2011 Giro d'Italia

November 2020 2011 Giro d'Italia 2011 UCI World Tour 14 27 Giro d'Italia 2011 route.png 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 A physical map of Italy, with the host cities for the Giro marked with red and green dots and the route among them drawn with purple lines. 350px 7–29 May 2011 21 3434 km 84h 11' 24" Alberto Contador Michele Scarponi ITA pink LAM 2011 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2011 John Gadret FRA ALM 2011 Alberto Contador Michele Scarponi ITA red LAM 2011 Stefano Garzelli ITA green ASA 2011 Roman Kreuziger CZE white AST 2011 Jan Bakelants BEL OLO 2011 Alberto Contador Stefano Garzelli ITA ASA 2011 red number AST 2011 LAM 2011 2010 2012 The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The race started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.2011 Giro d'Italia to start in Turin with team time trial http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/493427/2011-giro-d-italia-to-start-in-turin-with-team-time-trial.html 29 July 2010 Cycling Weekly 25 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100831034307/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/493427/2011-giro-d-italia-to-start-in-turin-with-team-time-trial.html 31 August 2010 live The route was one of the most difficult in the modern history of the race, with substantial criticism that it was simply too hard for a three-week-long race. Of the seven stages categorized as 'high mountain', six had summit arrivals, highlighted by the three stages before the second rest day ending at Grossglockner in Austria, the exceptionally steep Monte Zoncolan, and a tall and steep peak near the Fascia Valley in Gardeccia. There was also, for the fifth consecutive Giro, a climbing time trial, this one to the Nevegal. Of the race's 18 mass-start stages, only three ended with the majority of the field together at the front of the race. In the third stage, LEO 2011 rider Wouter Weylandt crashed coming down the Passo del Bocco, near the town of Mezzanego, suffering catastrophic injury. Despite substantial resuscitation efforts, he was established to have died on the spot. The fourth stage was not competitively raced; instead, it was run as a cycling procession. On the second rest day, Xavier Tondó, a member of MOV 2011, was killed in an accident at his home. Although he was not a participant, his death caused his teammates and other members of the peloton to pay tribute to him in the subsequent stages. Strong overall favorite Alberto Contador was the race's original winner, in what constituted his second Giro championship. His winning margin ahead of second-placed Michele Scarponi was over six minutes. He also won the points competition as the most consistent high finisher, also with a substantial lead over Scarponi in second place, and Vincenzo Nibali completed the podium. In the other sub-classifications, Stefano Garzelli won the mountains competition and Roman Kreuziger finished as the best rider aged 25 or under in the general classification; he finished the race fifth overall. In February 2012, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided that Contador, following his positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, lost his results since that event. He was therefore stripped of the 2011 Giro title, and Scarponi became the new victor of the race, and the winner of the points classification.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cas-sanction-contador-with-two-year-ban-in-clenbuterol-case CAS sanctions Contador with two-year ban in clenbutorol case 6 February 2012 6 February 2012 Future Publishing Limited Cyclingnews https://web.archive.org/web/20140707175038/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cas-sanction-contador-with-two-year-ban-in-clenbuterol-case 7 July 2014 live Teams List of teams and cyclists in the 2011 Giro d'Italia All 18 UCI ProTeams were invited automatically and obligated to attend. Two UCI Professional Continental teams were announced well ahead of time, AND 2011 and FAR 2011.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/androni-giocattoli-team-wins-the-italian-championship Androni Giocattoli team wins the Italian Championship 12 October 2010 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 19 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140305032918/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/androni-giocattoli-team-wins-the-italian-championship 5 March 2014 liveShane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6432/Italian-champ-Visconti-and-Farnese-Vini-team-guaranteed-a-ride-in-2011-Giro-dItalia.aspx Italian champ Visconti and Farnese Vini team guaranteed a ride in 2011 Giro d'Italia 20 November 2010 Velonation Velonation LLC 19 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140914155028/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6432/Italian-champ-Visconti-and-Farnese-Vini-team-guaranteed-a-ride-in-2011-Giro-dItalia.aspx 14 September 2014 live UCI rules normally limit races to a peloton of 200 riders, but the Giro received special dispensation for a 207-rider peloton, allowing a 23rd team. The three additional invited teams were ASA 2011, COG 2011, and GEO 2011. Despite talk that ProTeam VCD 2011 might be excluded due to the doping scandals involving team members Riccardo Riccò and Ezequiel Mosquera, they were included pursuant to UCI rules.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-rcs-sport-invites-23-teams Giro d'Italia: RCS Sport invites 23 teams 7 March 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 19 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20141029025839/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-rcs-sport-invites-23-teams 29 October 2014 live The full list of participating teams is: 22em ASA 2011 ALM 2011 AND 2011 AST 2011 BMC 2011 COG 2011 EUS 2011 FAR 2011 GRM 2011 GEO 2011 THR 2011 LAM 2011 LEO 2011 LIQ 2011 OLO 2011 QST 2011 RAB 2011 SBS 2011 KAT 2011 MOV 2011 RSH 2011 SKY 2011 VCD 2011 Pre-race favorites upright|thumb|Five-time Grand Tour winner Alberto Contador, pictured riding the 2011 Tour de France later in the season, was the strongest overall favorite.|alt=A road racing cyclist in a blue and black jersey with white trim pedaling hard, with a grimace on his face. A motorcycle follows behind. While the Giro had in its peloton many notable riders, including six former Grand Tour winners, the odds-on favorite was always SBS 2011's Alberto Contador. The 2008 Giro champion, who had likewise won the 2008 Vuelta a España and three editions of the Tour de France, announced in April 2010 that he would contest the Giro in 2011.Gregor Brown http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/giro-ditalia/contador-to-race-2011-giro-ditalia-claims-zomegnan-61465 Contador to race 2011 Giro d'Italia, claims Zomegnan 27 April 2010 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited 17 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222400/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/giro-ditalia/contador-to-race-2011-giro-ditalia-claims-zomegnan-61465 3 March 2016 live Though his status was put in doubt after a positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France,Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/alberto-contador-tests-positive-for-clenbuterol Alberto Contador tests positive for clenbuterol 30 September 2010 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110714013253/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/alberto-contador-tests-positive-for-clenbuterol 14 July 2011 live he was cleared by his national federation in February 2011 and able to return to racing, Juliet Macur https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/sports/cycling/16contador.html?_r=0 Contador Is Cleared of Doping Charges and Will Return to Racing 15 February 2011 The New York Times 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20240513152655/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/sports/cycling/16contador.html?_r=1& 13 May 2024 live though the case still pended a final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport later in 2011. Contador was the overwhelming favorite for overall victory.Jeremy Inson Associated Press http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-05-alberto-contador-giro-favorite_N.htm Alberto Contador is Giro favorite despite doping probe 15 May 2011 USA Today Gannett Company 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121104132022/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-05-alberto-contador-giro-favorite_N.htm 4 November 2012 liveBarnaby Chesterman AFP http://www.bicycle.net/2011/contador-goes-into-giro-as-favorite-to-win Contador Goes into Giro As Favorite To Win 7 May 2011 Bicycle.net 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092446/http://www.bicycle.net/2011/contador-goes-into-giro-as-favorite-to-win 4 March 2016 liveAFP http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20110507100072 Contador starts as favorite for Giro d'Italia crown 15 February 2011 Saudi Gazette Okaz Organization for Press and Publication 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120915102347/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20110507100072 15 September 2012 dead AFP http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/alberto-contador-starts-as-top-contender-for-giro-ditalia-crown_171251 Alberto Contador starts as top contender for Giro d'Italia crown 6 May 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140224195732/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/alberto-contador-starts-as-top-contender-for-giro-ditalia-crown_171251 24 February 2014 liveAFP http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/giro-ditalia/contador-is-bookies-favourite-for-giro-52366 Contador is bookies' favourite for Giro 4 May 2011 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000106/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/giro-ditalia/contador-is-bookies-favourite-for-giro-52366 4 March 2016 live Reigning Giro champion Ivan Basso chose not to return, preferring to focus on the Tour de France later in the season. He briefly considered riding as a domestique for Vincenzo Nibali, but opted against it because of his physical condition at the time and the feeling that doing so would be disrespectful to the race.Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8189/Ivan-Basso-explains-Giro-dItalia-no-show.aspx Ivan Basso explains Giro d'Italia no-show 21 April 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203936/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8189/Ivan-Basso-explains-Giro-dItalia-no-show.aspx 3 March 2016 live The 2011 Giro was thus the third successive edition, and fourth in the last five,http://www.irishpeloton.com/2011/05/the-giro-ditalia-and-the-maglia-rosa/ The Giro d'Italia and the Maglia Rosa Irish Peloton WordPress Cillian Kelly 7 May 2011 9 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160131173808/http://www.irishpeloton.com/2011/05/the-giro-ditalia-and-the-maglia-rosa/ 31 January 2016 live in which the reigning champion did not return to defend his championship. The other five former Grand Tour winners in the field were Stefano Garzelli, Danilo Di Luca, Denis Menchov, Carlos Sastre, and Vincenzo Nibali. Of the five, only Menchov and Nibali were considered realistic overall contenders.VeloNews.com http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/liquigas-leader-vincenzo-nibali-one-of-the-favorites-for-2011-giro-ditalia_170939 Liquigas leader Vincenzo Nibali one of the favorites for 2011 Giro d'Italia 2 May 2011 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140809170657/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/liquigas-leader-vincenzo-nibali-one-of-the-favorites-for-2011-giro-ditalia_170939 9 August 2014 liveYahoo! Eurosport http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blog/blazin-saddles/article/1666/ Giro 2011: GC contenders 6 May 2011 Yahoo! Eurosport UK Yahoo! News Network 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110514071556/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blog/blazin-saddles/article/1666/ 14 May 2011 live Other riders named as contenders included Roman Kreuziger, riding as the leader of the AST 2011 team and a protected rider in a Grand Tour for the first time in his career,Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8319/Astana-puts-everything-behind-Kreuziger-in-Giro-dItalia.aspx Astana puts everything behind Kreuziger in Giro d'Italia 4 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212511/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8319/Astana-puts-everything-behind-Kreuziger-in-Giro-dItalia.aspx 3 March 2016 live 2010 Giro d'Italia runner-up David Arroyo,Bjorn Haake http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8327/Giro-dItalia-Last-years-runner-up-David-Arroyo-is-in-good-form.aspx Giro d'Italia: Last year's runner-up David Arroyo is in good form 4 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222350/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8327/Giro-dItalia-Last-years-runner-up-David-Arroyo-is-in-good-form.aspx 3 March 2016 live LAM 2011 captain and 2010 Giro fourth-place finisher Michele Scarponi, and Joaquim Rodríguez.Gerald Churchill http://www.roadcycling.com/Giro-d-Italia-2011-Preview#.U6wrSLG88TA Giro d'Italia 2011 Preview and Predictions 6 May 2011 Roadcycling.com Seven Sparkles International 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140712081542/http://roadcycling.com/Giro-d-Italia-2011-Preview#.U6wrSLG88TA 12 July 2014 dead Riders further noted as darkhorses included Sastre, Contador's teammate and main support rider Richie Porte,VeloNews.com http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/richie-porte-to-ride-in-support-of-alberto-contador-at-giro-ditalia_170597 Richie Porte to ride in support of Alberto Contador at Giro d'Italia 30 April 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140809164612/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/richie-porte-to-ride-in-support-of-alberto-contador-at-giro-ditalia_170597 9 August 2014 live Di Luca, EUS 2011's Igor Antón, Garzelli, Domenico Pozzovivo, Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti, and RSH 2011's dual leaders Tiago MachadoConal Andrews http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8306/Machado-gets-leadership-role-in-RadioShack-squad-for-Giro-dItalia.aspx Machado gets leadership role in RadioShack squad for Giro d'Italia 3 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211320/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8306/Machado-gets-leadership-role-in-RadioShack-squad-for-Giro-dItalia.aspx 3 March 2016 live and Yaroslav Popovych. Visconti was given the irregular race number of 150, wearing it as the Italian national champion to commemorate 150 years of Italian unification. While squads are normally given numbers from the same group of ten, such as 151 through 159, numbers ending in zero are seldom issued. Visconti's FAR 2011 squad wore numbers 150 through 158. The ongoing Mantova doping investigation, involving members of the LAM 2009 team, as it was known in 2009, had an effect on the race. It greatly affected the LAM 2011 yes team itself, as their manager Giuseppe Saronni was implicated in the investigation and stepped down as team manager shortly before the Giro began. He was replaced by former OLO 2011 sporting director Roberto Damiani. Their contingent for the Giro specifically excluded any riders or staff implicated in the investigation. The foremost of these riders was former Giro winner Damiano Cunego, though Damiani felt he would eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-mantova-investigation-riders-in-lampre-isd-giro-ditalia-team No Mantova investigation riders in Lampre-ISD Giro d'Italia team 30 April 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113802/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-mantova-investigation-riders-in-lampre-isd-giro-ditalia-team 24 December 2013 live While the BMC 2011 was unlikely to field an overall favorite, given that their top man Cadel Evans chose to focus on the Tour de France, they were also affected by the investigation, for the second year in a row. Just as they had before the 2010 Giro, the team suspended Alessandro Ballan and Mauro Santambrogio, members of the LAM 2009 yes team in 2009 who were named in the investigation.Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8305/Mantova-doping-investigation-BMC-suspends-Ballan-and-Santambrogio-from-competition.aspx Mantova doping investigation: BMC suspends Ballan and Santambrogio from competition 2 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140122061607/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8305/Mantova-doping-investigation-BMC-suspends-Ballan-and-Santambrogio-from-competition.aspx 22 January 2014 live As with 2010, the team reactivated the two riders after the Giro ended.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-reactivates-ballan-santambrogio BMC reactivates Ballan, Santambrogio 30 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224150139/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-reactivates-ballan-santambrogio 24 December 2013 live The near total dearth of flat, sprinter-friendly stages did not stop sprinters Mark Cavendish,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/524748/cavendish-set-to-start-winning-again-at-the-giro.html Cavendish set to start winning again at the Giro Cycling Weekly 5 May 2011 10 April 2012 Simon Richardson Tyler Farrar,http://www.radsport-news.com/sport/sportnews_68856.htm Farrar und Le Mevel führen Garmin-Cervélo beim Giro an de Farrar and Le Mevel lead Garmin Cervelo at the Giro 5 May 2011 10 April 2012 Radsport News Sport Aktiv Media GmbH and Alessandro Petacchi,http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06052011/58/giro-d-italia-2011-start-list.html Giro d'Italia – 2011 Start List Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 6 May 2011 10 April 2012 from all taking the start. One sprinter who was expected to take part in the race, FAR 2011 yes's Andrea Guardini, was not part of the start list. Though his sporting director at the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey had promised him a place in the Giro should he win two stages at that event (Guardini did indeed win two stages in Turkey), the team believed he would be better served continuing to take part in somewhat smaller races.VeloNation Press http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8283/No-Giro-dItalia-for-Guardini-after-all.aspx No Giro d'Italia for Guardini after all 30 April 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215115/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8283/No-Giro-dItalia-for-Guardini-after-all.aspx 3 March 2016 live Other sprinters in the Giro peloton mainly came from much smaller teams and teams with little overall ambition. QST 2011 and RSH 2011 sent two sprinters apiece—Gerald Ciolek and Francesco Chicchi for the Belgian team and Robbie Hunter and Robbie McEwen on the American squad. Giro debutants VCD 2011 had among their squad Slovenian sprinter Borut Božič. MOV 2011's sprinter was Francisco Ventoso, one of the season's most prolific winners to date. The small AND 2011 and COG 2011 also sent sprinters, Roberto Ferrari and 2010 Giro stage winner Manuel Belletti, respectively.Andrew Hood http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/few-opportunities-remain-for-sprinters-at-giro-ditalia_173796 Few opportunities remain for sprinters at Giro d'Italia 17 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120930212131/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/few-opportunities-remain-for-sprinters-at-giro-ditalia_173796 30 September 2012 live The LEO 2011 team had intended to send Daniele Bennati, a former winner of the points classification in the Giro d'Italia who had had great success at the recently run Circuit de la Sarthe. After a crash at the Tour de Romandie where he sustained multiple fractures and a lung contusion, he was forced out of the Giro. That squad therefore turned their sprinting hopes to the rider originally set to be Bennati's leadout man, Belgian sprinter Wouter Weylandt.Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8249/Daniele-Bennati-out-of-Romandie-after-crash-will-miss-Giro-dItalia.aspx Daniele Bennati out of Romandie after crash; will miss Giro d'Italia 27 April 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110429202501/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8249/Daniele-Bennati-out-of-Romandie-after-crash-will-miss-Giro-dItalia.aspx 29 April 2011 live Route and stages thumb|The Passo Giau, the highest point reached in the 2011 Giro d'Italia|alt=Cloud-covered mountains sit as the backdrop to a green valley below, with a serpentine road running through it. The route for the 2011 Giro was unveiled in Turin on 23 October 2010. It was immediately recognized as being quite difficult,Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-2011-reactions-from-nibali-cunego-ballan-scarponi-and-petacchi Giro d'Italia 2011: Reactions from Nibali, Cunego, Ballan, Scarponi and Petacchi 23 October 2010 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121009003909/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-2011-reactions-from-nibali-cunego-ballan-scarponi-and-petacchi 9 October 2012 liveJason Devaney http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/article/newsid=532148.html 2011 Giro d'Italia is a climber's course 5 May 2011 Universal Sports NBC Universal 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110824175842/http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/article/newsid%3D532148.html 24 August 2011 dead Jered Gruber http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6137/2011-Giro-dItalia-with-409-kilometers-of-climbing.aspx 2011 Giro d'Italia with 409 kilometers of climbing 25 October 2010 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195631/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6137/2011-Giro-dItalia-with-409-kilometers-of-climbing.aspx 3 March 2016 live featuring 40 categorized climbs among its 18 mass-start stages, seven of them summit finishes. Seventeen of the 20 regions of Italy were visited in the race, as the 2011 race commemorated the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-2011-route-unveiled-in-turin-2 Giro d'Italia 2011 route unveiled in Turin 23 October 2010 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130524161513/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-2011-route-unveiled-in-turin-2 24 May 2013 live Attention was immediately drawn to the three stages preceding the second rest day, stages 13, 14, and 15, each of which featured summit finishes and multiple high-rated climbs, among them the Grossglockner, Monte Zoncolan, and the Passo Giau, this Giro's Cima Coppi, its tallest climb. The route as it was originally announced was 3496 km on in length, just 4 km on shy of the maximum length allowed under UCI regulations.John Wilcockson http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/inside-cycling-with-john-wilcockson-has-this-giro-been-over-the-top_176056 Inside Cycling with John Wilcockson: Has this Giro been over the top? 27 May 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121001083059/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/inside-cycling-with-john-wilcockson-has-this-giro-been-over-the-top_176056 1 October 2012 live The first summit finish was the Montevergine di Mercogliano in Stage 7, whilst the first week was concluded on the slopes of Mount Etna, which the peloton was faced with twice in stage 9.