Giro 1998.Part II. Impossible is nothing

Before starting, a little summary about Gardena´s stage

Roberto Conti: When are you going to attack?.

Macro Pantani: When does the Marmolada start?.

Roberto Conti: We´ve already ridden half of it?.

Then Tonkov attacked, Pantani followed and you know ... Marco the new pink jersey.

Francesco Moser: The podium is clear for Pantani, Tonkov and Zulle, we only need the order.

Now Marco was more optimistic, he had overcome Zulle and there were two mountains stages left, the first one with a steep climb to Alpe di Pampeago.

When riders faced the last climb of the day, Mercatone was pushing hard for their leader. Zulle semed to be better than the previous day.

It was the shortest day of the giro and there was a breakaway with Chepe González, who passed first in the climbs of San Floriano and Lavazze, riding alone to Papmeago where he was caught before the climb.

Then in the climb and after surviving to the hard rythm of Mercatone, Chepe started to work ( or at least it seemed that) for Pantani, till his manager Alvaro Pino forced him to stop ... Chepe would get angry and didn´t fight for he remaining kilometers.

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With less than four kilometers to go , Pantani attacked, and Zulle couldn,t resist him this time , but Tonkov was riding easily.

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Pantani was noticing that his main rivel could be the Russian rider, but he was tired from the previous day and could not avoid the victory of Tonkov, who became the favourite to win the giro.

team.marcassoli.pagesperso-orange.fr

Zulle lost 58" and the bonus time, and Guerini lost more than a minute.

The overall:

hemeroteca elmundodeportivo.com

Difficult for Pantani, one more time trial, Tonkov was good in that speciality, and what about Zulle ?. The Swiss rider was decreasing his level but with one more time trial to come noboy was brave enough to bury him.

The last mountain stage of the giro was scaring, long, very long, and with two great climbs, Croce Domin and Montecampione ( where Hinault destroyed the field in 1982 ... although it was not climbd at the same point, but some kilometers less):

It was a very hot day that Mapei and Mercatone tried to control. It was supposed to be a normal day till the final climb but Zulle struggled in Croce Domini and lost the options to won or even make a podium at the giro. The rider who gained more was Giuseppe Guerini, that could make a second consecutive podium in the giro.

Zulle was losing more than 9 minutes at the end of the descent, he was out of contention ... and he would lose 30'04" at the end of the day.

Time for epic, time for Marco, with all the Mercatone team doing their best and with more than 15 kilometers to the finish line, Marco attacked in the approximation of a bend, Tonkov sufferd but took his wheel, and Chepe Gonzalez ang Guerini tried but couldn,t.

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It was a time trial for both of them, Marco continued forcing but Tonkov was comfortable behind him

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Half of the summit Marco asked Tonkov to cooperate, and Tonkov ride a little, but he was not confident with the Italian, who soon continued with his accelerations.

And with three kilometers left the key moment appeared. Marco noticed that his earring was weighting so much and threw it to the road ... then he accelerated, but Tonkov resisted

Photo    www.pezcyclingnews.com

nMarco openned a small gap, but Tonkov closed it, but showing the first signs of suffering, and Marco was still pushing hard, and he finally left Tonkov ... with more than two kilometers left, the dream of the giro was becoming possible

Scatta Pantani, scatta Pantani, tv commentarist were crazy, Pantani was leaving Tonkov

With two kilometers to go, the advantage was increasing. Pantani knew that was his moment and made the pressure

With the flag of one kilometer, the hopes of the Italian tifossi increased, 42" to Tonkov

I was excited, the dream was possible. Pantani was going to win his second stage, and was going to face the final time trial with more than a minute, still a difficult bussiness, but possible.


The last meters for Marco , nobody existed, no Zulle, Guerini, Clavero, Camenzind or the others, just Marco and Pavel, just Pantani and Tonkov

 And the win for Marco

Photo Bettini

Photo    bikeraceinfo.com

We had to wait Tonkov to know the final gap, and Tonkov who recovered hisself in the last kilometer finally lost 57", with the bonus the advantage of Marco would be 1'28" ... 34 km in Lugano ... enough, who knew, but that was a moment to enjoy.

The third in the stage would be Guerini more than three minutes behind.

