2012 Giro d’Italia – Stage 4

In other not-so-positive news, I just heard from our resident photographer Veeral Patel who’s car has just been broken into in Verona:

All his camera gear was taken. I couldn’t think of anything worse for him. He’s running around Europe on his own dime while chasing his dream which is now majorly set back. I hope he’s insured, because it’s about $25k worth of kit and many days of downtime.

Jered Gruber’s car was also broken into at the same time. Jered is another young and talented photographer living over in Europe doing some incredibile work.

I’m sorry to hear this horrible news. If the readers could only see how incredibly hard these race photographers work to bring us these images we take for granted every day you’d understand how gutted Veeral and Jered must be. I hope they’re back on their feet soon…

Highlights

Backstage Pass

Photos

: Mark Cavendish focusing before the start

: Team Sky on the start ramp. Cavendish’s wounds aren’t deep but I’m sure he’s aching.

: Taylor Phinney had a horrible time trial. He didn’t crash but went off the road and got tangled up in some long grass. He told cyclingnews “”I feel guilty,” “The team has waited for me on several occasions. Normally in a team time trial I’m one of the strongest. Today, I was a weight for BMC. I feel sorry for Marco Pinotti and Thor Hushovd who could have taken the pink jersey in the coming days. I’ve made them lose some time. I thank my teammates for dragging me to the finish. They could have let me down and continue without me. I wasn’t good today.”

: Matty Goss on the start ramp

: Mario still looks like a million bucks. He’s not racing the Giro, but he’s still there creating a buzz

: Garmin – Barracuda riding the fastest TTT of the day

: Gossy in the points jersey

: The Trofeo Senza Fine (trophy without end)

: Ramunas Navardauskas at the winners press conference. The 24 year old Lithuanian national road champion is in his second professional season and the first Lithuanian to wear the Maglia Rosa

Stage 5 Preview

Race Results

Giro d'Italia (2012) - Stage 4

Verona to Verona (32km)

9 May 2012

Stage

Position	Team	Time
1	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	37.04
2	KATUSHA	5
3	ASTANA	22
4	SAXO BANK
5	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP	24
6	ORICA-GREENEDGE	25
7	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	26
8	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	28
9	SKY PROCYCLING	30
10	BMC RACING	31
11	MOVISTAR	32
12	LAMPRE - ISD	34
13	TEAM NETAPP	43
14	FARNESE VINI	59
15	RABOBANK	1.01
16	LOTTO BELISOL	1.05
17	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	1.1
18	FDJ-BIG MAT
19	COLNAGO - CSF INOX	1.12
20	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	1.44
21	AG2R LA MONDIALE	1.45
22	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	2.22

General Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	NAVARDAUSKAS, Ramunas	LTU	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	10:01:53
2	FARRAR, Tyler	USA	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	10
3	HUNTER, Robert	RSA	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
4	HESJEDAL, Ryder	CAN	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	11
5	PHINNEY, Taylor	USA	BMC RACING	13
6	BOARO, Manuele	ITA	SAXO BANK	19
7	THOMAS, Geraint	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	21
8	ROSSELER, Sébastien	BEL	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	25
9	VANDEVELDE, Christian	USA	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	26
10	RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin	ESP	KATUSHA	30
11	LANCASTER, Brett	AUS	ORICA-GREENEDGE
12	GOSS, Matthew Harley	AUS	ORICA-GREENEDGE
13	STETINA, Peter	USA	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	31
14	MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel	ESP	KATUSHA	33
15	GASPAROTTO, Enrico	ITA	ASTANA
16	KRISTOFF, Alexander	NOR	KATUSHA	35
17	KWIATKOWSKI, Michal	POL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
18	SERGENT, Jesse	NZL	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	36
19	OLIVEIRA, Nelson	POR	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	37
20	CATALDO, Dario	ITA	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
21	PINOTTI, Marco	ITA	BMC RACING
22	BODNAR, Maciej	POL	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
23	VICIOSO ARCOS, Angel	ESP	KATUSHA	38
24	VERMOTE, Julien	BEL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP	39
25	CAVENDISH, Mark	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING
26	KREUZIGER, Roman	CZE	ASTANA	40
27	KANGERT, Tanel	EST	ASTANA
28	ROBERTS, Luke	AUS	SAXO BANK	41
29	SABATINI, Fabio	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	42
30	NIZZOLO, Giacomo	ITA	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
31	SMUKULIS, Gatis	LAT	KATUSHA	45
32	BAUER, Jack	NZL	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
33	BASSO, Ivan	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	47
34	BRUTT, Pavel	RUS	KATUSHA
35	VELITS, Martin	SVK	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
36	MALORI, Adriano	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	49
37	FLECHA, Juan Antonio	ESP	SKY PROCYCLING
38	IMPEY, Daryl	RSA	ORICA-GREENEDGE	50
39	TIRALONGO, Paolo	ITA	ASTANA	51
40	BAKELANTS, Jan	BEL	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
41	BALLAN, Alessandro	ITA	BMC RACING	52
42	ROHREGGER, Thomas	AUT	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	53
43	VISCONTI, Giovanni	ITA	MOVISTAR	55
44	CARUSO, Damiano	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
45	AGNOLI, Valerio	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	56
46	INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Benat	ESP	MOVISTAR
47	CAPECCHI, Eros	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	57
48	IGNATIEV, Mikhail	RUS	KATUSHA
49	BRUSEGHIN, Marzio	ITA	MOVISTAR
50	TOSATTO, Matteo	ITA	SAXO BANK
51	KEUKELEIRE, Jens	BEL	ORICA-GREENEDGE
52	GOLAS, Michal	POL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP	58
53	URAN, Rigobero	COL	SKY PROCYCLING
54	MEIER, Christian	CAN	ORICA-GREENEDGE
55	BENNATI, Daniele	ITA	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	59
56	BARTA, Jan	CZE	TEAM NETAPP
57	KENNAUGH, Peter	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	+1:01
58	JÖRGENSEN, Jonas Aaen	DEN	SAXO BANK
59	SAMOILAU, Branislau	BLR	MOVISTAR
60	PAUWELS, Serge	BEL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP	+1:02
61	KUSCHYNSKI, Aliaksandr	BLR	KATUSHA	+1:03
62	HERRADA LOPEZ, José	ESP	MOVISTAR
63	SEELDRAEYERS, Kevin	BEL	ASTANA
64	SZMYD, Sylvester	POL	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+1:07
65	AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA, Andrey	CRC	MOVISTAR
66	PETROV, Evgeny	RUS	ASTANA
67	BRANDLE, Matthias	AUT	TEAM NETAPP	+1:08
68	SCHLECK, Frank	LUX	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	+1:09
69	FRANK, Mathias	SUI	BMC RACING
70	PONZI, Simone	ITA	ASTANA	+1:10
71	CLEMENT, Stef	NED	RABOBANK	+1:11
72	STANNARD, Ian	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING
73	MAES, Nikolas	BEL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP	+1:12
74	POZZATO, Filippo	ITA	FARNESE VINI	+1:13
75	ULISSI, Diego	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD
76	HUZARSKI, Bartosz	POL	TEAM NETAPP	+1:14
77	LARSSON, Gustav	SWE	VACANSOLEIL-DCM
78	HENAO, Sergio	COL	SKY PROCYCLING	+1:15
79	HOLLENSTEIN, Reto	SUI	TEAM NETAPP
80	BEPPU, Fumiyuki	JPN	ORICA-GREENEDGE	+1:17
81	GUSTOV, Volodymir	UKR	SAXO BANK
82	SCHORN, Daniel	AUT	TEAM NETAPP
83	CUNEGO, Damiano	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	+1:19
84	WYSS, Danilo	SUI	BMC RACING	+1:20
85	SCARPONI, Michele	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	+1:22
86	DE GENDT, Thomas	BEL	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+1:24
87	SEUBERT, Timon	GER	TEAM NETAPP
88	PARDILLA BELLON, Sergio	ESP	MOVISTAR	+1:25
89	HAEDO, Lucas Sebastian	ARG	SAXO BANK	+1:26
90	SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro	ITA	BMC RACING
91	SOUPE, Geoffrey	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+1:29
92	DIETZIKER, Andreas	SUI	TEAM NETAPP	+1:32
93	DE GREEF, Francis	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+1:33
94	TSCHOPP, Johann	SUI	BMC RACING
95	RABOTTINI, Matteo	ITA	FARNESE VINI
96	SLAGTER, Tom Jelte	NED	RABOBANK	+1:34
97	NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw	POL	LAMPRE - ISD	+1:35
98	ZAUGG, Oliver	SUI	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	+1:36
99	NIERMANN, Grischa	GER	RABOBANK
100	BENEDETTI, Cesare	ITA	TEAM NETAPP	+1:37
101	FAVILLI, Elia	ITA	FARNESE VINI
102	CASAR, Sandy	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+1:38
103	BULGAC, Brian	NED	LOTTO BELISOL	+1:39
104	DE CLERCQ, Bart	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+1:40
105	BAK, Lars Ytting	DEN	LOTTO BELISOL
106	SANTAROMITA, Ivan	ITA	BMC RACING
107	LASTRAS GARCIA, Pablo	ESP	MOVISTAR	+1:41
108	BILLE, Gaetan	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+1:42
