BikeRaceInfo: Current and historical race results, plus interviews, bikes, travel, and cycling historyBikeRaceInfo: Current and historical race results, plus interviews, bikes, travel, and cycling history
Search our site:
Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter

2000 Giro d'Italia

83rd edition: May 13 - June 4

Results, stages with running GC, map, profile, photos and history

2001 Giro | 1999 Giro | Giro d'Italia Database | Race Profile | 2000 Giro Quick Facts | 2000 Giro d'Italia Final GC | Stage results with running GC | The Story of the 2000 Giro d'Italia | More Giro photos here & here

map of 2000 Giro d'Italia

Map of the 2000 Giro d'Italia


2000 Giro d'Italia profile

2000 Giro d'Italia profile


2000 Giro Quick Facts:

Plato's Crito

3,698 km raced at an average speed of 37.55 km/hr

179 starters and 127 classified finishers

Francesco Casagrande took command of the Giro in stage nine and attempted to exert a Merckx-like control.

But Francesco Casagrande wasn't Merckx and by the time of the last mountain stage, he was showing signs of wear and tear.

He kept the lead until the penultimate stage, a hilly time trial. There Stefano Garzelli did the ride of his life and won the 2000 Giro.

Marco Pantani was able to finish the race, finishing 28th and towards the end showed flashes of brilliance.

Plato's Crito is available as an audiobook here.


2000 Giro d'Italia Complete Final General Classification:

  1. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) 98hr 30min 14sec
  2. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) @ 1min 27sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 1min 33sec
  4. Andrea Noe (Mapei) @ 4min 58sec
  5. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei) @ 5min 28sec
  6. Hernan Buenahora (Selle Italia) @ 5min 48sec
  7. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 7min 38sec
  8. Jose Luis Rubiera (Kelme) @ 8min 8sec
  9. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 8min 4sec
  10. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 8min 32sec
  11. Santiago Blanco (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 12min 11sec
  12. Paolo Lanfranchi (Mapei) @ 16min 26sec
  13. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 20min 49sec
  14. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 23min 21sec
  15. Victor Hugo Peña (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 23min 30sec
  16. Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) @ 24min 9sec
  17. Chann McRae (Mapei) @ 27min 11sec
  18. José Castelblanco (Kelme) @ 28min 53sec
  19. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 30min 16sec
  20. Francisco Mancebo (Banesto) @ 31min
  21. Mauro Fincato (Fassa Bortolo) @ 35min 11sec
  22. Dariusz Baranowski (Banesto) @ 37min 29sec
  23. Andrea Tonti (Cantina Tollo) @ 29min 14sec
  24. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) @ 47min 25sec
  25. Axel Merckx (Mapei) @ 42min 53sec
  26. Pavel Padrnos (Saeco) @ 47min 25sec
  27. Riccardo Forconi (Mercatone Uno) @ 55min 16sec
  28. Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) @ 59min 39sec
  29. Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) @ 1min 0min 0sec
  30. José Javier Gomez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 1hr 0min 29sec
  31. José Jaime Gonzalez (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 1hr 0min 45sec
  32. Filippo Baldo (Mobilvetta) @ 1hr 4min 50sec
  33. Roberto Sgambelluri (Cantina Tollo) @ 1hr 4min 52sec
  34. Mariano Piccoli (Lampre) @ 1hr 6min 21sec
  35. Oscar Pelliciolli (Polti) @ 1hr 6min 29sec
  36. Daniele De Paoli (Mercatone Uno) @ 1hr 6min 51sec
  37. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 1hr 8min 31sec
  38. Vladimir Duma (Panaria-Gaerne) @ 1hr 8min 44sec
  39. Thomas Brozyna (Banesto) @ 1hr 12min 53sec
  40. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta) @ 1hr 13min 9sec
  41. Stefano Cattai (Liquigas) @ 1hr 14min 45sec
  42. Ricardo Ochoa Palacios (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 1hr 15min 18sec
  43. José Manuel Uria (Polti) @ 1hr 16min 0sec
  44. Roberto Conti (Vini Caldirola) @ 1hr 16min 42sec
  45. Gabriele Missaglia (Lampre) @ 1hr 21min 17sec
  46. Eladio Jimenez (Banesto) @ 1hr 21min 38sec
  47. Massimo Codol (Lampre) @ 1hr 22min 46sec
  48. Marco Della Vedova (Lampre) @ 1hr 26min 29sec
  49. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 1hr 27min 30sec
  50. Juan José de Los Angeles (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 1hr 30min 18sec
  51. Vitali Kokorine (Amica Chips) @ 1hr 32min 8sec
  52. Ivan Basso (Amica Chips) @ 1hr 34min 42sec
  53. Massimo Donati (Vini Caldirola) @ 1hr 36min 28sec
  54. Marco Vergnani (Cantina Tollo) @ 1hr 37min 1sec
  55. Eddy Mazzoleni (Polti) @ 1hr 40min 4sec
  56. Mario Scirea (Saeco) @ 1hr 41min 4sec
  57. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1hr 43min 50sec
  58. Grzegorz Gwiadowski (FDJ) @ 1hr 44min 19sec
  59. Francesco Secchiari (Saeco) @ 1hr 48min 14sec
  60. Filippo Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) @ 1hr 48mn 53sec
  61. Oscar Pozzi (Amica Chips) @ 1hr 51min 2sec
  62. Mauro Zanetti (Vini Caldirola) @ 1hr 51min 31sec
  63. Massimo Giunti (Cantina Tollo) @ 1hr 53min 21sec
  64. Rinaldo Nocentini (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1hr 57min 47sec
  65. Raul Montana (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 1hr 58min 10sec
  66. Orlando Sergio Gomes (Banesto) @ 2hr 2min 16sec
  67. Maximilian Sciandri (Linda McCartney) @ 2hr 2min 59sec
  68. Niki Aebersold (Rabobank) @ 2hr 4min 0sec
  69. Marzio Bruseghin (Banesto) @ 2hr 5min 10sec
  70. Michel Lafis (Farm Frites) @ 2hr 6min 48sec
  71. Fortunato Balliani (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 2hr 9min 42sec
  72. Angel Vicioso (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 2hr 11min 24sec
  73. Sergio Barbero (Lampre) @ 2hr 15min 17sec
  74. Andrea Peron (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2hr 15min 51sec
  75. Davide Bramati (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2hr 15min 59sec
  76. Enrico Cassani (Polti) @ 2hr 16min 19sec
  77. Ruber Alver Marin (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 2hr 17min 57sec
  78. Biagio Conte (Saeco) @ 2hr 19min 59sec
  79. Paolo Fornaciari (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2hr 22min 21sec
  80. Addy Engels (Rabobank) @ 2hr 23min 7sec
  81. Elio Aggiano (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 2hr 27min 48sec
  82. Ermanno Brignoli (Mercatone Uno) @ 2hr 35min 21sec
  83. Cristian Gasperoni (Cantina Tollo) @ 2hr 35min 48sec
  84. Nicolas Vogondy (FDJ) @ 2hr 36min 51sec
  85. Pietro Caucchioli (Amica chips @ 2hr 39min 11sec
  86. Mario Manzoni (Mobilvetta) @ 2hr 42min 36sec
  87. Simone Bertoletti (Lampre) @ 2hr 42min 58sec
  88. Luis Oran Castaneda (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 2hr 44min 16sec
  89. Candido Barbosa (Banesto) @ 2hr 48min 20sec
  90. Alberto Ongarato (Mobilvetta) @ 2hr 49min 28sec
  91. Daniel Schnider (FDJ) @ 2hr 49min 57sec
  92. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2hr 50min 11sec
  93. Fabiano Fontanelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 2hr 54min 38sec
  94. Fabrizio Guidi (FDJ) @ 2hr 54min 43sec
  95. Andrea Ferrigato (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2hr 56min 20sec
  96. Gianluca Bortolami (Amica Chips) @ 2hr 57min 39sec
  97. Mauro Gerosa (Amica Chips) @ 2hr 57min 39sec
  98. Jeroen Blijlevens (Polti) @ 2hr 58min 58sec
  99. Guido Trenti (Cantina Tollo) @ 2hr 59min 9sec
  100. Milan Kadlec (Mobilvetta) @ 2hr 59min 14sec
  101. Matthew White (Vini Caldirola) @ 3hr 0min 29sec
  102. Jan Svorada (Lampre) @ 3hr 0min 30sec
  103. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) @ 3hr 0min 32sec
  104. Filippo Simeoni (Amica Chips) @ 3hr 0min 34sec
  105. Silvio Martinello (Polti) @ 3hr 1min 21sec
  106. Daniele Contrini (Liquigas) @ 3hr 2min 6sec
  107. Leonardo Scarselli (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 3hr 2min 47sec
  108. Pieter Vries (Farm Frites) @ 3hr 5min 49sec
  109. Giampaolo Mondini (Cantina Tollo) @ 3hr 5min 57sec
  110. Matthé Pronk (Rabobank) @ 3hr 7min 0sec
  111. Maurizio De Pasquale (Linda McCartney) @ 3hr 8min 55sec
  112. Simone Borgheresi (Mercatone Uno) @ 3hr 9min17sec
  113. David McKenzie (Linda McCartney) @ 3hr 14min 14sec
  114. Tayeb Braikia (Linda McCartney) @ 3hr 14min 19sec
  115. Diego Ferrari (Amica Chips) 3hr 14min 38sec
  116. Marco Zanotti (Liquigas) @ 3hr 18min 24sec
  117. Marco Milesi (Vini Caldirola) @ 3hr 25min 13sec
  118. Giuseppe Calcaterra (Saeco) @ 3hr 25min 15sec
  119. Moreno Di Biase (Cantina Tollo) @ 3hr 28min 43sec
  120. Alessio Galletti (Saeco) @ 3hr 29min 45sec
  121. Erik Dekker (Rabobank) @ 3hr 30min 41sec
  122. Ciaran Power (Linda McCartney) @ 3hr 35min 17sec
  123. Bart Voskamp (Polti) @ 3hr 38min 59sec
  124. Giuseppe Palumbo (Amica Chips) @ 3hr 39min 14sec
  125. Björnar Vestol (Linda McCartney) @ 3hr 39min 25sec
  126. Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) @ 3hr 41min 53sec
  127. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 3hr 47min 6sec