The classification of the stage: ( bikeraceinfo) 

1. Marco Pantani: 7hr 42min 52sec
2. Pavel Tonkov @ 57sec
3. Giuseppe Guerini @ 3min 16sec
4. Francesco Secchiari @ 4min 4sec
5. Daniel Clavero s.t.
6. Daniele De Paoli @ 4min 16sec
7. Oskar Camenzind @ 5min 43sec
8. Nicola Miceli @ 5min 44sec
9. José Jaime Gonzalez @ 5min 46sec
10. Paolo Bettini @ 5min 48sec

 The overall: ( bikeraceinfo) 

1. Marco Pantani: 91hr 31min 26sec
2. Pavel Tonkov @ 1min 28sec
3. Giuseppe Guerini @ 5min 11sec
4. Oskar Camenzind @ 11min 32sec
5. Nicola Miceli @ 14min 23sec
6. Daniel Clavero @ 16min 15sec
7. Paolo Bettini @ 19min 10sec
8. Gianni Faresin @ 24min 17sec
9. Daniele De Paoli @ 26min 1sec
10. Serguei Gontchar @ 26min 28sec

 The statements to the press were:

Martinelli " I have never seen Marco climbing like today".

Pantani " Tonkov and I, have the same options, 50%".

Tonkov " I felt very well, and I was thinking in winning the stage but heat destroyed me. Now we are at 50% to win the giro".

The following stage finished with a bunch sprint won by Gian Matteo Fagnini, and now time for the time trial.

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But it was a confusing day. Forconi, a teammate of Pantani was disqualified before the time trial due to a high level of haematocrit.( the same than Nicola Miceli ).
And Marco Pantani was called at 6:30 am to be before than 7:00 at the control ... he would appear at 7:17 with a level of 49.2 ( close to the limit of 50 ) ... nobody complaint about the delay ... a mistery that perhaps was the fianl push to Marco in Campiglio a year later.

Tonkov was thought to be the favourite to win the giro , but the references were good for Marco since the beginning, both of them were riding well and in similar times

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Tonkov was getting close to the finish line, but he knew the Giro was lost ...

Finally Pantani arrived at the finish line with the third best time, 5 seconds better than Tonkov.

autobus.cyclingnews.com

The giro was for him.

Nicola Miceli and Riccardo Forconi had hematocrits above the allowed 50% and were not allowed to start the time trial.

1. Serguei Gontchar: 39min 54sec
2. Massimo Podenzana @ 29sec
3. Marco Pantani @ 30sec
4. Marco Velo @ 31sec
5. PAvel Tonkov @ 35sec
6. Marco Serpellini @ 1min 1sec
7. Oskar Camenzind @ 1mn 14sec
8. Paolo Savoldelli @ 1min 15sec
9. Alex Zülle @ 1min 32sec
10. Claus-Michael Möller @ 1min 40sec

 Three riders of Mercatone in the first four positions of the time trial ... and Forconi out, and Marco late in the control ... a shadow over the win ...


GC after Stage 21:( bikeraceinfo) 

1. Marco Pantani: 95hr 50min 39sec
2. Pavel Tonkov @ 1min 33sec
3. Giuseppe Guerini @ 6min 51sec
4. Oskar Camenzind @ 12min 16sec
5. Daniel CLavero @ 18min 4sec
6. Gianni Faresin @ !8min 31sec
7. Paolo Bettini @ 21min 3sec
8. Daniele De Paoli @ 21min 35sec
9. Paolo Savoldelli @ 25min 54sec
10. Serguei Gontchar @ 25min 58sec

Marco was going to win the Giro. Sometimes dreams come true. The Italian was the happiest man in the world. In spite of the suspictions of doping after the last time trial, he had deserved this win for years.

Photo bettini

Bad luck seemed to be behind forever ... Pantani had won ... a good hommage to his mentor Luciano Pezzi who was seriously ill ( and would day at the end of June ).

The last stage for Fagnini, the Giro for Pantani, Marco Pantani.

1998 Giro d'Italia Complete Final General Classification:( bikeraceinfo):

1. Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) 98hr 48min 32sec
2. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei) @ 1min 33sec
3. Giuseppe Guerini (Polti) @ 6min 51sec
4. Oscar Camenzind (Mapei) @ 12min 16sec
5. Daniel Clavero (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 18min 4sec
6. Gianni Faresin (Mapei) @ 18min 31sec
7. Paolo Bettini (ASICS) @ 21min 3sec
8. Daniele De Paoli (Ros Mary-Amica Chips) @ 21min 35sec
9. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) @ 25min 54sec
10. Serguei Gontchar (Cantina Tollo) @ 25min 58sec

bikeraceinfo.com

Now, more than 15 years after that Giro, I just can say that it is the race I have enjoyed the most during my life. I watched the best three weeks I can remember in a Grand Tour, and that´s all due to Marco.

Thanks Pantani.

Giro 1998, the romantic heroe wins. Part I.

