# 2000 Giro d'Italia

The 2000 Giro d'Italia was the 83rd edition of the Giro. It began with a 4.6 km (3 mi) prologue that navigated through the Italian capital Rome. The race came to a close on June 4 with a mass-start stage that ended in the Italian city of Milan. Twenty teams entered the race that was won by the Italian Stefano Garzelli of the Mercatone Uno–Albacom team. Second and third were the Italian riders Francesco Casagrande and Gilberto Simoni.
In the race's other classifications, Vini Caldirola–Sidermec rider Francesco Casagrande won the mountains classification, Dimitri Konyshev of the Fassa Bortolo team won the points classification, and Française des Jeux rider Fabrizio Guidi won the intergiro classification. Mapei–Quick-Step finished as the winners of the Trofeo Fast Team classification, ranking each of the twenty 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 won by Fassa Bortolo.

## Teams

The race organizers RCS Sport invited twenty teams to participate in the race. Each team sent a squad of nine riders, so the Giro began with a peloton of 180 cyclists. Out of the 180 riders that started this edition of the Giro d'Italia, a total of 127 riders made it to the finish in Milan.
The teams that took part in the race were:
| Amica Chips–Tacconi Sport Banesto Cantina Tollo Ceramica Panaria–Gaerne Farm Frites Fassa Bortolo Kelme–Costa Blanca | Française des Jeux Lampre–Daikin Linda McCartney Racing Team Liquigas–Pata Mapei–Quick-Step Mercatone Uno–Albacom Mobilvetta Design–Rossin | Team Polti Aguardiente Néctar–Selle Italia Rabobank Saeco–Valli & Valli Vini Caldirola–Sidermec Vitalicio Seguros |

## Pre-race favorites

Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno–Albacom) – who was expelled the previous year for having high levels of hematocrit – announced his intentions to race the Giro a few weeks prior to the race despite only racing a few times during the year. Francesco Casagrande (Vini Caldirola–Sidermec) was seen as a favorite because of his victory at the 1999 Tour de Suisse; however, a doping suspension, marred the rest of his season. Paolo Savoldelli was found to be in good form following an overall victory at the Tour de Romandie.
Tim Maloney of CyclingNews stated that Team Polti's Ivan Gotti, who had won the previous year's race following Pantani's disqualification, desired to prove he is a legitimate contender. He added that the young rider Danilo Di Luca will be competing in his second Giro and he will aim for a stage victory.
Sprinter Mario Cipollini, a favorite to win the stages if they come to a bunch sprint, started the race after battling asthma in the preceding weeks. Ivan Quaranta (Mobilvetta Design–Rossin) was another rider that was seen as a contender for the sprint stages, along with reigning Italian road race champion Salvatore Commesso (Saeco–Valli & Valli).

## Route and stages

The race route was revealed by the organizers in Milan at the Teatro Lirico. This running of the Giro contained three individual time trial events, one of which was the prologue the race began with. There were a total of ten stages that contained categorized climbs; five of which contained climbs of higher categories, while the other five stages held only categorized climbs of lesser degree. The remaining nine stages were primarily flat stages.
Of the mountain stages, three ended with summit finishes: stage 5 to Peschici, stage 9 to Abetone, and stage 18 to Prato Nevoso. One other stage had a summit arrival, the demanding stage 20 climbing time trial up the Sestriere.
The race began in Rome to celebrate the Great Jubilee, with the opening prologue passing historic sites such as the Colosseum and Imperial Forum. The race then headed down the coast to Scalea through the first week, before turning east to Matera, then heading north through Apulia, travelling along a length of the Adriatic coast.
CyclingNews writer Tim Maloney felt that the first difficult stage to be raced would be the eighth stage, which featured three major categorized climbs across 255 km (158 mi) of racing.
List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| P | 13 May | Rome | 4.6 km (3 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jan Hruška (CZE) |
| 1 | 14 May | Rome to Terracina | 125 km (78 mi) | | Flat stage | Ivan Quaranta (ITA) |
| 2 | 15 May | Terracina to Maddaloni | 225 km (140 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Cristian Moreni (ITA) |
| 3 | 16 May | Paestum to Scalea | 177 km (110 mi) | | Flat stage | Ján Svorada (CZE) |
| 4 | 17 May | Scalea to Matera | 233 km (145 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 5 | 18 May | Matera to Peschici | 232 km (144 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) |
| 6 | 19 May | Peschici to Vasto | 160 km (99 mi) | | Flat stage | Dimitri Konyshev (RUS) |
| 7 | 20 May | Vasto to Teramo | 182 km (113 mi) | | Flat stage | David McKenzie (AUS) |
| 8 | 21 May | Corinaldo to Prato | 265 km (165 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Axel Merckx (BEL) |
| 9 | 22 May | Prato to Abetone | 138 km (86 mi) | | Mountain stage | Francesco Casagrande |
| 10 | 23 May | San Marcello Pistoiese to Padua | 253 km (157 mi) | | Flat stage | Ivan Quaranta (ITA) |
| 11 | 24 May | Lignano Sabbiadoro to Bibione | 45 km (28 mi) | | Individual time trial | Víctor Hugo Peña (COL) |
| | 25 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 12 | 26 May | Bibione to Feltre | 184 km (114 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Enrico Cassani (ITA) |
| 13 | 27 May | Feltre to Sëlva | 186 km (116 mi) | | Mountain stage | José Luis Rubiera (ESP) |
| 14 | 28 May | Sëlva to Bormio | 203 km (126 mi) | | Mountain stage | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) |
| 15 | 29 May | Bormio to Brescia | 180 km (112 mi) | | Flat stage | Biagio Conte (ITA) |
| 16 | 30 May | Brescia to Meda | 102 km (63 mi) | | Flat stage | Fabrizio Guidi (ITA) |
| 17 | 31 May | Meda to Genoa | 236 km (147 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Álvaro González de Galdeano (ESP) |
| 18 | 1 June | Genoa to Prato Nevoso | 173 km (107 mi) | | Mountain stage | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) |
| 19 | 2 June | Saluzzo to Briançon (France) | 176 km (109 mi) | | Mountain stage | Paolo Lanfranchi (ITA) |
| 20 | 3 June | Briançon (France) to Sestriere | 32 km (20 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jan Hruška (CZE) |
| 21 | 4 June | Turin to Milan | 189 km (117 mi) | | Flat stage | Mariano Piccoli (ITA) |
| | Total | Total | 3,676 km (2,284 mi) | 3,676 km (2,284 mi) | 3,676 km (2,284 mi) | 3,676 km (2,284 mi) | 3,676 km (2,284 mi) |

