# 2002 Giro d'Italia

The 2002 Giro d'Italia was the 85th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro began with a 6.5 km (4 mi) prologue that navigated through the streets of the Dutch city Groningen. The race came to a close with a mass-start stage that ended in the Italian city of Milan. Twenty-two teams entered the race that was won by the Italian Paolo Savoldelli of the Index Alexia team. Second and third were the American Tyler Hamilton and Italian Pietro Caucchioli.
In the race's other classifications, Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo rider Julio Alberto Pérez won the mountains classification, Massimo Strazzer of the Phonak team won the intergiro classification, and Acqua & Sapone rider Mario Cipollini won the points classification. Alessio finished as the winners of the Trofeo Fast Team classification, ranking each of the twenty-two teams contesting the race by lowest cumulative time. The other team classification, the Trofeo Super Team classification, where the teams' riders are awarded points for placing within the top twenty in each stage and the points are then totaled for each team was also won by Alessio.

## Teams

A total of 22 teams were invited to participate in the 2002 Giro d'Italia. Each team sent a squad of nine riders, so the Giro began with a peloton of 198 cyclists. Out of the 198 riders that started this edition of the Giro d'Italia, a total of 140 riders made it to the finish in Milan.
The 22 teams that took part in the race were:
| Acqua & Sapone Alessio Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo Colombia–Selle Italia Fassa Bortolo Gerolsteiner Index Alexia Kelme–Costa Blanca | Lampre–Daikin Landbouwkrediet–Colnago Lotto–Adecco Mapei–Quick-Step Mercatone Uno Mobilvetta Design–Formaggi Trentini Phonak | Rabobank Saeco–Longoni Sport Tacconi Sport Team Coast Team Colpack–Astro CSC–Tiscali Team Telekom |

## Route and stages

The route for the 2002 Giro d'Italia was unveiled by race director Carmine Castellano on 17 November 2001 in Milan. It contained three time trial events, all of which were individual. In the stages containing categorized climbs, four had summit finishes: stage 5, to Limone Piemonte; stage 11, to Campitello Matese; stage 13, to San Giacomo; and stage 17, to Passo Coe. The organizers chose to include two rest days. When compared to the previous year's race, the race was 1.5 km (1 mi) shorter, contained one more rest day, and one more individual time trial. In addition, this race had an opening prologue like the year before.
Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| P | 11 May | Groningen (Netherlands) | 6.5 km (4 mi) | | Individual time trial | Juan Carlos Domínguez (ESP) |
| 1 | 12 May | Groningen (Netherlands) to Münster (Germany) | 218 km (135 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 2 | 13 May | Cologne (Germany) to Ans (Belgium) | 209 km (130 mi) | | Flat stage | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) |
| 3 | 14 May | Verviers (Belgium) to Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) | 206 km (128 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 4 | 15 May | Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) to Strasbourg (France) | 232 km (144 mi) | | Flat stage | Robbie McEwen (AUS) |
| | 16 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 5 | 17 May | Fossano to Limone Piemonte | 150 km (93 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) |
| 6 | 18 May | Cuneo to Varazze | 190 km (118 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Giovanni Lombardi (ITA) |
| 7 | 19 May | Viareggio to Lido di Camaiore | 159 km (99 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Rik Verbrugghe (BEL) |
| 8 | 20 May | Capannori to Orvieto | 237 km (147 mi) | | Flat stage | Aitor González (ESP) |
| 9 | 21 May | Tivoli to Caserta | 201 km (125 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 10 | 22 May | Maddaloni to Benevento | 118 km (73 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Robbie McEwen (AUS) |
| 11 | 23 May | Benevento to Campitello Matese | 143 km (89 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) |
| 12 | 24 May | Campobasso to Chieti | 205 km (127 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Denis Lunghi (ITA) |
| 13 | 25 May | Chieti to San Giacomo di Valle Castellana | 186 km (116 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Julio Alberto Pérez (MEX) |
| 14 | 26 May | Numana to Numana | 30.3 km (19 mi) | | Individual time trial | Tyler Hamilton (USA) |
| | 27 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 15 | 28 May | Terme Euganee to Conegliano | 156 km (97 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 16 | 29 May | Conegliano to Corvara | 163 km (101 mi) | | Mountain stage | Julio Alberto Pérez (MEX) |
| 17 | 30 May | Corvara to Folgaria | 222 km (138 mi) | | Mountain stage | Pavel Tonkov (RUS) |
| 18 | 31 May | Rovereto to Brescia | 145 km (90 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 19 | 1 June | Cambiago to Monticello Brianza | 46 km (29 mi) | | Individual time trial | Aitor González (ESP) |
| 20 | 2 June | Cantù to Milan | 141 km (88 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| | Total | Total | 3,354.5 km (2,084 mi) | 3,354.5 km (2,084 mi) | 3,354.5 km (2,084 mi) | 3,354.5 km (2,084 mi) | 3,354.5 km (2,084 mi) |

