May 11, 2006

Keeping Gibo Protected

www.bicirace.com

Stage 2, Mons - Charleroi/Marcinelle, 197K

Today's Giro d'Italia stage 2, won by Robbie McEwen, may have looked like a day off for Olson and the other yellow-clad Saunier Duval-Prodir boys, but far from it. Jamming across the gritty Belgian roads, dodging road furniture, and arriving in one piece takes huge amounts of work. Aaron Olson is called into action specifically to keep Gilberto Simoni protected: he delivered Gibo home safe and clean.

BiciRace.com caught up with Matteo Algeri, one of the team's Directors Sportif, after the stage finish in Charleroi. "Olson rode a good stage, trying to pull the team at the front of the field," said Matteo. "He has started in this Giro in the best way."

And Pinotti? How is our BiciRace.com Inside Scoop writer? "Pino, as always, is doing well... He's riding shoulder-to-shoulder with Simoni and Lobato, just in case he is needed to help the captain."

These "easy" flat stages are anything but easy. Olson and the yellow crew are working hard, under tons of stress, to keep Gibo at the head of the pack. But hey, it looks pretty cool to turn on the television and see the Saunier Duval-Prodir squadra tightly packed around their captain at the front of the gruppo.

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