 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 consisted of five categorised climbs over the 219 km 1 on parcours. Having commenced the stage with the second-category climb of the Passo del Tonale, the riders contended with a pair of contrasting third-category climbs; the Passo dell'Aprica, a shallow 16 km 1 on climb with an average gradient of just over 3%, and the Teglio, a near-6 km 1 on climb averaging 8%, although reaching 15% in places. Undulating roads set the course for the next hour of racing, up to the foot of the first-category Passo del Mortirolo. The Passo del Mortirolo, returning to the race after being absent in 2011, averages a gradient of in excess of 10% over its 11 km 1 on length, although the gradient reached 22% in places on the climb.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-20/results De Gendt wins Giro d'Italia penultimate stage atop the Stelvio Susan Westemeyer Cycling News 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 Having descended from there, the riders headed towards Bormio and the start of the climb to the Cima Coppi – the highest point of the Giro d'Italiahttp://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/thomas-de-gendt-climbs-to-win-on-stelvio-into-fourth-on-gc-purito-increases-overall-lead_221187 Thomas De Gendt climbs to win on Stelvio, into fourth on GC; Purito increases overall lead VeloNews 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 1 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160701172312/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/thomas-de-gendt-climbs-to-win-on-stelvio-into-fourth-on-gc-purito-increases-overall-lead_221187 dead – of the Stelvio Pass. Although not as steep as the Passo del Mortirolo, the Stelvio Pass was a 22.4 km 1 on climb with an average gradient of only 7%, with the final 3 km 1 on being the steepest part of the climb, with 12% gradient recorded in certain areas.http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/5/21/3033741/passo-dello-stelvio-a-brief-history Stelvio Pass – A Brief History Podium Cafe Vox Media, Inc. 21 May 2012 27 May 2012 Will Davies https://web.archive.org/web/20120525124509/http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/5/21/3033741/passo-dello-stelvio-a-brief-history 25 May 2012 dead dmy-all Another large breakaway group was formed on a mountain stage, as fourteen riders went clear,http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26052012/58/giro-d-italia-de-gendt-victorious-rodriguez-holds.html De Gendt victorious as Rodriguez holds on Felix Lowe Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 including the previous day's winner Roman Kreuziger (AST 2012), former young rider classification leader Damiano Caruso of the LIQ 2012 team, and incumbent mountains classification leader Matteo Rabottini, looking to extend his advantage in that classification for FAR 2012. They held a lead of up to six minutes at one point in the early running of the stage,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11959/Giro-dItalia-Thomas-De-Gendt-soars-to-the-foot-of-the-podium-with-virtuoso-Stelvio-solo.aspx Thomas De Gendt soars to the foot of the podium with virtuoso Stelvio solo Ben Atkins VeloNation 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 but as the group headed towards the foot of the Passo del Mortirolo, their advantage had been cut in half to around the three-minute mark. It was here that the group started to break apart, and it was an attack by Oliver Zaugg of RNT 2012 that sent him up the road, having shaken off Matteo Carrara (VCD 2012), who had bridged up to him on the climb. Carrara's team-mate Thomas De Gendt, ninth overall overnight, then attacked off the front of the peloton and caught up to Carrara, with both riders joined by LAM 2012's Damiano Cunego, who was just behind De Gendt in the general classification. EUS 2012 then set their sights on getting riders up towards the front, with stage 16 winner Jon Izagirre and Mikel Nieve – winner of the stage to Val di Fassa in 2011 – making their way forward, and also in the process, brought Tanel Kangert of the AST 2012 yes team into the group, making it a six-man group in chase of Zaugg. Zaugg was caught with around 30 km 1 on remaining on the stage, while Carrara was replaced in the lead group by another stage-winner from the race, MOV 2012's Andrey Amador. At