So I mentioned to my teen-age son this weekend that the Giro d'Italia was underway and an American was in the pink jersey for the first time in 20 years.
We agreed that was cool, but then I predicted than an Italian would probably win the race, because the Italians are crazy about the Giro and their cyclists put out their best efforts for the race..
Always searching for logic, he asked that if the Italians always win the Giro, then “Why don't the French ever win the Tour de France?” (Bernard Hinault was the last Frenchman to win the Tour — in 1985.)
Without taking a pot shot at the French natural culture, I didn't have any good answers for him. Does anyone? Please leave a comment.
In control
By the way, it looks like the Italians are back in control of the Giro d'Italia. The one-day wonder of US-based Slipstream Chipotle, which won Saturday's team time trial, is over for now.
Daniele Bennati of Liquigas won the mass sprint in Milazzo to capture Stage 3. Franco Pellizotti, also of Liquigas, retained the overall leader's pink jersey that he captured on Sunday.
US cyclist Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) remained in position to take back the jersey, as he finished the day 1 second behind in the overall classification.
Monday's stage covered 137 miles from Catania to Milazzo, skirting the base of the Mount Etna volcano.
The Giro returns to the mainland, in the toe of the boot for a 113-mile mostly flat stage from Pizzo Calabro – Catanzaro-Lungomare.
Top 10 overall:
1 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
2 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Slipstream, 1 second behind
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes, 7 seconds
4 Morris Possoni (Ita) Team High Road, 8 seconds
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
6 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC, 17 seconds
7 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team High Road, 18 seconds
8 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) LPR Brakes, 19 seconds
9 Andrea Noè (Ita) Liquigas, 22 seconds
10 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Barloworld, 25 seconds
Other US cyclists
23 Levi Leipheimer, Astana, 40 seconds behind
160 Jason McCartney, Team CSC, 13:14 behind
168 Danny Pate, Slipstream, 14:40 behind
192 Jonathan Patrick Mc Carty, Slipstream, 21:33 behind
David Zabriskie left the race after Stage 2 due to an injury
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