Giro d'Italia - the Tour of Italy 2012

General final classification :

1.    Ryder Hesjedal (Can)    91h39'02"
2.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Es) 16"
3.    Thomas De Gendt (Be)   1'39"
4.    Michele Scarponi (It)    2'05"
5.    Ivan Basso (It)    3'44"
6.    Damiano Cunego (It)    4'40"
7.    Rigoberto Uran (Col)    5'57"
8.    Domenico Pozzovivo (It) 6'28"
9.    Sergio Henao (Col)    7'50"
10.    Mikel Nieve (Es)    8'08"

The 95th edition of the Giro d'Italia takes place from May 5 till May 27.

There are 2 individual time trials, one team time trial and 2 rest days.

The first 3 days of the Giro take place in Denmark.

D1 - Sat 5/5: Individual time trial - Herning (DK) - 8.7 km (5.4 mi)

Taylor Phinney (USA BMC) was in Herning (Dennmark) the fastest in the individual time trial. Amongst the favorites, Michele Scarponi disappointed at day 1.

1.    Taylor Phinney (USA)    8,7 km 10'26"
2.    Geraint Thomas (UK)    9"
3.    Alex Rasmussen (Den)    13"
4.    Manuele Boaro (It)    15"
5.    Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe)    22"
6.    Ramunas Navardauskas (Lit)     s.t.
7.    Brett Lancaster (Aus)    23"
8.    Marco Pinotti (It)    24"
9.    Jesse Sergent (NZl)    26"
10.    Nelson Oliveira (Por)    27"

D2 - Sun 06/05: Herning (DK) -> Herning - 206 km (128 mi)

Cavendish wins in massive sprint.

1.    Mark Cavendish (UK)    206 km 4h53'12"
2.    Matthew Goss (Aus)    all s.t.
3.    Geoffrey Soupe (Fr)
5.    Roberto Ferrari (It)
6.    Mark Renshaw (Aus)
7.    Thor Hushovd (No)
8.    Daniele Bennati (It)
9.    William Bonnet (Fr)
10. Geraint Thomas (UK)

D3 - Mon 07/05: Horsens (DK) -> Horsens - 190 km (118.06 mi)

Matthew Goss (Aus - Orica-GreenEdge) won the thrid stage in the Giro. Leader Taylor Phinney and world champion Mark Cavendish fell in the sprint, but were not heavily injured.

Results stage 3:
01.    Matthew Goss (Aus)    190 km 4h20'53"
02.    Juan José Haedo (Arg)
03.    Tyler Farrar (USA)
04.    Arnaud Démare (Fr)
05.    Mark Renshaw (Aus)
06.    Thor Hushovd (No)
07.    Alexander Kristoff (No)
08.    Romain Feillu (Fr)
09.    Fumiyuki Beppu (Jap)
10.    Andrea Guardini (It)

Tue 08/05: Rest day

D4 - Wed 09/05: TTT - Verona - 32.2 km (20 mi)

Team Garmin was the first in the TTT, and Navardauskas got the pink jersey.

Results stage 4 :
1.    Garmin    33,2 km 37'04"
2.    Katjoesja    5"
3.    Astana    22"
4.    Saxo Bank    22"
5.    Omega Pharma-Quick Step    24"
6.    Orica-GreenEdge                     25"
7.    Liquigas    26"
8.    RadioShack                              28"
9.    Sky                                           30"
10.    BMC                                       31"

D5 - Thu 10/05: Modena -> Fano - 199 km (123.65 mi)

Mark Cavendish got his second victory in the Giro. He was the fastest in the massive sprint. His one month old daughter celebrated on the stage, together with her father.

Results stage 5:
1.    Mark Cavendish (UK)    206 km 4h43'15"
2.    Matthew Goss (Aus)
3.    Daniele Bennati (It)
4.    Robert Hunter (SAf)
5.    Sacha Modolo (It)
6.    Alexander Kristoff (No)
7.    Elia Favilli (It)
8.    Manuel Belletti (It)
9.    Arnaud Démare (Fr)
10. Jonas Aaen Jørgensen (Den)

D6 - Fri 11/05: Urbino -> Porto Sant'Elpidio - 207 km ( 128.62 mi) - middle mountain stage

The Norvegian Thor Hushovt (BMC) leaves the Giro after disappointing results.
The Colombian Miguel Angel Rubiano (Androni) wins after a solo escape.
The Italian Adriano Malori conquers the pink jersey.

Results stage 6
1.    Miguel Angel Rubiano (Col)    210 km 5h38'30"
2.    Adriano Malori (It)    1'10"
3.    Michal Golas (Pol)    s.t.
4.    Aleksandr Djatsjenko (Kaz)
5.    Cesare Benedetti (It)
6.    Daryl Impey (SAf)    1'51"
7.    Filippo Pozzato (Ita)    s.t.
8.    Fabio Sabatini (It)
9.    Francisco Ventoso (Es)
10.    Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol)

The 6th stage takes place in the region of the Marche.

