Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) had a mission in the 2011 Tour de France: wear the polka dot jersey. After a number of relatively flat stages, Hoogerland managed to take the KOM Jersey in the 6th stage. In the 8th stage he lost the jersey to Tejay van Garderen (HTC). 2/9
Hoogerland was not done with the polka dots tho. The following day he went into the breakaway to gather points. Despite Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) sprinting for KOM points Hoogerland managed to score enough points to retake the KOM jersey. 3/9
There was however more on the horizon for the breakaway, with 40km to go they still had more than 5min on the peloton. Just as the riders started to think about their tactics, a car of the French TV carrying guests tried to pass the breakaway on a narrow road. 4/9
The car needed to avoid a tree on the side of the road and swerved into the breakaway. Hoogerland, going 60kph, was catapulted into a fence with barbed wire alongside the road. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) also hit the deck badly. 5/9
The tour waits for nobody, so whilst Hoogerland and Flecha were being helped by medical staff Voeckler went towards the finish with Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) & Sandy Casar (FDJ). Sanchez took the stage win in a sprint, whilst Voeckler collected the yellow jersey. 6/9
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) and was looking to defend his giro title in 1999. 2/18
Pantani got off to a good start in the 1999 Giro. In the first proper mountain stage to Gran Sasso he flew away from the opposition. The Mercatone Uno rider was merciful. He won the stage by 23 seconds, just enough to take the pink jersey from Laurent Jalabert (ONCE). 3/18
Explaining the cycling iceberg: How Coppi's affair with the women in white divided Italy and caused him to lose Il Lombardia 1/16
Fausto Coppi's stormed into the cycling world in 1940, when he won the Giro at just 20 years of age. The second world war then put a halt to his career. Coppi was forced to serve in the army and got sent to Tunisia where he was taken as prisoner of war. 2/16
He was kept in a British POW camp for a few months before returning to Italy in 1944. Quickly after arriving Coppi, who was in a terrible physical state, married his first love Bruna Ciampolini. Ciampolini, like most Italians at the time, was strictly catholic. 3/16
Explaining the cycling iceberg: How Denis Menchov won the 2009 Giro whilst crashing in the final TT 1/17
The 2009 Giro d'Italia started without a clear favorite for the GC win. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) for once didnt have to work for Contador/Armstrong and could hunt for his first GT win after ending second in the 2008 Vuelta 2/17
Ivan Basso (Liquigas), Girowinner 2006, had just returned from a suspension for his involvement in Operación Puerto, whilst Denis Menchov (Rabobank) hadn't shown much after his third place in the 2008 tour. 3/17