## Classification Leadership

In the 2002 Giro d'Italia, five different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification is considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner is considered the winner of the Giro.
Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a mauve jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top 15 in a stage. The stage win awarded 25 points, second place awarded 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point fewer per place down the line, to a single point for 15th. In addition, points could be won in intermediate sprints.
There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized as either first, second, or third category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The highest point in the Giro (called the Cima Coppi), which in 2002 was the Passo Pordoi, afforded more points than the other first-category climbs.
The fourth jersey represented the intergiro classification, marked by a blue jersey. The calculation for the intergiro is similar to that of the general classification, in each stage there is a midway point that the riders pass through a point and where their time is stopped. As the race goes on, their times compiled and the person with the lowest time is the leader of the intergiro classification and wears the blue jersey.
There were also two classifications for teams. The first was the Trofeo Fast Team. In this classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time. The Trofeo Super Team was a team points classification, with the top 20 placed riders on each stage earning points (20 for first place, 19 for second place and so on, down to a single point for 20th) for their team.
The rows in the following table correspond to the jerseys awarded after that stage was run.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Intergiro classification | Trofeo Fast Team | Trofeo Super Team |
| P | Juan Carlos Domínguez | Juan Carlos Domínguez | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded |
| 1 | Mario Cipollini | Mario Cipollini | Mario Cipollini | not awarded | Mario Cipollini | Phonak | Phonak |
| 2 | Stefano Garzelli | Stefano Garzelli | Mario Cipollini | Francesco Casagrande | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei–Quick-Step | Mapei–Quick-Step |
| 3 | Mario Cipollini | Stefano Garzelli | Mario Cipollini | Francesco Casagrande | Massimo Strazzer | Mapei–Quick-Step | Phonak |
| 4 | Robbie McEwen | Stefano Garzelli | Mario Cipollini | Francesco Casagrande | Massimo Strazzer | Mapei–Quick-Step | Phonak |
| 5 | Stefano Garzelli | Stefano Garzelli | Mario Cipollini | Stefano Garzelli | Massimo Strazzer | Mapei–Quick-Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 6 | Giovanni Lombardi | Jens Heppner | Mario Cipollini | Stefano Garzelli | Massimo Strazzer | Kelme–Costa Blanca | Phonak |
| 7 | Rik Verbrugghe | Jens Heppner | Mario Cipollini | Stefano Garzelli | Massimo Strazzer | Kelme–Costa Blanca | Phonak |
| 8 | Aitor González | Jens Heppner | Massimo Strazzer | Stefano Garzelli | Massimo Strazzer | Kelme–Costa Blanca | Phonak |
| 9 | Mario Cipollini | Jens Heppner | Mario Cipollini | Stefano Garzelli | Massimo Strazzer | Phonak | Phonak |
| 10 | Robbie McEwen | Jens Heppner | Massimo Strazzer | Ruggero Marzoli | Massimo Strazzer | Kelme–Costa Blanca | Phonak |
| 11 | Gilberto Simoni | Jens Heppner | Massimo Strazzer | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Kelme–Costa Blanca | Alessio |
| 12 | Denis Lunghi | Jens Heppner | Massimo Strazzer | Joaquim Castelblanco | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Phonak |
| 13 | Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio | Jens Heppner | Massimo Strazzer | Francesco Casagrande | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| 14 | Tyler Hamilton | Jens Heppner | Massimo Strazzer | Francesco Casagrande | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| 15 | Mario Cipollini | Jens Heppner | Massimo Strazzer | Joaquim Castelblanco | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| 16 | Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio | Cadel Evans | Massimo Strazzer | Julio Alberto Pérez Cuapio | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| 17 | Pavel Tonkov | Paolo Savoldelli | Massimo Strazzer | Julio Alberto Pérez Cuapio | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| 18 | Mario Cipollini | Paolo Savoldelli | Mario Cipollini | Julio Alberto Pérez Cuapio | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| 19 | Aitor González | Paolo Savoldelli | Mario Cipollini | Julio Alberto Pérez Cuapio | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| 20 | Mario Cipollini | Paolo Savoldelli | Mario Cipollini | Julio Alberto Pérez Cuapio | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |
| Final | Final | Paolo Savoldelli | Mario Cipollini | Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Alessio |

## Final standings

Legend :
| Denotes the winner of the General classification | Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification |
| Denotes the winner of the Points classification | Denotes the winner of the Intergiro classification |