Points Classification:

  1. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo): 159 points
  2. Fabrizio Guidi (FDJ): 119
  3. Jan Svorada (Lampre): 116
  4. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno): 114
  5. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola): 106

Climbers' Competition:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola): 71 points
  2. José Jaime Gonzalez (Nectar-Selle Italia): 71
  3. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno): 47
  4. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre): 42
  5. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank): 31

Intergiro:

  1. Fabrizio Guidi (FDJ) 62hr 50min5sec
  2. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) @ 57sec
  3. Diego Ferrari (Amica Chips) @ 1min 38sec
  4. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 2min 1sec
  5. Daniele Contrini (Liquigas) @ 2min 3sec

Team Classification (time):

  1. Mapei-Quick Step: 295hr 29min 39sec
  2. Vitalicio Seguros @ 31min 3sec
  3. Kelme-Costa Blanca @ 31min 23sec
  4. Fassa Bortolo @ 38min 25sec
  5. Banesto @ 41min 36sec

Superteam Classification (points):

  1. Fassa Bortolo: 456 points
  2. Mapei-Quick Step): 375
  3. Lampre: 336
  4. Polti: 312
  5. Vitalicio Seguros: 309

find us on Facebook Find us on Twitter See our youtube channel

The Story of the Tour de France, volume 1 South Salem Cycleworks frames Melanoma: It Started With a Freckle Peaks Coaching: work with a coach! Neugent Cycling Wheels Shade Vise sunglass holder Advertise with us!