109	GARATE, Juan Manuel	ESP	RABOBANK	+1:49
110	POZZOVIVO, Domenico	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX
111	LAGUTIN, Sergey	UZB	VACANSOLEIL-DCM
112	SELVAGGI, Mirko	ITA	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+1:50
113	DE NEGRI, Pier Paolo	ITA	FARNESE VINI	+1:51
114	MARCZYNSKI, Tomasz	POL	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+1:52
115	VENTOSO ALBERDI, Francisco José	ESP	MOVISTAR	+1:53
116	PAGANI, Angelo	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX
117	DELAGE, Mickael	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT
118	HANSEN, Adam	AUS	LOTTO BELISOL	+1:54
119	MOUREY, Francis	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+1:55
120	MODOLO, Sacha	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX
121	FAILLI, Francesco	ITA	FARNESE VINI	+1:56
122	ROLLIN, Dominique	CAN	FDJ-BIG MAT	+1:58
123	PIRAZZI, Stefano	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX	+1:59
124	CARRARA, Matteo	ITA	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+2:02
125	FELLINE, Fabio	ITA	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	+2:10
126	COLBRELLI, Sonny	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX	+2:12
127	RIGHI, Daniele	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD
128	MAZZANTI, Luca	ITA	FARNESE VINI	+2:13
129	DEMARE, Arnaud	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+2:14
130	LONGO BORGHINI, Paolo	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+2:17
131	MONTAGUTI, Matteo	ITA	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:25
132	SERPA PEREZ, Jose Rodolfo	COL	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	+2:30
133	VAITKUS, Tomas	LTU	ORICA-GREENEDGE	+2:33
134	RUJANO GUILLEN, José	VEN	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
135	HUSHOVD, Thor	NOR	BMC RACING	+2:36
136	GAZVODA, Gregor	SLO	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:38
137	DUPONT, Hubert	FRA	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:39
138	CHICCHI, Francesco	ITA	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
139	SELLA, Emanuele	ITA	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	+2:40
140	RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Miguel Angel	COL	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
141	PERGET, Mathieu	FRA	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:41
142	GADRET, John	FRA	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:43
143	BRAMBILLA, Gianluca	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX	+2:46
144	TUFT, Svein	CAN	ORICA-GREENEDGE	+2:49
145	BELLETTI, Manuel	ITA	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:50
146	BERARD, Julien	FRA	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+2:52
147	BONNAFOND, Guillaume	FRA	AG2R LA MONDIALE
148	RODRIGUEZ, Jackson	VEN	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	+2:58
149	SPEZIALETTI, Alessandro	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	+3:02
150	OROZ UGALDE, Juan Jose	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
151	BONO, Matteo	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	+3:03
152	OCHOA, Carlos José	VEN	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	+3:05
153	IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Jon	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+3:18
154	SCHILLINGER, Andreas	GER	TEAM NETAPP	+3:20
155	NIEVE ITURALDE, Mikel	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+3:23
156	DYACHENKO, Alexsandr	KAZ	ASTANA	+3:25
157	COLEDAN, Marco	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX	+3:34
158	VEIKKANEN, Jussi	FIN	FDJ-BIG MAT	+3:46
159	VELASCO MURILLO, Ivan	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+3:48
160	FERRARI, Roberto	ITA	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	+3:50
161	RASMUSSEN, Alex	DEN	GARMIN-BARRACUDA	+3:57
162	CABEDO, Victor	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+3:59
163	DE MARCHI, Alessandro	ITA	ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI	+4:01
164	BROWN, Graeme	AUS	RABOBANK	+4:04
165	GATTO, Oscar	ITA	FARNESE VINI	+4:08
166	GASTAUER, Ben	LUX	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+4:14
167	HAEDO, Juan José	ARG	SAXO BANK	+4:15
168	BALLONI, Alfredo	ITA	FARNESE VINI	+4:24
169	EISEL, Bernhard	AUT	SKY PROCYCLING	+4:41
170	LUND, Anders	DEN	SAXO BANK	+4:50
171	SALERNO, Cristiano	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+4:51
172	SAEZ, Adrian	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+4:53
173	CHRISTENSEN, Mads	DEN	SAXO BANK	+4:58
174	RENSHAW, Mark	AUS	RABOBANK	+5:05
175	LOSADA ALGUACIL, Alberto	ESP	KATUSHA	+5:09
176	BATTAGLIN, Enrico	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX	+5:13
177	LOCATELLI, Stefano	ITA	COLNAGO - CSF INOX	+5:17
178	BANDIERA, Marco	ITA	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP	+5:23
179	VANENDERT, Dennis	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+5:59
180	DENIFL, Stefan	AUT	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+6:09
181	PIETROPOLLI, Daniele	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	+6:27
182	CAZAUX, Pierre	FRA	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+6:37
183	MEERSMAN, Gianni	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+7:02
184	BOBRIDGE, Jack	AUS	ORICA-GREENEDGE	+7:08
185	ZEITS, Andrey	KAZ	ASTANA	+7:09
186	BONNET, William	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+7:11
187	RASCH, Gabriel	NOR	FDJ-BIG MAT	+7:24
188	TXURRUKA, Amets	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+7:39
189	HUNT, Jeremy	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	+7:49
190	GUARDINI, Andrea	ITA	FARNESE VINI	+7:52
191	FEILLU, Romain	FRA	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+8:00
192	KAISEN, Olivier	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+8:38
193	LEEZER, Thomas	NED	RABOBANK	+9:48
194	KEIZER, Martijn	NED	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+10:47
195	HERMANS, Ben	BEL	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	+11:05
196	BOS, Theo	NED	RABOBANK	+11:35
197	MINGUEZ AYALA, Miguel	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+12:42
198	VAN WINDEN, Dennis	NED	RABOBANK	+14:14

