Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Wladmir “Sugar Ray” Belli is in fourth place 7:35 behind Ivan Basso. Thanks to a breakaway that let the Italian veteran gain back some time on GC and a very good performance on La Thuile, Selle Italia has a new team leader. This is good news for a team that had to deal with the Terrell Owens like problems with Jose Rujano.

The Rujano saga took one more (probably final) odd step in Saturday’s stage to La Thuile. Jose Rujano abruptly retired from the race with only 3km left in the stage to La Thuile. This was after showing some improving form when he attacked the maglia rosa group. Although he was quickly reeled in and dropped by Basso, the Venezualian looked to be getting set for the brutal final week in the Giro. After the long cold descent, Rujano was complaining of not being able to brake and decided to pack it in for the entire race. Selle Italia team boss seemed miffed at the explaination and simply called the whole deal a mystery during the Giro followup show “Processo all Tappa”. Seems as though Savio does not know much more about why Rujano called it a day only 3km before the finish. Whatever problems existed, he could simply coast his way to the finish from 3km away if there was any sort of real problem.

The Selle Italia polemics with Rujano are probably in the past now as the Venezualian climber is looking forward to joining his new team Quick-Step on June 1st. Rujano was not in the same form as last year. However, the tiny climber who “looks like a little kid on a bike” (according to Aurio Bulbarelli of RAI) will be moving on to Belgian team Quick Step where he will see what it means to be a professional bike racer from guy slike Tom Boonen and Paolo Bettini. Unfortuanelty for Rujano he lost some prime chances at winning stages in the Giro as the final week was serving up opportunities that were almost tailor made for the 48kg climber. He can now watch Basso or Piepoli or others soak up the glory that could have been his.

Wladmir Belli is back in the Giro. From the looks of the standings with Simoni and Belli separated by only one place, you would think it was five years ago when Simoni’s fans were all over the Giro course and the two were fighting out for the Giro top spot. Simoni’s tifosi were so annoying that Belli had to slug one that got a little too close. Turns out that man was Simoni’s brother-in-law and the punch was a little too much for the Giro orgs tastes. So Belli was Dq’d.

Now five years later, Belli is back in the Giro riding for Selle Italia. His original job was to use his years of experience in the Giro to help guide Jose Rujano to and overall win. Selle Italia loaded up with veterans to help Rujano get through the Giro in a winning position. Now that Rujano fizzled Belli is in a top spot on GC and in great form. Belli who has stated that he will retire after the Giro was asked by David Cassani on “Processo della Tappa” if he is still going to retire after the race. He replied that it is hard when you are in great form, but now that he is 36 years old he knows that it is time to stop.