Paolo Tiralongo keen to support Ryder Hesjedal for the coming stages of the Giro d’Italia 2012
Paolo Tiralongo of Team Astana opened his 2012 winning account with a stage 7 victory at the Giro d’Italia 2012.
The cyclist rode brilliantly during the race and overcame race favourites to bag an important victory for the team.
He is currently holding the fourth overall position after the stage 16 classifications with a deficit of 1 minute and 26 seconds over the race leader Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha.
Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda and Ivan Basso of Team Liquigas-Cannondale hold the second and the third positions in the respective order.
Tiralongo’s team-mate Roman Kreuziger is holding the fifth position while Michele Scarponi of Team Lampre-ISD, Benat Intxausti Elorriaga of Team Movistar and Sergio Luis Henao Montoya of Team Sky are at the fifth, the sixth and the seventh positions.
Paolo has noted that he will support the team leader Kreuziger during the coming stages of the Giro as his own personal goal was to bag a stage victory which he has achieved already.
He mentioned, “It has gone really well so far. I managed to get a stage victory, which was my personal goal for this race”.
“I also find myself in fourth place in the general classification, without really having aimed for it”.
“I have always been riding – and always will ride – to support Roman, following the instructions of my directeurs sportifs and giving 100 percent to help him”.
Roman also shared his thoughts on the issue, “The team’s results have been very good”.
“We have won a stage through Tiralongo, produced an excellent team time trial performance and are near the top of both the individual and team classifications”.
The top fifteen sides after the stage 15 classifications are as under,
1
Movistar Team
206:52:22
2
Astana Pro Team
0:08:46
3
BMC Racing Team
0:09:24
4
Lampre - ISD
0:09:28
5
Euskaltel - Euskadi
0:10:36
6
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro C.Team
0:17:10
7
Liquigas - Cannondale
0:17:44
8
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
0:19:48
9
Katusha Team
0:28:38
10
Colnago - CSF Inox
0:29:11
11
Garmin - Barracuda
0:29:40
12
Sky Procycling
0:30:34
13
Lotto Belisol Team
0:46:53
14
Ag2R La Mondiale
0:55:26
15
Omega Pharma - Quickstep
1:03:53
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