2006 Giro d'Italia

Template:Short description The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It began in the Belgian city of Seraing with a individual time trial. The race came to a close with a mass-start road stage that stretched from Museo del Ghisallo to Milan. Twenty two teams entered the race that was won by the Italian Ivan Basso of the Template:Cycling data CSC team. Second and third were the Spain José Enrique Gutiérrez and Italian Gilberto Simoni.

Basso, riding for Template:Cycling data SAX, won the Giro in dominant fashion. Basso won three individual stages, as well as the team time trial, along with his fellow Team CSC riders, and won the overall classification by more than 9 minutes over the next best rider, the largest margin of victory in a Grand Tour in the last three years.

In the other classifications that the race awarded, Paolo Bettini of the Template:Cycling data QST team won the points classification, Quick Step-Innergetic rider Juan Manuel Gárate won the mountains classification, and Paolo Savoldelli of the Template:Cycling data DSC won the combination classification. Template:Cycling data PHO finished as the winners of the Trofeo Fast Team classification, ranking each of the twenty-two 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 Phonak.

Teams

Twenty-two teams contested the 2006 Giro. Since it was a UCI ProTour event, the 20 ProTour teams were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad. Race officials also invited two other teams. Each team sent a squad of nine riders, giving the race a 198-man peloton at its outset.

The 22 that competed in the race were:

Template:Cycling data ALM Template:Cycling data BTL Template:Cycling data GCE Template:Cycling data CSF Template:Cycling data COF Template:Cycling data C.A Template:Cycling data OLO Template:Cycling data DSC

Template:Cycling data EUS Template:Cycling data FDJ Template:Cycling data GST Template:Cycling data LAM Template:Cycling data ONC Template:Cycling data LIQ Template:Cycling data PHO

Template:Cycling data QST Template:Cycling data RAB Template:Cycling data FOT Template:Cycling data AND Template:Cycling data THR Template:Cycling data SAX Template:Cycling data MRM

Route and stages

The 2006 Giro opened, and had its first 4 stages in the South-East of Belgium in the Wallonia region. The Giro organisers chose to locate the opening in this region as a homage to the thousands of Italians who moved to the region following the end of World War II in order to find jobs in the coal mines of the area. It is estimated that as many as 300'000 Belgians of Italian origin live in this area. The 2006 Giro commemorated the deaths of 136 Italian miners who died in the 1956 Bois du Cazier mine disaster.

The race introduced a team time trial stage upon its arrival in Italy. This discipline had been absent from the Giro since edition 1989. It also included of individual time trials, distributed between the prologue and the long time trial at Pontedera.

It also featured famous climbs, such as the steep Mortirolo and the Monte Bondone. There were plans to visit Plan de Corones for the first time; however, bad weather prevented the unpaved climb from being used. It instead saw its debut in the Giro d'Italia in 2008.

Stage	Date	Course	Distance	Type		Winner
1	6 May	Seraing (Belgium)		File:Time Trial.svg	Individual time trial	Template:Flagathlete
2	7 May	Mons (Belgium) to Charleroi (Belgium)		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
3	8 May	Perwez (Belgium) to Namur (Belgium)		File:Hillystage.svg	Undulating stage	Template:Flagathlete
4	9 May	Wanze (Belgium) to Hotton (Belgium)		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
	10 May	Rest day
5	11 May	Piacenza to Cremona		File:Time Trial.svg	Team time trial	Template:Cycling data SAX
6	12 May	Busseto to Forlì		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
7	13 May	Cesena to Saltara		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
8	14 May	Civitanova Marche to Maielletta		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
9	15 May	Francavilla al Mare to Termoli		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
10	16 May	Termoli to Peschici		File:Hillystage.svg	Undulating stage	Template:Flagathlete
	17 May	Rest day
11	18 May	Pontedera		File:Time Trial.svg	Individual time trial	Template:FlagathleteTemplate:Refn
12	19 May	Livorno to Sestri Levante		File:Hillystage.svg	Undulating stage	Template:Flagathlete
13	20 May	Alessandria to La Thuile		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
14	21 May	Aosta to Domodossola		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
15	22 May	Mergozzo to Brescia		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
16	23 May	Rovato to Trento		File:Mediummountainstage.svg	Medium mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
17	24 May	Tramin to Plan de Corones		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
18	25 May	Sillian (Austria) to Gemona del Friuli		File:Hillystage.svg	Undulating stage	Template:Flagathlete
19	26 May	Pordenone to Passo di San Pellegrino		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
20	27 May	Trento to Aprica		File:Mountainstage.svg	Mountain stage	Template:Flagathlete
21	28 May	Museo del Ghisallo to Milan		File:Plainstage.svg	Flat stage	Template:Flagathlete
	Total

Classification leadership

A cyclist wearing a blue and pink uniform while riding a bike.

Template:Cycling data LAM rider Evgeni Petrov riding on the slopes of the Passo di Gavia.

In the 2006 Giro d'Italia, four 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 less per place down the line, to a single point for 15th. In addition, some 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, 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 2006 was the Passo di Gavia in stage 20, afforded still more points than the other first-category climbs.

The fourth was the combination classification, which awarded a blue jersey. In the combination classification, the top 15 placed riders each day in the general, points, mountains, and 110 Gazzetta classifications earned points, 15 for first and one point less per place down the line, to a single point for 15th. These points were tallied throughout the Giro.

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 are added, and the team with the lowest time is leading team. 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.

