2001 Giro d'Italia

Template:Short description The 2001 Giro d'Italia was the 84th edition of the Giro. It began with a prologue that went from Montesilvano to Pescara. The race came to a close on June 10 with a mass-start stage that ended in the Italian city of Milan. Twenty teams entered the race that was won by the Italian Gilberto Simoni of the Template:Cycling data LAM team. Second and third were the Spanish riders Abraham Olano and Unai Osa.

In the race's other classifications, Template:Cycling data SDA rider Fredy González won the mountains classification, Massimo Strazzer of the Template:Cycling data MDN team won the intergiro classification and the points classification. Template:Cycling data ALB finished as the winners of the Trofeo Fast Team classification, ranking each of the twenty teams contesting the race by lowest cumulative time. The other team classification, the Trofeo Super Team classification, where the teams' riders are awarded points for placing within the top twenty in each stage and the points are then totaled for each team was also won by Template:Cycling data FAS.

Teams

A total of 20 teams were invited to participate in the 2001 Giro d'Italia. Each team sent a squad of nine riders, so the Giro began with a peloton of 180 cyclists. Out of the 180 riders that started this edition of the Giro d'Italia, a total of 136 riders made it to the finish in Milan.

The 20 teams that took part in the race were:

Template:Cycling data ALB Alexia Alluminio Template:Cycling data EUC Cantina Tollo Template:Cycling data PAN Template:Cycling data FAS Template:Cycling data GCE

Template:Cycling data KEL Template:Cycling data LAM Liquigas Template:Cycling data DVL Template:Cycling data MAP Template:Cycling data UNO Template:Cycling data MDN

Template:Cycling data ONC Template:Cycling data SAE Template:Cycling data SDA Template:Cycling data VIN Team Colpack-Astro Template:Cycling data TEL

Route and stages

A mountain in the distance.

Mercogliano hosted the end of the fourth stage.

The route for the 2001 Giro d'Italia was unveiled by race director Carmine Castellano and organizers RCS Sport on 11 November 2000 in Milan at the Verdi theatre. It contained two time trial events, both of which were individual. In the stages containing categorized climbs, four had summit finishes: stage 4, to Mercogliano; stage 13, to Passo Pordoi; and stage 18, to Santuario. The organizers chose to include one rest day. When compared to the previous year's race, the race was shorter, contained the same amount of rest days, and one less individual time trial. In addition, this race had an opening prologue like the year before. It was the longest Grand Tour of the season.

The race will only leave Italy once during its twenty-two racing days as it enters Slovenia where the day finishes in Ljubljana. The lone rest day came after sixteen racing days, on 5 June.

A Cycling News writer felt there were two very tough stages in the race, stages 13 and stage 18. In particular the writer felt the two passes of the Passo Pordoi and the climbs of Passo Rolle and Passo Fedaia made stage 13 particularly difficult. The eighteenth stage contained the Cima Coppi Colle Fauniera which was an climb with an average gradient of 9.5%. The previous year's winner Garzelli described the route to be a "hard Giro, but not the hardest." Pantani said it was an "uncertain Giro" and that the limited time trial distances and fewer climbing kilometers would help Jan Ullrich. Former winner Three-time winner Felice Gimondi agreed with Pantani regarding Ullrich and the route, stating that "it should make certain the presence of Ullrich." Cipollini commented that it's a "Giro with something for everyone."

Stage characteristics and winners

Stage	Date	Course	Distance	Type		Winner
P	19 May	Montesilvano to Pescara		File:Time Trial.svg	Individual time trial	Template:Flagathlete
1	20 May	Giulianova to Francavilla al Mare		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
2	21 May	Fossacesia to Lucera		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
3	22 May	Lucera to Potenza		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
4	23 May	Potenza to Mercogliano		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
5	24 May	Avellino to Nettuno		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
6	25 May	Nettuno to Rieti		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
7	26 May	Rieti to Montevarchi		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
8	27 May	Montecatini Terme to Reggio Emilia		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
9	28 May	Reggio Emilia to Rovigo		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
10	29 May	Lido di Jesolo to Ljubljana (Slovenia)		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
11	30 May	Bled (Slovenia) to Gorizia		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
12	31 May	Gradisca d'Isonzo to Montebelluna		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
13	1 June	Montebelluna to Passo Pordoi		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
14	2 June	Cavalese to Arco		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
15	3 June	Sirmione to Salò		File:Time Trial.svg	Individual time trial	Template:Flagathlete
16	4 June	Erbusco to Parma		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
	5 June	Rest day
17	6 June	Sanremo to Sanremo		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
18	7 June	Imperia to Sant'Anna di Vinadio		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Stage Cancelled
19	8 June	Alba to Busto Arsizio		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
20	9 June	Busto Arsizio to Arona		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
21	10 June	Arona to Milan		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
	Total

Classification Leadership

In the 2001 Giro d'Italia, five different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner is considered the winner of the Giro.

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a mauve jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. The stage win awarded 25 points, second place awarded 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down the line, to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints.

There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized as either first, second, or third category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The highest point in the Giro (called the Cima Coppi), which in 2001 was the Colle Fauniera, afforded more points than the other first-category climbs.

The fourth jersey represented the intergiro classification, marked by a blue jersey. The calculation for the intergiro is similar to that of the general classification, in each stage there is a midway point that the riders pass through a point and where their time is stopped. As the race goes on, their times compiled and the person with the lowest time is the leader of the intergiro classification and wears the blue jersey.

There were also two classifications for teams. The first was the Trofeo Fast Team. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time. The Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team.

The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run.

