BMC's Cadel Evans sealed the overall victory in Tirreno-Adriatico in today's epilogue (9km time trial), while Leopard's Fabian Cancellara shocked the world with his stage victory. Evans was good-not-great, but his closest rivals were Italian slipped in the time trial, enabling Evans to hold off all challengers for his first stage race victory since the 2008 Settimana Coppi e Bartali. Robert Gesink rode a stonking race to leapfrog up to second place and ninth on the stage, as well as winning the maglia bianca for best young rider, further evidence of the Rabobank man's improved form against the Watch. Lampre's Michele Scarponi hung on for the final podium spot, while teammates Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas both missed out. Cancellara bested prologue ace Lars Boom by nine seconds on the day, with Adriano Malori of Lampre third at +18".
Stage Results:
- Fabian Cancellara, LeopardTrek
- Lars Boom, Rabobank, at 0.09
- Adriano Malori, Lampre, at 0.18
- Cadel Evans, BMC
- Robert Gesink, Rabobank, at 0.11
- Michele Scarponi, Lampre, at 0.15
- Ivan Basso, Liquigas, at 0.24
- Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas, at 0.30
- Marco Pinotti, HTC, at 0.39
- Tiago Machado, Radio Shack, at 0.42
- Damiano Cunego, Lampre, at 0.50
- Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma, at ??
- Thomas Lofkvist, Sky, at ??
Points jersey: Tyler Farrar/Michele Scarponi
Update! Here is an audio comment from Cadel Evans.
Another important update: Did you know that the race organizers have to throw the Trident into the sea, from which it is recovered on the morning of the final stage? Ah, Italy, it's the little things that you do...