Giro d'Italia 2008 - Stage Twenty One

The 2008 Giro d'Italia started from Palermo, southern Italy on May 10 and is held over 21 stages until June 1.

Stage 21 - June 1 Cesano Maderno - Milano 28,5km - TT

On the streets of Milan, Alberto Contador (Astana) was able to extend his lead over Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duvall Scott) to 1.57 whilst the stage victory went to Marco Pinotti of High Road..- more

Astana

Incredible.” Alberto Contador must have used this word a thousand times during this Giro d’Italia. It is indeed difficult to believe what he accomplished, knowing only eight days in advance that he and his teammates would participate in this demanding event. He showed himself vulnerable and did not win a stage but was simply overall the best. “I never saw Indurain on the bike, as I was still a child when he rode, and in that time I played football and athletics, but yes, I am super proud that I follow in his footsteps.”

Stage 21 and final podium pictures in Gallery by fotoreporter sirotti

Team Manager Johan Bruyneel was more than proud as well. “No one in their right mind would think that a professional cycling team with one week's notice could even participate in a Grand Tour, let alone come out on top.

My hat is off to our whole team, and to all our staff that came together on such short notice to make this possible. As for our riders, well they saw opportunity where others saw no chance whatsoever. We will toast this victory tonight, not only for Alberto Contador, but for the Astana Team as a whole.”

Alberto Contador added: “It is amazing what the others did for me. Riders like Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Klöden, who are potential Grand Tour winners themselves, worked for me like all other teammates did: Assan Bazayev, Toni Colom, Vladimir Gusev, Maxim Iglinskiy, Andrey Mizurov and Steve Morabito. A sick Andreas Klöden did so much for me. I didn’t know him well before this Giro. I think I have found a new friend. It is amazing how we all grew close to each other during these weeks.”

Johan Bruyneel: “Many fans and pundits rightfully wondered if Andreas Klöden would be our featured rider following his recent victory in the Tour de Romandie. I say he was a champion here because he willingly took on the roll of ‘super domestique’. Unfortunately he came down with a respiratory infection mid-race, but managed to play a decisive role for Contador in Stage 19 before having to abandon. We could not have won without him.”

The sports directors Alain Gallopin, Sean Yates and Alexandr Shefer always hoped that the team would eventually be allowed to race in the Giro, but to be told just one week prior was definitely not on their wish list. Johan Bruyneel: “ We have faced many challenges over the years, but none as difficult as putting together a squad with just seven days notice. This, coupled with a very difficult first week's racing, tested our team in ways we could never have imagined. To say I am proud of our staff and riders is truly an understatement; they accomplished the impossible and yet did it in the most professional manner I can think of.”

2008 seems to already be a perfect year, even without the Tour de France. “No I don’t think Tour the France will change their mind,” said Alberto Contador. “Now I hope to finally take my holiday. Anyway I hope that the Tour directors have watched this race. And this pink is maybe nicier than yellow, as I didn’t expect this. On the other hand, the Tour is definitely a harder race.”

“It is often said that actions speak louder than words,” said Johan Bruyneel. “Today I hope that the ASO takes firm notice of the actions of the Astana Professional Cycling Team, not just in our victory at the 2008 Giro d'Italia, but also how professionally we have conducted ourselves throughout the entire season. This is the proof. We have taken a team of riders and staff and under the most arduous of situations won one of the most important bike races in the world. I cannot be prouder of any of them, nor can I understand why we cannot be allowed to defend our title in the Tour de France. Alberto Contador is our champion, and he is supported by an amazing group of people. This is a victory for the ages, and we will continue to build upon it – that you can be sure of.”

The Team Manager witnessed the evolution of a great champion. “Alberto Contador literally went from opening a beer on the beach while on vacation a few weeks ago in his hometown to popping the cork off a bottle of champagne in Milan atop the final podium at the Giro d'Italia. This is unprecedented. He didn't preview the stages, he didn't ride the mountain passes, and neither he nor his team were close to top form when the race began. And so they raced with their heads as much as their legs, knowing when they needed to lead and when they needed to conserve their energy. We knew it would be close, but yet we also knew we had the reigning Tour de France champion. As we saw with Lance Armstrong, great riders can bring out the best in their teammates. Alberto Contador did just that in the 2008 Giro d'Italia, and we look forward to the days ahead.”

