Mattew Goss, before the start, must have carefully observed the last kilometer of the Assisi-Montecatini, a stage for sprinters like him, the longest with its 258 km: with clearly visible signs of the scary crash the other day in Frosinone, the Australian, the strongest sprinter around after Mark Cavendish, took note that the organizers of the Giro, while foreseeing a probable sprint, had placed there, undeterred in seeking the thrill, not one but two corners, the first very difficult at 600 meters, then a second at 350 meters. So Goss, since Assisi, almost as if he had a premonition, had chosen (and hoped) not to participate in the final rush. And he did well because once again here is the umpteenth tangle, the usual scene that we saw with its load of risks and injuries in Herning, Horsens, Frosinone: Modolo with others ends up on the asphalt, Thomas misses the curve blocking Cavendish's comeback who, however, at least today, doesn't hit the ground. The Lithuanian Vaitkus tries to take advantage of the carom as he tries the long sprint. Cavendish comes out unscathed but loses power and doesn't make it to the tenth success at the Giro at the finish line which in 2003 saw the 42nd and last victory of Mario Cipollini. The winner is Roberto Ferrari, the Italian sprinter who, with a sudden disqualification, sent the British world champion up in Horsens. Second is Francesco Chicchi. Third Vaitkus. Cavendish is only fourth, but enough with the 15 points forfeited to snatch the red jersey from Goss who today was a tourist, paying more attention to health than to the points classification, enlisted in a group of latecomers who reached the finish line with over 10 minutes of detachment.
Anyone who didn't want to be a tourist in the stage dedicated to Gino Bartali, but arrived in Montecatini, thanks to a crash, with an unexpected gap of 45" from the group of the best ruled by Ferrari, is Frank Schleck, who had already lost precious seconds yesterday who is now 23rd in the standings at 2'11” from Joaquin Rodriguez still in the pink jersey. In a Giro that seems to play on seconds, experienced by the protagonists in a crescendo of tension precisely because none of them is a champion capable of crushing the others, the delay of Andy's older brother begins to become heavy: a surprise for everyone because Schleck, after a listless start, he got more and more alive so as to be thrown among the possible winners of the pink race. Race that starts again tomorrow from Serravezza, at the foot of the Apuan Alps, to go to Sestri Levante, a short stage of 155 km but full of pitfalls especially in the second half of the route with 4,5 km of ascent at 8% less than 11 kilometers since arrival.