Oliver

Dramatic TTT as usual, a highlight to any grand tour
http://dutchielovescycling.tumblr.com Marianne Westacott-Clermonts

Great write-up as usual. Very sorry to hear about Veeral losing all his gear, what a horrible blow.
On another note: why does Cavendish’s suit look so faded?
- Kev Eddy
  
  Different, super-aero material? Vaguely remember Hendy’s skinsuit also looking faded in the first crit in 2010. Either that or he put it in the tumble dryer.
  Looking forward to seeing the highlights of this.
- slhaydon
  
  it has longer arms and they only come in grey.
- Anonymous
  
  Comment on Twitter was that his missus washed it with too much Napisan :-)
- anon
  
  It looks like it is the more aero material. You can see that it isn’t as shiny like the other skinsuits as the material has tiny little dimples in it (not really, but it’s not completely smooth). They often look faded even brand new.
- Treesta
  
  Phinney’s suit looks faded also
http://cycling.norbtech.com/ norbs

Sorry to hear about Veeral and Jered. I hope they are both insured and get back to doing what they do best ASAP.
- Notso Swift
  
  yes it is pretty ordinary, but this is Italy, after all
  Even with insurance it will take them a bit to get it back, time and hassle, poor blokes
  Lets hope the can jag an exclusive and put some funds back
Notso Swift

Farrar in Pink tomorrow?
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  It’s a strong possibility. 20 seconds for the winner, 12 seconds for 2nd place and 8 seconds for 3rd place.
VeloNomad

What’s with GreenEdge knick length? Not very EuroPro.
Voeckler must shudder.

