Ricco refuses to concede defeat in Giro d'Italia

Italian Riccardo Ricco refused to concede defeat in the Giro d'Italia yesterday before the final time-trial stage on Sunday.

Ricco, 41 seconds behind Spain's Alberto Contador in the overall standings after 16 of the 21 stages, said he was convinced he could gain time on the 2007 Tour de France winner in the two remaining mountain stages on Friday and Saturday.

"I still believe I can win this Giro d'Italia. I believe it with all my heart but also with my head," the 24-year-old Saunier Duval rider said during the second rest day in Sondrio.

"I'm 41 seconds behind Contador but there are still lots of opportunities to pull back time," he told reporters.

"There's the climb of the Mortirolo during stage 20 and especially the mountain top finish at Monte Pora on stage 19. I'm going to give it everything on those last two mountain stages and then we'll see how things stand."

Ricco lost one minute and 56 seconds to Contador in the stage 10 individual time trial from Pesaro to Urbino but has pulled back precious seconds in the mountain stages.

He believes he can win the Giro if he starts the final stage 28.5-km time trial to Milan as race leader.

"If I start the final time trial wearing the pink jersey, Contador would have to ride the time trial of his life to take it off me. I'll be giving it one thousand per cent," he said.

The race resumes with the 146-km 17th stage from Sondrio to Locarno in Switzerland today.