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Saturday, May 28, 2005

Below is a guide to live internet/web coverage of the 2005 Giro d'Italia.

Note:  If you haven't already noticed, Eurosport finally did begin broadcasting the Giro.  What a race!

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Note:  Regarding Eurosport U.K. Audio:  On the biggest day of the Giro, they are not respecting their own schedule and are instead showing a mid round tennis match of the French Open.  (Who is playing, Prince Charles or something?)  Originally scheduled to begin at 14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. EST), they changed the start of the Giro broadcast first to 15:00 CET and now 15:30 CET (9:30am U.S. EST).  Stay tuned.

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Note:  If you have problems playing Eurosport audio streams, do you have RealPlayer installed?

Note:  Italy's RAI TRE live broadcast of today's stage should begin at about 14:50 CET (8:50am U.S. EST).  If you have problems playing one of the live video streams (links below), either the live streaming has not yet begun or the server is serving too many people at that moment.  Try one of the other links and/or wait a bit and try again.  It has to be assumed that a rather high number of people will be attempting to view these streams today.  Also, you must of course have RealPlayer, Windows Media Player or equivalent installed.

In addition to the live video streams, below you will find links to three Eurosport audio streams (in three languages), nine live tickers (in five languages), and Radio Tour-driven real-time graphics.

Real-time graphics
"Real-time" graphics from the official site; see link below

Also this week:
Race/Official site
Live tickers
Tour of Belgium
Belgium, May 25-29
Bayern-Rundfahrt
Germany, May 25-29




Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
Ivan Basso (Team CSC)
Ivan Basso (Team CSC)
Mont Ventoux, 2004

Notes:   There haven't been many Grand Tour riders in recent years who have looked dominant at times in both the mountains and the time trials.  Ivan Basso, meet Lance Armstrong.  And that they will in just over one month.  Even allowing for the absences of Armstrong and Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso's second place in this Giro's first long time trial and win yesterday in the second are strong evidence that this is a rider to be reckoned with in any Grand Tour.  Confidence can work wonders and Basso has got to like his chances for a great result in the one long individual time trial in this year's Tour de France, in the penultimate stage, particularly with the 3rd category climb toward the end.

Speaking of emerging talents, Russian Vladimir Karpets (Illes Balears), winner in the best young rider category in the 2004 Tour, finished yesterday's TT just 9 seconds behind Basso and sits in 7th place overall.

Dave Zabriskie (CSC), winner of the first long TT, rode another great TT yesterday, finishing third.

Race leader Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) finished 4th, gaining 1:11 on his nearest threat for the overall, Gilberto Simoni.  Simoni is now 2:09 behind Savoldelli heading into today's decisive stage.

Today is a very difficult stage featuring the Colle della Finestre climb sandwiched by two trips up to Sestriere where the stage finishes.  The final 8km or so of the Finestre climb is said to be a dirt road.  That should spice things up a bit.

As difficult as the stage is, the race situation on paper isn't that complicated.  There will be early breakaways by riders not contending for overall victory, there will be attempts, which will succeed, to harden the course and drop Savoldelli's teammates, isolating him, and there will be Ivan Basso, out of contention but perhaps strongest of all, looking to win his third consecutive stage by dynamiting the group of leaders on the Finestre.  Among that group of leaders should be Savoldelli, Simoni and Rujano, perhaps Juan Manuel Garate, maybe Danilo Di Luca though he's appeared to have reached his limits.  Everyone knows Simoni will attack on the Finestre.  Savoldelli knows he needs to limit his losses and has 2:09 with which to work.  Potential complication for Savoldelli, aside from the possibility of mechanical problems on the Finestre, could come from the effect of multiple contenders dynamiting the course at different spots along the climb.  As race leader, it will be Savoldelli's responsibility to react.  Can the accumulation of such efforts by Savoldelli combined with a well-timed final attack from Simoni result in Savoldelli losing the race?  Sure, but after three weeks of racing, how many of the top riders have much left to really go on the attack?  Will Rujano prefer to preserve his podium spot (he is only 8 seconds ahead of Di Luca and 13 seconds ahead of Garate) rather than risk everything?  What might happen during the course of the stage to drive the decision-making?