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2011-giro-to-include-mount-etna 2011 Giro to include Mount Etna 22 October 2010 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121009004229/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2011-giro-to-include-mount-etna 9 October 2012 live The final major climb was the Colle delle Finestre, which made its return after last featuring in the 2005 Giro d'Italia. While there were five stages classified as flat, and Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi claimed he saw as many as seven potential sprint finishes, consensus was overwhelming that the majority of the route favored the strongest of the climbers at the expense of other riders. While the route did get some positive critiques, there was also critical opinion that it was simply too difficult. This was particularly in comparison with the similarly difficult, yet not as difficult, route for the 2011 Tour de France revealed days earlier. John Wilcockson January 2011 Tough Tour, Too Tough Giro? VeloNews, the Journal of Competitive Cycling 40 1 19–20 Boulder, Colorado Competitor Group, Inc. French get it right, but Italians are giving riders a summit overload in 2011 SKY 2011 sporting director Sean Yates called the route "brutal" TeamSky.com Staff http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,17546_6463848,00.html Mount Etna and Monte Zoncolan both feature 23 October 2010 TeamSky.com BSkyB 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120331051919/http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,17546_6463848,00.html 31 March 2012 dead and said that serious Tour de France contenders would not bother coming to the race since it was so difficult. This was seen as an early indication that his team's leader Bradley Wiggins would skip the Giro.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/yates-says-tour-contenders-will-skip-2011-giro-ditalia Yates says Tour contenders will skip 2011 Giro d'Italia 24 October 2010 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130514041745/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/yates-says-tour-contenders-will-skip-2011-giro-ditalia 14 May 2013 live Additional critical analysis concurred that the route was excessively difficult, for its incredible amount of vertical climbing (409 km on in the route as originally announced), number of summit finishesSamuel Morrison http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6174/The-Giro-dItalia-is-too-hard.aspx The Giro d'Italia is too hard? 28 October 2010 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120602051741/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6174/The-Giro-dItalia-is-too-hard.aspx 2 June 2012 live and long transfers, and the unpaved or 'white roads' which featured in stages 5 and 20.Andrew Hood http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/angelo-zomegnan-defends-%E2%80%98white-roads%E2%80%99-in-giro-ditalia_172516 Angelo Zomegnan defends 'white roads' in Giro d'Italia 11 May 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121001083600/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/angelo-zomegnan-defends-%E2%80%98white-roads%E2%80%99-in-giro-ditalia_172516 1 October 2012 live Race director Angelo Zomegnan balked at the criticisms, saying simply "It's a hard Giro but the Giro has to be hard."Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/giro-ditalia-2011-its-a-hard-giro-but-the-giro-has-to-be-hard Giro d'Italia 2011: "It's a hard Giro but the Giro has to be hard" 11 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140104085006/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/giro-ditalia-2011-its-a-hard-giro-but-the-giro-has-to-be-hard 4 January 2014 live Two stages in the second half of the Giro had their courses altered shortly before they were run. The more notable was stage 14, which had been hyped as the début of the Monte Crostis in the Giro d'Italia. Commissaires from the UCI mandated it be removed the night before stage 14 was run. The Crostis is not a well-maintained pass, and Giro officials had set out a detailed protocol whereby team cars would not follow the race up or down the mountain, and only motorbikes offering wheel changes would be present with the riders. Team managers expressed concern that they would not fully be able to fulfill their duties if not present with the riders like normal, and this was given as the basis of the UCI's decision. They held that Giro organizers had sufficiently ensured rider safety on the course, but the necessary protocols did not protect the sporting aspect of the race. Thus, the Crostis was eliminated, and the stage was reduced in length from its originally planned length of 210 km on.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/crostis-climb-cut-from-giro-ditalia Crostis climb cut from Giro d'Italia 20 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130602145624/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/crostis-climb-cut-from-giro-ditalia 2 June 2013 live The second-category Tualis climb was added to the route for the day to offset the loss of the Crostis. However, protests from spectators disappointed by the removal of the Crostis part of the route, including many who had volunteered for works to make parts of that road safe, led to the cancellation of the Tualis climb. The route was diverted while the stage was in progress to avoid a small village at the foot of the Tualis where protesters had gathered.Jean-François Quénet http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-contador-didnt-respect-me Nibali: Contador didn't respect me 21 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 24 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130714022438/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-contador-didnt-respect-me 14 July 2013 live Therefore, the length of the stage was shortened to 170 km 0 on. The Giro's last stage, an individual time trial in Milan, was also shortened. The course was shortened by 5.5 km 1 on four days before the stage took place, due to a special election taking place in Milan the same day as the stage. City officials expected high voter turnout and did not want the city center tied up by the race all day, so the revised route began at the outskirts of Milan instead of its center. It still ended, per its original design, at the Duomo di Milano.Gregor Brown http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/giro-ditalia/giro-changes-again-final-milan-time-trial-shortened-51719 Stage 21 Preview 25 May 2011 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20150921060030/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/giro-ditalia/giro-changes-again-final-milan-time-trial-shortened-51719 21 September 2015 live In spite of first-hand criticism from riders following the race that the route was excessively difficult and dangerous,Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8598/Giro-dItalia-The-hardest-race-I-ever-rode-says-Fumiyuki-Beppu.aspx Giro d'Italia: "The hardest race I ever rode", says Fumiyuki Beppu 29 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210823/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8598/Giro-dItalia-The-hardest-race-I-ever-rode-says-Fumiyuki-Beppu.aspx 3 March 2016 liveMichael Barry http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/michael-barry-diary-organizers-%E2%80%94-and-riders-%E2%80%94-need-to-take-responsibility-for-race-safety_178326 Organizers – and riders – need to take responsibility for race safety 13 June 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130729202916/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/michael-barry-diary-organizers-%E2%80%94-and-riders-%E2%80%94-need-to-take-responsibility-for-race-safety_178326 29 July 2013 live Zomegnan remained staunch in his defense of the route.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zomegnan-defends-giro-ditalia-and-contador Zomegnan defends Giro d'Italia and Contador 30 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110723025417/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zomegnan-defends-giro-ditalia-and-contador 23 July 2011 live + Stage characteristics and winnersStageDateCourseDistanceTypeWinner17 May Venaria Reale to Turin 19.3 km 1 on20px|link=Team time trialTHR 201128 May Alba to Parma 244 km 0 on 22pxFlat stage Alessandro Petacchi ITA39 May Reggio Emilia to Rapallo 173 km 0 on 22pxFlat stage Ángel Vicioso ESP410 May Quarto dei Mille to Livorno 216 km 0 on Image:Mediummountainstage.svgMedium mountain stage Stage neutralisedStage 4 was neutralised after Wouter Weylandt's death in the previous day's race. The stage was completed in homage to Weylandt, but did not count towards the general classification or any of the points competitions511 May Piombino to Orvieto 191 km 0 on Image:Mediummountainstage.svgMedium mountain stage Pieter Weening NED612 May Orvieto to Fiuggi 216 km 0 on Image:Mediummountainstage.svgMedium mountain stage Francisco Ventoso ESP713 May Maddaloni to Montevergine di Mercogliano 110 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage Bart De Clercq BEL814 May Sapri to Tropea 217 km 0 on 22pxFlat stage Oscar Gatto ITA915 May Messina to Etna 169 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage Alberto Contador ESPJosé Rujano VEN16 May Rest day1017 May Termoli to Teramo 159 km 0 on 22pxFlat stage Mark Cavendish GBR1118 May Teramo to Castelfidardo 142 km 0 on Image:Mediummountainstage.svgMedium mountain stage John Gadret FRA1219 May Castelfidardo to Ravenna 184 km 0 on 22pxFlat stage Mark Cavendish GBR1320 May Spilimbergo to Grossglockner (Austria) 167 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage José Rujano VEN1421 May Lienz (Austria) to Monte Zoncolan 170 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage Igor Antón ESP1522 May Conegliano to Gardeccia-Val di Fassa 229 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage Mikel Nieve ESP23 May Rest day1624 May Belluno to Nevegal 12.7 km 1 on 20px|link=Individual time trialAlberto Contador ESPVincenzo Nibali ITA 1725 May Feltre to Tirano 230 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage Diego Ulissi ITA 1826 May Morbegno to San Pellegrino Terme 151 km 0 on Image:Mediummountainstage.svgMedium mountain stage Eros Capecchi ITA 1927 May Bergamo to Macugnaga 209 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage Paolo Tiralongo ITA2028 May Verbania to Sestriere 242 km 0 on 22px|alt=|link= Mountain stage Vasil Kiryienka BLR2129 May Milan 26 km on 20px|link=Individual time trial David Millar GBR Race overview 2011 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1 to Stage 11 2011 Giro d'Italia, Stage 12 to Stage 21 thumb|alt=A road racing cyclist wearing a black and white jersey with yellow and green trim. His bicycle is only partly visible.|Mark Cavendish won two stages and wore the pink jersey – only Alberto Contador did the same. The Giro began with a team time trial in the city that served as Italy's first federal capital, Turin. The THR 2011 squad won this stage, making their rider Marco Pinotti the first wearer of the race leader's pink jersey.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results HTC–Highroad triumphs in team time trial 7 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 7 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302032455/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results 2 March 2014 live That team's focus the next day was not to defend Pinotti's race lead, but to try to deliver their star sprinter Mark Cavendish to the victory, which would have the indirect effect of him overtaking Pinotti for the pink jersey. Cavendish indeed became the new race leader, but after an awkward final sprint it was not he but Italian Alessandro Petacchi who won the day.Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-2/results Petacchi wins the sprint in Parma 8 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 9 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302090138/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-2/results 2 March 2014 live David Millar then became the third race leader in as many days when he finished with a breakaway group that was 21 seconds the better of the main field in stage 3,Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-3/results Vicioso victorious in Rapallo 9 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302084130/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-3/results 2 March 2014 live though this result was overshadowed by the death of Wouter Weylandt earlier in the stage. The peloton chose not to run stage four competitively following Weylandt's death; instead the stage was ridden as a procession in his memory. The remaining members of his team LEO 2011, as well as training partner Tyler Farrar from the GRM 2011 squad, crossed the finish line first with their arms around one another before withdrawing from the race that evening. Stage 5 was held on the dirt roads of Tuscany, which had provided for one of the more spectacular stages in the 2010 Giro d'Italia. Dutch rider Pieter Weening won the stage with an 8-second time gap against the field. That, coupled with the 20-second time bonus for winning the day, gave him the pink jersey.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-5/results Weening wins stage and takes over Giro d'Italia lead 11 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 12 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302082748/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-5/results 2 March 2014 live There was some stability in the overall standings at this point, as the race's top riders finished together, or nearly so, in the next three stages. Stage 9 was the first major mountain stage, featuring two ascents of Mount Etna, including a summit finish. It was on this day that strong overall favorite Alberto Contador first seized control of the race. Just after AND 2011's José Rujano attacked out of the leading group on the road on the way up to Etna for the last time, Contador did likewise. Rujano struggled mightily to hold Contador's wheel and no one else came close to reaching the pair. Contador won the stage, his first Giro stage win despite having won the Italian Grand Tour in 2008, and immediately attained a minute's advantage in the overall classification.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results Contador climbs to stage victory and into overall lead 15 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 16 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302084859/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results 2 March 2014 live In his five previous Grand Tour wins, Contador had never lost the race lead after taking it, but he had also never taken it so early on in the race. As teams who have riders with a legitimate chance to win a race overall will generally try to avoid defending the lead for too many days, lest they tire their support riders out early and leave their leader vulnerable, there was speculation that Contador would tactically relinquish the jersey. The Spaniard himself hinted that such a move would be in his plans.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-focused-on-overall-victory-at-the-giro-ditalia Contador focused on overall victory at the Giro d'Italia 17 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 18 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302045258/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-focused-on-overall-victory-at-the-giro-ditalia 2 March 2014 liveCycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-only-focused-on-having-pink-in-milan Contador only focused on having pink in Milan 18 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 18 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302060250/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-only-focused-on-having-pink-in-milan 2 March 2014 live This would be likeliest to happen in the heavily undulating stage 11. The breakaway group for this stage was hard-fought and late-forming, since someone from its number could potentially become the new race leader. While GRM 2011's Christophe Le Mével, who entered the day third overall and had on two other occasions come within a time bonus of claiming the jersey, made the group, neither he nor anyone in it was destined to take pink. Largely under the impetus of Michele Scarponi's LAM 2011 team, the breakaway group was caught before the finish. Contador and the rest of the overall favorites finished at the front of the race, with riders well down in the standings claiming the time bonuses, meaning Contador retained the race leadership after all.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-11/results Gadret grabs first Grand Tour stage win 18 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 18 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302085203/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-11/results 2 March 2014 live thumb|upright|left|alt=A smiling man of about thirty wearing a pink cycling jersey and a pale blue baseball cap, holding a large golden trophy.|Alberto Contador celebrating his overall victory in Milan. He was later stripped of the title Contador took the most time against the main field out of any day in stage 13. On this day, which ended at the Grossglockner in Austria, he and Rujano again finished well ahead of the main field. As they approached the finish line, Contador did not attempt to sprint for the win, allowing Rujano to take it. Their minute and a half time gap, plus the time bonus for second place, gave Contador a lead of over three minutes in the overall standings. Only in the 2009 Tour de France had he ever held a larger lead.Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-13/results Contador extends GC lead as rivals suffer 20 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302094325/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-13/results 2 March 2014 live The next two days were extremely difficult high mountain stages, both won by members of the EUS 2011 team. Contador finished the best of any rider in the top five overall on both days, and so further padded his advantage.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-14/results Anton conquers Monte Zoncolan 21 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 21 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140605064451/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-14/results 5 June 2014 liveLes Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-15/results Two's a treat for Nieve and Euskaltel-Euskadi 22 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 24 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302095907/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-15/results 2 March 2014 live Wearing a black armband to memorialize fellow Spanish cyclist Xavier Tondó who, though not a participant in the race, died while it was run, Contador dominantly won the stage 16 uphill individual time trial. This result put him nearly five minutes clear of the next-best rider, the largest such advantage he had ever held in any race.Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-16/results Contador time trials to stage win to extend lead 24 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 24 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140605064457/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-16/results 5 June 2014 live In stage 19, Contador again finished with another rider ahead of the main field. This time it was AST 2011's Paolo Tiralongo, a former teammate of Contador's. Just as he had with Rujano earlier, Contador appeared to allow his companion a stage win he could have easily taken himself.Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-19/results Tiralongo gets by with a little help from a friend 27 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302092519/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-19/results 2 March 2014 live Contador later commented that the victory, the first of Tiralongo's 12-year career,Jean-François Quénet http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tiralongo-crowns-a-life-as-a-domestique Tiralongo crowns a life as a domestique 27 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20141226150253/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tiralongo-crowns-a-life-as-a-domestique 26 December 2014 live was meant as a gesture of thanks to the Italian for all the support riding he did for him in 2010 when the two were on the same squad.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-repays-tiralongo-with-stage-win Contador repays Tiralongo with stage win 27 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140204034604/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-repays-tiralongo-with-stage-win 4 February 2014 live Although Contador claimed that he was not going to give his strongest effort in the stage 21 individual time trial,Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-ready-to-celebrate-giro-victory-in-milan Contador ready to celebrate Giro victory in Milan 28 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121008180404/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-ready-to-celebrate-giro-victory-in-milan 8 October 2012 live the Giro's final stage, his ride was still good enough for third place, extending his winning margin to over six minutes, giving him his sixth and statistically most dominant Grand Tour championship.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results Contador claims second Giro d'Italia victory 29 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140227003148/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results 27 February 2014 live Contador's two stage wins and numerous top five placings also made him the winner of the points competition,http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=18789 94th Giro d'Italia – Stage 21 Milan ITT Live Part 2 Daily Peloton 29 May 2011 9 April 2014 Besides from winning overall, he wins the point classification and is second in the mountain classification which underlines his stability and stamina. https://web.archive.org/web/20160131173808/http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=18789 31 January 2016 dead by a substantial margin. Michele Scarponi and Vincenzo Nibali completed the podium, in that order, having targeted one another once it became obvious that Contador's advantage was insurmountable. Nibali held second place on stages 13 and 14, but Scarponi overtook him on Gardeccia,http://www.teamlampre.it/en/2011/05/giro-ditalia-scarponi-4°-sul-gardeccia/ Giro d'Italia – Scarponi 4th on Gardeccia LAM 2011 CGS Cycling Team AG 22 May 2011 9 April 2012 https://archive.today/20120911172032/http://www.teamlampre.it/en/2011/05/giro-ditalia-scarponi-4%C2%B0-sul-gardeccia/ 11 September 2012 dead finishing a minute and a half better (only six seconds the lesser of Contador), and never relinquished second place. Stefano Garzelli was in the breakaway on the Gardeccia stage and took maximum points on three of the day's five climbs, and second place points on the other two. It was largely thanks to this performance that he won the mountains classification at the end of the race.