Liquigas-Doimo's Ivan Basso won his second Giro d'Italia on his Cannondale, four years after taking his first. With an easy time trial through Verona, Basso entered the city's Roman Arena, having overcome all obstacles (and there were many).
At the start in Amsterdam, Basso set out to quiet the whispers that if he didn't win this edition, he would never win again. Smart riding in Holland saw team Liquigas pass easily through the first dangerous stages with few incidents. Upon returning to Italy, victory in the team time trail earned Vincenzo Nibali the maglia rosa of race leadership. Nibali would hold the leadership until disaster struck in stage 7.
Rain greeted the riders on the stage which was to feature the strade bianche of Tuscany. Typically, these roads would leave the riders white with dust. Unfortunately, the rain made for a disastrous stage which saw the entire Team Liquigas hit the tarmac before the first sector of muddy gravel. The ensuing chase by Nibali and Basso wasted precious energy in an attempt to limit their losses to a leading group eager to distance themselves from the Liquigas leaders.
Stage 11 caught the overall contenders off guard, as an unlikely large breakaway group was given an equally unlikely large lead. Race hopefuls Bradley Wiggins and Carlos Sastre were given too much of an advantage, leaving many experts placing blame on one team or another, effectively writing off all hope for an overall victory by either Nibali or Basso.
At the start in Amsterdam, Basso set out to quiet the whispers that if he didn't win this edition, he would never win again. Smart riding in Holland saw team Liquigas pass easily through the first dangerous stages with few incidents. Upon returning to Italy, victory in the team time trail earned Vincenzo Nibali the maglia rosa of race leadership. Nibali would hold the leadership until disaster struck in stage 7.
Rain greeted the riders on the stage which was to feature the strade bianche of Tuscany. Typically, these roads would leave the riders white with dust. Unfortunately, the rain made for a disastrous stage which saw the entire Team Liquigas hit the tarmac before the first sector of muddy gravel. The ensuing chase by Nibali and Basso wasted precious energy in an attempt to limit their losses to a leading group eager to distance themselves from the Liquigas leaders.
Stage 11 caught the overall contenders off guard, as an unlikely large breakaway group was given an equally unlikely large lead. Race hopefuls Bradley Wiggins and Carlos Sastre were given too much of an advantage, leaving many experts placing blame on one team or another, effectively writing off all hope for an overall victory by either Nibali or Basso.
Dominant team performances in the high mountains, including impressive stage victories by both Nibali (stage 14) and Basso (stage 15), saw the team in green chip away at the lead of the early breakaway hopefuls. A determined David Arroyo would be the final race leader to fall, as Basso claimed the maglia rosa for good on the stage to Aprica.
Joined on the final podium by his children Domatilla and Santiago, Basso hoisted the Giro trophy in a triumphant show of redemption and relief, having conquered a Giro of Homeric feats.
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