Ivan Basso Wins Giro d'Italia 2010

Riders got the PINK CARPET treatment

Ivan Basso was the best, no doubt. He wins this year's Giro d'Italia at Verona with a mediocre Individual Time Trial but with enough time ahead to win the race. He showed total strength on the climbs this last week and that is what put him on the pink jersey.

This is what Ivan Basso has to say about the Giro:

"I think this Giro win is the best one because I fought for the pink jersey right to the end," Basso said.

"I crashed on the stage to Montalcino and then there was the disaster of the stage to L'Aquila, when I lost time. I honestly thought I might not win. Arroyo was very strong and rides for a strong team. It caused us a lot of problems but we fought back with pride and did everything right to win."

The following statement is what makes me love Basso. He's such a down to earth person and a high class cyclist who respects his teammates.

"I have to thank my teammates yet again. Especially Nibali who finished with me on the podium. He'll win the Giro one day."

This is what Ivan Basso has to say about the Tour de France:

"I'll ride the Tour, but I don't know if I'll be fantastic. But I won't go just to make up the numbers," Basso said.

"Contador has dominated the Tour in recent years, but I've improved a lot. I've got to believe I can do a great Tour and that's my goal. I didn't ride a lot of races before the Giro because I wanted to peak for the Giro and the Tour. It's worked so far. Now I can only hope it will work at the Tour too."

FINAL CLASSIFICATION -After stage 21- VERONA ITT

1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 87:44:01
2 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:01:51
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:02:37
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:02:50
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:03:27
6 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:07:06
7 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:07:22
8 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:09:39
9 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:14:20
10 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-Doimo 0:14:51
11 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:17:10

See you next year, Giro d'Italia!