Having finished just 56 seconds behind third-placed Cadel Evans in the Giro d’Italia, Lampre Merida’s Michele Scarponi has reflected on the outcome of the race and identified where he believes a higher placing was lost.
“I started from Naples with the aim of being on the podium,” said the Italian, who won the race in 2011 after Alberto Contador’s victory was taken away. “I missed this target, despite being sure I gave my best.
“I raced at a high level of performance except for probably two moments. The podium was not so far away, that's why I am sad about the crash I got involved in Marina di Ascea stage: I lost seconds that maybe could have allowed me to be on the podium.”
He is clear that he wouldn’t have been able to challenge the winner, but still harbours thoughts of what might had been had the weather not wreaked havoc on the event.
Friday’s nineteenth stage was slashed from the race due to heavy snow, while several climbs were removed from Saturday’s penultimate leg for the same reason. The changes neutered the race of some of the toughest ascents.
“Nibali's victory is largely deserved, while the battle against Uran and Evans has been intense,” said Scarponi. “Maybe, if the course of the two alpine stages had not been changed, I could have exploited my stamina to try to assault their podium places.”
He took sixteen seconds out of Evans on Saturday, although the Australian said afterwards that he had a problem with the gears on his bike and that this is why he slipped back.