Content continues below the ads

The Story of the Tour de France, volume 1 South Salem Cycleworks frames Melanoma: It Started With a Freckle

2000 Giro stage results with running GC:

Saturday, May 13: Prologue, 4.6 km individual time trial (cronometro individuale)

  1. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) 5min 38sec. 48.93 km/hr
  2. Paolo Savoldeli (Saeco) s.t.
  3. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 1sec
  4. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) s.t.
  5. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 6sec
  6. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) s.t.
  7. Gabriele Missaglia (Lampre) s.t.
  8. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  9. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  10. Servais Knaven (Farm Frites) @ 8sec

Sunday, May 14: Stage 1, Roma - Terracina, 125 km

Ascent: Albano Laziale

  1. Ivan Quaranta (Mobilvetta) 2hr 46min 46sec. 44.97 km/hr
  2. Marco Zanotti (Liquigas) s.t.
  3. Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) s.t.
  4. Silvio Martinello (Polti) s.t.
  5. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) s.t.
  6. Robbie McEwen (Farm Frites) s.t.
  7. Jeroen Blijlevens (Polti) s.t.
  8. Tayeb Braikia (Linda McCartney) s.t.
  9. Moreno Di Biase (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  10. Luca Cei (Panaria-Gaerne) s.t.

GC after Stage 1:

  1. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) 2hr 52min 22sec
  2. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 2sec
  3. Paolo Svoldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  4. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 6sec
  5. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) s.t.
  6. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) s.t.
  7. Gabriele Missaglia (Lampre) @ 9sec
  8. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  9. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  10. Servais Knaven (Farm Frites) @ 10sec

Monday, May 15: Stage 2, Terracina - Maddaloni, 225 km

Major ascents: Durazzano, Monte Taburno, Durazzano

  1. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) 6hr 15min 18sec. 37.09 km/hr
  2. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) @ 5sec
  3. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) s.t.
  4. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 6sec
  5. Elio Aggiano (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  6. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 7sec
  7. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) s.t.
  8. Matthew White (Vini Caldirola) @ 25sec
  9. Mariano Piccoli (Lampre) @ 29sec
  10. Jeoroen Blijlevens (Polti) s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

  1. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) 9hr 7min 43sec
  2. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) @ 3sec
  3. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 11sec
  4. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) @ 13sec
  5. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 22sec
  6. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) @ 26sec
  7. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 28sec
  8. Paolo Svldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  9. Elio Aggiano (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  10. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) s.t.

Tuesday, May 16: Stage 3, Paestum - Scalea, 177 km

Mario Cipollini was first, but was declassified for not holding his line in the sprint.

  1. Jan Svorada (Lampre) 4hr 44min 36sec. 36.68 km/hr
  2. Guido Trenti (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  3. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  4. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  5. Ciaran Power (Linda McCartney) s.t.
  6. Mario Manzoni (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  7. Mauro Gerosa (Amica Chips) s.t.
  8. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) s.t.
  9. Biagio Conte (Saeco) s.t.
  10. Angel Vicioso (Kelme-Costa Blanca) s.t.

GC after Stage 3:

  1. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) 13hr 52min 19sec
  2. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1sec
  3. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 11sec
  4. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) @ 13sec
  5. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 22sec
  6. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) @ 26sec
  7. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 28sec
  8. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  9. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) s.t.
  10. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 34sec

Wednesday, May 17: Stage 4, Scalea - Matera, 233 km

Ascents: Colle Trodo, Valico di Campotenese, Montescaglioso

  1. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) 6hr 16min 58sec. 37.40 km/hr
  2. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  3. Silvio Martinello (Polti) s.t.
  4. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  5. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) s.t.
  6. Alberto Ongarato (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  7. Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) s.t.
  8. Ruber Albeiro Marin (Nectar-Selle Italia) s.t.
  9. Tayeb Braikia (Linda McCartney) s.t.
  10. Yvon Ledanois (FDJ) s.t.

GC after Stage 4:

  1. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) 20hr 9min 17sec
  2. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1sec
  3. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 11sec
  4. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) @ 14sec
  5. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 22sec
  6. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 28sec
  7. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  8. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) s.t.
  9. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 34sec
  10. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta) @ 35sec

Thursday, May 18: Stage 5, Matera - Peschici, 232 km

Ascent: Monte San Angelo

  1. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) 5hr 19min 18sec. 43.59 km/hr
  2. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  3. Paolo Lanfranchi (Mapei-Quick Step) s.t.
  4. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
  5. Axel Merckx (Mapei-Quick Step) s.t.
  6. Eddy Mazzoleni (Polti) @ 2sec
  7. Massimo Giunti (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  8. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  9. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) s.t.
  10. Thomas Brozyna (Banesto) s.t.

GC after stage 5:

  1. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) 25hr 28min 34sec
  2. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) @ 3sec
  3. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 14sec
  4. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 25sec
  5. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 31sec
  6. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  7. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  8. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) s.t.
  9. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 35sec
  10. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 37sec

Friday, May 19: Stage 6, Peschici - Vasto, 160 km

  1. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) 4hr 42min 49sec. 36.70 km/hr
  2. Jeroen Blijlevens (Polti) s.t.
  3. Gabriele Missaglia (Lampre) s.t.
  4. Fabiano Fonatelli (Mercatone Uno) s.t.
  5. Moreno Di Biase (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  6. Bradley McGee (FDJ) s.t.
  7. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
  8. Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) s.t.
  9. Aart Vierhouten (Rabobank) s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

  1. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) 30hr 11min 23sec
  2. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) @ 3sec
  3. José Enrique Guierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 14sec
  4. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 25sec
  5. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 31sec
  6. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  7. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  8. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Sella Italia) s.t.
  9. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 35sec
  10. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 37sec

Saturday, May 20: Stage 7, Vasto - Teramo, 182 km

  1. David McKenzie (Linda McCartney) 4hr 38min 29sec
  2. Vladimir Duma (Panaria-Gaerne) @ 51sec
  3. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  4. Silvio Martinello (Polti) s.t.
  5. Guido Trenti (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  6. Ivan Quaranta (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  7. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  8. Marco Zanotti (Liquigas) s.t.
  9. Ivan Basso (Amica Chips) s.t.
  10. Mauro Gerosa (Amica Chips) s.t.