Classification leadership by stage

Stage	Winner	General classification File:Jersey pink.svg	Points classification File:Jersey violet.svg	Mountains classification File:Jersey green.svg	Intergiro classification File:Jersey blue.svg	Trofeo Fast Team	Trofeo Super Team
P	Rik Verbrugghe	Rik Verbrugghe	not awarded	not awarded	not awarded	ONCE–Eroski	not awarded
1	Ellis Rastelli		Ellis Rastelli	Domenico Gualdi	Unai Osa	Template:Cycling data LAM	Template:Cycling data ONC
2	Danilo Hondo		Gabriele Colombo		Pietro Caucchioli		Cantina Tollo
3	Danilo Hondo		Danilo Hondo		Mariano Piccoli		Template:Cycling data LAM
4	Danilo Di Luca	Dario Frigo		Danilo Di Luca	Ivan Quaranta	Template:Cycling data ONC
5	Ivan Quaranta				Massimo Strazzer
6	Mario Cipollini
7	Stefano Zanini
8	Pietro Caucchioli			Fredy González			Liquigas
9	Mario Cipollini						Template:Cycling data LAM
10	Denis Zanette						Template:Cycling data VIN
11	Pablo Lastras					Template:Cycling data GCE
12	Matteo Tosatto		Massimo Strazzer
13	Julio Alberto Pérez	Gilberto Simoni					Template:Cycling data FAS
14	Carlos Contreras					Template:Cycling data SDA
15	Dario Frigo					Template:Cycling data ALB
16	Ivan Quaranta
17	Pietro Caucchioli
18	Stage Cancelled
19	Mario Cipollini
20	Gilberto Simoni
21	Mario Cipollini
Final		Gilberto Simoni	Massimo Strazzer	Fredy González	Massimo Strazzer	Template:Cycling data ALB	Template:Cycling data ALB

Final standings

Legend
Pink jersey	Denotes the winner of the General classification	Green jersey	Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification
Purple jersey	Denotes the winner of the Points classification	Blue jersey	Denotes the winner of the Intergiro classification

General classification

	Rider	Team	Time
1	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data LAM	89h 02' 58"
2	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ONC	+ 7' 31"
3	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data GCE	+ 8' 37"
4	Template:Flagathlete	Liquigas	+ 9' 25"
5	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ONC	+ 9' 44"
6	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data MAP	+ 10' 50"
7	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ALB	+ 10' 54"
8	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data SDA	+ 11' 44"
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ALB	+ 13' 34"
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data SDA	+ 14' 08"

Points classification

	Rider	Team	Points
1	Template:Flagathlete Purple jersey Blue jersey	Template:Cycling data MDN	177
2	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data TEL	158
3	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data SAE	136
4	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data LAM	129
5	Template:Flagathlete	Alexia Alluminio	105
6	Template:Flagathlete	Liquigas	85
7	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data VIN	78
8	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data GCE	75
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ONC	73
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data PAN

Mountains classification

	Rider	Team	Points
1	Template:Flagathlete Green jersey	Template:Cycling data SDA	73
2	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data LAM	42
3	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data SDA	33
4	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ALB	32
5	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data PAN	28
6	Template:Flagathlete	Cantina Tollo	21
7	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data GCE	16
8	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data SDA	14
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data SDA
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data GCE	10

Intergiro classification

	Rider	Team	Time
1	Template:Flagathlete Blue jersey	Template:Cycling data MDN	51h 27' 14"
2	Template:Flagathlete Purple jersey	Template:Cycling data MAP	+ 2' 49"
3	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data MDN	s.t.
4	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ONC	+ 3' 15"
5	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LAM	+ 3' 21"
6	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data LAM	+ 3' 26"
7	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data SDA	+ 3' 31"
8	Template:Flagathlete	Alexia Alluminio	+ 3' 49"
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data TEL	s.t.
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data ALB	+ 3' 51"

Trofeo Fast Team classification

	Team	Time
1	Template:Cycling data ALB	267h 13' 45"
2	Template:Cycling data GCE	+ 9' 51"
3	Template:Cycling data SDA	+ 13' 42"
4	Template:Cycling data ONC	+ 18' 25"
5	Template:Cycling data LAM	+ 39' 26"
6	Template:Cycling data FAS	+ 41' 03"
7	Template:Cycling data UNO	+ 46' 03"
8	Liquigas	+ 57' 09"
9	Template:Cycling data VIN	+ 59' 07"
10	Template:Cycling data SAE	+ 1h 19' 58"

Trofeo Super Team classification

	Team	Points
1	Template:Cycling data FAS	370
2	Template:Cycling data VIN	356
3	Liquigas	322
4	Template:Cycling data ALB	313
5	Template:Cycling data TEL	280
6	Template:Cycling data LAM	268
7	Template:Cycling data MDN	245
8	Template:Cycling data PAN	234
9	Template:Cycling data ONC	233
10	Template:Cycling data GCE	231

Minor classifications

Other less well-known classifications, whose leaders did not receive a special jersey, were awarded during the Giro. Other awards included the Combativity classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. Italian Massimo Strazzer won the Most Combative classification. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were awarded only to the top three finishers in each stage. Mario Cipollini won the Azzurri d'Italia classification. Paolo Savoldelli won the combination classification.

Doping cases

During the Giro, test for EPO performed on Sergio Barbero in the 2001 Tour of Romandie came back positive. For this reason, Barbero did not start the twelfth stage, pending confirmation of his penalty.

Riccardo Forconi and Pascal Hervé tested positive for EPO, and were not allowed to start stage 17. After stage 17, the Italian police held a doping raid in the cyclists' hotels. Doping was found in Dario Frigo's room, and he was removed from the race, and banned for 6 months. Noan Lelarge tested positive for a banned steroid, and was consequently fired by his team Template:Cycling data TDE.