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/garzelli-to-race-through-2012-after-success-in-giro-ditalia Garzelli to race through 2012 after success in Giro d'Italia Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 30 May 2011 9 April 2012 Stephen Farrand https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214151/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/garzelli-to-race-through-2012-after-success-in-giro-ditalia 8 April 2014 live Roman Kreuziger, still eligible by a matter of months, won the youth competition with his ride to sixth place overall. On the whole, success proved to be fairly widespread. As did Contador, Cavendish won two stages, stages 10 and 12,Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-10/results Cavendish wins into Teramo 17 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 17 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302082832/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-10/results 2 March 2014 livePete Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-12/results Cavendish reigns in Ravenna 19 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120303062609/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-12/results 3 March 2012 live but prior to Cavendish's second victory no team, let alone individual rider, had won two individual stages. Four other teams – AND 2011, EUS 2011, LAM 2011, and MOV 2011 – eventually repeated as stage winners. AND 2011 won the ill-fated stage 3 with Ángel Vicioso and later stage 13 with Rujano. EUS 2011's wins came on the two most difficult stages in the race, the back-to-back high mountain stages that preceded the second rest day. Their leader Igor Antón won the controversy-laden day ending at Monte Zoncolan, when the Monte Crostis climb was removed from the route. The next day, Mikel Nieve won the stage that Contador described as the hardest of his life, a seven-and-a-half-hour day with five high climbs ending at Gardeccia. Following Petacchi's win in the contentious sprint that finished the first road stage, the LAM 2011 team took another stage win with young Diego Ulissi in stage 17, after another contentious sprint in which Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti actually crossed the line first but was relegated to third for shoving Ulissi.Peter Hymas http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-17/results Ulissi awarded stage after Visconti gets grabby 25 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 30 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302085932/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-17/results 2 March 2014 live The MOV 2011 had winners in stage 6 with Francisco Ventoso on an uphill sprintBarry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ventoso-had-picked-fiuggi-stage-ahead-of-giro-ditalia Ventoso had picked Fiuggi stage ahead of Giro d'Italia 12 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 12 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121008042110/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ventoso-had-picked-fiuggi-stage-ahead-of-giro-ditalia 8 October 2012 live and in the Giro's last road race stage with Vasil Kiryienka in a solo breakaway that finished almost five minutes better than the rest of the field.Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-20/results Kiryienka soars to Sestriere 28 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302100126/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-20/results 2 March 2014 live RAB 2011, OLO 2011,Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-7/results De Clercq prevails on first summit finish 13 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302091316/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-7/results 2 March 2014 live FAR 2011,Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-8/results Gatto and Contador surprise the sprinters 14 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 15 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302082639/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-8/results 2 March 2014 live ALM 2011, LIQ 2011,Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-18/results Capecchi gets one for Liquigas 26 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302095530/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-18/results 2 March 2014 live AST 2011, and GRM 2011Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-millar-celebrates-giro-time-trial-victory Video: Millar celebrates Giro time trial victory 29 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130604205416/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-millar-celebrates-giro-time-trial-victory 4 June 2013 live each won a single stage. With ASA 2011's Garzelli claiming the mountains classification and Yaroslav Popovych from RSH 2011 the Trofeo Fuga Pinarello, 15 of the 22 teams that completed the race came away with some sort of victory. Much like had occurred at the final podium celebrations for the 2009 Tour de France, the wrong national anthem was played for Contador. Race organizers mistakenly played an old Spanish anthem with lyrics favored by former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. The Spanish national anthem as it should have been played would have been purely instrumental.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-plays-wrong-anthem-for-champion-contador Giro plays wrong anthem for champion Contador 30 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 12 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130531193527/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-plays-wrong-anthem-for-champion-contador 31 May 2013 live Death of Wouter Weylandt thumb|upright|alt=A road racing cyclist wearing a black and white jersey with pale blue trim, riding with his head down. A motorbike follows behind him, and spectators watch on from behind roadside barricades.|Wouter Weylandt, pictured here earlier in the season riding Gent–Wevelgem, crashed and died near the end of stage 3. During the descent of the Passo del Bocco in stage 3, LEO 2011 rider Wouter Weylandt crashed and suffered catastrophic injury. Race doctor Giovanni Tredici, and the doctor for the GRM 2011 team were in cars very near Weylandt's group on the road, and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation for approximately 40 minutes.Jeremy Inson Associated Press https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?id=6513865 Cycling rocked by Belgian cyclist's death in Giro 9 May 2011 ESPN ESPN Internet Ventures 10 May 2011 https://archive.today/20140627025321/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=6513865 27 June 2014 live Doctors also gave Weylandt adrenaline and atropine to try to restart his heart, though Tredici stated that resuscitation efforts were rather clearly in vain, and that Weylandt was already dead by the time they got to him. Doctors were never able to revive Weylandt, and he was declared dead on the spot.http://www.espn.co.uk/cycling/sport/story/89674.html Weylandt involved in horror crash at Giro ESPN 5 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20131020181957/http://www.espn.co.uk/cycling/sport/story/89674.html 20 October 2013 live A short time later, Weylandt's body was airlifted off the descent and taken to a nearby hospital, where the pathologist conducting the autopsy concluded that the Belgian had died immediately upon crashing.Agence France-Presse https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110510/sp_wl_afp/cyclinggiroitaweylandt Tour of Italy cyclist Weylandt 'died instantly' 10 May 2011 Yahoo! News Yahoo Inc. 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110517120146/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110510/sp_wl_afp/cyclinggiroitaweylandt 17 May 2011 dead Weylandt's death was the first at the Giro in 25 years, and the first at one of cycling's Grand Tours since Fabio Casartelli died during the 1995 Tour de France.http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-09-cyclist-wouter-weylandt-injured-giro_N.htm Giro officials: Wouter Weylandt has died in cycling crash 9 May 2011 USA Today Gannett Company 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20141009125936/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-09-cyclist-wouter-weylandt-injured-giro_N.htm 9 October 2014 live Manuel Antonio Cardoso of RSH 2011 had been nearest to Weylandt when he crashed, and stated that Weylandt had touched a small retaining wall on the left side of the road with either his pedal or his handlebars, and was then catapulted across the road to the other side, where he again collided with something. He had looked behind him to ascertain his exact position in the race when he clipped the wall. Teammate Tom Stamsnijder also witnessed the accident, saying "it was a very hard fall." Italian police, conducting an inquest into Weylandt's death, also took an official statement from the Portuguese rider at Team RadioShack's hotel.Andrew Hood http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/crash-witness-%E2%80%98weylandt-was-catapulted-across-the-road%E2%80%99_172140 Crash witness: 'Weylandt was catapulted across the road' 9 May 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120929100248/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/crash-witness-%E2%80%98weylandt-was-catapulted-across-the-road%E2%80%99_172140 29 September 2012 live A memorial was placed at the crash site, where Weylandt's pregnant girlfriend and his mother, along with cyclists, passersby and residents of nearby villages, placed flowers.Andrew Hood http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/video-wouter-weylandt-memorial-at-crash-scene_172277 VIDEO: Wouter Weylandt memorial at crash scene 10 May 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140828083535/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/video-wouter-weylandt-memorial-at-crash-scene_172277 28 August 2014 live The LEO 2011 yes team remained in the race for another day at the encouragement of Weylandt's family.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-and-leopard-trek-share-in-grief-of-weylandt-family Nygaard and Leopard Trek share in grief of Weylandt family 10 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20150406121643/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-and-leopard-trek-share-in-grief-of-weylandt-family 6 April 2015 live David Millar, who had taken the race lead that same day, spent the evening discussing with members of LEO 2011 yes, Weylandt's best friend Tyler Farrar, and his girlfriend and mother how best to pay tribute to the fallen rider.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/millar-pays-tribute-to-weylandt Millar pays tribute to Weylandt 9 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140914181201/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/millar-pays-tribute-to-weylandt 14 September 2014 live Race director Angelo Zomegnan said in a post-stage press conference that race officials would respect whatever decision the peloton made regarding the next day's stage.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-zomegnan-to-respect-memory-of-weylandt Video: Zomegnan to respect memory of Weylandt 9 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140914181712/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-zomegnan-to-respect-memory-of-weylandt 14 September 2014 live As usually occurs when a rider dies in the midst of a multi-day cycling event, the next day was not competitively raced. Instead, the stage was preceded by a minute's silence, and ridden as a procession in Weylandt's memory. Each of the 23 teams took to the front of the peloton for about 15 minutes, and members of LEO 2011 yes, along with Farrar, were allowed to finish first with their arms around each other. Millar led the rest of the field across the line a few seconds later. No results for the stage were recorded, and it did not count towards the general classification or any of the points competitions. After the stage, instead of any podium presentations, the four jersey classification leaders (Millar, Alessandro Petacchi, Gianluca Brambilla, and Jan Bakelants) appeared on stage with the LEO 2011 yes team to lead another moment of silence.