Sastre Demolishes Peloton on Pivotal Giro Stage 16

Last year, on Stage 17 of the 2008 Tour de France, the riders faced a monumental day.  Faced with long miles and six major climbs, ending on the legendary Alpe d'Huez, the race was torn apart. 

Carlos Sastre's then-Team CSC used devastating tactics.  With his teammates Frank and Andy Schleck controlling the GC contenders, Sastre attacked at the bottom of Alpe d'Huez and finished over two minutes ahead of the favourites, especially nemesis Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto). 

Sastre, once thought only an outside threat, put on the leader's yellow jersey that day and went on to win the 2008 Tour de France in dominating fashion.

Fast-forward to today's Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia and the riders faced an equally threatening 237-kilometer stage with six major climbs, ending on a mountaintop finish on the 10-kilometer ascent of the Monte Petrano. 

Although the Stage 12 time-trial served to shake up the overall classification where race-leader Denis Menchov (Rabobank) took ownership of the pink jersey, today was the stage that would serve to order the favourites more; those who triumphed today still have a shot at overall glory, and those who did not are now almost completely out.

Denis Menchov and his Italian shadow, Danilo DiLuca (LPR-Brakes) had their work cut out for them during the stage.

A massive early breakaway of 20 riders made it clear of the peloton very shortly after the start.  Some of the riders in the breakaway, though, were not the usual breakaway suspects. 

Today, an effective team strategy for those with GC ambitions was to put one of their teammates into the breakaway.  That way, if their leader needed help, they could slowly drift back to the peloton and aid in the effort. 

Likewise, if their team leader made an attack on the peloton, their teammate could slowly drift back and then help their captain power ahead and gain extra time.

Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) and Gabriele Bosisio (LPR-Brakes), the main lieutenants to Levi Leipheimer and Danilo DiLuca, respectively, were in the break for this reason. 

Menchov also had two Rabobank teammates, Mauricio Ardila and Maarten Tjallingii, in the breakaway for the same reason.

Damiano Cunego, the Lampre-team captain was also in the break.  Although the 2004 Giro d'Italia champion was a big GC contender before the race started, his subsequent poor performances have left him more than out of overall contention, and he went looking for a stage victory. 

Up ahead, the breakaway soon started dissolving, and on the penultimate climb of the Monte Catrina, the breakaway was down to just Popovych, Cunego, Bosisio, and Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni). 

This was a very powerful and accomplished breakaway, with all riders having won Tour stages and stage-race victories in the past.

Behind, the Rabobank-driven peloton was starting to make ground on the front runners.  After over 200 kilometers in the saddle, the riders hit the final climb of the Monte Petrano, Popovych had made a solo bid with Cunego more than a minute behind. 

The peloton, at two minutes back, was closing quickly and getting ready for a GC battle.

The 2008 Tour de France Champion, Carlos Sastre (Cervelo), must have been reminiscing about his Alpe d'Huez assault of the previous year. 

As a 130-pound climber, the only way for him to made up distance is to attack on the big mountains. 

Sastre attacked up the Petrano and quickly built up a lead.  The Spaniard was plowing through the mountain, rather quickly slashed his two-minute defecit to Popovych and kept on rolling.

Ivan Basso (Liquigas), meanwhile, made an attack of his own on Menchov and DiLuca, but he did not get very far, just like his fruitless attack yesterday.

Menchov and DiLuca were isolated from most of the favourites.  They decided to work together on the climb; they absolutely needed to keep the foraging Sastre from gaining too much time like he did in last year's Tour de France.

By the top of the climb, Sastre won the day and took his Cervelo team's second stage win.  He came in 25 seconds ahead of Menchov and DiLuca, not the advantage he was hoping for, but he moves up nicely in the overall classification. 

How badly had the stage shattered the peloton?

Previously third-placed Levi Leipheimer had a terrible day and lost contact with the front runners.  He finished nearly three minutes down on the leaders and plummeted to sixth place overall 3:21 behind. 

In just one day and in the blink of an eye, the American is no longer in contention for the overall win that he had within his grasp just yesterday.

Perhaps the worst nightmare of all went to Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia).  The young Swede looked to have the white jersey of the best young rider locked up.  That was until today. 

The climbs demolished his strength and he lost an astounding 25 minutes today.  He is no longer in contention even for the white jersey anymore.  That honour goes to Kevin Seeldrayers (QuickStep).

After today's stage very remeniscient of last year's Tour de France, Menchov and DiLuca maintain their dominant spots on the podium. 

Sastre moves up into third place at 2:19 behind.  Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) remains in fourth but lost another minute, now at 3:08 behind.

Sastre has two more stages with mountaintop finishes to gain back time on Menchov and DiLuca, but it is unlikely that the Russian and Italian duo will let Sastre gain back more time on the mountaintop finishes. This year's Giro may come down to a showdown between the first and second placed riders.

Tomorrow is a rest day for the riders.  Racing resumes on Wednesday with a highly unusual stage.  Stage 17 is a meager 83 kilometers long, more than half of it being the intimidating climb up to Blockhaus.

It will be a quick and punchy stage that might produce many surprises if a rider places a smart, well-timed attack.