this point, the group held a four-minute advantage over the reduced peloton, moving De Gendt and Cunego into contention of getting into the top three overall ahead of the time trial. De Gendt attacked again, which reduced the lead group yet further; once it had settled down once again, only De Gendt, Cunego and Nieve remained together. A third attack by De Gendt later followed and neither of his remaining breakaway companions could match his pace. With 10 km 1 on to go, De Gendt extended his advantage to five minutes over the GRM 2012a-led peloton, putting overall leader Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012) in a spot of danger, especially due to De Gendt's superior time trial capabilities.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532937/de-gendt-conquers-stelvio-to-win-giro-stage-20.html De Gendt shows GC credentials on Stelvio Gregor Brown Cycling Weekly 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 De Gendt started to tire during the climb of the Stelvio, and with John Gadret (ALM 2012) attacking from the main field, the gap that he had over the main field was reducing. Ryder Hesjedal lifted the pace in the peloton, reducing the group yet further – to himself, Rodríguez and LAM 2012 yes's Michele Scarponi – inside the final 5 km 1 on. As De Gendt won the stage, Scarponi launched forward, and was closely followed by Rodríguez, with no movement from Hesjedal. Cunego finished second ahead of Nieve,https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/26/giro-d-italia-cycling Thomas De Gendt solos to stunning win on stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia William Fotheringham The Guardian 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 while Rodríguez managed to catch and pass Scarponi for fourth on the stage; this result also gave him the lead in the points classification, taking over from Mark Cavendish (SKY 2012) by just one point.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532938/cavendish-misses-out-on-giro-red-jersey-by-one-point.html Cavendish misses out on Giro red jersey by one point Richard Abraham Cycling Weekly 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 Hesjedal finished 14 seconds behind Rodríguez, to trail by 31 seconds going into the final 30.9 km 1 on time trial stage,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hesjedals-final-battle-in-giro-ditalia-fight-for-pink-is-crucial Hesjedal's final battle in Giro d'Italia "fight for pink" is crucial Jean-François Quénet Cycling News 26 May 2012 27 May 2012http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/giro-notebook-stage-20-ryder-purito-head-to-head-in-tt-cav-loses-points-jersey-hunter-others-kicked-out_221257 Ryder–Purito head-to-head in TT; Cav loses points jersey; Hunter, others kicked out Andrew Hood VeloNews 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 while De Gendt moved up to fourth place, 2' 18" in arrears.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532940/de-gendt-shows-gc-credentials-on-stelvio.html De Gendt shows GC credentials on Stelvio Richard Abraham Cycling Weekly 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 Rodríguez's directeur sportif Valerio Piva later stated that it would be "difficult" for his rider to win the Giro, due to the close proximity of Hesjedal in the general classification.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-still-in-giro-ditalia-lead-with-one-stage-left Rodriguez still in Giro d'Italia lead with one stage left Jean-François Quénet Cycling News 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 Stage 20 result RiderTeamTime 1 Thomas De Gendt BEL VAC 2012 6h 54' 41" 2 Damiano Cunego ITA LAM 2012 + 56" 3 Mikel Nieve ESP EUS 2012 + 2' 50" 4 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey KAT 2012 + 3' 22" 5 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 3' 34" 6 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 3' 36" 7 John Gadret FRA ALM 2012 + 4' 29" 8 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 4' 53" 9 Sergio Henao COL SKY 2012 + 4' 55" 10 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 4' 55"General classification after stage 20 RiderTeamTime 1 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Pink jersey20px|Red jersey KAT 2012 91h 04' 16" 2 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 31" 3 