Climbs:
- Cingoli
- Pitino Madonella
- Passo della Cappella
- Montelupone

D7 - Sat 12/05: Recanati -> Rocca di Cambio - 202 km (125.51 mi) - middle mountain stage
The Italian Tiralongo (Astana) finishes first in the sprint at the Rocca di Cambio, just before Scarponi (Lampre).

Results stage 7 :
1.    Paolo Tiralongo (It)    205km 5h51'03"
2.    Michele Scarponi (It)    s.t.
3.    Fränk Schleck (Lux)    3"
4.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Es)    s.t.
5.    Ryder Hesjedal (Can)    5"
6.    Domenico Pozzovivo (It) 9"
7.    Daniel Moreno (Es)
8.    Ivan Basso (It)
9.    Mikel Nieve (Es)    11"
10. Gianluca Brambila (It)

Climbs:
- Colle Galluccio
- Rocca di Cambio

D8 - Sun 13/05: Sulmona -> Lago Laceno - 229 km (142.29 mi) - middle mountain stage
Domenico Pozzovivo (It - Colnago) was first in the 8th stage of the Giro. He arrived alone at the finish after a mountain stage. Hesjedal remains overall leader.

1.    Domenico Pozzovivo (It)   6h06'05"
2.    Beñat Intxausti (Es)           23"
3.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Es)    27"
4.    Thomas De Gendt (Be)
5.    Dario Cataldo (It)    all s.t.
6.    Damiano Caruso (It)
7.    Gianluca Brambilla (It)
8.    Bartosz Huzarski (Pol)
9.    Jose Rujano (Ven)
10. John Gadret (Fr)

Climbs:
- Valico del Macerone
- Colle Molella

D9 - Mon 14/05: San Giorgio nel Sannio -> Frosinone - 171 km (106.25 mi)

Ventoso wins after tumultuous bunch sprint

1 Francisco Ventoso (ESP) Movistar    3:39:15
2 Fabio Felline (ITA) Androni Giocattoli +0
3 Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) RadioShack    +0
4 Damiano Caruso (ITA) Liquigas        +0
5 Daniel Schorn (AUT) NetApp               +0

D10 - Tue 15/05: Civitavecchia -> Assisi - 187 km (116.19 mi) - middle mountain stage

Joaquim Rodriguez wins the 10th stage in Assisi. The Spaniard was the strongest in the final climb towards the basilic. He also conquers the pink jersey.

Results Stage 10:

1.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Es)    186 km 4h25'05"
2.    Bartosz Huzarski (Pol)    2"
3.    Giovanni Visconti (It)    s.t.
4.    Domenico Pozzovivo (It) 6"
5.    John Gadret (Fr)

This stage takes place in the region of Lazio.

Climb:
- Assisi

D11 - Wed 16/05: Assisi -> Montecatini Terme - 243 km (150.99 mi)
Roberto Ferrari (Androni) took profit out of a sharp turn in the sprint. Joaquim Rodriguez keeps on wearing the pink jersey.

Results stage 11:
1.    Roberto Ferrari (It)    258km 6h49'05"
2.    Francesco Chicchi (It)    s.t.
3.    Tomas Vaitkus (Lit)
4.    Mark Cavendish (UK)
5.    Manuel Belletti (It)

D12 - Thu 17/05: Seravezza -> Sestri Levante - 157 km (97.55 mi) - middle mountain stage

Results Day 12 :

1 BAK Lars Ytting (DK)
2 CASAR Sandy (FR)
3 AMADOR BIKKAZAKOVA Andrey (CRC)
4 BAKELANTS Jan (BE)
5 SANTAROMITA Ivan (IT)

Climbs:
- Biassa
- Valico Guaitarola
- Valico La Mola
- Villa Tassani

D13 - Fri 18/05: Savona -> Cervere - 121 km (75.18 mi)

World Champion Mark Cavendish gets his third victory in the Giro. He was clearly the fastest in the mass sprint. Joaquim Rodriguez is still leader in the overall ranking.

Results stage 13:
1.    Mark Cavendish (UK)    121 km 3h02'07"
2.    Alexander Kristoff (No) s.t.
3.    Mark Renshaw (Aus)
4.    Sacha Modolo (It)
5.    Elia Favilli (It)

Climb:
- Montezemolo

D14 - Sat 19/05: Cherasco - Cervinia - 205 km (127.38 mi) - mountain stage

The first mountain stage returns the pink jersey to Ryder Hesjedal. The stage is won by the Costa Rican Andrey Amador.

