Casagrande out of the Giro
Francesco Casagrande has been disqualified by the Giro d'Italia jury because he caused "on purpose" Fredy Garcia's fall in today's sprint to the GPM of Castelnuovo, at the 17th kms of today's stage 15. The colombian rider had to be taken to the hospital for a head trauma and needed 30 stiches to close face woundes.

In the effort of making points in today's only climb of the stage, Casagrande, leader of the green jersey for the climbers ranking and 4th in the overall standing, pushed Fredy Garcia (Colombia-Selle Italia Team and last winner of the climbers ranking) against the barriers causing the heavy fall.

Fredy Garcia suffered head trauma with several wounds all over his face. He fell unconscious for a few seconds before receiving assistance of official Giro's doctor, Giovanni Tredici.

Gazzetta dello Sport web site, gazzetta.it, reports that right after the fact, even Casagrande's Fassa Bortolo teammates criticised the uncorrect behaviour of their leader in such circumstances.

"The commission of race judges has decided to disqualify Francesco Casagrande after he did not respect the rules in a serious way towards rider number 47, John Freddy Garcia of Team Colombia," chief race judge Martijn Swinkels said.

Since finishing second (behind Garzelli) of the 2000 Giro, Casagrande hasn't managed to make it to the finish line in Milan. Last year, the Fassa Bortolo leader had pulled out of the race after suffering a shoulder injury in stage 2.

Casagrande had become the big favourite of this year's edition after both Stefano Garzelli (Mapei) and Gilberto Simoni(Saeco) had been ruled out of the race following doping problems