Published May 19, 2001 01:00AM
By John Wilcockson
Besides overall contenders Casagrande, Garzelli. Gotti, Pantani and Simoni, these are the climbers who could win a stage or shoot for the best climber’s jersey.
Wladimir Belli (I), Fassa Bortolo, 30After a year with Festina, Belli returned to an Italian squad last year, and posted his best Giro finish, seventh overall. His main task will be to keep team leader Casagrande at the front in the high mountains, and to mark other race contenders — work that could also enable Belli to win a stage.
“Chepe” Gonzalez (Col), Mobilvetta-Trentini, 32Two King of the Mountain titles and two mountain stage wins are in this little Colombian’s impressive Giro record. He faltered last year, but he’s always dangerous when conditions are at their worst. He switched to the Mobilvetta in May after his Selle Italia expelled him after drugs were found in his hotel room at an Italian race thisspring.
Giuseppe Guerini (I), Telekom, 31With Giro podium finishes in 1997 and í98, Guerini has the experience and knowledge to play a strong part this year for Telekom. That could mean a mountain stage win, or a lesser support role for Ullrich.
Pascal Hervé (F), Alexia, 36The veteran Frenchman has moved from one Italian team, Polti, to another, Alexia. But this year, he no longer has first-lieutenant duties for Richard Virenque, and the explosive climber is Alexia’s main GC hope at the Giro. That should mean more individual opportunities for Hervé in the mountain stages.
Paolo Lanfranchi (I), Mapei-QuickStep, 32A pro since 1993, Lanfranchi is no newcomer, but he has begun to come on well in the last few years. He won the Tour de Langkawi in 1999 and repeated this year. In the 2000 Giro, he won the difficult stage 19 in the Alps, beating out the likes of Pantani, Simoni and Casagrande.
Kevin Livingston (USA),Telekom,27Like Guerini and Ullrich, Telekom’s Livingston is starting the Giro as preparation for the Tour de France. But if he does find some early form, it could provide the American a chance to spread his wings a little bit, before he gets down to the business of working for Ullrich at the Tour.
Leonardo Piepoli (I), iBanesto.com, 29This little Italian has been one of the most consistent climbers in recent years, and a 10th-place finish at last year’s Giro could portend an even better showing in 2001. He’d loved to win a stage.