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Che Polemica! On the Scene at Stage Nine of the Giro

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I didn't get a lot of pictures at the Milano show, but this is my favorite, Renshaw and Boasson Hagen celebrating just after crossing the line.  The stage headquarters was far from the finish area, so I skipped the podium ceremony to be sure I made it to the press conference, and I'm glad I did.

More on the flip...

Star-divide

Boasson Hagen turns to watch a replay of the sprint on the big screen before heading to the bus

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The latest entry in my "Pippo Rehydrates" series:

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Jonas Ljungblad also looked pretty thirsty

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Save Ferris!

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Visconiti does an interview

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Cavendish waits while one of his answers is translated into Italian

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The press conference got started very late, but it was worth the wait.  The press was eager for a juicy story about the race protest, but the choppy rhythm of the Cavendish conference, with each question and answer being translated, kept things pretty mellow at that stage.  Cavendish answered the questions about the protest calmly, but with the air of a guy who'd already answered the same questions in  half a dozen finish-line interviews, and was ready to move on to happier topics.  He spoke warmly of his team, saying, "It's not often that you're going to see the rider in the ciclamina jersey actually leading out the sprint for another rider.  It was Edvald's birthday today, it's Edvald's national day today in Norway, he's wearing the ciclamina jersey, and he's doing a kilometer on the front at the finish for me.  That shows not just the special talent we have on the team, but the special mentality we have on the team.  And I'm so, so proud to be part of that, and I think that's what makes us win so much." 

 

Let's get this party started!

Di Luca waits at the edge of the stage for his turn before the microphones

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With Di Luca, the Italian press was a lot more raucous, and Di Luca was like, "Bring it on!"  He'd had a bit of an easier work day than Cavendish, and he had plenty of energy left for lively exchange of ideas.  He seemed comfortable that the balance of 30 journalists against one Killer presented good odds in his favor, and although he was animated, he seemed entertained rather than angry, remaining, as always, the cool center of the storm.

The main point of contention was why he hadn't said anything about the dangers of the course before the race started. 

"I didn't know it would be so dangerous," he said.

"Didn't you preview the course?"

"How could I?  It's in the middle of Milano!"

"You could have done it in a car."

"Why would I?  This wasn't an important stage for me.  It's an important stage for Petacchi, for Cavendish, for Farrar, not for me."

At this point, my friend Paolo from Tuttosport, sticking up for Di Luca, mentined that even if Di Luca had previewed the course in a car, he couldn't have known where the barricades and cones would be placed, and Di Luca said, "yeah, what he said!"

"You saw the stage route at the presentation," someone said, and others chimed in, "yeah, what about the presentation?"

"Eh, nobody pays attention to the details at the presentation."

Someone brought up Cipollini's criticism of the protest.  I don't remember exactly what he said, but it could probably be loosly translated as something like "Cipollini says you're a pussy."  To which Di Luca replied (twice), "Cipollini e l'ultimo che dovrebbe parlare" (Cipollini is the last one who should talk).

Despite the late hour, Di Luca stayed to speak with a few reporters after the conference ended.  When I left at a few minutes before eight to catch a train back to Bergamo, he was still there.  As I left, I  said to an Italian journalist, "Che polemica!" (What controversy), and he smiled and said, "Gli Italiani sono polemicisti" (The Italians are polemicists).

 

  -- Susie Hartigan for Podium Cafe

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Comments

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and again Fantastic!!!

Great hearing about the pressconference.. and woW.. was Di Luca giving you that cheeky smile….

Ohh loviing the Rehydrating pics….

"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"

Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009

by CycleGirl on May 19, 2009 5:56 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Thanks!

I like the Di Luca on the steps picture. Candid camera :-)

Adrenalina Italiana!

by Albertina on May 19, 2009 6:02 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Amazing :)

Thanks so so much for these fabulous insights! You gotta admit whatever you think of Di Luca you gotta admire his take no crap from the media and sticking up for what he believes in. He’s really growing on me as a person.
Love the Boasson Hagen photos too :)

I support the Spanish Armada.

by Helsy33 on May 19, 2009 6:14 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

agreed, it’s pretty cool that even though we’ve been talking about this for days, I for one still learned a great deal in your report, fantastic work.

by plinytheelder on May 19, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

What he said . . .

no preview of the circuit could have told the riders that the organizers would have sections with nearby (1) on-coming auto traffic, (2) cars parked on the tarmac, and (3) no precautions against tram lines and other traffic furniture.

I am with the riders on this one. You don’t stick Paris-Roubaix in the middle of a Grand Tour.

by DeathBredon on May 19, 2009 6:29 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

EBH is a look-a-like of Boom in that second pic.

Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..

by Frinking on May 19, 2009 7:34 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

What she said!

Love these reports from you Tifosa! Thanks for bringing us all along on your fun!

I love C, not because he rocks as a cyclist, but because deep down he's a band geek! LOL!

by nikki on May 19, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks, Ruthann!

I’m having so much fun! I join my bike tour group today, and because of their schedule, I probably won’t be at another press conference until Rome. I’ll miss the press conferences, but I’m looking forward to the biking.

by Tifosa on May 20, 2009 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nice job Tifosa.

I got a good laugh out of that one.

by brunopitton on May 19, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Di Luca is starting to grow on me

And Di Luca’s comments make Basso look like a big vagina (pardon my French) for his waffling. Basso sucks.

More Muur...

by Jimbo... on May 20, 2009 1:06 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Great stuff!

Have a fab time on the bike tour!

by Veloki on May 20, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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