Scarponi to Wear Number 1 at Giro Start

Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) will be starting the 2012 Giro d'Italia wearing the number 1, identifying him as the winner of last year's edition. Scarponi will be awarded the winner's pink jersey in a ceremony on May 3rd in Denmark, two days before the start of the Giro.

In February of this year Alberto Contador was  handed a two year suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for the presence of clenbuterol in his urine sample during the 2010 Tour de France. The suspension meant that Contador lost race results for the 2010 Tour de France and also the 2011 Giro d'Italia. As a result  Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) became the winner of the 2011 Giro d'Italia with Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) moving into 2nd place and John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale) moving into 3rd (Andy Schleck became the 2010 Tour de France winner).

How Contador was even able to start the 2011 Giro d'Italia and the concerns the Giro had about his participation were covered here in these two stories last year:
The Giro and the Contador Problem
The Giro and the Contador Problem, Part II

It's nice that Scarponi will be recognized but it isn't quite the same as standing on top of the podium in Milano is it? And, because the race starts in Denmark this year that recognition will necessarily take place there. However, I would suggest this to Michele Acquarone: present the pink jersey in Herning, and take the Trofeo Senza Fine from Milano for one day to present it to Scarponi in Verona when the race returns to Italy.

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