“I remember when I first called Alberto while on holiday. After telling him we needed him to ride the Giro, he said honestly, ‘OK, we'll wait and see’. And that's just how we ran the race. We waited, raced into form, and now we see him atop the podium in Milan!”

“This year has been very interesting to me and Team Astana. Coming off of multiple years before when we won the Tour de France with our formula, we have now had to face a lot of adversity and challenge upon challenge in 2008. And yet here we are, with 16 victories this year, as well as the #1 and the #3 finishers in the most recent Tour de France. And now we have won the Giro d'Italia in a true team effort, with Alberto Contador leading the way. Where do we go from here? Regrettably we do not have much say in that decision. But wherever it is, know this: we will come to win, period.”

"I respect their (organisers') decision not to invite us even if I don't share it. I don't think they will change their mind," said Alberto Contador, who did not land a stage win throughout but showed great consistency through three weeks of racing starting at Palermo on May 10.

"I was only told I was in a week beforehand," explained the champion, whose Astana team was only invited officially those few days before the start having initially been barred by organisers after being plagued by doping scandals.

Organisers of the Tour de France, run by the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) said earlier this year that the doping scandals which plagued Astana at last year's French race had left them with little choice despite the team undergoing a mass clear-out.

The team's former leader, Alexandre Vinokourov, was fired after testing positive for a blood transfusion during last year's Tour de France. Weeks after the Vinokourov controversy his fellow Kazakh Andrey Kashechkin also tested positive for blood doping. Other teams riders, including Matthias Kessler and Eddy Mazzoleni, were also involved in doping affairs.

Unlike the French, the Italians relented and finally allowed Astana in. Contador said the mountains had been tough.
"I had a hard time of it at Alpe de Pampeago, the day before tackling the Marmolada. It was only after the Marmolada, when I had donned the pink jersey, that I really believed I could win it. "I had to keep my mind on the job and be reflective and I managed it.

Having bagged the pink jersey that helped me a lot and was a blow to the others." Contador said he had been surprised by his season.

"When I knew we weren't going to the Tour de France the goals changed. I don't know what will happen regarding the Tour of Spain but I think this season is better than if I had won the Tour a second time. It was worth breaking off my holidays to come to win this one in Italy!"

Contador added he believed the Tour was the tougher of the pair to win. "Why? Because it is a race you have to prepare for months. Last year, I was just empty at the end of the Tour, whereas here I lived from day to day."

Riccardo Ricco post race said - "I´d like to thank my team for their help throughout the Giro, all the assistants, all the riders and, above all, my coach, Pietro Algeri. He´s an experienced man and he can always stay cool. Me, with my winner attitude, I can sometimes be quite problematic. This is who I am, I hope I can get tempered with time."

"Luck didn´t help me much in this edition of the Giro, but I know next year, with one more season upon my shoulders, I´ll be close to unbeatable. I´m exhausted right now, both physically and emotionally. I´m going to Sardinia for a two-week holiday, and then I´ll start thinking of my goals for the second part of this season: the World Championships and the Giro di Lombardia."

Marzio Bruseghin took third place in Giro. He bagan the final time trial had a five second gap over Franco Pellozotti

"My mother wouldn't have bet on my podium at Giro - Bruseghin said - While I was pedalling, I was thinking that it would have been a pity not to hit an important target such the podium only because of few seconds: so I gave my best and I could defend the third place. For this result, I thank my team mates and the whole Lampre".

Team Tinkoff were pleased with two stage victorires and the team in general.

There were wins for Mihkail Ignatyev and Pavel Brutt, plus Vasil Kiryenka claimed two seconds places and numerous placements.

