Ivan Basso si aggiudica il Giro di Danimarca

Ivan Basso enjoys his victory in the 2005 Tour of Denmark.
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7 agosto 2005 - Ivan Basso si e' aggiudicato la quindicesima edizione del Giro di Danimarca. Il varesino leader della squadra di casa, la CSC diretta da Bjarne Riis, ha vinto la classifica generale della corsa nordeuropea, chiudendo le 6 tappe con il tempo di 19h 58'37'' e precedendo il compagno di squadra Kurt-Asle Arvesen di 2'21''.

Al terzo posto a 2'51'', l'australiano della Rabobank Rory Sutherland, mentre il quarto posto e' andato al lituano Tomas Vaitkus della AG2R, a 2'55'. Al quinto posto si e' classificato l'azzurro Daniele Nardello della T-Mobile, che ha chiuso a 3'07'' da Basso.

L'ultima tappa, la Slagelse-Frederiksberg di 165 chilometri, e' stata vinta allo sprint dal tedesco Andre Greipel del Team Wiesenhof.

August 8, 2005 - Team CSC’s Ivan Basso wrapped up the overall title of the Tour of Denmark on Sunday, which comes as no surprise considering the Italian star won four of the race’s six stages.

The 165-kilometer final stage ended with a furious bunch sprint, with Andre Greipel (Team Wiesenhof) taking the honors. Basso finished safely in the main bunch to seal the first stage-race victory of his seven-year professional career.

“Reaching Copenhagen was a brilliant feeling and the perfect finish to a great week for me and my team,” Basso said. “This week has given me a lot and I’ll never forget the support we’ve received.”

Basso won the opening three road stages with blistering attacks in the final kilometers, and then sealed the overall prize with an impressive time trial victory Saturday.

The victory caps a remarkable season for Basso. He won two stages in the Giro d’Italia in May, but fell ill while wearing the race leader’s maglia rosa and couldn’t challenge for the overall prize.

Basso then recovered well enough to challenge Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France, and finished a strong second overall for his second consecutive podium finish.

Sunday’s race into Copenhagen drew much fanfare, something that surprised Basso who’s accustomed to seeing the big crowds in such races as the Giro and the Tour.

“I’ve seen how popular we are here and I must admit it’s made a huge impression on me to meet the Danish people and see how much they love to watch cycling,” he said.

Team CSC also dominated the other classifications during the five-day, six-stage race.

Kurt-Asle Arvesen, a winner a year ago, finished second overall. Basso won the points competition while Jens Voigt finished fourth in the mountains competition and third in the most-aggressive rider competition. Team CSC easily won the team's classification as well.

The team’s dominance was especially pleasing for Team CSC manager Bjarne Riis, who hails from the Danish town of Herning. The 1996 Tour de France champion said he couldn’t ask for more.

“We’ve achieved everything we came for. The Danes have really embraced Ivan as one of their own and the team has delivered a brilliant effort,” Riis said. “This is our home ground and I’m very proud of the work we've done here.”

15° Giro di Danimarca - Post Danmark Rundt
Danimarca, 3-7 agosto 2005
Ordine d'arrivo ultima tappa:

1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team Wiesenhof 3.35.37
2 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Ag2r Prevoyance
3 Paride Grillo (Ita) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare Final General classification

Classifica generale finale:

1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 19.58.37
2 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 2.21
3 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Rabobank 2.51
4 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Ag2r Prevoyance 2.55
5 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile 3.07
6 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 3.41
7 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 3.50
8 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Rabobank 3.56
9 Roy Sentjiens (Bel) Rabobank 3.58
10 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team Wiesenhof