2007 Giro d'Italia includes mountain TT to remember Pantani

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By Gregor Brown

The 2007 Giro d'Italia will have a mountain time trial to remember Marco Pantani's win in the 1999 race. That year, the Italian climber won the stage to Oropa ahead of Laurent Jalabert and Gilberto Simoni while wearing the leader's maglia rosa. According to Tuttosport, the stage will cover the 13km and 757m of climbing from Biella to Oropa.

A mountain time trial was planned for the 2006 Giro, going up to Madonna del Ghisallo but the organizers, RCS Sport, were forced to scratch the stage because it conflicted with the final day's stage to Milan. For the 2007 edition, RCS reportedly wanted to have a mountain time trial in Toscana, climbing the Passo della Futa, but due to logistical problems finding parking space at the finish it was cancelled in favour of a "normal" stage to Scarperia.

The Oropa time trial adds to the numerous kilometers of time trialing that are rumoured to be in the 2007 edition. The race is slated to start in Sardegna on May 12 with an opening prologue time trial being likely, and then there is talk of a team time trial in Sorrento and a final individual time trial along Lago di Garda, near Verona, on the eve of the final day (June 2).

The official 2007 Giro d'Italia presentation will be held on December 2 in Milan.