After three weeks of racing, 56 seconds separated third-placed Cadel Evans (BMC) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) at the Giro d’Italia.  Reflecting on the outcome of the race, Scarponi believes he lost his chance of a podium placing due to shortened or cancelled mountain stages and a crash.

“I started from Naples with the aim of being on the podium,” the Italian told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I missed this target, despite being certain that I gave everything I had.”

“I raced at a high level of performance except for probably two moments. The podium was not so far away, that's why I am sad about the crash I got involved in the Marina di Ascea stage: I lost seconds that maybe could have allowed me to be on the podium,” said Scarponi who was given the overall Giro d’Italia win in 2011 after Alberto Contador had been stripped of his win due to doping offences at the 2010 Tour de France.

Scarponi is under no illusions about being able to challenge Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) for overall victory, but still fancies his podium prospects were ruined by the atrocious weather conditions.

Friday’s nineteenth stage, including the Gavia and the Stelvio, was eliminated from the race itinerary altogether, while several climbs were erased from Saturday’s penultimate stage. Thus the race lost some of its most demanding and infamous ascents which, according to Scarponi, was detrimental to his chances.

“Nibali's victory is largely deserved, while the battle against Uran and Evans has been intense,” said Scarponi. “Maybe, if the course of the two alpine stages had not been changed, I could have exploited my stamina to try to assault their podium places.”

Scarponi bested Evans by 16 seconds on Saturday’s steep finish atop the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, although Evans would later identify a problem with the gears on his bike as the reason why he slipped back.