ALPE DI PAMPEAGO, Italy, June 3 (Reuters) - Marco Pantani's Giro
d'Italia rivals surrendered tamely to the man Italy knows as Il Pirata.
Thursday's showdown on the first of three days in the Dolomites ended with Pantani
firmly in command.
Clad in the leader's pink jersey and matching shorts, he crossed the ski resort finish
line one minute seven seconds clear of fellow Italian Gilberto Simoni.
Pantani moved 3:42 ahead of his chief rival and compatriot Paolo Savoldelli who was
only 44 seconds adrift when the 166 km 19th stage began its 166 km journey over three
mountains from Castelfranco Veneto.
It was the scene Il Pirata's fans had walked, cycled, and driven to the mountains to
witness, but it was without real drama.
In droves they packed the narrow mountain roads, notably on the 2,047 metres Passo
Manghen where some vehicles were parked perilously close to sheer drops.
After climbing the 19 kilometres of the winding Manghen pass, the favourites arrived at
the summit where Pantani was first, but in a high-speed descent Savoldelli tried to
escape.
He risked everything to gain 18 seconds which on the valley floor disappeared as he was
overhauled. On the climb to the finish the pace set by Pantani's team mates began to split
the 18 leaders.
Spain's Roberto Heras attacked five kilometres from the finish, but it had insufficient
punch, and some 600 metres further on Pantani countered.
There was no broadside from Il Pirata, just an increase of pace which wiped out major
contenders, particularly Savoldelli and Frenchman Laurent Jalabert.
Jalabert lost more than four minutes on that climb after being Pantani's major
challenger for most of the Giro.
Savoldelli, the revelation of the Giro following his unexpected second place in
Wednesday's time trial, finished eighth and 2:46 after Pantani.
"I knew how difficult the final climb would be. It's even tougher than it looks in
the race manual," said Pantani. "It was a tough stage because everyone had the
previous climbs and the time trial in their legs, and there was also the heat."
"My team are devoted to me, and that's the secret of our success. Throughout the
Giro they have never thought of their own success.
"It was our responsibility to lead the race today, and even a long attack from a
rival would have failed because my men are too strong."
Three days from the Milan finale, and barring the unforeseen, it seems the Giro booty
belongs to Il Pirata and his crew.