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-4/results Stage neutralised as Giro d'Italia pays tribute to Wouter Weylandt 10 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302085000/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-4/results 2 March 2014 live Subsequently, Farrar and the remaining LEO 2011 yes squad all decided to leave the race.Jean-François Quénet http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/farrar-to-leave-the-giro-ditalia-after-stage-4 Farrar to leave the Giro d'Italia after stage 4 10 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140914134131/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/farrar-to-leave-the-giro-ditalia-after-stage-4 14 September 2014 liveCycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-leaves-giro-ditalia Leopard Trek leaves Giro d'Italia 10 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140914134616/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-leaves-giro-ditalia 14 September 2014 live Farrar later revealed that his inclusion with the Leopard Trek squad in the final moments of the neutralized stage was a decision made solely on their part, one for which he felt extremely grateful.Bonnie D. Ford https://www.espn.com/blog/olympics/post/_/id/974/impact-of-loss-wont-stop-tyler-farrar Impact of loss won't stop Tyler Farrar 2 July 2011 ESPN Internet Ventures 12 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20141007153448/http://espn.go.com/blog/olympics/post/_/id/974/impact-of-loss-wont-stop-tyler-farrar 7 October 2014 live A moment of silence was also held for Weylandt before stage 11, as his funeral took place the same day.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-to-observe-moment-of-silence-for-weylandt-on-stage-11 Giro d'Italia to observe moment of silence for Weylandt on stage 11 18 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 18 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130508115207/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-to-observe-moment-of-silence-for-weylandt-on-stage-11 8 May 2013 liveCycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cycling-world-pay-their-respects-at-weylandts-funeral Cycling world pay their respects at Weylandt's funeral 18 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 18 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130508110428/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cycling-world-pay-their-respects-at-weylandts-funeral 8 May 2013 live Pieter Weening also gave the first pink jersey to be presented to him on the podium to Weylandt's surviving family,Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/weylandts-funeral-scheduled-for-wednesday Weylandt's funeral scheduled for Wednesday 13 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135245/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/weylandts-funeral-scheduled-for-wednesday 2 April 2015 live and stage 11 winner John Gadret stated that he had Weylandt in his thoughts as he crossed the line and dedicated his win to him, even though the two were not well acquainted. Death of Xavier Tondó On 23 May, during the second rest day of the Giro, Xavier Tondó, the reigning Vuelta a Castilla y León champion and one of the leaders on the season for the MOV 2011, was killed in a freak accident at home while preparing to train with teammates. He was reportedly crushed between his car and a garage door.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/xavier-tondo-dies-in-domestic-accident Xavier Tondo dies in domestic accident Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 23 May 2011 17 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214532/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/xavier-tondo-dies-in-domestic-accident 8 April 2014 live Although he was not taking part in this edition of the Giro, Tondó had participated in the 2010 edition and was a popular, well-liked rider. Race leader Alberto Contador, along with many others, rode the stage 16 individual time trial with black armbands. The stage was preceded by a minute of silence. Tondó's teammate Branislau Samoilau posted a time that was provisionally best much of the day and was visibly overcome with emotion when interviewed by assembled media after his ride. Contador, who recorded the best time in the time trial, dedicated the victory to Tondó, as the two were acquainted despite never having been teammates.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8539/Giro-dItalia-Alberto-Contador-dominates-in-stage-sixteens-uphill-test.aspx Alberto Contador dominates in stage sixteen's uphill test VeloNation VeloNation Press VeloNation LLC 24 May 2011 17 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120615094706/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8539/Giro-dItalia-Alberto-Contador-dominates-in-stage-sixteens-uphill-test.aspx 15 June 2012 live Five days later, teammate and close friend Vasil Kiryienka rode to victory in a solo effort, and he too dedicated the stage victory to Tondó, pointing skyward as he crossed the finish line.http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/29052011/58/giro-d-italia-kiryienka-remembers-tondo-win.html Kiryienka remembers Tondo with win Eurosport Yahoo! News Network Felix Lowe 28 May 2011 17 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120928051002/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/29052011/58/giro-d-italia-kiryienka-remembers-tondo-win.html 28 September 2012 live The team had met to consider withdrawing from the race after Tondó's death, but instead the riders unanimously voted to ride on.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/movistar-to-continue-in-giro-in-the-wake-of-tondos-death Movistar to continue in Giro in the wake of Tondo's death 23 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 24 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20140409015438/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/movistar-to-continue-in-giro-in-the-wake-of-tondos-death 9 April 2014 live Kiryienka commented that the squad at the Giro hoped to get a further stage win (as Francisco Ventoso's win had come before Tondó's death) to honor him, while other members of the team grieved with Tondó's family.Jean-François Quénet http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kiryienka-paid-tribute-to-xavier-tondo Kiryienka paid tribute to Xavier Tondo 28 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing 31 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130605070057/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kiryienka-paid-tribute-to-xavier-tondo 5 June 2013 live In the final days of the race, many fans wrote signs memorializing Tondó as they had with Weylandt earlier on. Aftermath thumb|upright|alt=A man in his fifties, visible only from the neck up, wearing glasses with tinted lenses and a white polo shirt. Two other men are partly visible on either side of him.|Angelo Zomegnan had been Giro director for seven years, but he was removed from that position after this race. Immediately after Weylandt's death, Giro officials announced that they would not issue his dossard number 108 in future editions of the race.Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8416/Weylandts-race-number-retired-from-Giro-dItalia.aspx Weylandt's race number retired from Giro d'Italia 12 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 11 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120602045751/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8416/Weylandts-race-number-retired-from-Giro-dItalia.aspx 2 June 2012 live His number was a prominent part of signs held by fans on the roadside at not just the Giro but other events later in the season as well, including the Tour of California where his death was part of the reason the first stage of that race was canceled due to safety concerns.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-of-california-stage-1-cancelled Daniel Benson Laura Weislo Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 15 May 2011 15 May 2011 Stage 1 cancelled https://web.archive.org/web/20140506223555/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-of-california-stage-1-cancelled 6 May 2014 live Many other races, mostly those held in Weylandt's native Belgium, also began the practice of not issuing the number. The Belgian federation criticized this gesture, saying it would not bring Weylandt back and would only serve to continually remind fans and those in the sport of Weylandt's death. They issued the number for the Belgian national road race championships.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/belgian-federation-calls-for-continued-use-of-race-number-108 Belgian Federation calls for continued use of race number 108 24 June 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 11 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130508105726/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/belgian-federation-calls-for-continued-use-of-race-number-108 8 May 2013 live About a month after the race concluded, reports began surfacing which stated that Giro director Angelo Zomegnan was going to be ousted from that position.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/is-giro-ditalia-angelo-zomegnan-director-about-to-be-sacked Is Giro d'Italia Angelo Zomegnan director about to be sacked? 26 June 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 11 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20130601011309/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/is-giro-ditalia-angelo-zomegnan-director-about-to-be-sacked 1 June 2013 live Though praised for his delicate handling of Weylandt's death, Zomegnan's handling of the teams' protest of and eventual removal of the Monte Crostis from the Giro race route was seen much less approvingly. A further month later, RCS Sport, owners of the race, confirmed that Zomegnan had been removed from his largely autocratic position as race director. He was replaced by RCS general director Michele Acquarone and Mauro Vegni, along with a team of former professional riders. Zomegnan remains as an RCS consultant and director of the 2013 UCI Road World Championships in Florence. Zomegnan had held the position since 2004, beginning with the 2005 Giro d'Italia.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zomegnan-replaced-as-giro-ditalia-director Zomegnan replaced as Giro d'Italia director 26 July 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 11 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224703/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zomegnan-replaced-as-giro-ditalia-director 10 June 2015 live Along with the new organizational team came a certain measure of fan involvement in the direction of the 2012 Giro d'Italia. Fans of the race were able to vote on its official Facebook page for two climbs, from an initial pool of 64, to appear in the race. After several rounds of voting, the Stelvio Pass and the Passo del Mortirolo were chosen.https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/281512_10150252777223247_2068371_n.jpg Prikbordfoto's Facebook 30 October 2011 https://archive.today/20140627025244/https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/281512_10150252777223247_2068371_n.jpg 27 June 2014 dead They were later announced to be part of the same stage for the 2012 Giro.Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9944/Giro-dItalia-organisers-announce-gruelling-penultimate-stage-Mortirolo-and-Stelvio-feature.aspx Giro d'Italia organisers announce gruelling penultimate stage, Mortirolo and Stelvio feature 29 September 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 12 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20121104122258/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9944/Giro-dItalia-organisers-announce-gruelling-penultimate-stage-Mortirolo-and-Stelvio-feature.aspx 4 November 2012 live Fans were also given the opportunity to choose from among three prototypes for the design of the pink jersey in the 2012 Giro.http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150270504053247.323584.27483848246&type=1 MAGLIA ROSA 2012 Facebook 30 October 2011 Fans could also participate in a promotion called "Tweet Your Maglia Rosa" where they would submit 140-character or fewer Twitter messages describing what the pink jersey means to them. They were set to be printed on the jersey along with tweets from Ivan Basso, Cadel Evans, Alberto Contador, and Vincenzo Nibali, in the respective riders' native languages. Ten tweets – six to be printed in Italian, two in English, and one each in Spanish and French – were eventually chosen by fan voting.http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150302859413247&set=a.396812843246.171433.27483848246&type=1&ref=nf Facebook Facebook 30 October 2011 Contador's results stripped Alberto Contador rode the Giro with full knowledge that he was to answer to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding his positive test for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, since his national federation cleared him of doping charges but both the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chose to appeal the ruling.Cycling Weekly http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/contador-to-ride-giro-ditalia-tour-de-france-remains-uncertain-54177 Contador to ride Giro d'Italia, Tour de France remains uncertain 16 February 2011 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited 6 February 2012 https://archive.today/20140627025231/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/contador-to-ride-giro-ditalia-tour-de-france-remains-uncertain-54177 27 June 2014 liveShane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8250/Contador-case-WADA-and-UCI-doping-appeals-to-CAS-remain-separate.aspx Contador case: WADA and UCI doping appeals to CAS remain separate 27 April 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20110430094340/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8250/Contador-case-WADA-and-UCI-doping-appeals-to-CAS-remain-separate.aspx 30 April 2011 live He rode and won with the most dominant Grand Tour performance of his career, and later rode a relatively normal and full 2011 season as his CAS date was continually pushed back. It was originally scheduled for June, to occur soon enough to decide conclusively his status prior to the 2011 Tour de France, but it was instead pushed back to August and then again to November.Agence France-Presse http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/contadors-cas-hearing-scheduled-for-august_176702 Contador's CAS hearing scheduled for August 31 May 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220840/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/contadors-cas-hearing-scheduled-for-august_176702 3 March 2016 live thumb|right|alt=A road racing cyclist in his early thirties, wearing a predominantly red jersey with white trim and a red helmet. A motorcycle bearing a cameraman follows behind him, with a further caravan and other spectators in the background.|Michele Scarponi became Giro champion upon Contador's disqualification. He is pictured here during the Nevegal time trial wearing the points classification red jersey in Contador's stead. He inherited that classification victory as well. The hearing was at last held in November,Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-gives-personal-plea-at-cas-hearing Contador gives personal plea at CAS hearing 25 November 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130523154620/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-gives-personal-plea-at-cas-hearing 23 May 2013 live with a verdict expected in January 2012.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-doping-verdict-expected-in-january Contador doping verdict expected in January 14 November 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140113105046/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-doping-verdict-expected-in-january 13 January 2014 live This, however, was also subject to a delay.VeloNews.com http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/01/news/ruling-on-%E2%80%98caso-contador%E2%80%99-delayed-another-week_204871 Ruling on 'Caso Contador' delayed another week 30 January 2012 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130721160253/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/01/news/ruling-on-%E2%80%98caso-contador%E2%80%99-delayed-another-week_204871 21 July 2013 live Finally, on 6 February 2012, the court spoke, overturning the Spanish federation's decision to clear Contador and assessing the rider a backdated two-year ban, from the date of his adverse test at the 2010 Tour de France. The backdated ban meant any results obtained from the time of that test to the time the court announced its verdict were to be vacated and awarded in turn to previously second-placed riders. This effectively made Michele Scarponi the new Giro champion and points winner, and it made José Rujano and Vincenzo Nibali into stage winners in this Giro.Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10895/Confirmed-Contador-handed-two-year-doping-ban-loses-2010-Tour-title.aspx Confirmed: Contador handed two year doping ban, loses 2010 Tour title 6 February 2012 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224195946/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10895/Confirmed-Contador-handed-two-year-doping-ban-loses-2010-Tour-title.aspx 24 December 2013 live The decision was reminiscent of that handed down in the Alessandro Petacchi case from the 2007 Giro d'Italia. The court's ruling opinion was that the minute amount of clenbuterol found was probably not caused by a doping regimen, but that strict liability rules meant that Contador had nonetheless violated WADA's World Anti-Doping Code. The court held that the adverse finding itself was never in doubt, but merely how the substance had entered the athlete's body. This was not a matter under which they could exonerate him.Associated Press https://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/02/06/alberto-contador-stripped-2010-tour-de-france-title Alberto Contador found guilty of doping, stripped of 2010 Tour title 6 February 2012 SI.com Time Warner, Inc. 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051327/http://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/02/06/alberto-contador-stripped-2010-tour-de-france-title 4 March 2016 live Reaction to the decision, and to the protracted nature of the case itself, was widespread and negative. Five-time Giro winner Eddy Merckx expressed surprise at the result and disappointment that it could further sully the sport's image, saying "It's like someone wants to kill cycling."https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=cycling&id=7545817 Contador doping verdict another blow for cycling Associated Press 6 February 2012 ESPN ESPN Internet Ventures 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024316/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=cycling&id=7545817 27 June 2014 live Since-ousted race director Angelo Zomegnan called the decision to strip the Giro championship "nonsense", noting that Contador was permitted to ride at the time and there were no irregularities of any kind during the race.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zomegnan-says-stripping-contadors-2011-giro-title-is-nonsense Zomegnan says stripping Contador's 2011 Giro title is nonsense 6 February 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20131018010307/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zomegnan-says-stripping-contadors-2011-giro-title-is-nonsense 18 October 2013 live His successor Michele Acquarone was also upset by the decision, believing that damage had been done to the Giro and noting that RCS Sport would need to commission a new trophy to award to Scarponi.Daniel Benson http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-boss-left-upset-over-contador-ban Giro d'Italia boss left upset over Contador ban 6 February 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20131018010133/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-boss-left-upset-over-contador-ban 18 October 2013 live Scarponi, as well as John Gadret, the rider elevated onto the podium now in third place overall, both expressed sympathy for Contador and the feeling that being awarded these prestigious results in a court of law nearly a year after the race concluded kept them from feeling as good as they would were they attained on the road. Both Scarponi's overall championship and Gadret's podium finish constituted the first such results for either of them in a Grand Tour. Gadret, who had supported Contador's presence in the Giro peloton when the race began, reconsidered his position in hindsight, saying the Spaniard's attendance irrevocably changed the race.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/scarponi-responds-to-contador-verdict Scarponi responds to Contador verdict 6 February 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130531224536/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/scarponi-responds-to-contador-verdict 31 May 2013 live Further reactions from other personalities within the sport toward the ruling and the case itself were near universally negative.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-confirms-cas-decision-to-ban-contador UCI confirms CAS decision to ban Contador 6 February 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20131018005820/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-confirms-cas-decision-to-ban-contador 18 October 2013 livePeter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/spanish-champions-spring-to-contadors-defence Spanish champions spring to Contador's defence 6 February 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20141221195733/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/spanish-champions-spring-to-contadors-defence 21 December 2014 liveAssociated Press https://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/02/06/reaction-contadors-ban Alberto Contador's doping ban shames the sport of cycling 6 February 2012 SI.com Time Warner, Inc. 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040227/http://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/02/06/reaction-contadors-ban 4 March 2016 liveShane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11086/Saxo-Bank-regrets-Contador-CAS-verdict-WADA-welcomes-it.aspx Saxo Bank regrets Contador CAS verdict, WADA welcomes it 6 February 2012 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120529132317/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11086/Saxo-Bank-regrets-Contador-CAS-verdict-WADA-welcomes-it.aspx 29 May 2012 livehttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-cycling-contador-reaction-idUSTRE8150YH20120206 Reaction to Contador's two-year doping ban 6 February 2012 Reuters 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120306164210/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/06/us-cycling-contador-reaction-idUSTRE8150YH20120206 6 March 2012 liveJames Startt http://blogs.bicycling.com/blogs/thisjustin/reactions-from-sean-kelly-patrick-lefevere-others-in-europe-to-contador-suspension Reactions From Sean Kelly, Patrick Lefevere, Others in Europe to Contador Suspension 6 February 2012 Bicycling.com Rodale, Inc. 6 February 2012 https://archive.today/20140627025234/http://blogs.bicycling.com/blogs/thisjustin/reactions-from-sean-kelly-patrick-lefevere-others-in-europe-to-contador-suspension 27 June 2014 live WADA celebrated the decision, calling the court "robust and thorough" in its jurisprudence of the World-Anti Doping Code. Classification leadership thumb|right|alt=Four cycling jerseys – pink, green, white, and red, from left to right – are arranged on mannequin torsos in front of a pink wall.