# 2001 Giro d'Italia

The 2001 Giro d'Italia was the 84th edition of the Giro. It began with a 7 km (4 mi) prologue that went from Montesilvano to Pescara. The race came to a close on June 10 with a mass-start stage that ended in the Italian city of Milan. Twenty teams entered the race that was won by the Italian Gilberto Simoni of the Lampre–Daikin team. Second and third were the Spanish riders Abraham Olano and Unai Osa.
In the race's other classifications, Selle Italia–Pacific rider Fredy González won the mountains classification, Massimo Strazzer of the Mobilvetta Design–Formaggi Trentini team won the intergiro classification and the points classification. Alessio 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 also won by Fassa Bortolo.

## Teams

A total of 20 teams were invited to participate in the 2001 Giro d'Italia. 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 136 riders made it to the finish in Milan.
The 20 teams that took part in the race were:
| Alessio Alexia Alluminio Bonjour Cantina Tollo Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo Fassa Bortolo iBanesto.com | Kelme–Costa Blanca Lampre–Daikin Liquigas Lotto–Adecco Mapei–Quick-Step Mercatone Uno–Stream TV Mobilvetta Design–Formaggi Trentini | ONCE–Eroski Saeco Selle Italia–Pacific Tacconi Sport–Vini Caldirola Team Colpack-Astro Team Telekom |

## Route and stages

The route for the 2001 Giro d'Italia was unveiled by race director Carmine Castellano and organizers RCS Sport on 11 November 2000 in Milan at the Verdi theatre. It contained two time trial events, both of which were individual. In the stages containing categorized climbs, four had summit finishes: stage 4, to Mercogliano; stage 13, to Passo Pordoi; and stage 18, to Santuario. The organizers chose to include one rest day. When compared to the previous year's race, the race was 320 km (199 mi) shorter, contained the same amount of rest days, and one less individual time trial. In addition, this race had an opening prologue like the year before. It was the longest Grand Tour of the season.
The race will only leave Italy once during its twenty-two racing days as it enters Slovenia where the day finishes in Ljubljana. The lone rest day came after sixteen racing days, on 5 June.
A Cycling News writer felt there were two very tough stages in the race, stages 13 and stage 18. In particular the writer felt the two passes of the Passo Pordoi and the climbs of Passo Rolle and Passo Fedaia made stage 13 particularly difficult. The eighteenth stage contained the Cima Coppi Colle Fauniera which was an 14.5 km (9 mi) climb with an average gradient of 9.5%. The previous year's winner Garzelli described the route to be a "hard Giro, but not the hardest." Pantani said it was an "uncertain Giro" and that the limited time trial distances and fewer climbing kilometers would help Jan Ullrich. Former winner Three-time winner Felice Gimondi agreed with Pantani regarding Ullrich and the route, stating that "it should make certain the presence of Ullrich." Cipollini commented that it's a "Giro with something for everyone."
Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| P | 19 May | Montesilvano to Pescara | 7 km (4 mi) | | Individual time trial | Rik Verbrugghe (BEL) |
| 1 | 20 May | Giulianova to Francavilla al Mare | 205 km (127 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Ellis Rastelli (ITA) |
| 2 | 21 May | Fossacesia to Lucera | 163 km (101 mi) | | Flat stage | Danilo Hondo (GER) |
| 3 | 22 May | Lucera to Potenza | 149 km (93 mi) | | Flat stage | Danilo Hondo (GER) |
| 4 | 23 May | Potenza to Mercogliano | 169 km (105 mi) | | Mountain stage | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) |
| 5 | 24 May | Avellino to Nettuno | 229 km (142 mi) | | Flat stage | Ivan Quaranta (ITA) |
| 6 | 25 May | Nettuno to Rieti | 152 km (94 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 7 | 26 May | Rieti to Montevarchi | 239 km (149 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Stefano Zanini (ITA) |
| 8 | 27 May | Montecatini Terme to Reggio Emilia | 185 km (115 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Pietro Caucchioli (ITA) |
| 9 | 28 May | Reggio Emilia to Rovigo | 140 km (87 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 10 | 29 May | Lido di Jesolo to Ljubljana (Slovenia) | 212 km (132 mi) | | Flat stage | Denis Zanette (ITA) |
| 11 | 30 May | Bled (Slovenia) to Gorizia | 187 km (116 mi) | | Flat stage | Pablo Lastras (ESP) |
| 12 | 31 May | Gradisca d'Isonzo to Montebelluna | 139 km (86 mi) | | Flat stage | Matteo Tosatto (ITA) |
| 13 | 1 June | Montebelluna to Passo Pordoi | 225 km (140 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Julio Alberto Pérez (MEX) |
| 14 | 2 June | Cavalese to Arco | 166 km (103 mi) | | Mountain stage | Carlos Alberto Contreras (COL) |
| 15 | 3 June | Sirmione to Salò | 55 km (34 mi) | | Individual time trial | Dario Frigo (ITA) |
| 16 | 4 June | Erbusco to Parma | 142 km (88 mi) | | Flat stage | Ivan Quaranta (ITA) |
| | 5 June | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 17 | 6 June | Sanremo to Sanremo | 123 km (76 mi) | | Medium mountain stage | Pietro Caucchioli (ITA) |
| 18 | 7 June | Imperia to Sant'Anna di Vinadio | 230 km (143 mi) | | Mountain stage | Stage Cancelled |
| 19 | 8 June | Alba to Busto Arsizio | 163 km (101 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 20 | 9 June | Busto Arsizio to Arona | 181 km (112 mi) | | Mountain stage | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) |
| 21 | 10 June | Arona to Milan | 125 km (78 mi) | | Flat stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| | Total | Total | 3,356 km (2,085 mi) | 3,356 km (2,085 mi) | 3,356 km (2,085 mi) | 3,356 km (2,085 mi) | 3,356 km (2,085 mi) |

## Classification Leadership

In the 2001 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 2001 was the Colle Fauniera, 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 | Rik Verbrugghe | Rik Verbrugghe | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | ONCE–Eroski | not awarded |
| 1 | Ellis Rastelli | Rik Verbrugghe | Ellis Rastelli | Domenico Gualdi | Unai Osa | Lampre–Daikin | ONCE–Eroski |
| 2 | Danilo Hondo | Rik Verbrugghe | Gabriele Colombo | Domenico Gualdi | Pietro Caucchioli | Lampre–Daikin | Cantina Tollo |
| 3 | Danilo Hondo | Rik Verbrugghe | Danilo Hondo | Domenico Gualdi | Mariano Piccoli | Lampre–Daikin | Lampre–Daikin |
| 4 | Danilo Di Luca | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Danilo Di Luca | Ivan Quaranta | ONCE–Eroski | Lampre–Daikin |
| 5 | Ivan Quaranta | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Danilo Di Luca | Massimo Strazzer | ONCE–Eroski | Lampre–Daikin |
| 6 | Mario Cipollini | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Danilo Di Luca | Massimo Strazzer | ONCE–Eroski | Lampre–Daikin |
| 7 | Stefano Zanini | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Danilo Di Luca | Massimo Strazzer | ONCE–Eroski | Lampre–Daikin |
| 8 | Pietro Caucchioli | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | ONCE–Eroski | Liquigas |
| 9 | Mario Cipollini | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | ONCE–Eroski | Lampre–Daikin |
| 10 | Denis Zanette | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | ONCE–Eroski | Tacconi Sport–Vini Caldirola |
| 11 | Pablo Lastras | Dario Frigo | Danilo Hondo | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | iBanesto.com | Tacconi Sport–Vini Caldirola |
| 12 | Matteo Tosatto | Dario Frigo | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | iBanesto.com | Tacconi Sport–Vini Caldirola |
| 13 | Julio Alberto Pérez | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | iBanesto.com | Fassa Bortolo |
| 14 | Carlos Contreras | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Selle Italia–Pacific | Fassa Bortolo |
| 15 | Dario Frigo | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Fassa Bortolo |
| 16 | Ivan Quaranta | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Fassa Bortolo |
| 17 | Pietro Caucchioli | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Fassa Bortolo |
| 18 | Stage Cancelled | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Fassa Bortolo |
| 19 | Mario Cipollini | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Fassa Bortolo |
| 20 | Gilberto Simoni | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Fassa Bortolo |
| 21 | Mario Cipollini | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | Massimo Strazzer | Alessio | Fassa Bortolo |
| Final | Final | Gilberto Simoni | Massimo Strazzer | Fredy González | 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 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 89h 02' 58" |
| 2 | Abraham Olano (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | + 7' 31" |
| 3 | Unai Osa (ESP) | iBanesto.com | + 8' 37" |
| 4 | Serhiy Honchar (UKR) | Liquigas | + 9' 25" |
| 5 | José Azevedo (POR) | ONCE–Eroski | + 9' 44" |
| 6 | Andrea Noè (ITA) | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 10' 50" |
| 7 | Ivan Gotti (ITA) | Alessio | + 10' 54" |
| 8 | Carlos Alberto Contreras (COL) | Selle Italia–Pacific | + 11' 44" |
| 9 | Pietro Caucchioli (ITA) | Alessio | + 13' 34" |
| 10 | Giuliano Figueras (ITA) | Selle Italia–Pacific | + 14' 08" |

### Points classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Massimo Strazzer (ITA) | Mobilvetta Design–Formaggi Trentini | 177 |
| 2 | Danilo Hondo (GER) | Team Telekom | 158 |
| 3 | Mario Cipollini (ITA) | Saeco | 136 |
| 4 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 129 |
| 5 | Ivan Quaranta (ITA) | Alexia Alluminio | 105 |
| 6 | Marco Zanotti (ITA) | Liquigas | 85 |
| 7 | Andrej Hauptman (SLO) | Tacconi Sport–Vini Caldirola | 78 |
| 8 | Unai Osa (ESP) | iBanesto.com | 75 |
| 9 | Abraham Olano (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | 73 |
| 10 | Giuliano Figueras (ITA) | Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo | 73 |

### Mountains classification

| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Fredy González (COL) | Selle Italia–Pacific | 73 |
| 2 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 42 |
| 3 | Fortunato Baliani (ITA) | Selle Italia–Pacific | 33 |
| 4 | Pietro Caucchioli (ITA) | Alessio | 32 |
| 5 | Julio Alberto Pérez (MEX) | Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo | 28 |
| 6 | Danilo Di Luca (ITA) | Cantina Tollo | 21 |
| 7 | Unai Osa (ESP) | iBanesto.com | 16 |
| 8 | Carlos Alberto Contreras (COL) | Selle Italia–Pacific | 14 |
| 9 | Hernán Buenahora (COL) | Selle Italia–Pacific | 14 |
| 10 | Marzio Bruseghin (ITA) | iBanesto.com | 10 |

### Intergiro classification

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Massimo Strazzer (ITA) | Mobilvetta Design–Formaggi Trentini | 51h 27' 14" |
| 2 | Stefano Zanini (ITA) | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 2' 49" |
| 3 | Moreno Di Biase (ITA) | Mobilvetta Design–Formaggi Trentini | s.t. |
| 4 | Abraham Olano (ESP) | ONCE–Eroski | + 3' 15" |
| 5 | Mariano Piccoli (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | + 3' 21" |
| 6 | Gilberto Simoni (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | + 3' 26" |
| 7 | Fortunato Baliani (ITA) | Selle Italia–Pacific | + 3' 31" |
| 8 | Ivan Quaranta (ITA) | Alexia Alluminio | + 3' 49" |
| 9 | Danilo Hondo (GER) | Team Telekom | s.t. |
| 10 | Pietro Caucchioli (ITA) | Alessio | + 3' 51" |

### Trofeo Fast Team classification

| | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessio | 267h 13' 45" |
| 2 | iBanesto.com | + 9' 51" |
| 3 | Selle Italia–Pacific | + 13' 42" |
| 4 | ONCE–Eroski | + 18' 25" |
| 5 | Lampre–Daikin | + 39' 26" |
| 6 | Fassa Bortolo | + 41' 03" |
| 7 | Mercatone Uno–Stream TV | + 46' 03" |
| 8 | Liquigas | + 57' 09" |
| 9 | Tacconi Sport–Vini Caldirola | + 59' 07" |
| 10 | Saeco | + 1h 19' 58" |

### Trofeo Super Team classification

| | Team | Points |
| 1 | Fassa Bortolo | 370 |
| 2 | Tacconi Sport–Vini Caldirola | 356 |
| 3 | Liquigas | 322 |
| 4 | Alessio | 313 |
| 5 | Team Telekom | 280 |
| 6 | Lampre–Daikin | 268 |
| 7 | Mobilvetta Design–Formaggi Trentini | 245 |
| 8 | Ceramiche Panaria–Fiordo | 234 |
| 9 | ONCE–Eroski | 233 |
| 10 | iBanesto.com | 231 |

### 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. Mario Cipollini won the Azzurri d'Italia classification. Paolo Savoldelli won the combination classification.

## Doping cases

During the Giro, test for EPO performed on Sergio Barbero in the 2001 Tour of Romandie came back positive. For this reason, Barbero did not start the twelfth stage, pending confirmation of his penalty.
Riccardo Forconi and Pascal Hervé tested positive for EPO, and were not allowed to start stage 17. After stage 17, the Italian police held a doping raid in the cyclists' hotels. Doping was found in Dario Frigo's room, and he was removed from the race, and banned for 6 months. Noan Lelarge tested positive for a banned steroid, and was consequently fired by his team Bonjour.