GC after Stage 7:

  1. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) 34hr 50min 43sec
  2. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) @ 3sec
  3. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 14sec
  4. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 25sec
  5. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 31sec
  6. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  7. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  8. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 31sec
  9. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 35sec
  10. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa BLanca) @ 37sec

Sunday, May 21: Stage 8, Corinaldo - Prato, 265 km

Major ascents: Bocca Trabaria, Valico della Spina, Passo della Consuma, Vetta le Croci, Monte Acuto

  1. Axel Merckx (Mapei-Quick Step) 7hr 50min 25sec. 32.52 km/hr
  2. Maximilian Sciandri (Linda McCartney) @ 6sec
  3. Filippo Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
  4. Paolo Lanfranchi (Mapei-Quick Step) s.t.
  5. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme) s.t.
  6. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  7. Ivan Ramiro Parra (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 8sec
  8. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Kelme-Costa Blanca) s.t.
  9. Biagio Conte (Saeco) @ 49sec
  10. Vladimir Duma (Panaria-Gaerne) s.t.

GC after Stage 8:

  1. José Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) 42hr 41min 28sec
  2. Axel Merckx (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 12sec
  3. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 17sec
  4. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) @ 29sec
  5. Cristian Moreni (Liquigas) @ 32sec
  6. Filippo Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) @ 40sec
  7. Ivan Ramiro Parra (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 45sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 54sec
  9. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 1min 0sec
  10. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.

Monday, May 22: Stage 9, Prato - Abetone, 138 km

Major ascents: Prunetta, San Pellegrino in Alpe, Abetone

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 4hr 22min 58sec. 31.94 km/hr
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 1min 39sec
  3. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  4. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) s.t.
  5. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  6. Ivan Gotti (Polti) s.t.
  7. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min41sec
  8. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  9. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quck Step) @ 1min 50sec
  10. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 1min 53sec

GC after Stage 9:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 47hr 5min 31sec
  2. Danilo Di luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 51sec
  3. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 39sec
  4. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) s.t.
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 40sec
  6. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  7. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 47sec
  8. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 1min 53sec
  9. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 1min 55sec
  10. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 2min 21sec

Tuesday, May 23: Stage 10, San Marcello Pistoiese - Padova, 253 km

Ascent: Abetone

  1. Ivan Quaranta (Mobilvetta) 6hr 48min 7sec. 37.78 km/hr
  2. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
  3. Mario Cipollini (Saeco) s.t.
  4. Marco Zanotti (Liquigas) s.t.
  5. Jeroen Blijlevens (Polti) s.t.
  6. Luca Cei (Panaria-Gaerne) s.t.
  7. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  8. Fabrizio Guidi (FDJ) s.t.
  9. Guido Trenti (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  10. Andrea Farrigato (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.

GC after Stage 10:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 53hr 53min 38sec
  2. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 51sec
  3. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 39sec
  4. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) s.t.
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 40sec
  6. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  7. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 47sec
  8. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 1min 53sec
  9. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 1min 55sec
  10. Leonardo Piepoli @ 2min 21sec

Wednesday, May 24: Stage 11, Lignano Sabbiadoro - Bibione 42 km individual time trial (cronometro individuale)

  1. Victor Hugo Peña (Vitalicio Seguros) 49min 25sec. 50.99 km/hr
  2. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 11sec
  3. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 1min 6sec
  4. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 1min 32sec
  5. Andrea Peron (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  6. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 52sec
  7. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 56sec
  8. Riccardo Forconi (Mercatone Uno) @ 2min 2sec
  9. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 2min 15sec
  10. Erik Dekker (Rabobank) @ 2min 16sec
  11. Pavel Padrnos (Saeco) @ 2min 18sec
  12. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 2min 21sec
  13. Ruslan Ivanov (Amica Chips) @ 2min 23sec
  14. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2min 36sec
  15. Marco Velo (Mercatone Uno) @ 2min 39sec
  16. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 42sec
  17. Thomas Brozyna (Banesto) s.t.
  18. Ludo Dierckxsens (Lampre) @ 2min 47sec
  19. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 2min 51sec
  20. Vladimir Duma (Panaria-Gaerne) s.t.
  21. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) @ 3min 32sec

GC after Stage 11:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 54hr 46min 35sec
  2. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4sec
  3. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 7sec
  4. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 10sec
  5. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 17sec
  6. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 22sec
  7. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 44sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 49sec
  9. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 1min 19sec
  10. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 1min 22sec

Thursday, May 25: Rest Day (giorno di riposo)

Friday, May 26: Stage 12: Bibione - Feltre, 184 km

Major ascent: Valico le Laste

  1. Enrico Cassani (Polti) 4hr 5min 18sec. 45.10 km/hr
  2. Davide Bramati (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1sec
  3. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  4. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  5. Addy Engels (Rabobank) s.t.
  6. Filippo Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
  7. Ruber Alveiro Marin (Nectar-Selle Italia) s.t.
  8. Mariano Piccoli (Lampre) s.t.
  9. Orlando Sergio Gomes (Banesto) s.t.
  10. Sergio Barbero (Lampre) s.t.

GC after Stage 12:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 58hr 56min 36sec
  2. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4sec
  3. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 7sec
  4. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 10sec
  5. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 17sec
  6. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 22sec
  7. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 44sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 49sec
  9. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 1min 19sec
  10. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 1min 22sec

Saturday, May 27: Stage 13, Feltre - Selva di Val Gardena, 186 km

Major ascents: Passo di Falzarego, Passo Fedaia (Marmolada), Passo di Sella

  1. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) 5hr 16min 45sec. 36.94 km/hr
  2. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) s.t.
  3. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 31sec
  4. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
  5. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 35sec
  6. Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) s.t.
  7. Santiago Blanco (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  8. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 1min 28sec
  9. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  10. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) s.t.

