Reigning Olympic champion Paolo Bettini Quick Step) put an end to a streak of frustrating finishes this season with a decisive win at the end of Monday’s 190km 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia.

Overall race leader, CSC's Ivan Basso, enjoyed what could be described as this Giro's easiest, a completely flat ride from Mergozza to Brescia in the Lombardy region in Northern Italy.

Bettini, 32, ended a string of frustrating near-wins, by grabbing the victory from this Giro's other bridesmaid, Pollack, who has also come frustratingly close to victory in most of this Giro's sprint finishes. Bettini's moment of joy, however, may not last long as the race enters the Dolomites on Tuesday.

Basso may have Savoldelli on his wheel in coming days, too.

Photo: Graham Watson

Bettini, who has finished second twice in the four sprint stages already in this edition, narrowly earned his much-awaited success as he edged Pollack by the width of a tire.
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"There is not much difference between winning and losing," said Bettini. "I didn't raise my arms before the line because I recently had a bad exeprience where I lost because I did that. However I knew on the line that I had won here. "This is a huge relief because I have not won since falling in the Tirreno-Adriatico (early March) despite trying several different tactics,” Bettini added. “Apart from Robbie McEwen I think I have the measure of the other sprinters, I even beat Alessandro Petacchi in one of the last stages of the Vuelta (a España) last year."

Gerolsteiner’s Robert Förster finished third on the day, with Davitamon-Lotto lead-out man Henk Vogels taking fourth. Vogels is now free to contest sprints himself with the absence of three-stage winner Robbie McEwen.

Bettini said the win and his past performances should begin to clear up his reputation as a rider who does well only in the classics.

"I don't just have a collection of classics victories, I also have photos of me doing well and beating the best of the sprinters, like Petacchi and others,” Bettini said.

Bettini and other said no matter what, his attention is now turned toward the dreaded stages in the Dolomites, which start on Tuesday.

"Right now that’s about all I have on my mind,” said the man leading the contest for the Giro’s points jersey. “I am thinking of the mountain stages and I hear that they are predicting bad weather for Wednesday which will be good news because that may shorten the stage."

The daily catch
Monday’s stage had been livened up by a quartet of riders, Frenchman Christophe Edaleine (Credit Agricole), Gustav Larsson (Francaise des Jeux) of Sweden, Italy's Gabriele Missaglia (Colombia - Selle Italia)and Spaniard Ivan Mayoz (Euskaltel-Euskadi), slipping off the front at the 25th kilometer.

Never more than 4:50 up on the field, this one was doomed to failure.

Photo: Graham Watson

The four, however, were never allowed a huge lead as the Quick Step, Milram and T-Mobile teams led the peloton in pursuit and eventually reeled the escapees with nine kilometers remaining in the stage.

Tuesday's stage sees the surviving riders climb the 1650 metres to the summit of Monte Bondone, where the late Luxembourg cycling legend Charly Gaul triumphed in 1956 despite battling a blizzard, a feat regarded as one of the greatest in the sport's history.

Basso said that he didn't have a most feared stage, but simply sees the coming days as a succession of tough mountain stages.

"It is that that makes the race so hard,” said Basso. “I will just continue to do as I have done already and stay calm. I am expecting to be attacked every day till the finish."

Super Domestique: Since Ullrich is using the Giro for training, he's getting some new duties for this race

Photo: Graham Watson

The Big 6
With 15 of 21 stages in the books, here’s a look at how the top six contenders rank in the General Classification in the chase for this year’s overall Giro d’Italia title. Last year Paolo Savoldelli topped Gilberto Simoni by just 28 seconds in the final overall standings.

1. Ivan Basso (CSC), 59:44:07
2. Jose Gutierrez (Phonak), at 3:27
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery), at 5:30
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre), at 8:58
5. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval), at 8:00
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi), at 10:36

The North Americans
With 15 of 21 stages in the books, here’s a look at the overall rankings for the North Americans racing in this year’s Giro d’Italia.

8. Tom Danielson (USA), Discovery, at 8:35
66. Julio Perez (MEX), Ceramica Panaria, at 51:33
103. Patrick McCarty (USA), Phonak, at 1:18:38
122. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, at 1:31:28
145. Peter Mazur* (Pol), Saunier Duval, at 1:51:46
164. Aaron Olsen (USA), Saunier Duval, at 2:06:53
166. Jason McCartney (USA), Discovery Channel, at 2:07:54

* Mazur is a Canadian racing with a Polish license.

Results- Stage 15
1. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, 4:15:42
2. Olaf Pollack (G) T-Mobile
3. Robert Forster (G) Gerolsteiner
4. Henk Vogels (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
5. Maximiliano Axel Richeze(ARG) Ceramica Panaria
6. Fabrizio Guidi (I) Phonak
7. Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis
8. Alberto Loddo (I) Colombia - Selle Italia,
9. Carlos Da Cruz (F) Francaise des Jeux
10. Gorazd Stangelj (SLO) Lampre, all s.t.

Overall, after 15 stages1. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 59:44:07
2. José E.Gutierrez Cataluna (Sp), Phonak, at 3:27
3. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, at 5:30
4. Wladimir Belli (I), Colombia - Selle Italia, at 7:35
5. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saunier Duval, at 8:00
6. Sandy Casar (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 8:01
7. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 8:14
8. Tom Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel, at 8:35
9. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, at 8:58
10. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 10:36

Overall Points
1. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Innergetic, 115 Pts.
2. Olaf Pollack (G), T-Mobile, 88 Pts.
3. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, 79 Pts.
4. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 78 Pts.
5. Gutierrez Cataluna José E. (Sp), Phonak, 76 Pts.
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