2011 Giro d'Italia: Stage 8 News, Notes and Quotes | Bike World News

May 14th, 2011 by Al Fresco View Comments

Everyone was saying that today was Aberto Contador?s ?first exclamation mark? of the 2011 Giro, but let?s give proper respect to Oscar Gatto, who managed to hold off ?The Accountant? and win Saturday?s eighth stage of the 2011 Giro d?Italia.

• This was Gatto?s first win in a Grand Tour.??Calabria brings me luck. I won here in February, my first win of the season, I hope that today?s victory represents a turning point of my career,? said Gatto after the win. ?I dedicate this win to Luca Scinto, who found and discoverted me and believed in me.
• Gatto had seen a reconnaissance of the course yesterday and thought that the stage could be suitable to him. ?I had no point at which I wanted to attack. I just followed my instinct, and in the last kilometer and a half I left, as fast as I could.?
• Gatto thanked his team ?Every day we race to win. We try, we animate the race, we struggle. Until the end. For this we are also criticized, but Luca Scinto wants it. Always protagonists, or at least try. And today we prevailed.?
• ?During my last year as an amateur I was the rider who most often won. But [after] my switch to?Gerolsteiner I could not fully appreciate what it is to be a professional, how hard it is to train and what commitment it requires,? said day?s winner Gatto.??I lost my confidence and only for?Luca Scinto have I found [it again]. This stage win over Contador gives something extra to the win. When I looked round and saw a Saxo Bank jersey, I could not see who it was. Only when I turned around a second time and he came closer, I saw that who it was. I could not believe my eyes! ?
• After the stage, Gatto told reporters: ?I?ve always liked finishes like this, slightly uphill and technically difficult.?I threw away the first two years of my career but I?m starting to make up time now. I just didn?t understand how much work I had to do to be a professional. I have to thank Scinto because he?s helped me a lot. This stage win is for him.?
• Saxo Bank-SunGard dictated a high pace in front of the pack on the very last part of the stage and on the small uphill finish, team captain, Alberto Contador launched a surprising attack on his rivals and quickly created a gap. Unfortunately, the Spaniard wasn?t able to catch Gatto.??First of all, I truly acknowledge the great work done by my team which has led me in the lead until the last moment and because of this I could take a few seconds. It was a dangerous finish so we knew we had to be aware. I guess tomorrow?s stage will hold a lot of attacks as there are riders motivated for special reasons like Nibali who?s on home ground or Scarponi who is looking very strong. Tomorrow, the battle will roar and anything can happen?, said Contador.
• ?I was in the lead group and I decided to try my luck.?I felt great.?I saw that there was a possibility to move forward, I took it.?He missed a little bit to get back on the attacker (Gatto).?But 12 seconds of bonus is all very well knowing that they must protect its forces in the Giro,? Contador said.
• ?To me it was important to reduce the gap with the favorites,? said Contador, who won for his second place gained twelve bonus seconds.
• Saxo Bank ? Sungard sports director, Philippe Mauduit feels that Contador is ready for the harder mountain stages to come, including Sunday?s stage on Mount Etna. ?We knew that the finish was a bit tricky so it was important that we positioned Alberto in the very front of the pack before going in on the uphill finish. And the guys succeeded. On top of this, Alberto saw the opportunity and was feeling strong enough to take it and gain seconds on his nearest rivals in the overall GC. Tomorrow, there will be a huge battle of Etna and as you can see, we?re ready.?
• Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) won the bunch sprint. ?My legs were very good so I covered the climb in the best way,? Petacchi said. ?Gatto was skilful in chosing the best moment to attack and I know he was awarded with the victory.?
• Petacchi?s teammate Michele Scarponi was also in the bunch sprint. ?It?s not a problem that Contador obtained 17 seconds. His performance was very good, he surprised his rivals, But the real test will take place tomorrow on Etna. Thanks to the support of my team mates, I?m sure I?ve the good qualities to perform on the stage.?
• Alexander Kristoff scored his best result of the season for the BMC Racing Team with fourth place on Saturday?s stage of the Giro d?Italia.?Kristoff and the rest of the peloton were unable to follow Gatto?s attack. ?I started a little bit early, so I died a bit at the end,? Kristoff said. ?But I got some super help from Danilo (Wyss) and Simon (Zahner).? BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Max Sciandri said: ?It was a very dangerous and technical finish, with one really dangerous corner with about three kilometers to go.?
• Pieter Weening finished with the peloton and hung onto the maglia rosa for another day. ?Etna is a great event but it is not the first time I had an important exam.?In any case, wearing the pink jersey has been a great adventure.?I give the utmost to keep it.?Have the pink jersey, it helps.?You feel stronger and receive support from the entire team.?The next leader??It is possible that it is Contador but he is not the only one who can take it.?Scarponi and Nibali are very strong too.?Me, I will fight and if I ever sell it, then I will try to win a stage.?

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Tags: 2011 Giro d'Italia?alberto contador?Alessandro Petacchi?Alexander Kristoff?BMC Racing?eighth stage?Gerolsteiner?Grand Tour?Lampre?Michele Scarponi?mountain stage?Oscar Gatto?Pieter Weening?saxo bank-sungard?spaniard?sports director?stage 8

Source: http://www.bikeworldnews.com/2011/05/14/2011-giro-ditalia-stage-8-news-notes-quotes/

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