09/05/2012

GIRO, 4th stage: positive performance by Liquigas-Cannondale in team time trial
Seventh place for the team in a really short stage classification: ten teams in twelve seconds



The predictions of the Giro d’Italia fourth stage’s eve were right. In the team time trial of Verona (32,2 kilometres) the final result presented a well balanced stage classification, with ten teams (from 3rd to 12th) in only twelve seconds. Liquigas-Cannondale took the seventh place (time 37’30”): 26” after winner team Garmin, 21” after Katusha (second), 4” after Astana (third), and 2” before RadioShack (eighth) and 8” before Lampre (twelveth).



«We can say to have ran a good team time trial – affirms Ivan Basso – both for the performance both for the results in respect of teams of other pretenders to the pink jersey. It wasn’t an easy route, and we knew this. It’s a new step: the “special” classification among the riders that fight for GC didn’t change. Only Rodriguez earned a lot seconds, but we’re speaking about short distances. This is not the moment to look to the GC, we have only to think and concentrate of next stages to built our race, stone by stone».



For team director Zanatta «the results didn’t reserve big surprises. We knew that many teams are the same level in this kind of race and happened so. Our performance was good, as we thought. We had to pass this exams without problems: let’s continue so».