With its designated GC rider Michele Scarponi out of contention in 28th place and over 28 minutes down, the Liberty Seguros-Würth team is now hoping for one more stage win to add to Koldo Gil's victory in stage 7.
Team manager Manolo Saiz described Monday's stage 15 as "boring" and is now waiting for the last two mountain stages. "We have lost the option of Scarponi," said Saiz in a team statement, "and what we still have is to fight for a victory in both mountain stages. We will look for a breakaway, but we know that it is very difficult, because as the Giro continues, riders that are in good form are the ones who have more chances of victory."
One rider who Saiz thinks is improving as the Giro progresses is 24-year-old Giampaolo Caruso. "On Saturday he could not stay in the breakaway, but on Sunday, nevertheless, on the second consecutive mountain stage, I saw him ride very well, fighting to be with Simoni and Di Luca."
Saiz reflected that perhaps the team had overburdened Scarponi. "We cannot forget that he is only 25 years old and maybe we have been hasty in putting so many expectations on him, because this was the first time that he came to a big tour with this responsibility."
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