## Classification Leadership

In the 2000 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 2000 was Colle dell'Agnello, 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 | Jan Hruška | Jan Hruška | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded |
| 1 | Ivan Quaranta | Mario Cipollini | Ivan Quaranta | Alessandro Petacchi | Mario Cipollini | Française des Jeux | Team Polti |
| 2 | Cristian Moreni | Cristian Moreni | Cristian Moreni | Karsten Kroon | Matteo Tosatto | Liquigas-Pata | Team Polti |
| 3 | Ján Svorada | Cristian Moreni | Matteo Tosatto | Karsten Kroon | Matteo Tosatto | Liquigas-Pata | Team Polti |
| 4 | Mario Cipollini | Cristian Moreni | Mario Cipollini | Karsten Kroon | Matteo Tosatto | Liquigas-Pata | Team Polti |
| 5 | Danilo Di Luca | Matteo Tosatto | Matteo Tosatto | Karsten Kroon | Matteo Tosatto | Liquigas-Pata | Fassa Bortolo |
| 6 | Dmitri Konyshev | Matteo Tosatto | Matteo Tosatto | Karsten Kroon | Matteo Tosatto | Liquigas-Pata | Fassa Bortolo |
| 7 | David McKenzie | Matteo Tosatto | Dmitri Konyshev | Karsten Kroon | Matteo Tosatto | Liquigas-Pata | Fassa Bortolo |
| 8 | Axel Merckx | José Enrique Gutiérrez | Dmitri Konyshev | Karsten Kroon | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Team Polti |
| 9 | Francesco Casagrande | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | Karsten Kroon | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 10 | Ivan Quaranta | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | Karsten Kroon | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 11 | Víctor Hugo Peña | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | Karsten Kroon | Fabrizio Guidi | Vini Caldirola–Sidermec | Fassa Bortolo |
| 12 | Enrico Cassani | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | Karsten Kroon | Fabrizio Guidi | Vini Caldirola–Sidermec | Fassa Bortolo |
| 13 | José Luis Rubiera | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | Francesco Casagrande | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 14 | Gilberto Simoni | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | José Jaime González | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 15 | Biagio Conte | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | José Jaime González | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 16 | Fabrizio Guidi | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | José Jaime González | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 17 | Álvaro González de Galdeano | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | José Jaime González | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 18 | Stefano Garzelli | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | Francesco Casagrande | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 19 | Paolo Lanfranchi | Francesco Casagrande | Dmitri Konyshev | José Jaime González | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 20 | Jan Hruška | Stefano Garzelli | Dmitri Konyshev | Francesco Casagrande | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| 21 | Mariano Piccoli | Stefano Garzelli | Dmitri Konyshev | Francesco Casagrande | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |
| Final | Final | Stefano Garzelli | Dmitri Konyshev | Francesco Casagrande | Fabrizio Guidi | Mapei - Quick Step | Fassa Bortolo |

