Victory in Giro d’Italia 2006

Team CSC and Ivan Basso were able to celebrate an impressive triumph, when the team’s Italian superstar stepped onto the podium and claimed the overall victory in Giro d’Italia 2006 in Milan after a great race, where the team won four stages in total and Basso proved himself the strongest rider in the peloton.

”This is one of the happiest days of my life as a rider. The fact that I now stand at the top of the podium in Milan is the culmination of many months preparation, a tremendous team effort as well as a fantastic effort from everyone behind the team. I would like to say a big thanks to my team, for everything they’ve done for me in the Giro. I’ve learnt a lot during this race, and I’ve gained some valuable experience and a result, I’ve dreamt of since I started riding a bike. Now the Tour is just around the corner and I feel ready, even though I do need to spend some time with my family, before I start to consider our next big project,” said a happy Ivan Basso after his victory.

”We’ve won a great victory, which naturally is a mile stone in the history of the team and which everyone has a share in and deserves some credit for. Ivan has undoubtedly been the strongest rider in this race, and he’s shown a fantastic determination and ability to give his all. It means a lot to the cycling sport, when a new great rider enters the stage and wins one of the great races, and Ivan definitely has the class to win more great races at this level over the next few years,” said Bjarne Riis after the triumph in Italy.

Sunday’s final stage was won by Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) in a bunch sprint.