### General classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Paolo Savoldelli (ITA) | Index Alexia | 89h 22' 42" |
| 2 | Tyler Hamilton (USA) | CSC–Tiscali | + 1' 41" |
| 3 | Pietro Caucchioli (ITA) | Alessio | + 2' 12" |
| 4 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Lampre–Daikin | + 3' 14" |
| 5 | Pavel Tonkov (RUS) | Lampre–Daikin | + 5' 34" |
| 6 | Aitor González (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 6' 54" |
| 7 | Georg Totschnig (AUT) | Gerolsteiner | + 7' 02" |
| 8 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Team Coast | + 7' 07" |
| 9 | Rik Verbrugghe (BEL) | Lotto–Adecco | + 9' 36" |
| 10 | Dario Frigo (ITA) | Tacconi Sport-Emmegi | + 11' 50" |

### Points classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | Acqua & Sapone | 184 |
| 2 | Massimo Strazzer (ITA) | Phonak | 166 |
| 3 | Aitor González (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 106 |
| 4 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | Fassa Bortolo | 101 |
| 5 | Tyler Hamilton (USA) | CSC–Tiscali | 86 |
| 6 | Mykhaylo Khalilov (UKR) | Colombia–Selle Italia | 85 |
| 7 | Paolo Savoldelli (ITA) | Index Alexia | 80 |
| 8 | Cristian Moreni (ITA) | Alessio | 79 |
| 9 | Dario Frigo (ITA) | Tacconi Sport-Emmegi | 74 |
| 10 | Juan Manuel Gárate (ESP) | Lampre–Daikin | 70 |

### Mountains classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Julio Alberto Pérez (MEX) | Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo | 69 |
| 2 | José Castelblanco (COL) | Colombia–Selle Italia | 33 |
| 3 | Pavel Tonkov (RUS) | Lampre–Daikin | 25 |
| 4 | Daniele De Paoli (ITA) | Alessio | 22 |
| 5 | Sergio Barbero (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 20 |
| 6 | Dario Frigo (ITA) | Tacconi Sport-Emmegi | 20 |
| 7 | Pietro Caucchioli (ITA) | Alessio | 19 |
| 8 | Ruben Alverio Marin (COL) | Colombia–Selle Italia | 18 |
| 9 | Paolo Savoldelli (ITA) | Index Alexia | 18 |
| 10 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | Mapei–Quick-Step | 15 |

### Intergiro classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Massimo Strazzer (ITA) | Phonak | 55h 05' 46" |
| 2 | Serhiy Honchar (UKR) | Fassa Bortolo | + 4' 26" |
| 3 | Aitor González (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 4' 41" |
| 4 | Tyler Hamilton (USA) | CSC–Tiscali | + 4' 46" |
| 5 | Biagio Conte (ITA) | Saeco–Longoni Sport | + 4' 55" |
| 6 | Mykhaylo Khalilov (UKR) | Colombia–Selle Italia | + 5' 04" |
| 7 | Mariano Piccoli (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | + 5' 24" |
| 8 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | Fassa Bortolo | + 5' 26" |
| 9 | Paolo Savoldelli (ITA) | Index Alexia | + 5' 27" |
| 10 | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | Acqua & Sapone | + 5' 36" |

### Trofeo Fast Team classification

| | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessio | 267h 57' 29" |
| 2 | Lampre–Daikin | + 30' 10" |
| 3 | Rabobank | + 40' 12" |
| 4 | CSC–Tiscali | + 42' 03" |
| 5 | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 45' 55" |
| 6 | Tacconi Sport-Emmegi | + 57' 25" |
| 7 | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 58' 00" |
| 8 | Gerolsteiner | + 1h 16' 29" |
| 9 | Colombia–Selle Italia | + 1h 35' 57" |
| 10 | Fassa Bortolo | + 1h 47' 08" |

### Trofeo Super Team classification

| | Team | Points |
| 1 | Alessio | 360 |
| 2 | Phonak | 306 |
| 3 | Fassa Bortolo | 284 |
| 4 | Mapei–Quick-Step | 260 |
| 5 | Lampre–Daikin | 259 |
| 6 | Lotto–Adecco | 254 |
| 7 | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 253 |
| 8 | Gerolsteiner | 226 |
| 9 | Acqua & Sapone | 223 |
| 10 | Team Coast | 213 |

### Minor classifications

Other less well-known classifications, whose leaders did not receive a special jersey, were awarded during the Giro. Other awards included the Combativity classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. Italian Massimo Strazzer won the Most Combative classification. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was based on finishing order, but points were awarded only to the top three finishers in each stage. The Azzurri d'Italia classification was won by Mario Cipollini. The Trofeo Fuga Piaggio classification rewarded riders who took part in a breakaway at the head of the field, each rider in an escape of ten or fewer riders getting one point for each kilometre that the group stayed clear. The classification was won by Mariano Piccoli. Teams were given penalty points for minor technical infringements. Colombia–Selle Italia was the most successful in avoiding penalties after not being penalized during the race, and so won the Fair Play classification.