2000 Giro d’Italia champion unable to finish race
Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone) has pulled out of the Giro d’Italia during Saturday’s twentieth and penultimate staged. The Italian packed it in at the 59 kilometer mark citing a painful knee as a result of his fall on the descent of the Mortirolo Friday. He finished stage nineteen more than 23 minutes behind the stage winner Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli).
Garzelli, who won the 2000 edition of the Giro d’Italia, took an impressive victory in the 12.9 kilometer uphill Plan de Corones time trial Tuesday. He left the race in 25th position overall, 55 minutes and 25 seconds behind race leader Ivan Basso.