It was High Road’s second 1-2 in the Giro after
sprinters Andre Greipel and Mark Cavendish finished first and second in Locarno on stage 17.
Pinotti set a time of 32:45 for the flat and fast 28.5km course from Cesano
Maderno to the centre of Milan. Martin was seven just seconds slower.
"Last year was super because of the pink jersey but
winning a stage is just as nice," Pinotti said.
"I’d hoped to do well overall this year but I lost a lot of time in the
Dolomites. After that I started to focus on the final time trial. I saved every drop of energy I could and not thinking about
the overall classification meant I was a lot stronger."
"It was great to come into Milan alone and hear the roar of the crowds. In
the past I’ve been in the bunch but this time all the cheers were for me. I knew I’d done a good time but I had
to wait nervously until all the other riders finished before starting to celebrate."
Marco Pinotti (High Road) and Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre)
look like two kids who have seen a dream take shape minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day. "I’m more excited
today than last year, when I was wearing the pink jersey," concluded Pinotti on Sunday after the final stage of the 91st Giro d'Italia.
Marzio Bruseghin third place overall at the 2008 Giro d'Italia is a type of
oxymoron for the rider who sacrificed years of his career to assist his captains. "Not even my mother would have bet on it,"
Marzio jokes. "Looking at the stage from up there was something else, also because I got wine to drink instead of getting
it dripped on me. It was a wonderful Giro, without pressure, enjoyed day by day. I’m almost sorry that it’s over...
For once, I really gave it my all, getting a great result. Now I’m ready to return to being one of the team. Maybe for
Damiano [Cunego, editor] in the Tour de France."
Slipstream's Christian Vande Velde wrote on the team Slipstream website, slipstreamsports.com: "We
are all very pleased to be finished and to be partially intact. Today [Sunday, editor] went well for the team. Danny completely
blew his cover as pack fodder by finishing in 6th place. It confirms what we all knew before, that he can haul ass. But I
guess most ex-world champions can. So we are in Milan. Still in the bubble, oblivious to what happened over the last 3.5 weeks
outside of the Giro." Vande Velde continued: "Ready for a stiff drink and some rest. We depart tomorrow [last Monday, editor]
for St. Moritz where the treats will be abundant and the oxygen will be lacking. But we’ll also be doing a whole lot
of nothing."