## 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 | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Albacom | 98h 30' 14" |
| 2 | Francesco Casagrande (ITA) | Vini Caldirola–Sidermec | + 1' 27" |
| 3 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | + 1' 33" |
| 4 | Andrea Noè (ITA) | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 4' 58" |
| 5 | Pavel Tonkov (RUS) | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 5' 28" |
| 6 | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | Aguardiente Néctar–Selle Italia | + 5' 48" |
| 7 | Wladimir Belli (ITA) | Fassa Bortolo | + 7' 38" |
| 8 | José Luis Rubiera (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 8' 08" |
| 9 | Serhiy Honchar (UKR) | Liquigas-Pata | + 8' 14" |
| 10 | Leonardo Piepoli (ITA) | Banesto | + 8' 32" |

### Points classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Dimitri Konyshev (RUS) | Fassa Bortolo | 159 |
| 2 | Fabrizio Guidi (ITA) | Française des Jeux | 119 |
| 3 | Ján Svorada (CZE) | Lampre–Daikin | 116 |
| 4 | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Albacom | 114 |
| 5 | Francesco Casagrande (ITA) | Vini Caldirola–Sidermec | 106 |
| 6 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 106 |
| 7 | Silvio Martinello (ITA) | Team Polti | 86 |
| 8 | Miguel Ángel Martín Perdiguero (ESP) | Vitalicio Seguros | 73 |
| 9 | Paolo Lanfranchi (ITA) | Mapei–Quick-Step | 70 |
| 10 | Wladimir Belli (ITA) | Fassa Bortolo | 67 |

### Mountains classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Francesco Casagrande (ITA) | Vini Caldirola–Sidermec | 71 |
| 2 | Chepe González (COL) | Aguardiente Néctar–Selle Italia | 71 |
| 3 | Stefano Garzelli (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Albacom | 47 |
| 4 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 42 |
| 5 | Karsten Kroon (NED) | Rabobank | 31 |
| 6 | Félix Cárdenas (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 21 |
| 7 | José Enrique Gutiérrez (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 21 |
| 8 | Paolo Lanfranchi (ITA) | Mapei–Quick-Step | 16 |
| 9 | Dario Frigo (ITA) | Fassa Bortolo | 15 |
| 10 | José Javier Gomez Gozalo (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 13 |

### Intergiro classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Fabrizio Guidi (ITA) | Française des Jeux | 62h 50' 05" |
| 2 | Dimitri Konyshev (RUS) | Fassa Bortolo | + 57" |
| 3 | Diego Ferrari (ITA) | Amica Chips-Tacconi Sport | + 1' 38" |
| 4 | Jan Hruska (CZE) | Vitalicio Seguros | + 2' 01" |
| 5 | Daniele Contrini (ITA) | Liquigas-Pata | + 2' 03" |
| 6 | Ján Svorada (CZE) | Lampre–Daikin | + 2' 27" |
| 7 | Karsten Kroon (NED) | Rabobank | + 2' 52" |
| 8 | Serhiy Honchar (UKR) | Liquigas-Pata | + 2' 56" |
| 9 | Miguel Ángel Martín Perdiguero (ESP) | Vitalicio Seguros | + 2' 58" |
| 10 | Víctor Hugo Peña (COL) | Vitalicio Seguros | + 3' 07" |

### Trofeo Fast Team classification

| | Team | Time |
| 1 | Mapei–Quick-Step | 295h 29' 39" |
| 2 | Vitalicio Seguros | + 31' 03" |
| 3 | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 31' 23" |
| 4 | Fassa Bortolo | + 38' 25" |
| 5 | Banesto | + 41' 36" |
| 6 | Mercatone Uno–Albacom | + 1h 16' 02" |
| 7 | Aguardiente Néctar–Selle Italia | + 1h 40' 11" |
| 8 | Lampre–Daikin | + 1h 40' 13" |
| 9 | Liquigas-Pata | + 1h 45' 10" |
| 10 | Team Polti | + 1h 49' 55" |

### Trofeo Super Team classification

| | Team | Points |
| 1 | Fassa Bortolo | 456 |
| 2 | Mapei–Quick-Step | 375 |
| 3 | Lampre–Daikin | 336 |
| 4 | Team Polti | 312 |
| 5 | Vitalicio Seguros | 309 |
| 6 | Cantina Tollo | 250 |
| 7 | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 250 |
| 8 | Liquigas-Pata | 248 |
| 9 | Mercatone Uno–Albacom | 220 |
| 10 | Saeco–Valli & Valli | 220 |

### Minor classifications

Other less well-known classifications, whose leaders did not receive a special jersey, were awarded during the Giro. Other awards included the Bilboa most combative trophy classification, which was a compilation of points gained for position on crossing intermediate sprints, mountain passes and stage finishes. Russian Dmitri Konyshev won the most combative classification. The Top Runner Trophy Liquigas classification was won by Francesco Casagrande.