Valerio Piva backs Joaquim Rodriguez for the overall victory at the Giro d’Italia 2012
Joaquim Rodriguez of Team succeeded during the stage 10 of the Giro d’ Italia and the cyclist is looking good for an overall victory at the race.
The Spaniard is currently leading the overall classifications after the stage 13 and is determined to continue his lead for the coming stages of the race.
Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda is 17 seconds behind at the second position while Sandy Casar of Team FDJ-Big Mat, Paolo Tiralongo of Team Astana and Ivan Santaromita of Team BMC holds the next three positions respectively.
Rodriguez has been declared as the favourite of the race by numerous cycling experts.
Valerio Piva is the former HTC-Highroad Sports Director and he is currently taking care of Team Katusha.
Valerio is now working hard to ensure that Joaquim defends his pink jersey in the coming stages of the Italian race.
He believes that Rodriguez has 50 % chances to claim the overall victory at the Italian race considering the fact that he is enjoying a terrific run of form.
The 33-year-old started his professional pursuit with the first place finish at the La Fleche Wallonne 2012.
He also bagged stages at the Tour of the Basque Country and the Tirreno-Adriatico and achieved the second overall position at the Tour of the Basque Country.
Piva told Cyclingnews, “Every day, Joaquim’s confidence is increasing. He’s living nice days of his life with the pink jersey”.
“However, the real tests will be on Saturday and Sunday when the Giro will hit the mountains. I haven’t seen anything yet”.
“All the favourites have done their best to hide themselves so far”.
“The only one who didn’t is Joaquim but it’s normal that he came out in a stage that suited him so well [stage 10 to Assisi]”.
“I don’t know who is likely to go well in the climbs or not. We haven’t raced in the mountains yet this year”.
The top ten cyclists after the stage 13 classifications are as below,
1
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team
54:21:15
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
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