2011 Giro di Padania

2011 UCI Europe Tour
Race details
Dates	6–10 September
Stages	5
Distance	900 km (559.2 mi)
Winning time	22h 13' 28"
Results
Winner   Ivan Basso  (ITA) (Liquigas–Cannondale)   Second   Giovanni Visconti  (ITA) (Farnese Vini–Neri Sottoli)   Third   Francesco Masciarelli  (ITA) (Astana) Points   Elia Viviani  (ITA) (Liquigas–Cannondale) Mountains   Simone Campagnaro  (ITA) (D'Angelo & Antenucci–Nippo) Youth   Francesco Masciarelli  (ITA) (Astana) Sprints   Elia Viviani  (ITA) (Liquigas–Cannondale)   Team Androni Giocattoli
←  – 2012  →

The 2011 Giro di Padania was the first edition of the Giro di Padania cycling stage race. It started on 6th September in Paesana and ended on the 10th in Montecchio Maggiore. ^[1]

More than 200 riders and 25 teams participated in the race, including the ProTour teams Liquigas–Cannondale, Lampre–ISD and Astana, and the national teams of Australia, Poland and Slovenia. Among the riders who took part to the race there were the 2006 and 2010 Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso, the 2011 Milano-Sanremo winner Matthew Goss, the Italian Road Race Champion Giovanni Visconti, the 2000 Giro d'Italia winner Stefano Garzelli, and the classic specialist Davide Rebellin. ^[2]

The race was won by Liquigas–Cannondale rider Ivan Basso, ^[3] who claimed the leader's green jersey after winning the fourth stage. ^[4]

In the race's other classifications, Liquigas–Cannondale rider Elia Viviani won the Points and the Intermediate Sprints classifications, Simone Campagnaro of D'Angelo & Antenucci–Nippo won the light blue jersey for the King of the Mountains classification, Astana's Francesco Masciarelli, who was third in the General classification, won the Young Rider classification, with Androni Giocattoli finishing at the head of the Teams classification. ^[3]

Race overview

Stage	Date	Course	Distance	Type		Winner
1	6 September	Paesana to Laigueglia	170 km (105.6 mi)		Flat stage	Sacha Modolo  (ITA)
2	7 September	Loano to Vigevano	187 km (116.2 mi)		Flat stage	Elia Viviani  (ITA)
3	8 September	Lonate Pozzolo to Salsomaggiore Terme	198 km (123.0 mi)		Flat stage	Sacha Modolo  (ITA)
4	9 September	Noceto to San Valentino di Brentonico	175 km (108.7 mi)		Mountain stage	Ivan Basso  (ITA)
5	10 September	Rovereto to Montecchio Maggiore	170 km (105.6 mi)		Flat stage	Andrea Guardini  (ITA)

Final standings

General Classification

	Rider	Team	Time
1	Ivan Basso  (ITA)	Liquigas–Cannondale	22h 13' 28"
2	Giovanni Visconti  (ITA)	Farnese Vini–Neri Sottoli	+ 52"
3	Francesco Masciarelli  (ITA)	Astana	+ 1' 08"
4	Fortunato Baliani  (ITA)	D'Angelo & Antenucci–Nippo	+ 1' 17"
5	Davide Rebellin  (ITA)	Miche–Guerciotti	+ 1' 24"
6	Emanuele Sella  (ITA)	Androni Giocattoli	+ 1' 32"
7	Simone Stortoni  (ITA)	Colnago–CSF Inox	+ 2' 34"
8	Domenico Pozzovivo  (ITA)	Colnago–CSF Inox	+ 2' 53"
9	Marek Rutkiewicz  (POL)	Poland (National team)	+ 2' 57"
10	Riccardo Chiarini  (ITA)	Androni Giocattoli	+ 3' 08"

Points Classification

	Rider	Team	Points
1	Elia Viviani  (ITA)	Liquigas–Cannondale	44
2	Sacha Modolo  (ITA)	Colnago–CSF Inox	33
3	Danilo Napolitano  (ITA)	Acqua & Sapone	18

King of the Mountains Classification

	Rider	Team	Points
1	Simone Campagnaro  (ITA)	D'Angelo & Antenucci–Nippo	14
2	Federico Rocchetti  (ITA)	De Rosa–Ceramica Flaminia	8
3	Ivan Basso  (ITA)	Liquigas–Cannondale	6

Sprints Classification

	Rider	Team	Points
1	Elia Viviani  (ITA)	Liquigas–Cannondale	5
2	Paweł Bernas  (POL)	Poland (National team)	4
3	Kamil Gradek  (POL)	Poland (National team)	4

Young Rider Classification

	Rider	Team	Time
1	Francesco Masciarelli  (ITA)	Astana	22h 14' 36"
2	Lachlan Norris  (AUS)	Australia (National team)	+ 3'14"
3	Diego Ulissi  (ITA)	Lampre–ISD	+ 3' 49"

Controversy

This edition was heavily disrupted by activists who stated that the race was intended as political Propaganda for the Lega Nord political party. ^{[5] [6]} The idea of organising the race was announced by Lega Nord's leader Umberto Bossi in September 2010 ^[7] and, according to the protesters, the race itself was full of references to the Padanian nationalism, such as the choice of green colour for the leader's jersey. ^[8] Moreover, the race is organized by the society Monviso-Venezia, whose president, Michelino Davico, is a Lega Nord's senator. ^{[9] [10]}

During second stage, in Savona, Ivan Basso and Sacha Modolo had been slapped and insulted by protesters. ^[11]

References

1. Farrand, Stephen. "Giro di Padania route unveiled in Italy", Cycling News, 28-07-2011.
2. (Italian) Redazione Spaziociclismo. "Giro di Padania, elenco iscritti", Spazio Ciclismo, 05-09-2011.
3. "2011 Giro di Padania – Results", Cycling News, 10-09-2011.
4. "2011 Giro di Padania – Stage 4 Results", Cycling News, 09-09-2011.
5. Ryan, Barry. "Protesters attempt to block Giro di Padania route", Cycling News, 06-09-2011.
6. (Italian) Ghisalberti, Claudio "Giro di Padania: è sempre caos Schiaffi e insulti ai corridori", La Gazzetta dello Sport, 07-09-2011.
7. (Italian) Redazione. "Bossi ora vuole il Giro della Padania", Giornalettismo, 15-09-2010.
8. (Italian) Madron, Alessandro." “Il giro di Padania è una corsa politica”Rifondazione all’Uci: “Annullare la gara” ", Il Fatto Quotidiano, 23-08-2011.
9. (Italian) Madron, Alessandro. "Ciclismo, ecco il Giro di Padania. Corsa a tappe con sponsor politico leghista", Il Fatto Quotidiano, 22-07-2011.
10. (Italian) http://www.senato.it/leg/16/BGT/Schede/Attsen/00022730.htm
11. (Italian) Redazione Online. "Savona, Ivan Basso e Modolo insultati e presi a sberle al Giro di Padania", Corriere della Sera, 08-09-2011.