Passionate Still

Ricardo Riccò (Saunier-Duval) won Sunday’s 207km Stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia from Cefalù to Agrigento.

A talented climber who is also comfortable with the fastmen has been earmarked for victory ever since his days as a junior, winning the under-23 Italian championship and beating up on the pros at Settimana Bergamasca [taking the overall classification and two stage wins].

His transition into the professional ranks; however, was met with skepticism as several blood tests revealed his hematocrit levels exceeded the standard. It was only after further exhaustive tests by the UCI that confirmed a naturally elevated hematocrit level.

Once he gained entry into the professional ranks, Riccò wasted little time by claiming victories in the 2006 Settimana Coppi & Bartali and the Japan Cup.

In 2007, he confirmed his talents and signaled to the rabid tifosi that he was a valid candidate for Italy's biggest prize, the Giro d'Italia. Under the tutelage of former teammate Gilberto Simoni [Simoni actually liked helping Riccò, unlike his previous understudy in Damiano Cunego], Riccò finished last year’s Giro in 6th overall and 2nd in the best young rider classification [to Andy Schleck].

On Sunday's Stage 2, he again served notice as he bested countrymen, reigning Giro champion Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes), and perennial classics victor Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), to the line despite being caught up earlier in the crash that sent David Zabriskie stateside.

But perhaps the most lasting image of Stage 2 is this Roberto Bettini photo of Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) who donned the maglia rosa as a result of coming in 4th on the day.

The gesture was mostly nationalistic, being graced with wearing the coveted leader’s jersey in his home country’s main race, but it also speaks to Pellizotti's passion for the sport of cycling; a passion, which unfortunately [and rightly] has either been diminished or is totally absent from most cycling fans who have been asked in recent years to endure one too many a scandal.

MORE:
Velonews - 2008 Giro d'Italia: Pellizotti in pink after Ricco wins stage 2
Cyclingnews - Riccò strikes to win, Pellizotti pips Vande Velde in maglia rosa fight