GC after Stage 13:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 64hr 13min 52sec
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 18sec
  3. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 1sec
  4. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 4sec
  5. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 1min 5sec
  6. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 41sec
  7. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 1min 50sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 52sec
  9. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 2min 16sec
  10. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 2min 19sec

Sunday, May 28: Stage 14, Selva di Val Gardena - Bormio, 203 km

Major ascents: Passo della Mendola, Passo del Tonale, Passo di Gavia

  1. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) 5hr 38min 9sec. 36.01 km/hr
  2. Eddy Mazzoleni (Polti) s.t.
  3. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
  4. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 7sec
  6. Ivan Gotti (Polti) s.t.
  7. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 11sec
  8. Victor Hugo Peña (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  9. Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo) @ 22sec
  10. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 25sec

GC after Stage 14:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 69hr 51min 57sec
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 33sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 57sec
  4. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 5sec
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 52sec
  6. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 2min 27sec
  7. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 35sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 3min 23sec
  9. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 3min 31sec
  10. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 3min 50sec

Monday, May 29: Stage 15, Bormio - Brescia, 180 km

Ascent: Aprica

  1. Biagio Conte (Saeco) 4hr 45min 44sec. 37.80 km/hr
  2. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  3. Silvio Martinello (Polti) s.t.
  4. Alberto Ongarato (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  5. Jeroen Blijlevens (Polti) s.t.
  6. Mauro Gerosa (Amic Chips) s.t.
  7. Fabrizio Guidi (FDJ) s.t.
  8. Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  9. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
  10. Davide Bramati (Mapei-Quick Step) s.t.

GC after Stage 15:

  1. Francesco Csagrande (Vini Caldirola) 74hr 37min 41sec
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 33sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 57sec
  4. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 5sec
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 52sec
  6. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 2min 27sec
  7. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 35sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei Quick Step) @ 3min 23sec
  9. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 3min 31sec
  10. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 3min 50sec

Tuesday, May 30: Stage 16, Brescia - Meda, 102 km

  1. Fabrizio Guidi (FDJ) 2hr 27min 34sec. 41.47 km/hr
  2. Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) s.t.
  3. Biagio Conte (Saeco) s.t.
  4. Marco Zanotti (Liquigas) s.t.
  5. Moreno De Biase (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  6. Ciaran Power (Linda McCartney) s.t.
  7. Tayeb Braikia (Linda McCartney) s.t.
  8. Guido Trenti (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  9. Giampaolo Mondini (Cantina Tollo) s.t.
  10. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.

GC after Stage 16:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 77hr 5min 15sec
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) 2 33sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 57sec
  4. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 5sec
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 52sec
  6. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 2min 27sec
  7. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 35sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 3min 23sec
  9. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 3min 31sec
  10. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 3min 50sec

Wednesday, May 31: Stage 17, Meda - Genova, 236 km

Ascent: Creto

  1. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros) 5hr 23min 2sec. 43.83 km/hr
  2. Jan Svorada (Lampre) @ 24sec
  3. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  4. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  5. Silvio Martinello (Polti) s.t.
  6. Dario Pieri (Saeco) s.t.
  7. Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) s.t.
  8. Tayeb Braikia (Linda McCartney) s.t.
  9. Fabrizio Guidi (FDJ) s.t.
  10. Moreno Di Biase (Cantina Tollo) s.t.

GC after stage 17:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 82hr 28min 41sec
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 33sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 57sec
  4. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 5sec
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 52sec
  6. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 2min 27sec
  7. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 35sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 3min 23sec
  9. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 3min 31sec
  10. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 3min 50sec

Thursday, June 1: Stage 18, Genova - Pratonevoso, 173 km

Major ascents: Colle di Melogno, Colle dei Giovetti, Frabosa Soprana, Pratonevoso

  1. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) 4hr 42min 32sec. 36.73 km/hr
  2. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) s.t.
  3. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
  4. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 2sec
  5. PAvel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) s.t.
  6. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  7. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 8sec
  8. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 12sec
  9. Santiago Blanco (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  10. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme) @ 49sec

GC after Stage 18:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 87hr 11min 9sec
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 25sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 53sec
  4. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 11sec
  5. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 41sec
  6. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 3min 39sec
  7. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 3min 43sec
  8. Ivan Gotti (Polti) @ 4min 25sec
  9. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4min34sec
  10. Santiago Blanco (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 4min 39sec

Friday, June 2: Stage 19, Saluzzo - Briançon (France), 176 km

Major ascents: Colle dell'Agnello, Col d'Izoard

  1. Paolo Lanfranchi (Mapei-Quick Step) 5hr 32min 7sec. 31.79 km/hr
  2. Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) @ 54sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 1min 1sec
  4. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
  5. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) s.t.
  6. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1min 6sec
  7. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 1min 8sec
  8. Leonardo piepoli (Banesto) @ 2min 0sec
  9. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 48sec
  10. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 2min 51sec

GC after Stage 19:

  1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) 92hr 44min 17sec
  2. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 25sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 49sec
  4. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 2min 46sec
  5. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Sella Italia) @ 3min 50sec
  6. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 5min 17sec
  7. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 5min 26sec
  8. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 6min 35sec
  9. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 7min 12sec
  10. Santiago Blanco (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 8min 1sec

Saturday, June 3: Stage 20, Briançon (France) - Sestriere 34 km individual time trial (cronometro individuale)

