MONTE ZONCOLAN, 23 May 2003 — Italy’s Gilberto Simoni won the 12th stage of the Giro d‘Italia and increased his overall lead yesterday. Simoni finished 34 seconds ahead of compatriot Stefano Garzelli and Francesco Casagrande, who finished a further five seconds back.
The victory and time bonus ensured that the 2001 champion extended his race lead over Garzelli from two to 44 seconds. Italy’s Andrea Noe is third, 2:23 behind.
World champion Mario Cipollini had withdrawn from the race earlier in the day after crashing on the final curve of the 11th stage on Wednesday. But it was Simoni’s day as he attacked in the final three kilometers of the climb up to the summit of Monte Zoncolan on the 188-km stage from San Dona Di Piave to increase his lead.
Garzelli, meanwhile said he remained confident after limiting Simoni’s lead. “My aim was to lose less than 30 seconds to Simoni and I more or less achieved it,” said Garzelli. “The Zoncolan is very steep and so is much more suited to Simoni than me. There is still a long way to go in the Giro with another mountain stage on Saturday and then the time trial on Sunday.
Former winner Marco Pantani finished fourth on the stage and said he had surprised himself.