Sad news about Veeral and Jered. Hopefully their fellow photogs and the Giro can snaffle them a 1D or 5D or Nikon equivalents and a couple of bits of glass.

Great marketing opportunity for Canon and Nikon to step up and hook them up.
- Salami with your Lunch?
  
  GreenEdge knicks length vary as do all the other teams, EuroPro blah, check Mario’s, not gone say he isn’t ‘EuroPro’?
  Can see why Mario was popular, clearly white is the colour to show off your lunch, and we all know the Italians like to eat well ;-)
- Rossco
  
  It’d be nice if Canon and Nikon could do that, but if they had to replace all the stolen camera gear from any professional around the world, they’d be broke. Just bad luck really. I hope they had backups of all the photos and can get their hands on some more gear soon… Let’s hope they had insurance, you’d have to be crazy not to especially with camera gear worth the price of a brand new car.
http://twitter.com/Tinea_Pedis Nick Squillari

Gutted to hear about the boys losing their gear. Hope they’re back up and at it ASAP. Although to lose all your photo’s… :(

And that Kask TT helmet, so much want! Cannot wait to be able to buy it!
- http://www.facebook.com/pmark1bike pmark1bike
  
  Yuck, I think the Kask helmet looks like a watermelon that has been halved, hollowed and painted black and blue. But what would I know hey Nick S?
Anoldfan

Lucky Cipollini owns his own bike company. My mate is on his 4 frame in 18 months. May be they should change the name to crackollini…
Mark

Really sorry to hear about Veeral and Jered as well – terrible news. I really enjoyed that back stage pass video; gave a great insight to what happens in the team car and the preparation for a stage.
Genty

Mario is the only person who can get away with wearing white knicks… and only just!
- LeighMJ
  
  No, no, no… NOONE is able to get away with wearing white knicks. I don’t care who they are, it’s just WRONG!
- Matt
  
  At least his knicks got Italian stripes but he’s certainly the only one to get away without wearing a helmet. If he did wear one he’d probably pull all his giggolo hair off since it’d be permanently fused to the inside of the helmet.
justanotheropinion

Someone was obviously watching those two boys. To know that the gear was stowed in the boot (trunk) and get access by folding down rear seat. plus they would have been seen around the traps. I hope they have insurance also.
Edmund Gralton

Gypsies – they steal everything.
Super Mario – still looking like a Euro pro
Notice
- jackseph
  
  Since when did it become socially acceptable to blame an entire ethnic group of a crime (especially as you have no evidence)? This is not 1930′s Germany. You need to pull your head in, Edmund
bracks_ashat

Can Cavendish’s bootie length get any higher?
Anonymous

Anyone know which LiquiGas rider was running the mavic io (5 spoke)?

http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2012/giro-d-italia/photos/stage-04/070-PIC277267152.jpg

A trackie?
dndrnb

Brilliant pics these guys take. Happy to tip in a few $$ if they aren’t insured. Surely all the CT fans can do thier bit to get them back to speed so we can all continue to enjoy the journey??
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1333971090 Sean Doyle

I’m happy to tip a few $ to a emergency fund if the boys need it. That just plain sucks.

Bloody Mario. He gives me weird sensations. I’m confused.
velonut

Sorry to hear about Veeral. Does anyone know why Phinney is running traditional shifters while everyone else on BMC is using electronic?
- lekoshe
  
  I’ve heard it suggested that it’s because he’s so tall (almost 2m) – under UCI rules the non-centering shifters are measured to the pivot not the tip, so he can get some extra reach this way.
Ghost

Im sorry but the cameras being stolen was just waiting to happen. Isnt it common knowledge to take all valuables OUT of your car when your not in it. It sucks for sure but you only have your self to blame. No sympathy at all.