Ivan Basso optimistic for the coming stages of the Giro d’ Italia 2012
Ivan Basso of Team Liquigas is having a dry season and the cyclist is looking ahead at the Giro d’ Italia to open his 2012 winning account.
Basso has not secured any stages at the Italian Grand Tour but the cyclist is placed well at the overall classifications.
He is holding the 8th overall position after the stage 12 and is less than a minute behind the race leader Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha.
Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda is holding the second overall position with a deficit of 17 seconds behind the leader.
Sandy Casar of Team FDJ-Big Mat is further 9 seconds behind at the third spot while Paolo Tiralongo of Team Astana, Ivan Santaromita of Team BMC and Roman Kreuziger of Team Astana are occupying the next three positions in the respective order.
The top ten cyclists after the 12th stage are as under,
1
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team
51:19:08
2
Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Barracuda
0:00:17
3
Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
0:00:26
4
Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro Team
0:00:32
5
Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team
0:00:49
6
Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana Pro Team
0:00:52
7
Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team
8
Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
0:00:57
9
Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
0:01:02
10
Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
0:01:03
While commenting on the 12th stage of the race Basso cited, "Today was a hard stage like every one that we've done in this Giro d'Italia".
"A few riders showed themselves in the finale but it wasn't anything major, and then it finished in a sprint marred by another crash".
"No, there was nothing premeditated about it, I just saw that the descent was dangerous and it was better to take it in front. I knew that the finale would be dangerous and fast".
"The hard Giro is still to come, and that won't be decided by seconds," Kreuziger concluded.
It will be interesting to see if Basso can improve his position for the coming stages of the Italian Grand Tour.
Tags: