:2008 Giro d'Italia
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox cycling race report
| name =
| image = Giro d Italia 2008.png
| image_size = 400px
| image_alt = Map of Italy showing the path of the race, starting in the island of Sardinia to the south of the Italian mainland and heading north through the country to end in Milan
| image_caption = Overview of the stages:
route from Palermo to Milan covered by the riders on the bicycle (red)
and distances between stages (green).
| date = 10 May – 1 June 2008
| stages = 21
| distance = 3407
| unit
= km
| time = 89h 56' 49"
| speed = 37.883
| first = Alberto Contador
| first_nat = ESP
| first_team = {{UCI team code|AST|2008}}
| first_color = pink
| second = Riccardo Riccò
| second_nat = ITA
| second_team = {{UCI team code|FUJ|2008a}}
| third = Marzio Bruseghin
| third_nat = ITA
| third_team = {{UCI team code|LAM|2008}}
| points = Daniele Bennati
| points_nat = ITA
| points_team = {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008}}
| points_color = violet
| mountains = Emanuele Sella
| mountains_nat = ITA
| mountains_team = {{UCI team code|CSF|2008}}
| mountains_color = green
| youth = Riccardo Riccò
| youth_nat = ITA
| youth_team = {{UCI team code|FUJ|2008a}}
| youth_color = white
| sprints = Fortunato Baliani
| sprints_nat = ITA
| sprints_team = {{UCI team code|CSF|2008}}
| combativity = Emanuele Sella
| combativity_nat = ITA
| combativity_team = {{UCI team code|CSF|2008}}
| team = {{UCI team code|CSF|2008}}
| teampoints = {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008}}
| previous = 2007
|next = 2009
}}
The 2008 Giro d'Italia was the 91st running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It began in Palermo on 10 May and ended in Milan on 1 June. Twenty-two teams entered the race, which was won by Spaniard Alberto Contador of the {{UCI team code|AST|2008}} cycling team. Second and third respectively were Italians Riccardo Riccò and Marzio Bruseghin.
Contador first took the race lead after the second mountain stage, to Marmolada, by finishing nearly fifteen minutes ahead of previous race leader Gabriele Bosisio. The race's overall classification had been headed for several days beforehand by Giovanni Visconti, who participated in a breakaway in the sixth stage which won him sufficient time to hold the race leader's pink jersey for more than a week. In the race's final week, Contador faced stern challenges from Riccò and defending Giro champion Danilo Di Luca. Though Contador did not win any stage, his performances were consistently strong enough to remain ahead through to the conclusion of the race.
Team {{UCI team code|CSF|2008}} appeared to perform quite well in the race, coming away with four stage wins and victory in the mountains classification and the Trofeo Fast Team. In August 2008, mountains classification winner Emanuele Sella was announced to have tested positive for methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (better known as Mircera, an erythropoietin derivative) at an out-of-competition control held by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).{{cite web
|author=Jeff Jones and Gregor Brown
|url=http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/emmanuele-sella-positive-for-epo-17903/
|title=Emmanuele Sella positive for EPO
|date=2008-08-05
|publisher=BikeRadar.com
|access-date=2009-11-15| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429015835/http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/emmanuele-sella-positive-for-epo-17903/| archive-date=29 April 2012| url-status= live
}} He subsequently admitted his doping, and named teammate Matteo Priamo as his supplier.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/nov08/nov25news2
|title=Italy's anti-doping prosecutor meets with Priamo
|date=2008-11-25
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105053350/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/nov08/nov25news2
|archive-date=5 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} Both riders were subsequently suspended. Though as of April 2010 no definitive positive results have come to light from samples taken during the Giro, retesting of those samples has reportedly revealed six to seven presumptive positives for Mircera.{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2008-giro-six-to-seven-possible-cera-positives
|title=2008 Giro: Six to seven possible CERA positives
|date=2009-10-30
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091128050257/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2008-giro-six-to-seven-possible-cera-positives| archive-date= 28 November 2009 | url-status= live}} Riccò, who tested positive for the drug at the 2008 Tour de France, is among those suspected of having given positive tests in the Giro, as is Sella.{{cite web
|author=Conal Andrews
|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2104/New-CERA-suspected-from-2008-Giro-while-undetectable-ozone-doping-pinpointed.aspx
|title=New CERA suspected from 2008 Giro, while 'undetectable' ozone doping pinpointed
|date=2009-10-30
|publisher=VeloNation
|access-date=2009-11-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120229083627/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2104/New-CERA-suspected-from-2008-Giro-while-undetectable-ozone-doping-pinpointed.aspx| archive-date=29 February 2012| url-status= live
}}
Teams
{{mainlist|List of teams and cyclists in the 2008 Giro d'Italia}}
Twenty-two teams participated in the 2008 Giro. These included 16 UCI ProTour teams, and six UCI Professional Continental teams. Of the 18 ProTour teams, the two left out were {{UCI team code|BBO|2008}} and {{UCI team code|C.A|2008}}. Two other ProTour teams, {{UCI team code|AST|2008}} and {{UCI team code|THR|2008a}}, were left off the first list of teams announced by RCS Sport, the organizers of the Giro.{{cite web |author=Stephen Farrand |title=ASTANA AND HIGH ROAD NOT INVITED TO 2008 GIRO D'ITALIA |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/astana-and-high-road-not-invited-to-2008-giro-ditalia-98498 |publisher=Cycling Weekly |date=2008-02-01 |access-date=2009-07-11}} This list also included a further Professional Continental team, {{UCI team code|NGC|2008}}, which was later excluded.{{cite web |author=Stephen Farrand |title=GIRO CONFIRMS ASTANA INVITE, NGC LEFT OUT |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/giro-confirms-astana-invite-ngc-left-out-96350 |publisher=Cycling Weekly |date=2008-05-04 |access-date=2009-11-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715011601/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/giro-confirms-astana-invite-ngc-left-out-96350 | archive-date=15 July 2014| url-status= live}} Astana and Team High Road were both later added, with Astana's invitation coming just six days before the event began.{{cite web|author=AFP Direct |title=Astana Will Race The Giro |url=http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-3-10-17106-1,00.html |publisher=Cycling Weekly |date=2008-05-04 |access-date=2009-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512025213/http://www.bicycling.com/article/0%2C6610%2Cs-3-10-17106-1%2C00.html |archive-date=12 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |author=Team High Road |title=Team High Road Get Invite |url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/News2008/20080215_High_Road.asp |publisher=British Cycling |date=2008-02-16 |access-date=2009-11-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080417194457/http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/News2008/20080215_High_Road.asp |archive-date = 17 April 2008}}
The 22 teams who took part in the race were:{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=startlist
|title=Start list
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106113512/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=startlist
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}}
valign="top" width=25%|
|valign="top" width=25%|
|valign="top" width=25%|
|
Race previews and favorites
The 2008 Giro featured an assortment of contenders for the overall victory. Defending champion Danilo Di Luca had faced potential bans which would have kept him out of the race, after investigations into his involvement with the Oil for Drugs scandal and an irregular doping test given after stage 17 of the 2007 Giro d'Italia, either of which could have resulted in a two-year suspension.
{{cite news
|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2008-04-01-4044563273_x.htm
|author=Andrew Dampf
|agency=Associated Press
|title=Giro d'Italia champion Danilo Di Luca skips doping hearing
|date=2008-04-21
|work=USA Today
|publisher=Gannett Company
|access-date=2009-11-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025192813/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2008-04-01-4044563273_x.htm
|archive-date=25 October 2012
|url-status=live
}} Though he was suspended for three months because of Oil for Drugs,
{{cite news
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/cas-upholds-di-luca-suspension_75642
|title=CAS upholds Di Luca suspension
|date=2008-05-01
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc
|access-date=2009-11-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829181936/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/cas-upholds-di-luca-suspension_75642 | archive-date=29 August 2012| url-status= live
}} he was cleared by the Italian National Olympic Committee of any wrongdoing in the 2007 Giro,
{{cite news
|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=3349348&type=story
|agency=Reuters
|title=UPDATE 2-Cycling-Di Luca cleared of doping
|date=2008-04-16
|publisher=ESPN
|access-date=2009-11-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103164635/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3349348&type=story | archive-date=3 November 2012| url-status= live
}} and was thus permitted to start.
File:Andreas Kloden (Tour de France 2009 - Stage 17).jpg was considered among the race's overall favorites.|alt=A cyclist in a blue and yellow jersey with white trim. His bicycle is not visible, but he is in riding position. He wears sunglasses, a helmet to match his jersey, and a bandage on his nose.]]
The late invitation of {{UCI team code|AST|2008}} to the race provided three potential contenders: 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, third-place finisher from that race Levi Leipheimer, and Andreas Klöden. One analysis of pre-race favorites considered Klöden to be the strongest of them,
{{cite news
|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/giro-ditalia-2008-who-will-win-96311
|author=Lionel Birnie
|title=GIRO D'ITALIA 2008: WHO WILL WIN?
|date=2008-05-07
|publisher=Cycling Weekly
|access-date=2009-11-07
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091125175122/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/347119/giro-d-italia-2008-who-will-win.html| archive-date= 25 November 2009 | url-status= live}} while another considered Contador to be the race's biggest favorite after his wins at the recently run Vuelta al País Vasco and Vuelta a Castilla y León.
{{cite news
|url=http://www.roadcycling.com/2008_Giro_Preview
|author=Gerald Churchill
|title=2008 Giro d'Italia Preview
|date=2008-05-08
|publisher=Road Cycling
|access-date=2014-08-17| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927161222/http://www.roadcycling.com/articles/2008_Giro_Preview_002150.shtml| archive-date=27 September 2011
}} Both Di Luca and Contador had strong domestiques (support riders) by their sides, with Di Luca joined by two-time Giro d'Italia champion Paolo Savoldelli, Gabriele Bosisio, and Alessandro Spezialetti, and Contador by Leipheimer and Klöden.
{{cite news
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=favourites
|author=Gregor Brown
|title=Palermo to Milano – The Corsa Rosa promises excitement
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106041423/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=favourites
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} Other riders named as overall contenders included Denis Menchov, Gilberto Simoni, Vincenzo Nibali, Riccardo Riccò, Mauricio Soler, Marzio Bruseghin, Emanuele Sella, Evgeni Petrov, Franco Pellizotti, and Juan Manuel Gárate. Unibet.com's odds-on favorite was Klöden. 2004 Giro d'Italia winner Damiano Cunego chose to skip the race to better prepare for the Tour de France, adding to speculation that this would be the first Giro since 1996 to feature a non-Italian winner.
{{cite news
|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/giro-ditalia-2008-preview-96318
|author=Lionel Birnie
|title=GIRO D'ITALIA 2008 PREVIEW
|date=2008-05-07
|publisher=Cycling Weekly
|access-date=2009-11-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715012013/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/giro-ditalia-2008-preview-96318 | archive-date=15 July 2014| url-status= live
}}
Six stages were classified as flat and likely to be contested by sprinters. Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, who had notably won nine stages in the 2004 race, did not plan to enter this Giro because of bouts with influenza and bronchitis which hindered his training.
{{cite news
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/cas-suspends-petacchi_75891
|title=CAS suspends Petacchi
|date=2008-05-07
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc
|access-date=2009-11-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113205442/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/cas-suspends-petacchi_75891
|archive-date=13 January 2016
|url-status=live
}} He was later suspended from the sport, and his contract with Team Milram terminated,
{{cite news
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/milram-sacks-petacchi_76355
|author=VeloNews.com
|title=Milram sacks Petacchi
|date=2008-05-16
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc
|access-date=2009-11-23| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120910205418/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/milram-sacks-petacchi_76355| archive-date=10 September 2012| url-status= live
}} as a result of his controversial doping case from the 2007 Giro. Sprinters identified as being favorites in the bunch finishes that the Giro would offer included Alexandre Usov, Dimitry Muravyev, Enrico Gasparotto, Maximiliano Richeze, Robert Förster, Mark Cavendish, André Greipel, Daniele Bennati, Paolo Bettini, Graeme Brown, Robbie McEwen, Julian Dean, Erik Zabel, and Alberto Loddo. Richeze was withdrawn by his team {{UCI team code|CSF|2008}} the day before the race began after a positive doping test, though he would later be cleared of any wrongdoing.
{{cite news
|author=Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug29news2
|title=Richeze fires back after warning
|date=2008-08-29
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906231741/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug29news2
|archive-date=6 September 2015
|url-status=live
}} His name remained on the start list, and he was not replaced, meaning {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} entered the race with only eight riders instead of the customary nine.
{{cite news
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/ariel-richeze-is-withdrawn-from-2008-giro-ditalia-start-list_75984
|agency=Agence France Presse
|title=Ariel Richeze is withdrawn from 2008 Giro d'Italia start list
|date=2008-05-09
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc
|access-date=2009-11-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715012159/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/news/road/ariel-richeze-is-withdrawn-from-2008-giro-ditalia-start-list_75984 | archive-date=15 July 2014| url-status= live
}}
Route and stages
The race began for the second year in succession with a team time trial on one of Italy's islands, in this case Sicily (in 2007 it had been Sardinia). The route contained only four stages that were officially deemed mountain stages, but several of the seven intermediate stages contained selective climbs. The Giro had four time trials, three of which were individual and one a team event. Six stages were classified as flat.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/tappe/tappe_en.shtml
|title=Stages
|publisher=Gazzetta
|access-date=2009-11-23| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314002755/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/tappe/tappe_en.shtml | archive-date=14 March 2013| url-status= live
}}
The sixth stage was originally scheduled to be {{convert|265|km|0|abbr=on}} in length, but it was shortened the day before it was to be run. This decision was made because many riders in the race had become upset over the lengths of transfers from the end of one stage to the beginning of the next and that this afforded them little rest to prepare for such long stages. The {{convert|34|km|0|abbr=on}} Circuito del Gargano was eliminated.{{cite web|author=Sue George |title=Giro stage six shortened |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/may08/may15news |work=Cycling News |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |date=2008-05-15 |access-date=2009-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709162928/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/may08/may15news |archive-date=9 July 2015 |url-status=live}}
Of the four official mountain stages, three ended with climbs: stage 14 to Alpe di Pampeago,{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0814
|title=Stage 14 – Saturday, May 24: Verona – Alpe di Pampeago/Val di Fiemme, 195km
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106102920/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages%2Fgiro0814
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} stage 15 to Passo Fedaia,{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0815
|title=Stage 15 – Sunday, May 25: Arabba – Passo Fedaia/Marmolada (Dolomites Stars), 153km
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106085606/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0815
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} and stage 19 to Presolana.{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0819
|title=Stage 19 – Friday, May 30: Legnano – Presolana/Monte Pora, 238km
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508082157/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//giro08/?id=stages%2Fgiro0819
|archive-date=8 May 2014
|url-status=live
}} Stage 20 earned its mountain designation by way of the Passo di Gavia and the Passo del Mortirolo, respectively the highest point reached and the steepest climb of this year's Giro.{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0820
|title=Stage 20 – Saturday, May 31: Rovetta – Tirano, 224km
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508140536/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//giro08/?id=stages/giro0820
|archive-date=8 May 2014
|url-status=live
}} Two other stages had summit arrivals, stage 7 to Pescocostanzo and the demanding stage 16 climbing time trial to Plan de Corones, the summit of which the Giro had never before visited.{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages/giro0816
|title=Stage 16 – Monday, May 26: San Vigilio di Marebbe – Plan de Corones (Individual Time Trial), 12.85 km
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106101702/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=stages%2Fgiro0816
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} It was hoped that the number of time trials, including one on the race's last day, would keep the race hotly contested to the end.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Tim Maloney
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=presentation
|title=Time trials mark another testing Giro d'Italia
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-23
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091213102936/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=presentation| archive-date= 13 December 2009 | url-status= live}}
| class="wikitable"
!Stage !Date !Course !Distance !colspan="2"|Type !Winner |
| align="center"|1
|align="center"|10 May |align="center"| {{convert|23.6|km|1|abbr=on}} |align="center"|Image:Time Trial.svg |{{UCI team code|GRM|2008a}} |
| align="center"|2
|align="center"|11 May |align="center"| {{convert|207|km|0|abbr=on}} |Image:Mediummountainstage.svg |Intermediate stage |{{flagathlete|Riccardo Riccò|ITA}} |
| align="center"|3
|align="center"|12 May |align="center"| {{convert|221|km|0|abbr=on}} |Flat stage |{{flagathlete|Daniele Bennati|ITA}} |
| align="center"|4
|align="center"|13 May |Pizzo Calabro to Catanzaro-Lungomare |align="center"| {{convert|183|km|0|abbr=on}} |Flat stage |{{flagathlete|Mark Cavendish|GBR}} |
| align="center"|5
|align="center"|14 May |Belvedere Marittimo to Contursi Terme |align="center"| {{convert|203|km|0|abbr=on}} |Image:Mediummountainstage.svg |Intermediate stage |{{flagathlete|Pavel Brutt|RUS}} |
| align="center"|6
|align="center"|15 May |align="center"| {{convert|231.6|km|1|abbr=on}} |Image:Mediummountainstage.svg |Intermediate stage |{{flagathlete|Matteo Priamo|ITA}} |
| align="center"|7
|align="center"|16 May |Vasto to Pescocostanzo |align="center"| {{convert|180|km|0|abbr=on}} |Image:Mediummountainstage.svg |Intermediate stage |{{flagathlete|Gabriele Bosisio|ITA}} |
| align="center"|8
|align="center"|17 May |Rivisondoli to Tivoli |align="center"| {{convert|208|km|0|abbr=on}} |Image:Mediummountainstage.svg |Intermediate stage |{{flagathlete|Riccardo Riccò|ITA}} |
| align="center"|9
|align="center"|18 May |Civitavecchia to San Vincenzo |align="center"| {{convert|218|km|0|abbr=on}} |Flat stage |{{flagathlete|Daniele Bennati|ITA}} |
| |align="center"|19 May
|colspan="6" align=center| Rest day |
|---|
| align="center"|10
|align="center"|20 May |align="center"| {{convert|39.4|km|1|abbr=on}} |align="center"|Image:Time Trial.svg |{{flagathlete|Marzio Bruseghin|ITA}} |
| align="center"|11
|align="center"|21 May |align="center"| {{convert|199|km|0|abbr=on}} |Image:Mediummountainstage.svg |Intermediate stage |{{flagathlete|Alessandro Bertolini|ITA}} |
| align="center"|12
|align="center"|22 May |align="center"| {{convert|172|km|0|abbr=on}} |Flat stage |{{flagathlete|Daniele Bennati|ITA}} |
| align="center"|13
|align="center"|23 May |Modena to Cittadella |align="center"| {{convert|177|km|0|abbr=on}} |Flat stage |{{flagathlete|Mark Cavendish|GBR}} |
| align="center"|14
|align="center"|24 May |align="center"| {{convert|195|km|0|abbr=on}} |align="center"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Mountain stage |{{flagathlete|Emanuele Sella|ITA}} |
| align="center"|15
|align="center"|25 May |Arabba to Passo Fedaia |align="center"| {{convert|153|km|0|abbr=on}} |align="center"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Mountain stage |{{flagathlete|Emanuele Sella|ITA}} |
| align="center"|16
|align="center"|26 May |San Vigilio di Marebbe to Plan de Corones |align="center"| {{convert|12.8|km|1|abbr=on}} |align="center"|Image:Mountain Time Trial Stage.svg |{{flagathlete|Franco Pellizotti|ITA}} |
| |align="center"|27 May
|colspan="6" align=center|Rest day |
| align="center"|17
|align="center"|28 May |Sondrio to Locarno (Switzerland) |align="center"| {{convert|146|km|0|abbr=on}} |Flat stage |{{flagathlete|André Greipel|GER}} |
| align="center"|18
|align="center"|29 May |Mendrisio (Switzerland) to Varese |align="center"| {{convert|147|km|0|abbr=on}} |Image:Mediummountainstage.svg |Intermediate stage |{{flagathlete|Jens Voigt|GER}} |
| align="center"|19
|align="center"|30 May |align="center"| {{convert|238|km|0|abbr=on}} |align="center"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Mountain stage |{{flagathlete|Vasil Kiryienka|BLR}} |
| align="center"|20
|align="center"|31 May |align="center"| {{convert|224|km|0|abbr=on}} |align="center"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Mountain stage |{{flagathlete|Emanuele Sella|ITA}} |
| align="center"|21
|align="center"|1 June |align="center"|{{convert|28.5|km|1|abbr=on}} |align="center"|Image:Time Trial.svg |{{flagathlete|Marco Pinotti|ITA}} |
| |colspan="2" align=center| Total
|colspan="5" align="center"| {{convert|3407|km|0|abbr=on}} |
Race overview
{{main|2008 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1 to Stage 11|2008 Giro d'Italia, Stage 12 to Stage 21}}
The Giro started with a team time trial in Sicily. There was pre-race speculation that this stage would result in an American rider wearing the pink jersey for the first time in twenty years, as {{UCI team code|GRM|2008a|nolink=yes}}, {{UCI team code|SAX|2008a|nolink=yes}}, and {{UCI team code|AST|2008|nolink=yes}} were among the biggest favorites to win and all had strong American time trialists on their squads.{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/mtb/91st-giro-ditalia-another-american-in-pink_75948
|title=91st Giro d'Italia: Another American in pink?
|date=2008-05-08
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc
|access-date=2009-11-08| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715012644/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/05/mtb/91st-giro-ditalia-another-american-in-pink_75948| archive-date=15 July 2014| url-status= live
}} The victory went to {{UCI team code|GRM|2008a|nolink=yes}}, which put their team leader, American Christian Vande Velde, in the first pink jersey.{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro081
|title=Slipstream shows speed in Sicily
|date=2008-05-10
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106115353/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro081
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} With a hilly stage ahead on day two of the Giro, Vande Velde's race lead was far from secure. He lost it to Franco Pellizotti, who finished sufficiently ahead of Vande Velde on the stage to take a lead of a single second in the overall classification.{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes and Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro082
|title=Riccò strikes to win, Pellizotti pips Vande Velde in maglia rosa fight
|date=2008-05-11
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505022428/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro082
|archive-date=5 May 2014
|url-status=live
}} Pellizotti retained the race lead for the next three days, as those stages were flat and were contested by sprinters, with the overall favorites finishing together with the peloton in each.
File:G Visconti LBL2008.jpg was the overall leader of the Giro for eight stages.|alt=A man in his mid twenties wearing a cycling jersey bearing green, white, and red stripes. He wears sunglasses, and is looking downward.]]
The sixth stage was shortened from its original length of {{convert|265|km|abbr=on}} to {{convert|231.6|km|1|abbr=on}}. This was still the race's second-longest stage, and it featured a breakaway which shook up the race standings. Eleven riders finished nearly twelve minutes in front of the peloton, and reigning Italian national road race champion Giovanni Visconti assumed the race lead, by a margin of less than one second over fellow breakaway member Matthias Russ. Russ had begun the stage 13 seconds ahead of Visconti in the overall classification, but with Visconti gaining seven seconds on Russ at the finish line and six in bonification on the stage's intermediate sprint, the young Italian became the next to wear the pink jersey.{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes and Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro086
|title=Priamo nets first Giro win while Visconti lands big catch
|date=2008-05-15
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106081322/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro086
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} Visconti and his team {{UCI team code|QST|2008|nolink=yes}} ably defended the jersey for nine days, keeping it through the hilly seventh and eighth stages, as well as in the individual time trial in stage 11 and in three flat stages. Visconti eventually lost the lead on stage 14, the Giro's first stage categorized as high mountain, as he finished more than eighteen minutes behind stage winner Emanuele Sella.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0814
|title=Sella dominates Giro's first high-mountain stage
|date=2008-05-24
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106115329/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0814
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} The race lead passed to Gabriele Bosisio after that stage, but he was unable to hold it the next day, finishing fifteen minutes behind Sella, again the stage winner. It was on this stage that Alberto Contador took the lead that he would never relinquish.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0815
|title=Dolomite delight: Italy's Sella doubles, Contador in maglia rosa
|date=2008-05-25
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106112130/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0815
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}}
Image:Contador rosa 5.JPG during the stage 21 individual time trial.|alt=A cyclist wearing a pink skinsuit and shoes, sitting crouched in an aerodynamic position over his bicycle. Spectators watch from the roadside.]]
Contador faced repeated challenges from Riccardo Riccò and Danilo Di Luca in the race's final week. They were separated by less than a minute after stage 15, and though Di Luca would falter slightly in the Giro's second individual time trial,{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0816
|title=Franco Pellizotti is king of Corones
|date=2008-05-26
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106122115/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0816
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} the time gap among the three of them was just 21 seconds heading in to the Giro's final mountain stage.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0819
|title=Contador proves tough under Di Luca's pressure
|date=2008-05-26
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106123739/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0819
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} Di Luca faltered further in that last mountain stage, losing almost five minutes and any chance to repeat as Giro champion, but Contador and Riccò finished together and were separated by only four seconds going into the Giro's final stage, another individual time trial.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0820
|title=Contador one step closer to pink dream
|date=2008-05-31
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106115340/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0820
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} Contador's superior time trial skills provided the difference in the Giro's finale. Though he finished 11th on the stage, he gained almost two minutes over Riccò, winning the Giro overall without taking any individual stage.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0821
|title=Hola! Contador conquers second Grand Tour
|date=2008-06-01
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213161517/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0821
|archive-date=13 December 2009
|url-status=live
Emanuele Sella of {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} won three stages in the race's final week{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0814
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|title=Sella dominates Giro's first high-mountain stage
|date=2008-05-24
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122062137/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0814
|archive-date=22 January 2015
|url-status=live
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0820
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|title=Contador one step closer to pink dream
|date=2008-05-26
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106115340/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0820
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} and took a convincing victory in the mountains classification, leading it for the entire race. His subsequent positive tests and confessions to the use of performance-enhancing drugs outside the Giro cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of these results, however. Daniele Bennati was nearly as dominant in winning the points classification, taking three stage wins and six other top-ten finishes. He led the classification after every stage except the second and eighth, which were both won by Riccò, who thereby gained the mauve jersey for one day on two separate occasions. Though Riccò was never able to take the overall race lead, he was the winner of the youth classification, taking the white jersey from Visconti when he lost the overall lead and holding it through the conclusion of the race. That jersey had also previously passed over the shoulders of Chris Anker Sørensen and Morris Possoni.{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/giro08/index.php?id=/photos/2008/giro08/giro083/bettiniphoto_0026960_1_full
|author=Roberto Bettini
|title=Morris Possoni (High Road) enjoys the podium time for best young rider.
|date=2008-05-12
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620095433/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/photos/2008/giro08/index.php?id=%2Fphotos%2F2008%2Fgiro08%2Fgiro083%2Fbettiniphoto_0026960_1_full
|archive-date=20 June 2013
|url-status=live
}}
File:Bennati in PhiladelphiaC.jpg won three stages and the mauve jersey for the points classification.|alt=A cyclist wearing a green and blue jersey with white trim, a matching helmet and glove on his right hand (the only one visible), and sunglasses. His right hand hovers around the zipper on the front of his jersey, and vaguely visible behind him are three people in black shirts and khaki pants.]]
Five teams repeated as stage winners. Four individual riders won multiple stages. In addition to Sella's three victories in the final week, the riders who won more than once were Riccardo Riccò in stages 2 and 8,{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro088
|title=Riccò doubles up with blast in Tivoli
|date=2008-05-17
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609035839/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro088
|archive-date=9 June 2014
|url-status=live
}} Daniele Bennati in stages 3,{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes and Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro083
|title=Bennati completes good day for Liquigas, Pellizotti holds on
|date=2008-05-12
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106081333/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro083
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} 9,{{cite web
|author=Bjorn Haake and Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro089
|title=Bennati makes it two
|date=2008-05-18
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106081705/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro089
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} and 12,{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0812
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|title=Benna takes three despite Cavendish comeback
|date=2008-05-22
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-21
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103074724/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0812
|archive-date=3 November 2013
|url-status=live
}} and Mark Cavendish in stages 4{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes and Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro084
|title='Manx Express' Cavendish takes first Grand Tour win
|date=2008-05-13
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106102917/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro084
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} and 13.{{cite web
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0813
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|title=Cavendish takes late birthday celebration
|date=2008-05-23
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-21
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106123639/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0813
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} {{UCI team code|TCS|2008|nolink=yes}} also won multiple stages, with Pavel Brutt in stage 5{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes and Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro085
|title=Brutt shows his force, Pellizotti retains Maglia Rosa
|date=2008-05-14
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508083305/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro085
|archive-date=8 May 2014
|url-status=live
}} and Vasil Kiryienka in stage 19,{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0819
|title=Contador proves tough under Di Luca's pressure
|date=2008-05-30
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-13
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106123739/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0819
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} after both figured into early morning breakaway groups.
{{UCI team code|GRM|2008a|nolink=yes}}, {{UCI team code|LAM|2008|nolink=yes}}, {{UCI team code|LPR|2008|nolink=yes}}, {{UCI team code|SDA|2008|nolink=yes}}, and {{UCI team code|SAX|2008a|nolink=yes}} all won one stage apiece. {{UCI team code|GRM|2008a|nolink=yes}} won the opening team time trial, {{UCI team code|LAM|2008|nolink=yes}} rider Marzio Bruseghin won the Giro's first individual time trial,{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0810
|title=Wet Urbino run sorts out classification
|date=2008-05-20
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106112250/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0810
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} {{UCI team code|LPR|2008|nolink=yes}} rider Gabriele Bosisio won stage 7 from a morning escape,{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes and Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro087
|title=Good day for LPR as Bosisio triumphs and Di Luca shows form
|date=2008-05-16
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129164022/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro087
|archive-date=29 November 2014
|url-status=live
}} {{UCI team code|SDA|2008|nolink=yes}}'s Alessandro Bertolini took stage 11 from a breakaway,{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown and Bjorn Haake
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0811
|title=Bertolini takes first Giro stage after 16 years
|date=2008-05-21
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106113823/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0811
|archive-date=6 January 2014
|url-status=live
}} and {{UCI team code|SAX|2008a|nolink=yes}} veteran Jens Voigt was the winner of stage 18.{{cite web
|author=Gregor Brown
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=results/giro0818
|title=Wet Urbino run sorts out classification
|date=2008-05-29
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508135000/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008//giro08/?id=results%2Fgiro0818
|archive-date=8 May 2014
|url-status=live
}}
Success was achieved by only a handful of teams, meaning that other teams did not achieve much in the race. Though they nearly took the race lead with Matthias Russ in stage 6, {{UCI team code|GST|2008|nolink=yes}} had just two riders finish the race, and were never otherwise close to a notable result. {{UCI team code|EUS|2008|nolink=yes}} had only four riders finish the race. Two other ProTour teams, {{UCI team code|COF|2008|nolink=yes}} and {{UCI team code|FDJ|2008|nolink=yes}}, similarly failed to be at all competitive in the Giro. None of them would return to the Giro in 2009; Gerolsteiner folded in 2008 after being unable to locate a new sponsor{{cite web|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug28news2 |title=Team Gerolsteiner to dissolve at year-end |work=Cycling News |date=2008-08-28 |access-date=2008-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906225002/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug28news2 |archive-date=6 September 2015 |url-status=live}} while {{UCI team code|EUS|2009|nolink=yes}}, {{UCI team code|COF|2009|nolink=yes}}, and {{UCI team code|FDJ|2009|nolink=yes}} all made it known that they did not wish to participate and were thus declined invitations.
{{cite news
|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/barloworld-left-off-first-giro-ditalia-team-list-70964
|date=2009-01-28
|title=Barloworld left off first Giro d'Italia team list
|work=Cycling Weekly
|access-date=2009-08-28| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715013509/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/barloworld-left-off-first-giro-ditalia-team-list-70964 | archive-date=15 July 2014| url-status= live
}}
=Doping=
File:E sella.jpg, pictured here in 2004, won the climber's prize and three stages in the Giro, but is suspected to have used performance-enhancing drugs to achieve those results.|alt=A cyclist in an orange jersey with purple trim, with many logos on it. He also wears sunglasses and a blue helmet, and sits crouched over his bicycle in an aerodynamic position. Spectators watch from behind barricades, and a cameraman follows on a motorbike.]]
Several notable riders in the Giro were announced to have tested positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs after the race concluded. Prominent amongst them was {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} rider Emanuele Sella, a triple stage winner, winner of the mountains classification, and a key rider to {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}}'s victory in the teams classification. It was announced on 5 August that Sella had tested positive for Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta, better known as Mircera, a third-generation form of the banned blood booster erythropoietin. At the time the Giro was run, the test for Mircera was still in development. An out-of-competition control was taken on 23 July, just days after positives from the 2008 Tour de France had come to light, and samples were sent to labs in Paris for analysis. UCI President Pat McQuaid said that Sella had been targeted in the control and that "
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/mcquaid-reveals-how-the-uci-caught-sella-93794
|title=MCQUAID REVEALS HOW THE UCI CAUGHT SELLA
|date=2008-08-05
|publisher=Cycling Weekly
|access-date=2009-11-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715013613/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/mcquaid-reveals-how-the-uci-caught-sella-93794| archive-date=15 July 2014| url-status= live
}}
Sella confessed his doping to the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI){{cite web
|author=Agence France Presse
|url=http://www.velonews.com/article/81475/sella-tells-coni-he-used-epo
|title=Sella tells CONI he used EPO
|date=2008-08-08
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306230153/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/08/news/road/sella-tells-coni-he-used-epo_81475
|archive-date=6 March 2016
|url-status=live
|author=Agence France Presse
|url=http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/emmanuele-sella-admits-doping-at-coni-hearing-17957/
|title=Emmanuele Sella admits doping at CONI hearing
|date=2008-08-08
|publisher=BikeRadar.com
|access-date=2009-11-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120309101954/http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/emmanuele-sella-admits-doping-at-coni-hearing-17957/| archive-date=9 March 2012| url-status= live
}} and named teammate Matteo Priamo, also a stage winner in this Giro, as his supplier. Though Priamo never tested positive for anything, and though the Italian National Anti-Doping tribunal originally exonerated him,{{cite web
|author=Laura Weislo and Sue George
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/feb09/feb28news
|title=Priamo exonerated, Sella "told the truth"
|date=2009-02-28
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907063023/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/feb09/feb28news
|archive-date=7 September 2015
|url-status=live
}} the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled, upon appeal by CONI, that he should be suspended for four years.{{cite news
|agency=Associated Press
|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2009-11-12-3858155819_x.htm
|title=Drug supplier Priamo gets 4-year doping ban
|date=2009-11-12
|work=USA Today
|publisher=Gannett Company
|access-date=2009-11-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121025203831/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2009-11-12-3858155819_x.htm | archive-date=25 October 2012| url-status= live
|author=VeloNation Press
|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2208/CAS-gives-Priamo-a-four-year-ban.aspx
|title=CAS gives Priamo a four-year ban
|date=2009-11-12
|publisher=Velo Nation
|access-date=2009-11-15
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182336/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/2208/CAS-gives-Priamo-a-four-year-ban.aspx
|archive-date=3 March 2016
|url-status=live
}}
Riccardo Riccò, a double stage winner and the best young rider, tested positive for Mircera during the Tour de France, and was subsequently expelled with his team {{UCI team code|FUJ|2008a|nolink=yes}}.{{cite news
|agency=Associated Press
|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/tdf2008/news/story?id=3492925
|title=Saunier-Duval team pulls out of Tour after Ricco tests positive for EPO
|date=2009-07-17
|publisher=ESPN
|access-date=2009-11-22| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103181143/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2008/news/story?id=3492925 | archive-date=3 November 2012| url-status= live
}} This control was taken just days before the one at which Sella gave his positive. Since it took place during the Tour de France, Riccò's results from that race have been removed, but the results for Sella, Priamo, and Riccò all still stand as no positive tests from controls taken during the Giro have come to light. Riccò claims to have only taken the drug before the Tour, but there has been speculation that his performances in the Giro were not legitimate.{{cite web
|author=Shane Stokes
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-wants-2008-giro-samples-re-tested-for-cera
|title=UCI wants 2008 Giro samples re-tested for CERA
|date=2009-08-06
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-11-22
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091022032724/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-wants-2008-giro-samples-re-tested-for-cera| archive-date= 22 October 2009 | url-status= live}} Sella has similarly confessed to taking the drug while not confessing to have used it during the Giro.
After repeated positives over the summer, including tests from Leonardo Piepoli and Bernhard Kohl at the Tour de France,{{cite web
|author=Charles Pelkey and Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/10/news/kohl-positive-for-cera_84274
|title=Kohl positive for CERA
|date=2008-10-13
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc
|access-date=2009-11-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002150514/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/10/news/road/kohl-positive-for-cera_84274
|archive-date=2 October 2015
|url-status=live
}} and Davide Rebellin and Stefan Schumacher from the 2008 Olympic Games,{{cite web
|author=Nigel Wynn and Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/431235/rebellin-stripped-of-olympic-silver-after-epo-positive.html
|title=Rebellin stripped of Olympic silver after EPO positive
|date=2009-11-18
|publisher=Cycling Weekly
|access-date=2009-11-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715013945/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/rebellin-stripped-of-olympic-silver-after-epo-positive-65136| archive-date=15 July 2014| url-status= live }} the UCI has sought to have samples taken during the Giro retested. In October 2009, it was announced that six to seven riders from this Giro had presumptive positives, while further untestable doping involving ozone was also suspected. In total, 82 samples were retested, and the presumptive positives have been compared to values stored at an anti-doping lab in Lausanne, Switzerland. The identities of those riders who tested positive have not yet been revealed. It is believed that Rebellin and Sella are among the riders to have presumptive positives.{{clear}}
Classification leadership
In the 2008 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.{{cite web
|author=Laura Weislo
|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=/features/2008/giro_classifications08
|title=Giro d'Italia classifications demystified
|date=2008-05-13
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|access-date=2009-08-27
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508234448/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=%2Ffeatures%2F2008%2Fgiro_classifications08
|archive-date=8 May 2013
|url-status=live
}}
Image:Gavia.jpg, the highest point reached in the 2008 Giro d'Italia|alt=A curving, ascending road, up against a rocky hillside. There is writing in Italian on the road, a sign on the roadside, and further mountaintops visible in the background.]]
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 2008 was the Passo di Gavia in Stage 20, afforded still more points than the other first-category climbs.
The fourth was the young rider classification which awarded a white jersey. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1983 were eligible.
There were also two classifications for teams. The first is 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 is 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.
The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:smaller;" |
| style="background-color: #efefef;"
! width="1%" | Stage ! width="14%" | Winner ! width="15%"|General classification ! width="15%"| Points classification ! width="15%"| Mountains classification ! width="15%"| Young rider classification |
| 1
| {{UCI team code|GRM|2008a}} | style="background:pink;" rowspan="1"| Christian Vande Velde | rowspan="1"| no award | rowspan="1"| no award | style="background:white;" rowspan="2"| Chris Anker Sørensen |
| 2
| style="background:pink;" rowspan="4"| Franco Pellizotti | style="background:violet;" rowspan="1"| Riccardo Riccò | style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="20"| Emanuele Sella |
| 3
| style="background:violet;" rowspan="5"| Daniele Bennati | style="background:white;" rowspan="3"| Morris Possoni |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6
| style="background:pink;" rowspan="8"| Giovanni Visconti | style="background:white;" rowspan="8"| Giovanni Visconti |
| 7 |
| 8
| style="background:violet;" rowspan="1"| Riccardo Riccò |
| 9
| style="background:violet;" rowspan="13"| Daniele Bennati |
| 10 |
| 11 |
| 12 |
| 13 |
| 14
| style="background:pink;" rowspan="1"| Gabriele Bosisio | style="background:white;" rowspan="8"| Riccardo Riccò |
| 15
| style="background:pink;" rowspan="7"| Alberto Contador |
| 16 |
| 17 |
| 18 |
| 19 |
| 20 |
| 21 |
| Final
| | style="background:#F660AB;" rowspan="1"|Alberto Contador | style="background:#B93B8F;" rowspan="1"|Daniele Bennati | style="background:#50C878;" rowspan="1"|Emanuele Sella | style="background:offwhite;" rowspan="1"|Riccardo Riccò |
Final standings
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan=4| Legend |
|---|
| Image:Jersey pink.svg
| Denotes the winner of the General classification {{cite web |language=it |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLGEN |title=Classifica generale – General classification |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |access-date=2009-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170328/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLGEN |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }} | Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification {{cite web |language=it |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLGPMGEN |title=Classifica GPM Generale – Mountains classification |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |access-date=2009-11-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012135715/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLGPMGEN| archive-date=12 October 2012| url-status= live }} |
| Image:Jersey violet.svg
| Denotes the winner of the Points classification {{cite web |language=it |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLPUNGEN |title=Classifica a punti generale – Points classification |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |access-date=2009-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212208/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLPUNGEN |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }} | Denotes the winner of the Young rider classification {{cite web |language=it |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLGENGIO |title=Classifica Generale Giovani – Young rider classification |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |access-date=2009-11-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012135732/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/classifiche/it/classifica.shtml?t=21&c=CLGENGIO| archive-date=12 October 2012| url-status= live }} |
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= General classification =
| class="wikitable" |
| !Rider
!Team !Time |
|---|
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Alberto Contador|ESP}} Image:Jersey pink.svg | {{UCI team code|AST|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| 89h 56' 49" |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Riccardo Riccò|ITA}} Image:Jersey white.svg | {{UCI team code|FUJ|2008a|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 1' 57" |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Marzio Bruseghin|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|LAM|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 2' 54" |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Franco Pellizotti|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 2' 56" |
| 5
| {{flagathlete|Denis Menchov|RUS}} | {{UCI team code|RAB|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 3' 37" |
| 6
| {{flagathlete|Emanuele Sella|ITA}} Image:Jersey green.svg | {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 4' 31" |
| 7
| {{flagathlete|Jurgen Van den Broeck|BEL}} | {{UCI team code|SIL|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 6' 30" |
| 8
| {{flagathlete|Danilo Di Luca|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|LPR|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 7' 15" |
| 9
| {{flagathlete|Domenico Pozzovivo|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 7' 53" |
| 10
| {{flagathlete|Gilberto Simoni|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|SDA|2008|nolink=yes}} | align="right"| + 11' 03" |
{{col-2}}
= Mountains classification =
| class="wikitable" |
| !Rider
!Team !Points |
|---|
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Emanuele Sella|ITA}} Image:Jersey green.svg | {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 136 |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Vasil Kiryienka|BLR}} | {{UCI team code|TCS|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 63 |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Fortunato Baliani|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 48 |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Julio Alberto Pérez|MEX}} | {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 20 |
| 5
| {{flagathlete|Alessandro Bertolini|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|SDA|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 20 |
| 6
| {{flagathlete|Antonio Colom|ESP}} | {{UCI team code|AST|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 20 |
| 7
| {{flagathlete|Alexander Efimkin|RUS}} | {{UCI team code|QST|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 20 |
| 8
| {{flagathlete|Gabriele Bosisio|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|LPR|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 19 |
| 9
| {{flagathlete|Félix Cárdenas|COL}} | {{UCI team code|BAR|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 19 |
| 10
| {{flagathlete|José Rujano|VEN}} | {{UCI team code|GCE|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 18 |
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Points classification =
| class="wikitable" |
| !Rider
!Team !Points |
|---|
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Daniele Bennati|ITA}} Image:Jersey violet.svg | {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 189 |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Emanuele Sella|ITA}} Image:Jersey green.svg | {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 138 |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Riccardo Riccò|ITA}} Image:Jersey white.svg | {{UCI team code|FUJ|2008a|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 131 |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Mark Cavendish|GBR}} | {{UCI team code|THR|2008a|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 106 |
| 5
| {{flagathlete|Paolo Bettini|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|QST|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 106 |
| 6
| {{flagathlete|Franco Pellizotti|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 96 |
| 7
| {{flagathlete|Danilo Di Luca|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|LPR|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 87 |
| 8
| {{flagathlete|Alberto Contador|ESP}} Image:Jersey pink.svg | {{UCI team code|AST|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 86 |
| 9
| {{flagathlete|Erik Zabel|GER}} | {{UCI team code|MRM|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 80 |
| 10
| {{flagathlete|Vasil Kiryienka|BLR}} | {{UCI team code|TCS|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 76 |
{{col-2}}
= Young rider classification =
| class="wikitable" |
| !Rider
!Team !Time |
|---|
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Riccardo Riccò|ITA}} Image:Jersey white.svg | {{UCI team code|FUJ|2008a|nolink=yes}} | align=right| 89h 58' 46" |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Jurgen Van den Broeck|BEL}} | {{UCI team code|SIL|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 4' 33" |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Vincenzo Nibali|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 18' 17" |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Chris Anker Sørensen|DEN}} | {{UCI team code|SAX|2008a|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 1h 02' 12" |
| 5
| {{flagathlete|Matthew Lloyd|AUS}} | {{UCI team code|SIL|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 1h 03' 55" |
| 6
| {{flagathlete|Francis De Greef|BEL}} | {{UCI team code|SIL|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 1h 19' 07" |
| 7
| {{flagathlete|Giovanni Visconti|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|QST|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 1h 28' 20" |
| 8
| {{flagathlete|Morris Possoni|ITA}} | {{UCI team code|THR|2008a|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 1h 30' 36" |
| 9
| {{flagathlete|Simon Špilak|SLO}} | {{UCI team code|LAM|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 1h 37' 49" |
| 10
| {{flagathlete|Johannes Fröhlinger|GER}} | {{UCI team code|GST|2008|nolink=yes}} | align=right| + 1h 39' 33" |
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Trofeo Fast Team classification =
| class="wikitable" |
| !Team
!Time |
|---|
| 1
|{{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 268h 52' 44" |
| 2
|{{UCI team code|AST|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 43' 48" |
| 3
|{{UCI team code|LIQ|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 1h 00' 42" |
| 4
|{{UCI team code|LPR|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 1h 06' 48" |
| 5
|{{UCI team code|SIL|2009|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 1h 38' 13" |
| 6
|{{UCI team code|SDA|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 1h 53' 33" |
| 7
| {{UCI team code|SAX|2008a|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 1h 57' 53" |
| 8
|{{UCI team code|QST|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 2h 05' 32" |
| 9
|{{UCI team code|GCE|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 2h 14' 59" |
| 10
|{{UCI team code|RAB|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| + 2h 22' 25" |
{{col-2}}
= Trofeo Super Team classification =
| class="wikitable" |
| !Team
!Points |
|---|
| 1
|{{UCI team code|LIQ|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 360 |
| 2
|{{UCI team code|AST|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 347 |
| 3
|{{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 340 |
| 4
|{{UCI team code|LPR|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 267 |
| 5
|{{UCI team code|THR|2008a|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 258 |
| 6
|{{UCI team code|TCS|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 237 |
| 7
|{{UCI team code|FUJ|2008a|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 223 |
| 8
|{{UCI team code|QST|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 198 |
| 9
|{{UCI team code|GCE|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 188 |
| 10
|{{UCI team code|LAM|2008|nolink=yes}} |align=right| 187 |
{{col-end}}
=Minor classifications=
Other less well-known classifications were awarded during the Giro, whose leaders did not receive a special jersey. These awards were based on points earned throughout the three weeks of the tour. Each mass start stage had one intermediate sprint, awarding points to the Expo Milano 2015 classification. These sprints gave bonus seconds towards the general classification, points towards the regular points classification, and also points towards the Expo Milano 2015 classification. This award was known in previous years as the Intergiro, and was previously time-based, awarding a blue jersey. {{UCI team code|CSF|2008|nolink=yes}} rider Fortunato Baliani won this classification.
Additional minor classifications included the combativity classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. Mountains classification winner Emanuele Sella took this award. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were only awarded to the top three finishers in each stage. Like the overall points classification, it was {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008}}' Daniele Bennati who won this. Also, the Trofeo Fuga Cervelo 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 stays clear. Along with the Expo Milano 2015, Fortunato Baliani also finished first in this classification. Additionally, teams were on occasion given penalty points for technical infringements. {{UCI team code|LAM|nolink=yes|2008}} avoided any penalties, and so was the winner of the Fair Play classification.
References
=Citations=
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2008/en/}}
- [http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/ cyclingnews.com] – Race reports and news features
{{Giro d'Italia}}
{{Cycling stage recaps|2008 Giro d'Italia|1|11|12|21}}
{{Giro d'Italia general classification winners}}
Category:Giro d'Italia by year