|The Giro's four special jerseys on display in Milan before the final podium presentations. In the 2011 Giro d'Italia, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner was considered the winner of the Giro.Laura Weislo http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=/features/2008/giro_classifications08 Giro d'Italia classifications demystified 13 May 2008 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130508234448/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=%2Ffeatures%2F2008%2Fgiro_classifications08 8 May 2013 live Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a red jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. Unlike in the better known points classification in the Tour de France, the type of stage had no effect on what points were on offer – each stage had the same points available on the same scale. The win earned 25 points, second place earned 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a green jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized as either first, second, third, or fourth-category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The Cima Coppi, the race's highest point of elevation, awarded still more points than the other first-category climbs. The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1986 were eligible. There were also three classifications for teams. In the Trofeo Fast Team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time; the Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team; and the Fair Play classification rewarded those teams that best avoided penalty points for minor technical infringements. The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run, and shows to whom each jersey would have been awarded each day had Alberto Contador been removed from the standings as the race was ongoing. Stage WinnerGeneral classification25px|link=|alt=Points classification25px|link=|alt=Mountains classification25px|link=|alt=Young rider classification25px|link=|alt= 1 THR 2011 Marco Pinotti not awarded not awarded Bjørn Selander 2 Alessandro Petacchi Mark Cavendish Alessandro Petacchi Sebastian Lang 3 Ángel Vicioso David Millar Gianluca Brambilla Jan Bakelants 4 Stage neutralised 5 Pieter Weening Pieter Weening Martin Kohler Steven Kruijswijk 6 Francisco Ventoso 7 Bart De Clercq Bart De Clercq 8 Oscar Gatto 9 Alberto ContadorJosé Rujano Alberto ContadorKanstantsin Sivtsov Alberto ContadorAlessandro Petacchi Filippo Savini Roman Kreuziger 10 Mark Cavendish Alessandro Petacchi 11 John Gadret 12 Mark Cavendish 13 José Rujano Alberto ContadorVincenzo Nibali Alberto ContadorRoberto Ferrari Alberto ContadorJosé Rujano 14 Igor Antón Alberto ContadorMichele Scarponi 15 Mikel Nieve Alberto ContadorMichele Scarponi Stefano Garzelli 16 Alberto ContadorVincenzo Nibali 17 Diego Ulissi 18 Eros Capecchi 19 Paolo Tiralongo 20 Vasil Kiryienka 21 David Millar Final Alberto ContadorMichele Scarponi Alberto ContadorMichele Scarponi Stefano Garzelli Roman Kreuziger Final standings Legend   20px|alt=A pink jersey   Denotes the winner of the General classification   20px|alt=A green jersey   Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification   20px|alt=A red jersey   Denotes the winner of the Points classification   20px|alt=A white jersey   Denotes the winner of the Young rider classification General classification RiderTeamTime DSQ Alberto Contador ESP SAX 2011 yes 84h 05' 14" 1 Michele Scarponi ITA 20px|alt=Pink jersey 20px|alt=Red jersey LAM 2011 yes 84h 11' 24" 2 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2011 yes + 46" 3 John Gadret FRA ALM 2011 yes + 3' 54" 4 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP KAT 2011 yes + 4' 55" 5 Roman Kreuziger CZE 20px|alt=White jersey AST 2011 yes + 5' 18" 6 José Rujano VEN AND 2011 yes + 6' 02" 7 Denis Menchov RUS FOT 2011 yes + 6' 08" 8 Steven Kruijswijk NED RAB 2011 yes + 7' 41" 9 Kanstantsin Sivtsov BLR THR 2011 yes + 8' 00" 10 Mikel Nieve ESP EUS 2011 yes + 9' 58" Points classification RiderTeamPoints DSQ Alberto Contador ESP SAX 2011 yes 186 1 Michele Scarponi ITA 20px|alt=Red jersey 20px|alt=Pink jersey LAM 2011 yes 122 2 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2011 yes 116 3 José Rujano VEN AND 2011 yes 107 4 John Gadret FRA ALM 2011 yes 97 5 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP KAT 2011 yes 87 6 Roman Kreuziger CZE 20px|alt=White jersey AST 2011 yes 85 7 Stefano Garzelli ITA 20px|alt=Green jersey ASA 2011 yes 81 8 Roberto Ferrari ITA AND 2011 yes 70 9 Pablo Lastras ESP MOV 2011 yes 66 10 Jan Bakelants BEL OLO 2011 yes 63 Mountains classification RiderTeamPoints 1 Stefano Garzelli ITA 20px|alt=Green jersey ASA 2010 yes 67 DSQ Alberto Contador ESP SAX 2011 yes 58 2 José Rujano VEN AND 2011 yes 43 3 Mikel Nieve ESP} EUS 2011 yes 39 4 Gianluca Brambilla ITA CSF 2011 yes 29 5 Vasil Kiryienka BLR MOV 2011 yes 24 6 Emanuele Sella ITA AND 2011 yes 23 7 Michele Scarponi ITA 20px|alt=Pink jersey 20px|alt=Red jersey LAM 2011 yes 23 8 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2011 yes 22 9 Johnny Hoogerland NED VCD 2011 yes 21 10 Jérôme Pineau FRA QST 2011 yes 20 Young rider classification RiderTeamTime 1 Roman Kreuziger CZE 20px|alt=White jersey AST 2010 yes 84h 16' 42" 2 Steven Kruijswijk NED RAB 2011 yes + 2' 23" 3 Peter Stetina USA GRM 2011 yes + 38' 41" 4 Jan Bakelants BEL OLO 2011 yes + 43' 39" 5 Bart De Clercq BEL OLO 2011 yes + 42' 46" 6 José Sarmiento COL ASA 2011 yes + 1h 06' 01" 7 Marcel Wyss SUI FOT 2011 yes + 1h 07' 16" 8 Diego Ulissi ITA LAM 2011 yes + 1h 20' 14" 9 Robert Kišerlovski CRO AST 2011 yes + 1h 22' 10" 10 Kevin Seeldraeyers BEL QST 2011 yes + 1h 42' 22" Trofeo Fast Team classification TeamTime1AST 2011 yes 252h 44' 52"2MOV 2011 yes + 10' 00"3ALM 2011 yes + 11' 23"4KAT 2011 yes + 24' 46"5FOT 2011 yes + 38' 41"6SAX 2011 yes + 45' 23"7OLO 2011 yes + 1h 07' 35"8ASA 2011 yes + 1h 07' 57"9EUS 2011 yes + 1h 20' 35"10LAM 2011 yes + 1h 24' 01" Trofeo Super Team classification TeamPoints1LAM 2011 yes 3382AND 2011 yes 2993ALM 2011 yes 2984MOV 2011 yes 2855SAX 2011 yes 2776ALM 2010 yes 2217THR 2011 yes 2668AST 2011 yes 2429LIQ 2011 yes 23910KAT 2011 yes 202 Minor classifications Other less well-known classifications, whose leaders did not receive a special jersey, were awarded during the Giro. These awards were based on points earned throughout the three weeks of the tour. Each mass-start stage had one intermediate sprint, the Traguardo Volante, or T.V. The T.V. gave bonus seconds towards the general classification, points towards the regular points classification, and also points towards the T.V. classification. This award was known by various names in previous years, and was previously time-based. It was won by Jan Bakelants of the OLO 2011 yes team. Other awards included the Combativity classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. Original general classification winner Alberto Contador won this award at the race's conclusion; upon his disqualification it passed to mountains category winner Stefano Garzelli. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were awarded only to the top three finishers in each stage. It was originally won, like the closely associated points classification, by Contador, and passed to José Rujano when the Spaniard's results were stripped. Additionally, the Trofeo Fuga Pinarello rewarded riders who took part in a breakaway at the head of the field, each rider in an escape of ten or fewer riders getting one point for each kilometre that the group stayed clear. RSH 2011 yes's Yaroslav Popovych was first in this competition. Teams were given penalty points for minor technical infringements. Six different teams – LIQ 2011, AND 2011, THR 2011, QST 2011, BMC 2011, and CSF 2011 – avoided incurring penalties over the course of the race, and so shared in winning the Fair Play classification. World Rankings points The Giro was one of 27 events throughout the season that contributed points towards the 2011 UCI World Tour. Points were awarded to the top 20 finishers overall, and to the top five finishers in each stage.http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTU2MzU&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NDk5MDY&LangId=1 Points scale – UCI World Ranking Union Cycliste Internationale 17 July 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100603221313/http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTU2MzU&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NDk5MDY&LangId=1 3 June 2010 dead In early 2012, the points earned by Contador for overall placing were redistributed, and those gained for stage finishes were removed. Riders from non-World Tour teams, who were not initially allocated points, received them. January 2025 medicmedic +Points earned in the Giro d'Italiahttp://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTYwNzk&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NjY0NDQ&LangId=1 2011 UCI World Ranking Detailed Gained Points 15 August 2011 Union Cycliste Internationale 17 August 2011 16 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120316101655/http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTYwNzk&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NjY0NDQ&LangId=1 dead NameTeamPoints Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2011 yes 186 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2011 yes 149 John Gadret FRA ALM 2011 yes 124 José Rujano VEN AND 2011 yes 104 Joaquim Rodríguez ESP KAT 2011 yes 103 Roman Kreuziger CZE AST 2011 yes 85 Denis Menchov RUS GEO 2011 yes 61 Mikel Nieve ESP EUS 2011 yes 54 Steven Kruijswijk NED RAB 2011 yes 52 Kanstantsin Sivtsov BLR THR 2011 yes 44 Remaining points earners Mark Cavendish GBR THR 2011 yes 40 Alessandro Petacchi ITA LAM 2011 yes 36 Hubert Dupont FRA ALM 2011 yes 34 Dario Cataldo ITA QST 2011 yes 26 Igor Antón ESP EUS 2011 yes 25 David Millar GBR GRM 2011 yes 24 Francisco Ventoso ESP MOV 2011 yes 24 Paolo Tiralongo ITA AST 2011 yes 23 David Arroyo ESP MOV 2011 yes 22 Christophe Le Mével FRA GRM 2011 yes 21 Eros Capecchi ITA LIQ 2011 yes 16 Bart De Clercq BEL OLO 2011 yes 16 Vasil Kiryienka BLR MOV 2011 yes 16 Diego Ulissi ITA LAM 2011 yes 16 Pieter Weening NED RAB 2011 yes 16 Johann Tschopp SUI BMC 2011 yes 14 Pablo Lastras ESP MOV 2011 yes 12 Davide Appollonio ITA SKY 2011 yes 10 Matteo Carrara ITA VCD 2011 yes 10 Marco Pinotti ITA THR 2011 yes 8 Alex Rasmussen DEN THR 2011 yes 8 Tiago Machado POR RSH 2011 yes 4 Kevin Seeldraeyers BEL QST 2011 yes 4 Jan Bakelants BEL OLO 2011 yes 2 Danilo Di Luca ITA KAT 2011 yes 2 Alexander Kristoff NOR BMC 2011 yes 2 Thomas Löfkvist SWE SKY 2011 yes 2 Daniel Moreno ESP KAT 2011 yes 2 Richie Porte AUS SBS 2011 yes 2 Borut Božič SLO VCD 2011 yes 1 Gerald Ciolek GER QST 2011 yes 1 Yaroslav Popovych UKR RSH 2011 yes 1 References Citations 30em External links http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2011/en/ Category:Giro d'Italia by year Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia Category:May 2011 sports events in Italy