Ascents: Col de Montgenèvre, Sestriere

  1. Jan Hruska (Vitalicio Seguros) 59min 49sec. 34.10 km/hr
  2. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 1in 14sec
  3. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 1min 17sec
  4. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) 2 1min 41sec
  5. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 47sec
  6. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 2min 26sec
  7. Riccardo Forconi (Mercatone Uno) @ 2min 29sec
  8. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 3min 2sec
  9. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) @ 3min 9sec
  10. Marzio Bruseghin (Banesto) @ 3min 13sec
  11. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 3min 15sec
  12. Simone Borgheresi (Mercatone Uno) @ 3min 16sec
  13. Vladimir Duma (Panaria-Gaerne) @ 3min 31sec
  14. William Chann McRae (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 3min 34sec
  15. Victor Hugo Peña (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 3min 38sec
  16. Roberto Conti (Vini Caldirola) @ 3min 40sec
  17. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Sella Italia) s.t.
  18. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4min 3sec
  19. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 4min 4sec
  20. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Kelme-Costa Blanca)@ 4min 8sec

GC after Stage 20:

  1. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) 93hr 45min 48sec
  2. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola) @ 1min 27sec
  3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 1min 33sec
  4. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 4min 58sec
  5. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 5min 28sec
  6. Hernan Buenahora (Nectar-Selle Italia) @ 5min 48sec
  7. Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo) @ 7min 38sec
  8. José Luis Rubiera (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 8min 8sec
  9. Serhiy Honchar (Liquigas) @ 8min 14sec
  10. Leonardo Piepoli (Banesto) @ 8min 32sec

Sunday, June 4: 21st and Final Stage, Torino - Milano, 189 km

  1. Mariano Piccoli (Lampre) 4hr 44min 12sec. 39.90 km/hr
  2. Giuseppe Calcaterra (Saeco) s.t.
  3. Mirko Gualdi (Mobilvetta) s.t.
  4. Oscar Pozzi (Amica Chips) s.t.
  5. Daniele Contrini (Liquigas) s.t.
  6. Gianluca Bortolami (Vini Caldirola) @ 14sec
  7. Dimitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  8. Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Vitalicio Seguros) s.t.
  9. Andrea Peron (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
  10. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.

2000 Giro d'Italia Complete Final General Classification


Content continues below the ads

Peaks Coaching: work with a coach! Neugent Cycling Wheels

The Story of the 2000 Giro d'Italia

This excerpt is from "The Story of the Giro d'Italia", Volume 2. If you enjoy it we hope you will consider purchasing the book, either print, eBook or audiobook. The Amazon link here will make the purchase easy.

The Italian government passed a law making it a crime to dope in sports.

On May 5, eight days before the Giro was to begin, the great Gino Bartali passed away in his hometown of Florence. Over his career “Gino the Pious” had won the Giro three times, the climbers’ competition seven times and the Tour de France twice. The man rightly nicknamed the “Man of Iron” was one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport.

The 83rd Giro seemed to have “climber” written all over it with 23,000 meters of elevation gain and three hilltop finishes.

Gotti wanted to erase the stigma of what some saw as his tainted 1999 win. This view was unfair: he had been the best rider to compete within the rules. Also entered were Tonkov, Simoni, Casagrande and Pantani’s teammate Stefano Garzelli.

And what of Pantani? He took his disqualification harder than any other racer, ever. Convinced he was the victim of a conspiracy to defraud him of the 1999 Giro, he secluded himself in his house while an army of reporters and photographers camped outside. A few days after his expulsion Pantani began his descent into addiction and by June he was a regular user of cocaine.

Meanwhile, symbolizing Italy’s state of denial regarding Pantani, Italy’s Prime Minister awarded Pantani the Collar for Sporting Merit.

During this time Pantani had stopped riding and the combination of poor condition, ruined mental state and cocaine use rendered a 1999 Tour attempt impossible. While his fellow riders and team manager were aware of his drug problems by early 2000, for years Pantani and his circle continued to hide his cocaine use from the team’s sponsors and unbelievably, the team doctor.

A judicial investigation was launched into Pantani’s disqualification and almost simultaneously the Turin prosecutor opened an inquiry into the weird blood values technicians found when Pantani crashed in 1995. When his broken body was brought to the hospital his hematocrit was over 60 percent and Pantani was therefore potentially guilty of the crime of “sporting fraud”.

Meanwhile in Ferrara, an investigation into the good Doctors Conconi and Ferrari had yielded a gold mine of data after computers seized at Conconi’s offices were made to spill their guts. The cream of Italian cycling was implicated in an extensive doping program, all documented with meticulous notes. Among the riders were Bugno, Chiappucci, Fondriest, Gotti, Ugrumov and Pantani.

Information from the files was published in the daily La Repubblica in December and showed that Pantani’s blood had been manipulated since at least 1996.
As in the 1998 Tour scandal, where Festina found its sales soaring as its team fell into disgrace, many of Pantani’s sponsors found the publicity windfall helped business and were eager to use him to publicize their products.

In January of 2000 Pantani announced that the Giro and the Tour would be the centerpieces of his season. He spent part of the winter training in the Canary Islands. As the early season races drew nigh he postponed his racing start, feeling that things were not “tranquil”.

Late in February Pantani entered and quickly retired from the Tour of Valencia. Ominously his doctor started talking about stress, saying Pantani’s mental condition was far from ideal. By late March, Pantani was still postponing his racing restart. It later turned out that he was suffering cocaine relapses that kept setting back his training. On May 12, the day before the Giro’s start, Pantani announced the he would indeed ride the Giro. Though he was titled the team captain, he would not actually be the team leader. “I am here to ride in support of my team. I am here to regain my form.” Stefano Garzelli would be Mercatone Uno’s protected Classification rider in a Giro Pantani had earlier said was “....tailor-made for Savoldelli, who in June got through the tests because his hematocrit was 49.9 percent and ended up finishing second behind Gotti.”

Before the riders could race, they were all subjected to blood tests. One rider failed to pass, Evgeni Berzin. With too many red blood corpuscles, he wasn’t allowed to start and his team, Mobilvetta, quickly sacked him.

The Catholic Church proclaimed 2000 a Jubilee year, so the Giro started with a 4.6-kilometer prologue bouncing over slippery cobbles starting at the Vatican and finishing in Rome.