By the time the dust settles, perhaps literally, at the top of the Finestre, we will have a good idea of how much pressure Savoldelli will be under ahead of the 8km descent and final ascent to the finish at Sestriere.

Time again for the fireworks pic:
Host town fireworks, St. Dizier TTT, 2003 TdF
Host town fireworks, St. Dizier TTT
2003 Tour de France


photos © 2003, 2004 Pete Geyer

Giro d'Italia 2005, Italy
May 7-29, ProTour
Stage 19: May 28
Savigliano to Sestriere, 190km
(Tour of Italy)
(Tour d'Italie)

Live video coverage:

RAI TRE  (land)
realPlayer DSL - 56k
Windows Media DSL - 56k
(Italy's live TV coverage.  Usually begins after 15:00 CET (9am U.S. EST))

OLN live video webcast
(Unavailable on weekends )
(U.S.A. only, subscription)

RAI Sport  (satellite)
(May not be available today)
(Italian television feed, not live)
(22:20 CET (4:20pm U.S. EST))
(Repeat: 02:15 CET (8:15pm U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Live audio coverage:

Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Check schedule

Real-time graphics:

(go to site, select language)

Live tickers:

Radio Tour ticker
(concise race radio info)

Eurosport
(English)
Velonews

Cyclingnews

Daily Peloton



Official site




Friday, May 27, 2005

Below is a guide to live internet/web coverage of the 2005 Giro d'Italia.

Also this week:
Race/Official site
Live tickers
Tour of Belgium
Belgium, May 25-29
Official site ticker (French)
Official site ticker (Afternoon stage )
Bayern-Rundfahrt
Germany, May 25-29




Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
Ivan Basso (Team CSC)
Ivan Basso (Team CSC)
Mont Ventoux, 2004

Notes:   Nice stage win yesterday for Ivan Basso, showing as he did earlier in the race, before his stomach troubles, that he perhaps came to this Giro in better form than his rivals.  He certainly gave cycling fans a glimpse of what might have been.

It was also a great day for Jose Rujano of Colombia-Selle Italia and Gilberto Simoni of Lampre-Caffita.  Though they finished the stage 1:06 behind Basso, they both managed to gain 42 seconds on race leader, Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) and move up in the overall standings.  Simoni is now in second place at :58 and Rujano has leaped up into third at 1:24.

The surprising Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) finally had an off day and dropped to fourth place at 1:26.  Can Di Luca bounce back and salvage at least a podium spot?  He may yet surprise us but Simoni and Rujano have looked strong.

Today's individual time trial, with a climb in the middle, followed by a very tough final mountain stage tomorrow combine to make for quite a test of the strength and recuperative abilities of the contenders for the overall.

The two stages are tough enough as it is, but throw in the heat wave in Europe at the moment, the fact that several riders are still in contention for the overall win, and the possibility that Gilberto Simoni is prepared to risk everything to grab that top step on the podium, and there is every reason to believe that this already exciting Giro will go out with a bang!

Can American Dave Zabriskie make it two for two in the long time trials and also give CSC back-to-back stage wins?



photo © 2004 Pete Geyer

Giro d'Italia 2005, Italy
May 7-29, ProTour
Stage 18: May 27
Chieri to Turin, Individual Time Trial, 34km
(Tour of Italy)
(Tour d'Italie)

Live video coverage:

RAI TRE  (land)
realPlayer DSL - 56k
Windows Media DSL - 56k
(Italy's live TV coverage.  Usually begins after 15:00 CET (9am U.S. EST))

OLN live video webcast
(9:00am-11:30am U.S. EDT )
(U.S.A. only, subscription)

RAI Sport  (satellite)
(May not be available today)
(Italian television feed, not live)
(21:45 CET (3:45pm U.S. EST))
(Repeat: 03:40 CET (9:40pm U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Live audio coverage:

Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(15:00 CET (9:00am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Check schedule

Real-time graphics:

(go to site, select language)

Live tickers:

Radio Tour ticker
(concise race radio info)

Eurosport
(English)
Velonews

Cyclingnews

Daily Peloton



Official site




Thursday, May 26, 2005

Below is a guide to live internet/web coverage of the 2005 Giro d'Italia.