It was 1998, and Marco was sad because his dream to win a grand Tour was difficult to make possible.Injuries, time trials, bad luck, great riders such as Indurain and Ullrich, etc were punishing him.

He was a loved cyclist, he had won several mountain stages ( Alpe D´huez two times, Aprica, Merano, Morzine,...), but his only dream was winning a major Tour, and wearing the leader jersey.

And then, the giro came

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 A good route for the 81st edition of the " corsa rosa", with several nervous stages in the first half, and the decisive stages in the last week.

In spite of the route, things were happening in a different way that Marco had expected.

Alex Zulle won the prologue and took the first pink jersey. The rider that had won the Vuelta twice the years before was ready to win in Italy.

 The powerfull Zulle ( and riders like Bettini and Bartoli) was dominating the Giro and the attacks of the Pirate were not enough.

Bartoli took the pink jersey after the stage win of Cipollini in Frascati

But one day later,in Lago Laceno Zulle destroyed the pink jersey, Bartoli, and the attacks of Marco Pantani to win the stage, and recovered the " maglia rosa" ...

Photo  www.bettiniphoto.net

Zulle answered all the attacks, and finally passed a tired Marco, who couldn´t counterattack.

 Zulle was showing a terrifying power in very different stages.

Zulle wins in Lago Laceno

The fight continue in San Marino, with short diferences

But the superiority of Zulle was not a problem for Marco, who continued attacking, like in the rainy stage of Schio, where Bartoli won the stage, and Noe took the pink jersey, only for one day.

Andrea Noe the new leader

Pantani won in the Piancavallo stage after a good attack, his first win in the Giro in four "bad luck years" ,

http://www2.raisport.rai.it

Photo      www.cyclingnews.com

http://www2.raisport.rai.it

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Photo  www.bettiniphoto.net

It was a good prize for Marco,but the advantage to Tonkov and  Zulle was narrow, only thirteen seconds.

http://www2.raisport.rai.it

Zulle recovered the pink jersey , and seemed relaxed. Marco was second overall.

SCHIO-PIANCAVALLO DI KM. 165:
   1) MARCO PANTANI (ITA-MERCATONE UNO) IN 4H22'11" 
          ALLA MEDIA ORARIA DI KM. 37,760 (ABBUONO 12")
   2) PAVEL TONKOV (RUS)        A 13"     (ABB. 8")
   3) ALEX ZUELLE (SVI)         S.T.      (ABB. 4")
   4) GIUSEPPE GUERINI (ITA)    A 28"
   5) ANDREA NOE' (ITA)         A 1'51"

Finally, after the stage of Aprica in 1994, Marco won another stage in the Giro

CLASSIFICA GENERALE DOPO LA 14ª TAPPA DEL GIRO D'ITALIA 
   (PERCORSI KM. 2.684):
   1) ALEX ZUELLE (SVI-FESTINA) IN 67H01'11" 
        ALLA MEDIA ORARIA GENERALE DI KM. 40,045
   2) MARCO PANTANI (ITA)        A 22"
   3) PAVEL TONKOV (RUS)         A 40'
   4) GIUSEPPE GUERINI (ITA)     A 57"
   5) ANDREA NOE' (ITA)          A 1'05"
   6) MICHELE BARTOLI (ITA)      A 2'41"
   7) OSKAR CAMENZIND (SVI)      A 2'49"
   8) LAURENT ROUX (FRA)         A 3'01"
   9) WLADIMIR BELLI (ITA)       A 3'22"
   10) LUC LEBLANC (FRA)         A 3'31" 

autobus.cyclingnews.com

And then came the time trial of Trieste, with Pantani trying his best

Photo Antonio Sevillano

But unfortunately for Marco, he was passed by Zulle , who was in a superb day,

Photo   http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo

It was a hard moment for Marco

And Zulle who was just flying, won his third stage, with a big margin

Second was Gontchar close to a minute behind and Pavel Tonkov, third, only 1'22" behind.

But Marco had lost 3'26", and after the time trial, the Italian climber exploded:

" The giro has been done for Zulle. Riders like me have no chances to win it".

But like great champions as Hinault ( who hated Paris Roubaix but fought hard to win it in spite of the bad opinon of the cobblestones), Pantani was not thinking in a surrender, just in fighting.

And it was now time for the mountains. The overall classification was:

  1. Alex Zulle                  67.45.49
  2. Pavel Tonkov        a        2.02
  3. Paolo Bettini         a        3.20
  4. Marco Pantani      a        3.48
  5. Giuseppe Guerini  a         4.21
  6. Andrea Noe          a        4.34
  7. Michele Bartoli      a        4.52
  8. Oscar Camenzind   a       5.21


Time for mountains is time for great climbs in the Giro ... Duran, Marmolada, Pampeago, Croce Domini, Montecampione,...

