May 28, 2004 – Dark skies and cold rain greeted the riders today in the relatively short (118K) but tough stage from Cles Val DiNon to Bormio 2000. Figueras (Panaria) who had been suffering from stomach problems was a non-starter today as was Lampre sprinter Jan Svorda.

Encompassing the feared Gavia Pass, the same pass remembered for Andy Hampsten’s 1988 heroics, the riders took turns attacking the Saeco race leadership. Former winner Stefano Garzelli of Vini Caldirola spurred on a group of escapees over this rugged mountain, only to be pulled back.

The story of the day belonged to maglia rosa wearer Damiano Cunego (Saeco), the audacious 22-year-old who not only won his fourth stage but put a stranglehold on the overall lead. Besting Dario Cioni of Fasso Bortolo, Cunego explained that he had good legs and would not wait for teammate Gilberto Simoni to animate the day. Now sitting third overall with Serguei Gonchar (De Nardi) in between, defending champ Simoni can only hope to move up into second during tomorrow’s mountainous stage.

Losing 41 seconds today was the Ukranian Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) who slid to fourth overall. Without a strong team to back his every move, Popovych can only follow on hard days like today. A bright spot was the 11th-place finish of former track star Brad McGee (FDJeux.com) who remains in 7th overall.

Results

1 Damiano Cunego (ITA) Saeco, 3.56.31 (29.934 km/h)

2 Dario David Cioni (ITA) Fassa Bortolo, 0.05

3 Serguei Gonchar (UKR) De Nardi

4 Gilberto Simoni (ITA) Saeco, 0.09

5 Julio A. Perez Cuapio (MEX) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres, 0.17

6 Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA) Saeco, 0.35

7 Juan Manuel Garate Cepa (ESP) Lampre

8 Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, 0.41

9 Wladimir Belli (ITA) Lampre

10 Andrea Noe’ (ITA) Alessio-Bianchi, 0.43

11 Bradley McGee (AUS) FDJeux.com, 1.00

12 Tadej Valjavec (SLO) Phonak Hearing Systems, 1.11

13 Emanuele Sella (ITA) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres, 1.16

14 Luis Filipe Laverde Jimenez (COL) Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave, 1.21

15 Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie

General classification after stage 18

1 Damiano Cunego (ITA) Saeco, 80.40.26

2 Serguei Gonchar (UKR) De Nardi, 1.31

3 Gilberto Simoni (ITA) Saeco, 3.07

4 Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, 3.23

5 Dario David Cioni (ITA) Fassa Bortolo, 4.44

6 Wladimir Belli (ITA) Lampre, 5.21

7 Bradley McGee (AUS) FDJeux.com, 5.24

8 Stefano Garzelli (ITA) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie, 6.45

9 Juan Manuel Garate Cepa (ESP) Lampre, 6.56

10 Andrea Noe (ITA) Alessio-Bianchi, 6.58

11 Tadej Valjavec (SLO) Phonak Hearing Systems, 7.11

12 Christophe Brandt (BEL) Lotto-Domo, 8.56

13 Franco Pellizotti (ITA) Alessio-Bianchi, 8.59

14 Emanuele Sella (ITA) Ceramiche Panaria-Margres, 9.21

15 Pavel Tonkov (RUS) Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie, 10.06