Classification leadership by stage

Stage	Winner	General classification File:Jersey pink.svg	Points classification File:Jersey violet.svg	Mountains classification File:Jersey green.svg	Combination classification File:Jersey blue.svg	Trofeo Fast Team	Trofeo Super Team
1	Paolo Savoldelli	Paolo Savoldelli	Paolo Savoldelli	Paolo Savoldelli	Paolo Savoldelli	Template:Cycling data DSC	not awarded
2	Robbie McEwen						Template:Cycling data TMO
3	Stefan Schumacher	Stefan Schumacher	Stefan Schumacher	Moisés Aldape			Template:Cycling data LTB
4	Robbie McEwen		Robbie McEwen	Sandy Casar
5	Template:Cycling data SAX	Serhiy Honchar				Template:Cycling data TMO
6	Robbie McEwen	Olaf Pollack
7	Rik Verbrugghe	Serhiy Honchar		Staf Scheirlinckx		Template:Cycling data DSC
8	Ivan Basso	Ivan Basso		Ivan Basso
9	Tomas Vaitkus
10	Franco Pellizotti					Template:Cycling data LIQ
11	Jan UllrichTemplate:Refn					Template:Cycling data DSC	Template:Cycling data TMO
12	Joan Horrach
13	Leonardo Piepoli		Paolo Bettini				Template:Cycling data DSC
14	Luis Felipe Laverde			Fortunato Baliani		Template:Cycling data PHO	Template:Cycling data CSF
15	Paolo Bettini
16	Ivan Basso			Ivan Basso			Template:Cycling data PHO
17	Leonardo Piepoli		Ivan Basso
18	Stefan Schumacher		Paolo Bettini
19	Juan Manuel Gárate			Fortunato Baliani
20	Ivan Basso		Ivan Basso	Juan Manuel Gárate
21	Robert Förster		Paolo Bettini
Final		Ivan Basso	Paolo Bettini	Juan Manuel Gárate	Paolo Savoldelli	Template:Cycling data PHO	Template:Cycling data PHO

Final standings

Legend
A pink jersey	Denotes the winner of the General classification	A green jersey	Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification
A violet jersey	Denotes the winner of the Points classification	A blue jersey	Denotes the winner of the Combination classification

General classification

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data SAX	91h 33' 36"
2	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data PHO	+9' 18"
3	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FOT	+11' 59"
4	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LAM	+18' 16"
5	Template:Flagathlete Blue jersey	Template:Cycling data DSC	+19' 22"
6	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FDJ	+23' 53"
7	Template:Flagathlete Green jersey	Template:Cycling data QST	+24' 26"
8	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LIQ	+25' 57"
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data PHO	+26' 27"
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LAM	+27' 34"

Points classification

	Cyclist	Team	Points
1	Template:Flagathlete Mauve jersey	Template:Cycling data QST	169
2	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data SAX	158
3	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data PHO	132
4	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data THR	104
5	Template:Flagathlete Blue jersey	Template:Cycling data DSC	95
6	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data GST	89
7	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FOT	88
8	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FOT	86
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data CSF	68
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LIQ	67

Mountains classification

	Cyclist	Team	Points
1	Template:Flagathlete Green jersey	Template:Cycling data QST	64
2	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data SAX	56
3	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data CSF	52
4	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FOT	32
5	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data PHO	27
6	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FDJ	23
7	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LAM	22
8	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FOT	20
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LAM	16
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data AND	15

Combination classification

	Cyclist	Team	Points
1	Template:Flagathlete Blue jersey	Template:Cycling data DSC	775
2	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data PHO	651
3	Template:Flagathlete Pink jersey	Template:Cycling data SAX	595
4	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FDJ	454
5	Template:Flagathlete Mauve jersey	Template:Cycling data QST	342
6	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data FDJ	307
7	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LAM	301
8	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data GST	294
9	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data LIQ	242
10	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Cycling data THR	241

Trofeo Fast Team classification

	Team	Time
1	Template:Cycling data PHO	274h 21' 31"
2	Template:Cycling data LAM	+ 7' 36"
3	Template:Cycling data DSC	+ 16' 05"
4	Template:Cycling data FOT	+ 29' 37"
5	Template:Cycling data CSF	+ 53' 06"
6	Template:Cycling data LIQ	+ 56' 12"
7	Template:Cycling data C.A	+ 1h 22' 59"
8	Template:Cycling data SAX	+ 1h 31' 15"
9	Template:Cycling data ONC	+ 1h 47' 58"
10	Template:Cycling data GCE	+ 1h 53' 19"

Trofeo Super Team classification

	Team	Points
1	Template:Cycling data PHO	323
2	Template:Cycling data FOT	298
3	Template:Cycling data CSF	270
4	Template:Cycling data GST	262
5	Template:Cycling data LAM	260
6	Template:Cycling data DSC	255
7	Template:Cycling data QST	241
8	Template:Cycling data LIQ	237
9	Template:Cycling data SAX	218
10	Template:Cycling data THR	211

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 Paolo Bettini won the Most Combative classification. Bettini also won the 110 Gazzetta classification. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were awarded only to the top three finishers in each stage. Ivan Basso won the Azzurri d'Italia classification. The Trofeo Fuga Piaggio classification rewarded riders who took part in a breakaway at the head of the field, each rider in an escape of ten or fewer riders getting one point for each kilometre that the group stayed clear. The classification was won by Christophe Edaleine. Teams were given penalty points for minor technical infringements. Template:Cycling data CSF were most successful in avoiding penalties, and so won the Fair Play classification.

External links

• cyclingnews.com - race reports and news features