Vinokourov hopes for bad weather

Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)

Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Since Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo) and Cadel Evans (BMC) bravely battled elbow-to-elbow on the Monte Zoncolan on Sunday at the Giro d'Italia, the Italian media have been focusing on a duel between the two riders personally coached by the same man, Aldo Sassi. With the spotlight on how much time Basso (2:27) and Evans (3:09) have to recover to take the GC from current leader David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) has been almost forgotten.