Also this week:
Race/Official site
Live tickers
Tour of Belgium
Belgium, May 25-29
Bayern-Rundfahrt
Germany, May 25-29




Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
Christophe Le Mevel (Credit Agricole)
Christophe Le Mevel (Credit Agricole)
Trophee des Grimpeurs, 2004

Notes:   Nice win for Frenchman Christophe Le Mevel yesterday.  Hard to believe this was the first French stage win in the Giro since 1999 (Laurent Jalabert).  It was a sweet moment and first pro win for Le Mevel, who has had a long road back from a serious crash in the 2002 Four Days of Dunkirk that severed his sciatic nerve and left him partially paralyzed for months.  The injury has long limited what he can do on foot but he can sure ride a bike.  He dedicated his win to all those involved in his rehabilitation.  Bravo Christophe.

Today is the first of three consecutive days where the Giro overall will be decided.  Ahead of tomorrow's time trial, Gilberto Simoni will want to attack race leader Paolo Savoldelli, hoping to get back as much time as possible with the uphill finish.  Savoldelli will find himself isolated and will have to do what he can to deal with the attacks.  There likely won't be big time differences among the top contenders but Danilo Di Luca is just 25 seconds behind Savoldelli and would like to get back the pink jersey, along with the chance to ride last in tomorrow's time trial.  How strong is Savoldelli?  Can he hold on to the jersey today?

We may see attacks from others such as Juan Manuel Garate of Saunier Duval-Prodir.

Whatever the end result, there will be fireworks!




photo © 2005 Pete Geyer

Giro d'Italia 2005, Italy
May 7-29, ProTour
Stage 17: May 26
Varazze to Limone Piemonte, 194km
(Tour of Italy)
(Tour d'Italie)

Live video coverage:

RAI TRE  (land)
realPlayer DSL - 56k
Windows Media DSL - 56k
(Italy's live TV coverage.  Usually begins after 15:00 CET (9am U.S. EST))

OLN live video webcast
(8:20am-11:30am U.S. EDT )
(U.S.A. only, subscription)

RAI Sport  (satellite)
(May not be available today)
(Italian television feed, not live)
(23:05 CET (5:05pm U.S. EST))
(Repeat: 02:15 CET (8:15pm U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Live audio coverage:

Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Check schedule

Real-time graphics:

(go to site, select language)

Live tickers:

Radio Tour ticker
(concise race radio info)

Eurosport
(English)
Velonews

Cyclingnews

Daily Peloton



Official site




Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Below is a guide to live internet/web coverage of the 2005 Giro d'Italia.

Note:  The RAI Sport (satellite) non-live video stream seems to be working on and off

Note:  The Giro returns to the climbs tomorrow, Thursday, so most live coverage will begin earlier than usual.

Also this week:
Race/Official site
Live tickers
Tour of Belgium
Belgium, May 25-29
Bayern-Rundfahrt
Germany, May 25-29




Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
Paris-Nice, 2003

Notes:   Alessandro Petacchi seems to like going into the rest day with a win; he has won both stages before rest days in this Giro.  He now has three stage wins to match the departed Robbie McEwen.

















photo © 2003 Pete Geyer

Giro d'Italia 2005, Italy
May 7-29, ProTour
Stage 16: May 25
Lissone to Varazze, 210km
(Tour of Italy)
(Tour d'Italie)

Live video coverage:

RAI TRE  (land)
realPlayer DSL - 56k
Windows Media DSL - 56k
(Italy's live TV coverage.  Usually begins after 15:00 CET (9am U.S. EST))

