Pampeago’s mountain top finish was full of fireworks as the second stage of the Giro del Trentino unfolded. A place where climbing great Marco Pantani would devastate his competition set the stage for three riders: Przemyslaw Niemec, the stage winner, Slovenian Janez Brajkovic – staking claim to the overall lead and what may come in next months Giro d’Italia – and Ivan Basso . After a poor time trial yesterday, the team Liquigas rider rode well today taking second place on the stage and second position overall, only 4” behind Brajkovic.

“I had good legs today and think I’ve shown it in the finale attempting many attacks”, Ivan Basso said after the finish. The Italian didn’t manage to distance himself from his rivals, but it has been three years since his last win and he is showing the form that could show him the top step of the podium. He will have two other chances to win with tomorrow’s third stage (Tesero-Innervillgraten, 165.5km) as well as the last stage (Sillian-Pejo Fonti, 214.2km) both ending with mountain top finishes.

Today’s stage showed who might be on good form for the Giro d’Italia. Some snow fell in Pampeago (1700m), and the high gradient of the final kilometres split the race into several groups. Kloden and Garzelli ended up in good position, whilst Di Luca struggled and finished almost 2’ behind the winner.

Gilberto Simoni placed fourth in Pampeago, 45” behind Niemec, and showed a good condition.

Tomorrow’s third stage will be challenging, and Brajkovic will have ride well to keep the leaders jersey. “I trained well and my condition is good. I use to ride my bike early in the morning, before breakfast, on the home-trainer, and I take advantage of it”, the Astana rider said in the press conference.

Results from Thursday’s second stage of the Giro del Trentino, a 141km ride from Rival del Garda to Alpe di Pampeago.

Stage:
1. Przemyslaw Niemiec (POL) Miche 3hr 50min 44sec, 2. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas 22, 3. Giampaolo Caruso (ITA) Flaminia 39, 4. Gilberto Simoni (ITA) Diquigiovanni 45, 5. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana 1:01

Overall:
1. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana 4hr 10min 07sec, 2. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas 04, 3. Przemyslaw Niemec (POL) Miche 19, 4. Gilberto Simoni (ITA) Diquigiovanni 1:00, 5. Branislau Samoilau (BLR) Amica Chips s.t.