The 2011 Giro di Padania was the first edition of the Giro di Padania cycling stage race. It started on 6th September in Paesana and ended on the 10th in Montecchio Maggiore.Farrand, Stephen. "Giro di Padania route unveiled in Italy", Cycling News, 28-07-2011.
More than 200 riders and 25 teams participated in the race, including the ProTour teams Liquigas–Cannondale, Lampre–ISD and Astana, and the national teams of Australia, Poland and Slovenia. Among the riders who took part to the race there were the 2006 and 2010 Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso, the 2011 Milano-Sanremo winner Matthew Goss, the Italian Road Race Champion Giovanni Visconti, the 2000 Giro d'Italia winner Stefano Garzelli, and the classic specialist Davide Rebellin.(Italian) Redazione Spaziociclismo. "Giro di Padania, elenco iscritti", Spazio Ciclismo, 05-09-2011.
The race was won by Liquigas–Cannondale rider Ivan Basso,"2011 Giro di Padania – Results", Cycling News, 10-09-2011. who claimed the leader's green jersey after winning the fourth stage."2011 Giro di Padania – Stage 4 Results", Cycling News, 09-09-2011.
In the race's other classifications, Liquigas–Cannondale rider Elia Viviani won the Points and the Intermediate Sprints classifications, Simone Campagnaro of D'Angelo & Antenucci–Nippo won the light blue jersey for the King of the Mountains classification, Astana's Francesco Masciarelli, who was third in the General classification, won the Young Rider classification, with Androni Giocattoli finishing at the head of the Teams classification.
Race overview StageDateCourseDistanceTypeWinner16 September Paesana to Laigueglia Flat stage 27 September Loano to Vigevano Flat stage 38 September Lonate Pozzolo to Salsomaggiore Terme Flat stage 49 September Noceto to San Valentino di Brentonico Mountain stage 510 September Rovereto to Montecchio Maggiore Flat stage
Final standings
General Classification RiderTeamTime 1 2 + 52" 3 + 1' 08" 4 + 1' 17" 5 + 1' 24" 6 + 1' 32" 7 + 2' 34" 8 + 2' 53" 9 Poland (National team) + 2' 57" 10 + 3' 08"
Points Classification RiderTeamPoints 1 2 33 3 18
King of the Mountains Classification RiderTeamPoints 1 2 8 3 6
Sprints Classification RiderTeamPoints 1 2 Poland (National team) 4 3 Poland (National team) 4
Young Rider Classification RiderTeamTime 1 2 Australia (National team) + 3'14" 3 + 3' 49"
Controversy This edition was heavily disrupted by activists who stated that the race was intended as political Propaganda for the Lega Nord political party.Ryan, Barry. "Protesters attempt to block Giro di Padania route", Cycling News, 06-09-2011.(Italian) Ghisalberti, Claudio "Giro di Padania: è sempre caos Schiaffi e insulti ai corridori", La Gazzetta dello Sport, 07-09-2011. The idea of organising the race was announced by Lega Nord's leader Umberto Bossi in September 2010 (Italian) Redazione. "Bossi ora vuole il Giro della Padania", Giornalettismo, 15-09-2010. and, according to the protesters, the race itself was full of references to the Padanian nationalism, such as the choice of green colour for the leader's jersey.(Italian) Madron, Alessandro." “Il giro di Padania è una corsa politica”Rifondazione all’Uci: “Annullare la gara” ", Il Fatto Quotidiano, 23-08-2011. Moreover, the race is organized by the society Monviso-Venezia, whose president, Michelino Davico, is a Lega Nord's senator.(Italian) Madron, Alessandro. "Ciclismo, ecco il Giro di Padania. Corsa a tappe con sponsor politico leghista", Il Fatto Quotidiano, 22-07-2011.(Italian) http://www.senato.it/leg/16/BGT/Schede/Attsen/00022730.htm
During second stage, in Savona, Ivan Basso and Sacha Modolo had been slapped and insulted by protesters.(Italian) Redazione Online. "Savona, Ivan Basso e Modolo insultati e presi a sberle al Giro di Padania", Corriere della Sera, 08-09-2011.
References