2009 Giro d'Italia: Daily Dispatch from Giro d'Italia - La Sprinta Roma!

Daily Dispatch from Italia

5/28/2009

Benvenuto!

Tomorrow the La Sprinta a Roma begins with the KOM Competition.  Do you consider yourself a scalatore puro (pure climber) who drops everyone in the hills?  If so, on May 29, 2009, pull up MapMyRide.com, plot out a hilly ride that will force you to tackle some serious elevation, log that ride on MapMyRide.com, and challenge for the La Sprinta a Roma KOM! 

To win the La Sprinta a Roma KOM Competition, you will simply need to climb more vertical feet than anyone else over a single ride on Friday May 29^th.  Complete your ride tomorrow and enter your ride data into the Giro Challenge via a MapMyRide.com approved device by midnight tomorrow night (Pacific Time) in order to qualify for the podium prizes.

As a reminder, here is the podium prize list for the Stage 19 KOM competition:

1. Polar CS200cad Cycling Computer and Wrist ID by Road ID
2. Polar Cycling Gear Kit and Wrist ID by Road ID
3. VERSUS Team Kit (Jersey/Shorts) and Wrist ID by Road ID 

In addition we will be giving away 5 Road IDs in a sweepstakes organized for participants of the La Sprinta a Roma Completion.

Also remember that the La Sprinta a Roma continues with the Team Distance and the Time Trial (Cycling Pros VERSUS Joes) competitions on Saturday and Sunday

Finally, don't forget to Log in tomorrow after your ride and share your big climb stories and photos! 

Moving on, here is our preview of tomorrow's stage. 

Stage 19 - Friday, May 29: Avellino - Vesuvio, 164 km

Stage 19 offers the climbers their last chance to put the hurt down on their fellow members of the peloton, and challenge for the KOM. 

Stage 19 opens up along the picturesque Amalfi Coast and ends with a leg-breaking, lung-busting climb up Mount Vesuvio - a world famous volcano steeped in Roman history and mythology.  Even though the final climb up the volcano is not very long, the last and steepest 2 km to the finish could see many members of the peloton crack, and that last kick offers the true climbers a chance to take some time back in the General Classification. 

Stage 19 will likely play heavily in setting the General Classification.  Some climbers may launch an escape early looking for the illustrious stage win, and should that escape go without any of the GC men, the real battle on this Stage will take place back in the pack on the final climb to Vesuvio as the GC men fight to take time out of their rivals and seize the top GC position.  

So, who wins Stage 19?  Log in and give us your predictions, or share some memories of Giros past! 

Here's the podium for Stage 17 - Wednesday, May 27, 2009:

Chieti - Blockhaus, 83km

1. Franco Pellizotti
2. Stefano Garzelli
3. Danilo Di Luca

And, here are the GC standings after Stage 18: 

1. Denis Menchov
2. Danilo Di Luca
3. Franco Pellizotti

Ciao!