Paolo Savoldelli won the 88th Giro d'Italia, becoming the 19th rider to win the race twice after his 2002 title.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 88th Giro d'Italia
- Winner
- Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel)
- Prologue distance
- 1.15 km in Reggio Calabria
- Final stage distance
- 119 km (Albese con Cassano to Milan)
- Teams entered
- 22
- Previous Savoldelli Giro win
- 2002
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 88th Giro d'Italia began in Reggio Calabria with a short 1.15 km prologue. Twenty-two teams entered the race, with the general classification lead changing hands multiple times across the opening stages among Brett Lancaster, Paolo Bettini, and Ivan Basso before a clear leader emerged.
Italian rider Paolo Savoldelli of the Discovery Channel team secured the overall lead after the thirteenth stage and held it to the finish in Milan. Gilberto Simoni finished second and José Rujano third. Other classifications were claimed by Bettini (points), Rujano (mountains), Zanini (intergiro), Liquigas–Bianchi (Trofeo Fast Team), and Davitamon–Lotto (Trofeo Super Team).
Savoldelli became the nineteenth rider in Giro d'Italia history to win the race more than once, having previously won in 2002. Venezuelan José Rujano's podium finish and mountains classification title marked a notable result for South American cycling at a Grand Tour level.