Director Sportif Orlando Maini said - "The race confirmd our quailty"

Marco Pinotti won the final stage into Milan. He said - "I’d hoped to do well overall this year but I lost a lot of time in the Dolomites. After that I started to focus on the final time trial. I saved every drop of energy I could and not thinking about the overall classification meant I was a lot stronger.”

“It was great to come into Milan alone and hear the roar of the crowds. In the past I’ve been in the bunch but this time all the cheers were for me. I knew I’d done a good time but I had to wait nervously until all the other riders finished before starting to celebrate.”

High Road won four stages - Mark Cavendish won two sprint stages in Catanzaro and Cittadella, Andre Greipel won in Locarno and Pinotti was the fastest to Milan.

It’s been a great Giro for High Road. We weren’t initially invited to the Giro but we’ve proved we deserved our place.” Pinotti said.

"We rode well as a team and we were unlucky that Kanstantsin Sivtsov didn’t finish, otherwise we would have made it to Milan with a full team. Unfortunately he hurt his knee when he was on the attack during the mountain stage but rode well throughout the Giro.”

“We were all motivated to do well during the race. I want to personally thank Bob Stapleton. He was very supportive during the winter and even though he wasn’t at the Giro, he always keeps in touch via email and quickly sent me a message after I won.”

Felix Cardenas took part in the final stage with a heavy heart after news came from Columbia of his brother's death.

The fatal accident had happened on Friday in Colombia: Jorgen Cardenas, 47, father of seven sons, was run over by a hit-and-run driver sweeping him while he was replacing his car’s tyre on the wayside.

Notwithstanding the Colombian climber decided to ride the last time-trial stage and finish his Giro d’Italia anyway.

All the Team Barloworld staff, Felix's team mates and the Barloworld management convey their condolences to Felix Cardenas and his family at this difficult time and to express their deepest sympathies.

Milram were unable to nail a stage win despite Erik Zabel coming close. The early withdraw of Igor Astorloa and the sacking of Alessandro Petacchi put a cloud over the squad.

"We are semi-satisfied" said Diretor Sportif Antonio Bevilacqua. "We came close to winning with Zabel in the second stage, and we worked well in all the whole sprint stages. Our riders are the best in this kind of stage. To be honest, I'm a little angry about the San Vincenzo stage when Zabel got boxed in the last metres. I think we would have been able to win it. However, the guys did well in all the sprint finishes, showing that we are the best team in setting up a sprint. "

Oscar Pellicioli, second Directeur Sportif at the Giro d'Italia, said “I want to thank our riders because they never gave up in the mountain stages. This Giro was very hard and a lot of riders, nearly 60, dropped out. Besides there were a lot of kilometers of transfers after the stages, and that is not as easy as you might think.”

Team manager Erik Breukink lookking back on the race and said of Dennis Menchov - "Perhaps a podium place without his cold'

"After the Kronplatz, when his cold was at its worst, he started to ride better on a daily basis. It is a very good sign that he recovered so well and quickly. He was amongst the best again in the final two mountain stages. His ability to recover is Denis's strongest characteristic. Here it turned out to be optimal. That is great for the morale in this preparatory stage of the Tour."

"Menchov himself thinks that the coughing and the subsequent 'gasping for breath' cost him at least thirty seconds in the time trial on the Kronplatz. "That is a realistic assumption," says Breukink. "Perhaps things would have gone differently had he not had that cold. But, that is all in the game and we are not going to use it as an excuse. Half the pack has been ill. Other world-class riders have also experienced setbacks. We are content about this Giro. It was good and definitely encouraging for the Tour."

Breukink:speaking about his star sprinter - I found the way in which Graeme Brown started this Giro a disappointment. He was not well-prepared. You cannot expect to just ride yourself into shape in a tour such as this one. Graeme started off on a wrong foot in this tour and then it is impossible to turn that around, which also became reality later on. Despite the fact that he also experienced problems. But, he was not in a good condition before he experienced those setbacks, but we do not need to tell him that."

The small Italian team justified selection with many stage wins and Emanuele Sella was the man of the Giro for many, claiming the mountain jersey and three stage wins - "I am without words, I thank all the squad because we were special."