Ferrari's Move and Phinney Update

Cavendish left unimpressed by Ferrari move

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendish-left-unimpressed-by-ferrari-move)

Mark Cavendish (Sky) has voiced his frustration at being taken out by a diversion from Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela rider Roberto Ferrari within sight of the Giro d'Italia's Stage 3 finish in Horsens.

Cavendish was one of several riders, which also included maglia rosa Taylor Phinney, to crash after Ferrari changed his sprint line. The reigning world champion hit the tarmac at 75km/h injuring his left shoulder and losing his fair share of skin. Ferrari was relegated by commissaries to last place for the manoeuvre.

"Ouch! Crashing at 75kph isn't nice! Nor is seeing Roberto Ferrari's manoeuvre. Should be ashamed to take out Pink, Red & World Champ jerseys," the Manxman tweeted following the stage.

"Apparently Roberto Ferrari has said to journalists, when asked about the incident, that he can't see what happens behind him & doesn't care," Cavendish continued. "Is the team of Roberto Ferrari or the UCI going to do the right thing? Other riders, including myself, have been sent home for much less."

Androni-Venezuela manger Gianni Savio made no bones about his rider Ferrari's responsibility, telling Cyclingnews, "I'm on the bus going to the airport [for the transfer – ed.] and I will apologize to Mark Cavendish in the name of the team and in the name of Roberto Ferrari for the incorrect behaviour that was not intentional."

Sky's team doctor explained that he was hopeful of Cavendish recovering.

"Mark's had a bad crash and is very uncomfortable but we're taking care of him," Richard Freeman told teamsky.com.

Cavendish had commented following his Stage 2 win at the post-race press conference that the pure sprint stages were becoming more dangerous.

"Because things are changing in the peloton, there's not the respect that there used to be," he told reporters. "That means there's a lot more crashes... a sprint team wants to stay at the front, and a sprint team is fighting with a GC team. If every team tries to stay together and stay at the front it becomes more of a stress."

Phinney taking Giro d'Italia day-by-day

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/phinney-taking-giro-ditalia-day-by-day)

Taylor Phinney (BMC) made the most of his Giro d’Italia rest day by recuperating after his stage 3 crash. The American maglia rosa hit the tarmac inside the finale and was swiftly taken to the hospital after the podium celebrations. Scans revealed no broken bones, but treatment required several stitches to his badly swollen ankle.

His race lead stands at nine seconds and with Wednesday’s 32.2-kilometre team time trial on the horizon, Phinney has been taking no chances.

“Today I’ve just been lounging around. Last night I couldn’t walk, but today I can walk on it slowly. I just rode for 15 minutes and started to warm up. It’s definitely not the most comfortable sensation, riding with a swollen ankle but I made some modifications to the shoes and I’ve just got to get as much rest as I can and we’ll see what tomorrow brings,” he said.

Phinney and the rest of the peloton had to endure a 1,200-kilometre transfer from Denmark to Italy at the end of stage 3 and combined with two hospital visits, Phinney only reached his hotel in the small hours of Tuesday morning.

“It was a bit of a hectic day with the flight and then going to one hospital and then having to wait a while, go to another hospital to be treated and then being stitched. I wasn’t home until pretty late but the team took really good care of me. I had a full dinner in my room when I got back and just tried to go to bed as soon as I could.”

Despite his stage 3 travails, Phinney remained positive ahead of the team time trial. His objectives ahead of the Giro were to win the opening time trial and finish the race. Even if he loses the lead in tomorrow’s team test he’ll remain in the race as long as his ankle allows him.

“I’m definitely lucky with the timing of the rest day and the timing of the crash yesterday because I was fortunate enough to be in the last three kilometres. Now it’s just a matter of time and it the clock is ticking down to the time trial. It’s pretty black and blue all around but I’m taking it hour by hour, and day by day at this point.” 

New RSNT Leader Needed for Giro

Fuglsang out of Giro d'Italia with knee problems

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fuglsang-out-of-giro-ditalia-with-knee-problems)

Jakob Fuglsang will not be able to ride the Giro d'Italia 2012 due to knee problems. The RadioShack-Nissan rider did not start Friday's third stage of the Tour de Romandie because of the knee pain.

He has been diagnosed with an inflammation of the articular capsule and ligament of the left knee. He first noticed it two weeks ago at an altitude camp in Sierra Nevada, Spain.

"I am very disappointed," Fuglsang said. "The Giro was my big objective for this year. Yesterday I had so much pain in the last 40K, I was just miserable. At that point I realized that it might be the end of my Giro dream. Moreover I was already running behind my schedule after the scaphoid bone fracture in the Tour of Catalunya."

There is simply not enough time to clear up the problem before the start of the Giro on May 5, and the risks were too great, team doctor Andreas Gösele said. “With a quick and intensive therapy, Jakob would possibly be able to start at the Giro, but with how much risk? A good result would be out of the question and if he would have to drop out after ten stages, what would we have accomplished?"

“From a medical point of view, it is impossible to guarantee that he will be fine. It's never good to take an injured rider to the start of a Grand Tour, and neither is it good to take out the leader of a team during such an important race. We don't want to jeopardize his season and his career.”

Fuglsang was set to be RadioShack's captain in the Giro, which starts in his homeland of Denmark. "We would even have stayed in a hotel in the city where I grew up. My hand injury was already a setback. Now, with this on top, I can only agree with the doctors and not take any risk. I will look ahead. I am young and there will be other Grand Tours for me in the future."

Team manager Johan Bruyneel regretted the injury on behalf of both his rider and his team. “He invested a lot of time and even personal funds for altitude camps to be in his best shape at the start of the race. I'm really sorry for him, but it's unrealistic to bring him to the start and believe in a miracle. The Giro is a very important race for our team and now we need to study how we can alter our strategy for those three weeks."