Tuesday, second of June, 1998

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A terrifying day in the Dolomites, it was going to be one of the best days of cycling I remember.

The great Passo Fedaia was going to make honour to his legend.

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It was a quick stage with several movements, especially from Polti team , and when riders faced the terrible Marmolada, the leader Alex Zulle only had one domestique, Vladimir Belli.

Then in the steepest part of the climb, Tonkov attacked, Pantani chased, followed by Guerini, where was Zulle?... suffering behind.

In a few moments Pantani took the lead ( there were some riders in front of them, Chepe Gonzalez, Buenahora and Camenzind the most important ones), and Tonkov was struggling too, Pantani with the green jersey of best climber was flying

Photo   www.bikeraceinfo.com

The miracle of wearing the pink jersey was still a dream, but a possible dream. The third and fourth overall were openning a good gap to Tonkov, more to Zulle.

The first man to pass the Passo Fedaia, was Chepe González, then Buenahora , Camenzind ... Pantani and Guerini crossed the line 1'20" behind , and Zulle ( who was with Piepoli)at that point was just thinking in saving the day. Nearly two minutes lost to Pantani. Tonkov and Miceli were losing 50" with Marco.

In the following climb, Passo Sella, the leading group was formed by Camenzind, Pantani, Buenahora Guerini and Gonzalez.

Pantani had a chain problem in the climb to Passo Sella, while Guerini accelerated. No problem for Marco who recovered the time quick and scaped with Guerini. Buenahora, Gonzalez and Camenzind dropped.

Zulle was losing more and more time, Pantani was getting closer to the provissional leading.

Pantani was touching the pink jersey with his finger during de ascent to Sella, Guerini was a good ally in the breakaway

It was going to be a great day for Marco, the best of his life. Guerini and he were riding together. It was good for both of them. The tiffosi were excited, people shouted thename of the Pirate, and they crossed the line of Sella ... Pantani was the provissional leader and Tonkov was losing 2 minutes, a great margin for Marco.

In the last meters he pushed hard

and finally Pantani gave the win to Guerini

Photo   fotos.sapo.ao

Guerini the winner of the stage, Pantani, could be the new leader, the new pink jersey. It had been a great stage and the supporters of the Pirate started to dream with the win in the Giro. Zulle was weaker than it was supposed.

Tonkov rode the last kilometers with his partner Camenzind, but he barely recover some distance to Pantani

He arrived 4th, with Chepe Gonzalez third more than two minutes behind ( 2'04" ).

It was the moment for the arrival of the leader. But when Zulle arrived to the flag of last kilometer, all of us knew that he had lost the leader´s jersey.

Seconds were passing and the final time was 4'37" . Zulle was not the leader , and with the bonus of the second position of Pantani, he was now third 1'01" behind the Italian. That day would be the last time for Zulle to wear the pink jersey.

Yes, the dream came true, Pantani was the leader of the giro, unbelievable.Happiness all around.

And there were two mountain stages left. If Pantani could arrive to the last time trial with 2-3 minutes to Zulle he could win. And what was sure was that he was going to attack one and again in those two days to Pampeago and Montecampione.

Words of Pantani " I was not having a good day at Marmolada , but I knew I had to attacks. Now I have gained tme, but not enough. I will have to continue in an offensive attitude if I won to win. Zulle is not the only threat, Guerini and Tonkov are dangerous too".

Meanwhile Zulle was admitting a bad day, but hoping to win the giro. For Guerini it was a good win and not a pact with Pantani.

A good summary of the day in numbers...

elmundodeportivo

My favourite cyclist in pink, in a very good giro with Bettini and Bartoli rideng very well, with Noe fighting and wearing the leader´s jersey, with Zulle riding very strongly, with Tonkov and Guerini, with Camenzind ... the fianl stages seemed to be fantastic.

And the following day, a short stage with a very difficult finish climb to Pampeago, a climb with very steep gradients.

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All was possible now, Pantani was not the only favourite yet, but he could dream, the tiffosi could dream and the world of cycling could congratulate for such a day of the great Italian climber.

Later he would admit that during the climb to Marmolada, he spoke with his domestique Conti when was going to take part the steepest part of the climb ( he was anxious) and Conti told him they were just riding it, to Pantani´s surprise.

Things of Marco, things of a true champion.

In spite of the glorious day in Val Gardena, the race was not going to be easy, and Marco would need to prove that romantic cycling was still alive.