Results stage 14:
1.    Andrey Amador (CRi)    209 km in 5h33'36"
2.    Jan Barta (Tsj)    s.t.
3.    Alessandro De Marchi (Ita)    2"
4.    Ryder Hesjedal (Can)    20"
5.    Paolo Tiralongo (Ita)    46"

Climb:
- Cervinia

D15 - Sun 20/05: Busto Arsizio -> Lecco / Pian Dei Resinelli - 172 km (106.87 mi) - mountain stage

Joaquim Rodriguez took the pink jersey from Ryder Hesjedal. He became second in the mountain stage that was won by Matteo Rabottini (It).

Results stage 15 :
1.    Matteo Rabottini (It)    169 km 5h15'30"
2.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Es)    s.t.
3.    Alberto Losada (Es)    23"
4.    Sergio Henao (Col)    25"
5.    Michele Scarponi (It)

Climbs:
- Forcella di Bura
- Culmine di San Pietro
- Pian dei Resinelli

Monday 21/05: Rest day

D16 - Tue 22/05: Limone sul Garda -> Falzes / Pfalzen - 174 km (108.11 mi) - middle mountain stage

Jon Izagirre (Es) was the fastest of a smal group that earlier on had escaped from the pack. Rodriguez remains leader.

Results stage 16 :
1.    Jon Izagirre (Es)    173 km 4h02'00"
2.    Alessandro De Marchi (It)    16"
3.    Stef Clement (Nl)
4.    Mathias Frank (Ch)             19"
5.    Jose Lopez Herrada (Es)    21"Climb:
- Pfalzen

D17 - Wed 23/05: Falzes / Pfalzen -> Cortina d'Ampezzo - 187 km (116.19 mi) - mountain stage

Joaquim Rodriguez was the first in a select sprint after a difficult stage with 4 major climbs and consolidates his position of leader in the general classification.

Results stage 17 :
1.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Es)
2.    Ivan Basso (It)
3.    Ryder Hesjedal (Can)
4.    Rigoberto Uran (Col)
5.    Michele Scarponi (It)

Climbs:
- Passo Valparola
- Passo Duran
- Forcella Staulanza
- Passo Giau

D18 - Thu 24/05: San Vito di Cadore -> Vedelago - 139 km (86.37 mi)

Andrea Guardini (It - Farnese Vini) won the 18th stage in the Giro. he arrived just before Cavendish in a massive sprintl. Joaquim Rodriguez remains leader in the overall ranking.

Results stage 18 :
1.    Andrea Guardini (It)    149 km 3h00'52"
2.    Mark Cavendish (UK)    s.t.
3.    Roberto Ferrari (It)
4.    Robert Hunter (sAf)
5.    Juan José Haedo (Arg)

D19 - Fri 25/05: Treviso -> Alpe di Pampeago - 197 km (122.41 mi) - mountain stage
Roman Kreuziger (Tsj - Astana) is the fastest in the sprint during the final climb. Rodriguez looses seconds to Hesjedal in the final classification.

Results stage 19 :
1.    Roman Kreuziger (Tsj)    198 km in 6u18'03"
2.    Ryder Hesjedal (Can)    op 19"
3.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa)    32"
4.    Michele Scarponi (Ita)    35"
5.    Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita)    43"

During stage 19 and 20, the Giro passes through the region of Trentino - Alto-Adige.

Climbs:
- Sella di Roa
- Passo Manghen
- Alpe di Pampeago
- Pampeago Reiter-Joch
- Passo Lavazè

D20 - Sat 26/05: Caldes / Val di Sole -> Passo dello Stelvio - 218 km (135.45 mi) - mountain stage
Thomas De Gendt was the first in the Queen Stage of the Giro. The Belgian (Vacansoleil) arrived alone at the top of the Stelvio. A place among the first 3 is within his reach.

results stage 20 :
1.    Thomas De Gendt (Be)    219 km 6h54'41"
2.    Damiano Cunego (It)    56"
3.    Mikel Nieve (Es)    2'50"
4.    Joaquim Rodriguez (Es)    3'22"
5.    Michele Scarponi (It)    3'34"

Climbs:
- Passo del Tonale
- Aprica
- Teglio
- Mortirolo
- Stelvio

D21 - Sun 27/05: Individual time trial: Milan - Milan - 31.5 km (19.57 mi)

Ryder Hesjedal (Can) is the final winner of the Giro. He skipped Rodriguez (Es) from the first place. Thomas De Gendt (Be) became third.

Results final tim triam

1.    Marco Pinotti (Ita)    28,2 km in 33'06"
2.    Geraint Thomas (GBr)     39"
3.    Jesse Sergent (NZe)    53"
4.    Alex Rasmussen (Den)    1'00"
5.    Thomas De Gendt    1'01"