Czech rider Jan Hruska won, beating Paolo Savoldelli by a fraction of a second. Cipollini was only a second back, putting himself within stage-win time bonus of the Pink Jersey. Pantani finished near the bottom of the standings, 40 seconds down.

Stage one was a short 125 kilometers south to Terracina. Cipollini gained enough time in an intermediate sprint to take the lead, but decided the final sprint was too dangerous and was content with the maglia rosa as Ivan Quaranta beat the other speedsters.

For their stage two journey into southern Italy, cold, rainy weather greeted the racers, which seemed to have cooled their racing ardor. A seven-man group with Cristian Moreni escaped and was never seen again. A few kilometers from the end in Maddaloni, Moreni jumped away from his breakaway companions on a small hill, beating the break to the finish line by 5 seconds and the peloton by another 25, moving the lead from Cipollini to Moreni.

Stage four, into Matera in the heel of the Italian boot, allowed Cipollini to claim his 30th stage. It wasn’t pretty because there was a substantial hill in the day’s route that should have left the Lion King gasping for air and unable to maintain contact with the peloton, but the television cameras told the dirty story. Cipollini got pushed up the hill by his gregario Mario Scirea while the judges pretended not to know about it. Furthermore, Cipollini gregario Giuseppe Calcaterra hit Freddy González in the head for attacking while Cipollini was being helped.

With its short climb to the finish line in Peschici on the Adriatic Coast, stage five offered a first real peek at who was ready to race. Matteo Tosatto took care of business early when he won an intermediate sprint and earned enough bonus time to make him the virtual leader.

Later, when the day’s break took off, Tosatto’s team didn’t chase; they had no plans to waste energy defending his lead when they knew he couldn’t take it to Milan. They were keeping their powder dry for their Classification man, Wladimir Belli. It turned out Fassa Bortolo could have their cake and eat it too when the peloton came together before the sprint, preserving Tosatto’s lead.

The General Classification at this point:
1. Matteo Tosatto
2. Cristian Moreni @ 3 seconds
3. José Gutiérrez @ 14 seconds
4. Andrea Noè @ 25 seconds
5. Danilo Di Luca @ 31 seconds

The next couple of stages were ridden piano, but stage eight, raced over three ranked climbs, had some great, tongue-hanging, lung-searing racing. With about 50 kilometers to go, a small group containing Gutiérrez got clear and was joined by a trio containing Di Luca. The chase was on (I’m astonished that such a high quality group was allowed to get away) and after some hard-driving riding, the breakaway emerged in Prato 49 seconds ahead of the peloton, making Gutiérrez the new leader.

That was just a warm-up. The next day had a hilltop finish at Abetone, but before they did that ascent, the riders had to get over the San Pellegrino where the peloton came apart. The better riders each took a pull and the speed kept increasing. Pantani, not unexpectedly, was shelled. His ever-vigilant team surrounded him and did their duty, shepherding the out-of-form superstar to the finish.

Further up the hill Francesco Casagrande took his turn applying the pressure and only Danilo Di Luca could stay with him. Casagrande put the gas pedal down a little closer to the floor and still Di Luca clung to his wheel. Casagrande kept going harder and harder until finally Di Luca couldn’t take it, letting Casagrande go. A chase group of the rest of the best formed: Simoni, Tonkov, Gotti, Frigo, Belli, Di Luca, Noè and Garzelli. Casagrande was spitting out watts as if the race would end tomorrow and held his lead to the end, beating the Garzelli-lead group by 1 minute 39 seconds. Casagrande was the maglia rosa. It was a gutsy move and an impressive display of authority.

The new General Classification stood thus:

1. Francesco Casagrande
2. Danilo Di Luca @ 51 seconds
3. Andrea Noè @ 1 minute 39 seconds
4. Stefano Garzelli @ same time
5. Dario Frigo @ 1 minute 40 seconds

It’s always something at the Giro. The Association of Italian Cycling Teams began a mini-strike of sorts. The riders refused to talk to the press or attend the podium presentations. They were demanding RCS Sport give the teams a share of the television and merchandising license fees. RCS said this could be discussed after the Giro was over and the teams agreed. I don’t think anything came of it.

Forty-two kilometers of time trialing was enough to tighten up the Giro before the first rest day. Casagrande lost time to all of his challengers, and after a week and a half, the race was virtually a tie among the top six places.

The General Classification:

1. Francesco Casagrande
2. Wladimir Belli @ 4 seconds
3. Pavel Tonkov @ 7 seconds
4. Danilo Di Luca @ 10 seconds
5. Jan Hruska @ 17 seconds
6. Stefano Garzelli @ 22 seconds

A sign that the high mountains had arrived was Mario Cipollini’s withdrawal from the race. He did not start stage thirteen with the Falzarego, Marmolada and Sella ascents looming; abandoning must have seemed easier than having his team beat up all the climbers.

Part way up the Marmolada, after his gregari had done what they could to break the peloton, Casagrande snapped everyone’s neck with a hard acceleration. That was it for Tonkov. Then from the small lead group, Di Luca, who had been riding well beyond anyone’s expectations, came off. Casagrande and Garzelli hammered away at each other on the way up, spewing riders out the back.

Over the top, Simoni got a gap on the others with José Luis Rubiera able to catch him on the descent. Rubiera won the two-up sprint in Selva Val Gardena, followed by Garzelli and Casagrande 31 seconds later. Casagrande now had a 31-second lead over Garzelli.

Gilberto Simoni leads pantani, Garzelli adn Casagrande

Gilberto Simoni leads Pantani, Garzelli and (hidden) Francesco Casagrande up the Col d'Izoard on June 2. This is stage 19.

Three more big ones, that’s what faced the riders in stage fourteen: the Mendola, Tonale, and the south face of the Gavia followed by a monster-gear rip down into Bormio. Things broke up badly on the ice-cold ascent of the Gavia, but it was the descent that really decided things, as the more skilled and powerful riders passed those who would rather not go soaring off the dangerous road. The Gavia doesn’t have many guardrails and there are times when the rider just has to gulp and hope his tires will hold.

A group of four coalesced: Casagrande, Belli, Eddy Mazzoleni and stage winner Simoni. Frigo, Gotti and Garzelli chased hard, but they ran out of stage before they ran out of gap.

The General Classification of this tight and exciting race stood thus:
1. Francesco Casagrande
2. Stefano Garzelli @ 33 seconds
3. Gilberto Simoni @ 57 seconds
4. Wladimir Belli @ 1 minute 5 seconds
5. Dario Frigo @ 1 minute 52 seconds

The race came out of the high mountains and raced to Liguria. During these mostly easier stages, there were no serious challenges to Casagrande’s lead. But stage eighteen, heading north from Genoa, went right into the Piedmontese Alps with a hilltop finish at Pratonevoso. Di Luca, troubled with tendinitis, abandoned.

The Giro was wearing on Casagrande as well. He no longer rode with the same impregnable authority he had shown in the first stages. That and the closeness of the standings meant the stolid-faced Casagrande was probably in for some rough handling.

Midway up the final climb, a rejuvenated Tonkov was the first to cuff the maglia rosa. Simoni and Garzelli gave him a couple of kicks but Casagrande stuck around. Then Simoni attacked and when Garzelli closed up to him, he was without Casagrande. As the road flattened slightly, Casagrande dragged himself back up to the leaders. Garzelli, being a good sprinter, took the stage and the bonus seconds, putting him within 25 seconds of the lead. Simoni was still third, now at 53 seconds.

No rest. Stage nineteen had the 2000 Cima Coppi, the Colle dell’Agnello, followed by the Izoard and an uphill finish in Briançon. The best riders separated themselves from the peloton on the Agnello and managed to stay away on the descent. One rider managed to join the leaders and was he a surprise! It was Marco Pantani. In the third week he had found his legs.
As the Izoard started to bite, Simoni did a probe and found Tonkov didn’t have what he had the day before. Then Pantani went hard to get up to Simoni but Garzelli couldn’t hold his wheel. After the leaders came together, Pantani attacked again, marked by Simoni. Pantani relented and waited for Garzelli.

Simoni kept banging away the entire way up the Izoard while Pantani did the job of bringing the others up to him. This entire distance maglia rosa Casagrande just watched without taking part in the fireworks, letting the others wear themselves out.

On the descent before the climb into Briançon, as the big dogs watched and marked each other, Paolo Lanfranchi, a gifted gregario of Tonkov’s, took advantage of the slower pace to take a flyer. Further on Pantani gave chase. Too late. Lanfranchi won the stage; Pantani was an astonishing second and Simoni, Garzelli and Casagrande followed in at a minute. Garzelli said that he had hoped to conserve his energy as much as possible over this stage with the time trial coming the next day. Pantani had made sure everyone had worked hard.

The race was too close to call:

1. Francesco Casagrande
2. Stefano Garzelli @ 25 seconds
3. Gilberto Simoni @ 49 seconds
4. Pavel Tonkov @ 2 minutes 46 seconds
5. Hernán Buenahora @ 3 minutes 50 seconds

The penultimate stage was a 32-kilometer time trial going from Briançon up to Sestriere with the Montgenèvre mountain pass in between. Jan Hruska, who won the prologue, was also victorious in the final time trial. Garzelli rode a perfect race, coming in third. And Casagrande? He looked awful, losing 1 minute 52 seconds to Garzelli and therefore, the Giro d’Italia, and he nearly lost second place to Simoni. Casagrande, ranked the number-one rider in the world, looked to have burned himself up trying to ride with Merckx-style authority. In his defense, he said he was suffering from sciatica and felt he could have won the Giro if he had not been suffering from the nerve problem.

Winner Stefano Garzelli with Marco Pantani

Winner Stefano Garzelli with Marco Pantani

Final 2000 Giro d’Italia General Classification:

1. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno-Albacom) 98 hours 30 minutes 14 seconds
2. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola-Sidermec) @ 1 minute 27 seconds
3. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Daikin) @ 1 minute 33 seconds
4. Andrea Noè (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 4 minutes 58 seconds
5. Pavel Tonkov (Mapei-Quick Step) @ 5 minutes 28 seconds

Climbers’ Competition:

1. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola-Sidermec): 71 points
2. José Jaime González (Aguardiente Nectar-Selle Italia): 71
3. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno-Albacom): 47

Points Competition:

1. Dmitri Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo): 159 points
2. Fabrizio Guidi (Française des Jeux): 119
3. Ján Svorada (Lampre-Daikin): 116

Stefano Garzelli on the final podium with Casagrande and Simoni

Stefano Garzelli on the final podium with Francesco Casagrande (left) and Gilberto Simoni (right).

Garzelli, a fourth year pro, had won the Giro in his fourth attempt. So far his career hadn’t been spectacular, since he was primarily a gregario, but it did show the promise of what he could do. In 1997 he was ninth in the Giro, in 1998 he won the Tour of Switzerland and in 1999 he won the GP Miguel Induráin and was fourth in Milan–San Remo. His next challenge was to get a different nickname. During the Giro, to his chagrin, the press had begun calling him “the Little Pirate” (il Piratino).

With the Giro under his belt, Pantani had the beginnings of some of his old racing form and went on to enter the Tour de France, giving Lance Armstrong fits before retiring with stomach troubles. In December, as a result of the Turin hospital investigation, he was found guilty of sporting fraud and was given a suspended sentence which was later reversed because it was found that the law did not apply in Pantani’s case. Meanwhile his cocaine use and the investigation into his ejection from the 1999 Giro continued.

Oh, and about that green Climber’s Jersey Casagrande took home. On the last day González was leading in the Mountains classification. Then, after some complicated explanations, Casagrande was awarded the maximum possible points for the climb in the final time trial and with that, was given the Green Jersey. The Colombians of González’s Aguardiente-Nectar team were outraged at the dubious calculations.


Content continues below the ads

Shade Vise sunglass holder Advertise with us!

.