Giro d'Italia (U26/U23) June 9 to 18
18 June 2006 - Stage 10 Bolzano – Bolzano 127km
The last stage of the ‘Baby’ Giro was a tense one with so little separating the first two overall. South Australia.com AIS rider Matt Lloyd tried to capitalise by slipping into a couple of breaks but he was never given much distance. The team tried to set Matt Goss up for the sprint but the ten days of tough racing was taking its toll on Matt’s speed. Matt Lloyd had his best career result to finish on the podium in third place behind Cataldo and Grabovsky.
1 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Bedogni 29h44’19”
2 Dmitro Grabovsky (Ukr) Finauto @5”
10 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @25”
9 Ashley Humbert (Aus) Podenzano @2’36"
41 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @11’22”
63 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @28’11”
98 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @50’44”
107 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com AIS @57’55”
17 June 2006 - Stage 9 Marostica - Alpe di Pampeago 115km
This was the key stage for the overall result of this year’s ‘Baby’ Giro. The first climb of the day was the 25 kilometer Passo Manghen followed by the steep seven kilometer climb to Alpe di Pampeago. Several riders attacked on the first climb but the day but most of the favourites for the overall stayed together and launched attacks on the last climb. South Australia.com AIS rider Matt Lloyd proved to be the best of these and attacked the Pink jersey in the last kilometer. He finished second on the stage behind Colombian, Alex Cano Ardila and gained enough time to move to third overall. Unfortunately Shaun Higgerson punctured and was left without mechanical assistance and lost enough time to be outside the time limit and will not start the last stage.16 June 2006 - Stage 8 Vittorio Veneto - Marostica 147km
South Australia.com AIS Rider Matt Goss got himself in the break of the day with 14 other riders, only to be caught on the last climb of the finish circuit with ten kilometres to go.
The team took consolation that the stage was won by Australian and former AIS Scholarship holder, Ashley Humbert. Race leader, Dmitro Gabrovskyy lost some of his lead after he received a time penalty for pacing.
15 June 2006 - Stage 7 Montegrotto Terme to Vittorio Veneto 114km
Today's seventh stage of the Under 26 Giro d'Italia was a dead flat 114 kilometer run from Montegrotto Terme to Vittorio Veneto. Apart from a big split in the early kilometres, the race was well controlled.
The South Australia.com - AIS team took control in the last ten kilometres to deliver Matt Goss to the final sprint but things got a bit hectic in the final metres and Matt was beaten into third place.
14 June 2006 - Stage 6 Morrovale - Potenze Picena 126km
The stage started in Morrovale and headed to the Marche coast where it did 3 laps of a circuit including a steady seven kilometre climb to the finish in Potenza Piciena. There were several attempts by groups to get clear but everything was shut down and the whole bunch raced up the climb the final time.
13 June 2006 - Stage 5 Rocca di Cambio - Ortezzano 175km
This was the longest stage in this years Giro and the speed was high all day. The crucial point of the race was the finish circuit which included a 22% climb on each of the two laps. The bunch exploded as they raced up the 'wall' the final time.
11 June 2006 - Stage 3 Sant'Elena Sannita - Castelpetroso 115 kilometres
The third stage was a hilly course and conditions were wet and cold. Goss won the sprint of the front group on an uphill finish. This is Matt's fifth individual win on the road in Europe this season.
Matt Lloyd finished in the same group as Goss to retain his seventh position overall. The South Australia.com AIS team retains it's lead in the team competition.
10 June 2006 Stage 2 Maddaloni - San Bartolomeo in Galdo 134km
The first road stage of the Giro was a tough one with a seven kilometre climb to finish and plenty of crashes. South Australia.com AIS riders Shaun Higgerson and and Simon Clarke both crashed, Simon's occuring just before the finish. The stage was won by current Under 23 World Champion, Dmitro Grabovskyy.
9 June 2006 Stage 1 Caserta 8km Individual Time Trial
It was a good start for the South Australia.com AIS team in the Under 26 Giro d'Italia in Caserta. The first stage was an 8.5 kilometre up hill time trial, won by Italian David Garbelli from Concrete Caneva.
Shaun Higgerson was 4th, 18 seconds off the winning time. Matt Goss was 10th and Matt Lloyd 12th of the 180 starters.
