Cyclingnews correspondent John Trevorrow was at the finish today in Dolomiti Stars, where he spoke to some of the riders who crossed in the 85 rider gruppetto at 32'05 down.
Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto, 155th at 32'05)
"I was really tired before the rest day and even on the rest day. All because I wasn't really prepared for a Giro. But I seem to have recovered. I didn't feel too bad by the finish today, but I had a bit of trouble up the first climb. My seat's been a bit out of position and it's starting to tighten up my glutes. I'll fiddle around with it in the morning. It's probably only half a cm out, but it's been wrong for a couple of days.
"I haven't climbed one of those big bergs in a while. I'd forgotten how much fun it is."
Dave Zabriskie (CSC, 89th at 21'36)
A man of few words, Dave Zabriskie's comments at the finish when we asked him how things were was, "It was a bike race, man. I just gotta get some food right now."
Nick Gates (Davitamon-Lotto, 124th at 32'05)
"The starts have been pretty relaxed, and normally, no-one goes for a few kilometres. Today, the minute they started, someone attacked and it was down the road. No joke, 60 blokes were out the back and no-one waited. Robbie and I were on the back of the bunch. We looked back and said, 'those poor bastards'. Groups of ten, ten, trying to get back on. Unbelievable. On the first climb, it split into two bunches. I dropped back with Robbie and stayed with Robbie for the day. That's what I had to do."
Gates also commented on the spectacular Dolomite scenery. "We don't normally have a chance to look at it. Over the top of one of the mountains it was like a picture postcard, and I said to Robbie, 'take a look at that mate.'"
Trent Wilson (Selle Italia-Colombia, 138th at 32'05)
"I'm pretty confident of getting through the Giro. My legs felt good today, and I was comfortable in the gruppetto. In tomorrow's stage, the climb is really steep - 20 percent in some parts. A lot of guys will struggle up there.
"Rujano has been going well. I might have to do something early on tomorrow, stretch 'em out before the climb."
Brett Lancaster (Panaria, 146th at 32'05)
"Yeah I felt pretty good. There were a few hard climbs. I was cruisin' OK, happy sitting in the gruppetto."
Who's in charge of the bus? "Petacchi and the Fassa boys. They control that like they control the sprints."
Russell Van Hout (Selle Italia-Colombia, 160th at 32'05)
"I'm finished," said Russell after crossing the line. "Because of that breakaway and what happened the other day [crash]."
Later on when we spoke to him, he was a lot better. "I've got my legs up now. I'll try and get over the climb tomorrow."
Mark Renshaw (Francaise des Jeux, 172nd at 32'05)
"I was in a bloody lot of trouble on the first climb. I lost some time there, and I had to chase pretty hard to get back on. I just feel blocked from the last couple of days."
How was it in the gruppetto? "Yeah, well it was a hundred guys, which was a good thing for me today. I was happy to get that day done and will look at tomorrow now."
Matt White (Cofidis, 174th at 32'05)
"Yeah good. It was always going to be a big gruppetto. But our guy [Atienza] went pretty good today, eh? fifth?"
How was it in the bus? "It's all good mate. There were a lot of sprinters back there. I think tomorrow will be the last day for a few boys - not just the sprinters - a few boys are really hurting."
