MILAN, Italy, 25 May 2005 — Paolo Savoldelli is quietly confident he can win the Giro d’Italia for a second time but has made it clear that the three-week race will not be decided until the final stage in the mountains on Saturday.
“I’m quietly confident because my form is good and I know I’ve ridden well so far, but the Giro is still wide open because the gaps between the leading riders aren’t very high,” the Italian told a media conference on yesterday’s rest day.
Savoldelli leads compatriots Danilo Di Luca and Gilberto Simoni by 25 seconds and 1:48 respectively and named them as his two big rivals for final victory.
“Di Luca and Simoni are both important riders and have won big races in the past, so they’re the ones I have to watch” Savoldelli said.
“Di Luca seems to be pedalling really well even though he has been on top form for several weeks, while Simoni is dangerous in major stage races because he is always strong in the third week and likes to attack.”
The 31-year-old Savoldelli knows he should be able to gain time on his rivals in Friday’s 34-km time-trial to Turin but is worried about Saturday’s stage to the ski resort of Sestriere.
“The Giro will be decided in Sestriere on Saturday after going over the Colle delle Finestre,” he said.
Savoldelli won the 2002 Giro but hardly raced in 2003 and 2004 due to a series of accidents. Now in the Giro leader’s special pink jersey, he hopes his run of bad luck is behind him.
“I broke my nose and jaw in a collision with a motorbike in 2003, got a virus from over-training in 2004 and then had another two accidents after that. I’ve still got nine screws and a titanium plate in my collar bone. Hopefully I’m being paid back for everything I’ve been through. Victory in the Giro would mark the end of all my bad luck,” he said. Even if he wins, Savoldelli made it clear he would still sacrifice his own chance of victory in July’s Tour de France to help his Discovery Channel team mate Lance Armstrong.
“Whatever happens I’m going to be riding for Lance at the Tour,” Savoldelli said.