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 1' 51" 4 Thomas De Gendt BEL VAC 2012 + 2' 18" 5 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 3' 18" 6 Damiano Cunego ITA LAM 2012 + 3' 43" 7 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 4' 52" 8 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA COG 2012 + 5' 47" 9 Mikel Nieve ESP EUS 2012 + 5' 56" 10 John Gadret FRA ALM 2012 + 6' 43" Stage 21 27 May 2012 — Milan, 28.2 km 1 on, individual time trial (ITT)http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-time-trial-course-shortened Giro d'Italia time trial course shortened Cycling News 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 thumb|upright|GRM 2012a rider Ryder Hesjedal at the start of the stage. Hesjedal overturned a 31-second deficit to KAT 2012's Joaquim Rodríguez, eventually winning the race by 16 seconds ahead of his rival. By doing so, Hesjedal became the first Canadian rider to win a Grand Tour, and only the second rider to take the leader's maglia rosa on the final day, after Francesco Moser in 1984. Originally scheduled for a distance of 30.9 km 1 on,http://www.gazzetta.it/static_images/ciclismo/giroditalia/2012/pdf/altimetria_21.pdf Stage 21 Profile: Milan – Milan La Gazzetta dello Sport 4 May 2012 PDF the time trial was reduced to a distance of 28.2 km 1 on on the morning of the stage due to road conditions in Milan. The parcours of the stage itself was almost completely pan-flat, with a maximum altitude gain of just 14 m on. As was customary of time trial stages, the riders set off in reverse order from where they were ranked in the general classification at the end of the previous stage. It was scheduled to be FAR 2012's Andrea Guardini, but he was disqualified the previous day – along with three other riders – for holding on to their respective team cars.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532941/giro-jury-disqualifies-sprinters-for-holding-onto-team-cars.html Giro jury disqualifies sprinters for holding onto team cars Gregor Brown Cycling Weekly 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 Thus, Miguel Minguez of EUS 2012, who, in 157th place, trailed overall leader Joaquim Rodríguez (KAT 2012) by five hours, twenty-five minutes and one second, was the first rider to set off on the final stage.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11967/Ryder-Hesjedal-becomes-the-first-ever-Canadian-winner-of-the-Giro-dItalia.aspx Ryder Hesjedal becomes the first ever Canadian winner of the Giro d'Italia Ben Atkins VeloNation 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 He was not the first rider to finish, as BMC 2012's Taylor Phinney passed both Minguez and his team-mate Adrián Sáez on the course, despite running off course after a mistake by the motorcycle in front of him, leaving Phinney frustrated at the finish.http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/phinney-loses-giro-chance-with-motorcycle-mishap_221374 Phinney loses Giro chance with motorcycle mishap VeloNews 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 Phinney's time held for only a number of minutes as Alex Rasmussen, who was third in the opening stage time trial in Denmark, assumed top spot for GRM 2012a in a time of 34' 06". Almost quarter of an hour passed before Rasmussen was moved from the top of the timesheets, as RNT 2012's Jesse Sergent was the first rider to break the 34-minute barrier as he recorded a time of 33' 59" for the course.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2012/stage-21/results Ryder Hesjedal wins the Giro d'Italia Peter Cossins Cycling News 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 Sergent's time stood for an hour before SKY 2012 rider Geraint Thomas bettered his time by a margin of 14 seconds, but just like the opening stage of the race, his time was eventually only good enough for a second place stage result. Again, Thomas was beaten by a BMC 2012 yes rider, but on this occasion it was Marco Pinotti and not Phinney, that recorded the quickest time for the course. Pinotti passed the two riders that started before him on the course, and completed the course in a time of 33' 06", 39 seconds better than Thomas and good enough for the five-time Italian time trial champion to take the stage victory, bookending victories in the race for his team. The focus then shifted to the overall classification and the battle for the podium. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM 2012a yes) was considered the favourite to take the final maglia rosa due to him being more proficient in the discipline than Rodríguez.http://denver.sbnation.com/2012/5/27/3046019/2012-giro-ditalia-stage-21-maglia-rosa-ryder-hesjedal-standings Giro d'Italia 2012 Stage 21: Ryder Hesjedal Rides For Maglia Rosa During Time Trial In Milan SB Nation Vox Media Russ Oates 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 VCD 2012's Thomas De Gendt was also tipped to take at least third place, as he was in a similar situation to Hesjedal, against defending champion Michele Scarponi (LAM 2012).http://velovoices.com/2012/05/26/giro-ditalia-stage-20-review-epic-de-gendt-victory-sets-up-dramatic-finale/ Giro d'Italia stage 20 review: Epic De Gendt victory sets up dramatic finale Tim Liew VeloVoices WordPress 26 May 2012 27 May 2012 The form book suggests that Hesjedal should edge out Rodriguez with De Gendt overhauling Scarponi for third, but at the end of three gruelling weeks we cannot be sure how each rider's legs will respond on this final day. 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000942/http://velovoices.com/2012/05/26/giro-ditalia-stage-20-review-epic-de-gendt-victory-sets-up-dramatic-finale/ dead De Gendt was first to take to the stage, recording a time of 34' 07" – good enough for a fifth-place finish – and was more than enough to move ahead of Scarponi, who recorded a time of exactly 35 minutes. Hesjedal had moved ahead of Rodríguez on time during the stage, and finished the course eight seconds slower than what De Gendt had achieved. He sealed the Giro title – and the first Grand Tour overall victory for a Canadian riderhttp://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532944/hesjedal-celebrates-hard-fought-giro-d-italia-win.html Hesjedal celebrates hard-fought Giro d'Italia win Cycling Weekly 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 Gregor Brown – several minutes later as Rodríguez finished outside of the 31-second margin that he had held before the stage. Rodríguez – who crashed during a reconnaissance run of the coursehttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-crashes-during-giro-ditalia-time-trial-re-con Rodriguez crashes during Giro d'Italia time trial re-con Cycling News 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 – finished the stage in 35' 02", meaning that he finished the Giro with just the points classification,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/532943/hesjedal-wins-2012-giro-d-italia-overall-pinotti-wins-final-time-trial.html Hesjedal wins 2012 Giro d'Italia overall, Pinotti wins final time trial Cycling Weekly 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 Nigel Wynn as Mark Cavendish (SKY 2012 yes) was unable to finish the stage inside the top 15. De Gendt's third place meant that there was no Italian on the overall podium for the first time since 1995.http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,25248_7781997,00.html Team end Giro on a high SKY 2012 BSkyB 27 May 2012 27 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120531024022/http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,25248_7781997,00.html 31 May 2012 dead Stage 21 result RiderTeamTime 1 Marco Pinotti ITA BMC 2012 33' 06" 2 Geraint Thomas GBR SKY 2012 + 39" 3 Jesse Sergent NZL RNT 2012 + 53" 4 Alex Rasmussen DEN GRM 2012a + 1' 00" 5 Thomas De Gendt BEL VCD 2012 + 1' 01" 6 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 2012a + 1' 09" 7 Gustav Larsson SWE VCD 2012 + 1' 14" 8 Maciej Bodnar POL LIQ 2012 + 1' 15" 9 Svein Tuft CAN OGE 2012b + 1' 22" 10 Julien Vermote BEL OPQ 2012 + 1' 23"Final General Classification RiderTeamTime 1 Ryder Hesjedal CAN 20px|Pink jersey GRM 2012a 91h 39' 02" 2 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP 20px|Red jersey KAT 2012 + 16" 3 Thomas De Gendt BEL VAC 2012 + 1' 39" 4 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 2' 05" 5 Ivan Basso ITA LIQ 2012 + 3' 44" 6 Damiano Cunego ITA LAM 2012 + 4' 40" 7 Rigoberto Urán COL 20px|White jersey SKY 2012 + 5' 57" 8 Domenico Pozzovivo ITA COG 2012 + 6' 28" 9 Sergio Henao COL SKY 2012 + 7' 50" 10 Mikel Nieve ESP EUS 2012 + 8' 08" Notes N References 30em 2012 Giro d'Italia 1 11 12 21 Category:2012 Giro d'Italia Category:Giro d'Italia stages