Basso in the pink as Giro challengers crumble

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2005

ZOLDO ALTO, Italy (AFP) — CSC's Ivan Basso took a big step towards winning his first Giro d'Italia after an impressive first day in the mountains left most of his main challengers virtually out of the race here Thursday.

Basso, a third place finisher on last year's Tour de France, came second on the 150km stage behind fellow Italian Paolo Savoldelli after they had broken away from Gilberto Simoni on the day's last climb.

Savoldelli, of Lance Armstrong's Discovery Channel team, claimed his second stage victory on the Giro however Basso was the biggest winner after the tough 150km trek from Marostica, which took in four climbs before finishing on the summit here in the Italian Dolomites.

Basso took over the pink jersey after former race leader Danilo Di Luca,...