OLN live video webcast
(9:00am-11:30am U.S. EDT )
(U.S.A. only, subscription)

RAI Sport  (satellite)
(May not be available today)
(Italian television feed, not live)
(22:45 CET (4:45pm U.S. EST))
(Repeat: 03:30 CET (9:30pm U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Live audio coverage:

Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(15:00 CET (9:00am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Check schedule

Real-time graphics:

(go to site, select language)

Live tickers:

Radio Tour ticker
(concise race radio info)

Eurosport
(English)
Velonews

Cyclingnews

Daily Peloton



Official site




Tuesday, May 24, 2005

*** Giro rest day today ***

Note:  The RAI Sport (satellite) video stream (in the Giro "Live Guide" below) is working again, but with today being a rest day there will be no cycling on, only sports like volleyball, football/soccer, basketball and water polo.  (But no Professional Bull Riding!)  Hopefully it will continue working through the end of the Giro, for those of you who cannot follow one of the live video streams.  You need to have something like Windows Media Player (Windows or Mac) to view this stream.

Tour of Belgium starts tomorrow

Axel Merckx fans, Tour of Belgium
Axel Merckx fans will have to root for someone else at the Tour of Belgium this year; Merckx will not be competing

The 2005 Tour of Belgium starts tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25 and finishes Sunday, May 29.

The Tour of Belgium (or Tour de Belgique or Ronde van Belgie) is not in the new ProTour and unfortunately it shows.  US Postal Service-Berry Floor was there last year, along with Lampre, AG2R, Brioches la Boulangere and Cofidis.  None of those teams (or their replacements) will be competing this year.

Quick Step, Davitamon-Lotto and Rabobank do return this year, bringing Tom Boonen, Peter Van Petegem and Jan Boven as team leaders.  Like last year, there are 15 teams and perhaps some of the lesser known teams and riders will get a chance to show something.

You'll find the full start list and other information at the official site:



Monday, May 23, 2005

Below is a guide to live internet/web coverage of the 2005 Giro d'Italia.

Note:  Unless they correct it, the race position indicator on the stage profile in the "Radio Tour graphics" is behind by approximately 50km due to the change in start town today.

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Note:  Due to bad weather, today's stage has been reduced to 150km and will start in Tirano instead of Livigno.  (source: Eurosport)

Note: Created a new section below, "Real-time graphics," to provide direct access to the Radio Tour animated graphics.  This is a "Flash" application; you'll need to select your language once you've opened the window.  (More info about this application in yesterday's entry.)



Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
Ivan Parra (Kelme, 2003 Tour de France)
Ivan Parra
Tour de France, 2003

Notes:   A second consecutive stage win for Ivan Parra of Selle Italia-Colombia, in stage 14.  Counting the prologue that means non-ProTour teams have won better than 25% of the stages through stage 14, two by Selle Italia-Colombia and two by Ceramica Panaria-Navigare.

Unfortunately, Ivan Basso's stomach troubles drained him of so much energy that he lost 42 minutes in the stage, ending his chances to compete for the overall.  It's a shame, but a reminder that all it takes is one bad day in a Grand Tour to put victory out of reach.

Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) held on to the leader's jersey but did lose 28 seconds to Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) and Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) who are second and third overall at :25 and 1:48 respectively.













photo © 2005 Pete Geyer

Giro d'Italia 2005, Italy
May 7-29, ProTour
Stage 15: May 23
Livigno to Lissone, 205km
(Tour of Italy)
(Tour d'Italie)

Live video coverage:

RAI TRE  (land)
realPlayer DSL - 56k
Windows Media DSL - 56k
(Italy's live TV coverage.  Usually begins after 15:00 CET (9am U.S. EST))

OLN live video webcast
(9:00am-11:30am U.S. EDT )
(U.S.A. only, subscription)

RAI Sport  (satellite)
( May not be available today)
(Italian television feed, not live)
(22:50 CET (4:50pm U.S. EST))
(Repeat: 02:00 CET (8:00pm U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Live audio coverage:

Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(15:00 CET (9:00am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Check schedule

Real-time graphics:

(go to site, select language)

Live tickers:

Radio Tour ticker
(concise race radio info)

Eurosport
(English)
Velonews

Cyclingnews

Daily Peloton



Official site




Sunday, May 22, 2005

Below is a guide to live internet/web coverage of the 2005 Giro d'Italia.

