dario frigo took the lead in the 2001 giro d'italia after the race's fourth stage. frigo defended the lead until the thirteenth stage, when the race went over some major passes in the dolomites. during the thirteenth stage, gilberto simoni attacked and his labor bore fruits as he took the race leader's "maglia rosa" when the stage was over. frigo gained some time back in the stage fifteen time trial, but it wasn't enough to overcome simoni's lead. simoni went on to win the giro d'italia by a wide margin after frigo's withdrawal. stefano garzelli took the early lead after winning the 2002 giro d'italia's second stage, but soon tested positive for probenecid – a banned substance – and was forced to leave the giro. in the final major mountain stage of the race, stage seventeen, paolo savoldelli attacked with around nine kilometers to go in the stage and managed to take the lead and go on to win the giro.