Giro Weekend Wrap: Favorites Revealed

The weekend proved to be a decisive one for the 2008 Giro d'Italia, as the favorites for the year's first grand tour are now crystal clear. Alberto Contador, the new Maglia Rosa will be very tough to unseat in the coming days, as his time trialing and climbing skills are among the best in the world. Italians Riccardo Ricco, Gilberto Simoni, and Danilo Di Luca all remain close to the top of the classification, while the Russian Dennis Menchov also sits close to the top. While many thought Alberto Contador would be at a disadvantage coming into the Giro due to lack of preparation, it is now clear to all that he has great fitness and should be regarded as the number one favorite until another rider manages to gap him significantly. His performance thus far in the Giro reveals that he should never be underestimated as a possible winner of a grand tour.

Contador showed his class over the weekend, and now is the overall leader

Saturday marked the first time that the peloton would face a true mountain top finish to a stage. The results were interesting, as Emanuel Sella rode alone to the line, holding off a hard charging peloton lead by Dennis Menchov, Franco Pellizotti and Riccardo Ricco. Pre race favorites Danilo Di Luca, Gilberto Simoni and Alberto Contador limited their time losses, but the American Levi Leipheimer blew up on the stage, and lost over four minutes to the other favorites. Expect Leipheimer to put his all into the upcoming time trial, hoping for the stage win.

Stage 15 featured six climbs. Coming the day before the uphill time trial, riders will feel the effects of the stage for sure during the ITT

As riders came into Sundays stage, several were within a minute of the lead and the tactics promised to be tense. Contador was in the driver's seat as the best placed of the GC riders, while top hopes Simoni, Di Luca, Pellizotti, Ricco, Kloden, and Menchov lurked only a minute behind. Further down the classification were Vande Velde (2:45) and Nibali (2:01). Things were shaping up for an epic showdown in the Dolomites for the 2008 contenders on the way to the day's finish on the Passo Fedaia/Mormolada.

Tomorrow's time trial is a steep one, which should provide some big time gaps

In the end, it was Italian Emanuel Sella who took the win again again, rocketing away from the rest of the field for the victory. Right behind him though was a raging Riccardo Ricco, and behind him the rest of the GC hopes Simoni, Di Luca, Contador, and Menchov. Ricco took time out of each, but it was Contador who claimed the pink jersey with a scant 33 second lead over the explosive Ricco.

Ricco will be one to watch in tomorrow's time trial

Tomorrow's uphill time trial will work to further shuffle the general classification, but each of the top contenders should expect to have a good day. The course is a very difficult one though, with gradients as steep at 24%. If one of the top riders comes into the day less than 100%, they could find themselves losing several minutes. Look for Simoni and Ricco to outlast Di Luca, but expect Contador to put his full effort into the day, coming out as the winner.