Real-time data

Have you tried the Tempo Reale (real time) feature available from the Radio Tour ticker at the official Giro d'Italia web site?  Driven by data from Radio Tour, it shows where the race is at all times overlayed on top of the stage profile.  It also automatically updates with text (in multiple languages) and graphics showing the breakaways and chasing peloton, with time differences.  You can click on the stage profile to see what the situation was at each point of the stage, as well as view the real-time graphics from previous stages.  You can also zoom in on the graphic of the breakaway riders to see who is in the breakaway and click on a rider to bring up information about him.  Nice.  Look for the Tempo Reale button at the Radio Tour ticker, link is below.

Also this week: Volta a Catalunya (Tour of Catalonia), ProTour
Today: Stage 7: Pallejá to Barcelona




Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel)
Paolo Savoldelli
Paris-Nice, 2005

Notes:   Discovery Channel's decision to sign Paolo Savoldelli this season is thus far the transfer of the year, along with Liquigas-Bianchi's signing of Danilo Di Luca.

Savoldelli has been valuable in helping American Tom Danielson learn the ropes of the European peloton, for instance in Paris-Nice after Lance Armstrong's early departure.  And now without Tour-level climbing support in this Giro (plus Danielson had to drop out of the race earlier in the week with a knee injury) Savoldelli has earned a stage win and now the maglia rosa for Discovery Channel.

Speaking of great signings, how about American David Zabriskie of Team CSC?  The star of the Giro's first individual time trial, Zabriskie was everywhere in yesterday's tough stage in support of team leader and Giro leader Ivan Basso, on the climbs, on the fast descents giving Basso a great line to follow on the corners, and on the flats.

Dave Zabriskie (Team CSC)

Unfortunately for Team CSC, Basso was unable to follow when the inevitable attacks came on the climbs, reportedly suffering from a stomach ailment.  Basso lost the leader's jersey to Savoldelli in this stage, won by Ivan Parra (Selle Italia-Colombia), but it could have been worse.  He dropped to second place overall 50 seconds behind new race leader Savoldelli.  Di Luca is also still in the game in third place, just three seconds behind Basso.

Gilberto Simoni who along with teammate Damiano Cunego attacked as expected, is in 4th place at 2:16 and will continue to look for opportunities anytime the road goes up.

Savoldelli has been the most consistent of the main contenders and looks strong and in control, just like Basso did two days ago.....

In 13 stages the pink jersey has changed hands 8 times.  What a race.

Another tough stage today, featuring the legendary Stelvio Pass.  Will anyone put Savoldelli in difficulty?










photos © 2005 Pete Geyer

Giro d'Italia 2005, Italy
May 7-29, ProTour
Stage 14: May 22
Egna to Livigno, 210km
(Tour of Italy)
(Tour d'Italie)

Live video coverage:

RAI TRE  (land)
realPlayer DSL - 56k
Windows Media DSL - 56k
(Italy's live TV coverage.  Usually begins after 15:00 CET (9am U.S. EST))

OLN live video webcast
( Unavailable on weekends)
(U.S.A. only, subscription)

RAI Sport  (satellite)
( May not be available today)
(Italian television feed, not live)
(23:00 CET (5:00pm U.S. EST))
(Repeat: 07:10 CET (1:10am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Live audio coverage:

Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)

Check schedule

Live tickers:

Radio Tour ticker
(concise race radio info)

Eurosport
  (English)
Velonews

Cyclingnews

Daily Peloton



Official site








All photos, text and other content on this site:
Copyright © 2004 Peter Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com
Use of any of this site's content (or content of mine found elsewhere online) without my written permission is expressly forbidden.
If you have a request, e-mail me.