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Stage list with running GC

8 May, Saturday: Stage 1, Amsterdam 8.4 Km individual time trial. Nearly pan-flat course.

Photos from stage 1

Results: GC, stage times and places are the same.

1. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) 10min 18sec. 48.932 km/hr
2. Brent Bookwalter (BMC) @ 2sec
3. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 5sec
5. Greg Henderson (Sky) s.t.
6. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
7. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 6sec
8. Gustav Larsson (Saxo) @ 7sec
9. Jos Van Amden (Rabobank) @ 9sec
10. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 9sec
11. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 10sec
12. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 11sec
13. Marcel Sieberg (HTC-Columbia) @ 12sec
14. Andriy Grivko (Astana) @ 13sec
15. Dario David Cioni (Sky) s.t.
16. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 14sec
17. Svein Tuft (Garmin-Transitions) @ 15sec
18. Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervelo) s.t.
19. Michael Morkov (Saxo) s.t.
20. Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) @ 16sec
21. Matthias Brandle (Footon-Servetto) s.t.
22. Rick Flens (Rabobank) @ 17sec
23. Marcel Wyss (Cervelo) s.t.
24. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) s.t.
25. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) @ 18sec
26. Alexsandr Dyachenko (Astana) @ 19sec
27. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) @ 20sec
28. John Murphy (BMC) s.t.
29. Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
30. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

37. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 23sec

42. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 25sec

45. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) @ 26sec

156. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 56sec

Points:

1. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) 25 points
2. Brent Bookwalter (BMC) 20
3. Cadel Evans (BMC) 16

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 10min 23sec
2. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) @ 4sec
3. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 6sec

Team GC:

1. Sky: 31min 12sec
2. BMC @ 6sec
3. Saxo @ 9sec

Stage 1 route map

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9 May, Sunday, Stage 2: Amsterdam - Utrecht, 209 Km. flat

The race: Between a nervous peloton racing the first day of the year's first Grand Tour, and the road furniture that makes racing in Holland a bit dicey, a lot of crashes marred the race. The one that may have had the largest consequences was one that came with about 7km to go. Bradley Wiggins and Carlos Sastre were caught behind it while Alexandre Vinokourov and Cadel Evans avoided the mess. The result? Evans is in pink and Vino is in third at 3 seconds. Wiggins is a half-minute down and Sastre has given up almost an entire minute in the first 2 stages. Given Evans' superb form, spotting him that much time this early matters. A lot. There are still 3 weeks to go, but it's hard to win a Grand Tour by starting out bleeding time to an experienced, determined opponent. And Wiggins has to get by Vino as well. The Kazakh is fit and hungry and will fight like a wildcat to win this race. To save his team for later, Evans will probably let a sprinter's team have the lead, but he won't be letting Wiggins have any gifts.

This Giro is already really interesting.

Photos from stage 2

Results:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions), 4hr 56min 46sec. 42.457 km/hr
2. Matthew Goss (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
3. Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas) s.t.
4. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
5. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) s.t.
6. Christopher Sutton (Sky) s.t.
7. Robbie McEwen (Katusha) s.t.
8. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.
9. Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
10. Sacha Modolo (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
11. Anthony Ravard (Ag2r) s.t.
12. Michele Merlo (Footon-Servetto) s.t.
13. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.
14. Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) s.t.
15. Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 3sec
16. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
17. Danilo Wyss (BMC) s.t.
18. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
19. Baden Cooke (Saxo) s.t.
20. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2r) s.t.
21. Markus Fothen (Milram) s.t.
22. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
23. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) s.t.
24. Pablo Lastras (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
25. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
26. Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) s.t.
27. Muaricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) s.t.
28. Marco Velo (Quick Step) s.t.
29. Adam Blyth (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
30. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
31. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.

42. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.

79. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 37sec

115. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC) 5hr 7min 9sec
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Tranistions) @ 1sec
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 3sec
4. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
5. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 4sec
6. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) @ 7sec
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 8sec
8. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 9sec
9. Marcel Sieberg (HTC-Columbia) @ 10sec
10. Mathew Goss (HTC-Columbia) @ 13sec
11. Michael Morkov (Saxo) s.t.
12. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
13. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 15sec
14. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 18sec
15. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 19sec
16. Micele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
17. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 20sec
18. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
19. Baden Cooke (Saxo) @ 21sec
20. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
21. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) @ 22sec
22. Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia) @ 24sec
23. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
24. Michiel Elijzen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
25. Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Liquigas) @ 25sec
26. Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas) @ 26sec
27. Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step) @ 26sec
28. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 27sec
29. Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 28sec
30. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) s.t.

37. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 32sec

74. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 57sec

Points Competition:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 25 points
2. Bradly Wiggins (Sky): 25
3. Mathew Goss (HTC-Columbia): 20

Climbers' Competition:

1. Paul Voss (Milram): 4 points
2. Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF): 4
3. Rick Flens (Rabobank): 4

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 5hr 7min 12sec
2. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) @ 4sec
3. Toms Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 6sec

Team GC:

1. Saxo: 15hr 21min 48sec
2. HTC Columbia @ 6sec
3. Astana @ 7sec

 

Stage 2 route map

Stage 2 profile

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10 May, Monday: Stage 3: Amsterdam - Middelburg, 224 Km. Flat

Photos from stage 3

The Race: The last day of racing in The Netherlands was another dreadful day of carnage with lots of riders hitting the deck. High winds made the already difficult situation of a nervous peloton and narrow Dutch roads even worse than yesterday. GC hopeful Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) has to retire with a possible broken collarbone.

Race leader Cadel Evans went down with about 10 km to go, costing him 46 seconds and the lead. Bradley Wiggins' day can only be described as a catastrophe after a crash caused him to lose close on to 4 minutes. Barring a miracle, I think Wiggins' GC hunt is over. For now Vinokourov, the old experienced pro and new leader has shown that he knows how to stay out of trouble.

Results:

1. Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) 5hr 6sec 44.785 km/hr
2. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.
3. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.
4. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) s.t.
5. Adam Blythe (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
6. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
7. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) s.t.
8. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
9. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) s.t.
10. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.
11. Baden Cooke (Saxo) s.t.
12. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
13. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
14. Matthew Goss (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
15. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
16. Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
17. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
18. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) s.t.
19. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
20. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
21. Marcel Sieberg (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
22. Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) s.t.
23. Andriy Grivko (Astana) s.t.
24. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
25. Laurent Didier (Saxo) s.t.
26. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) s.t.
27. Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia) @ 24sec
28. Vicente Reynes (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
29. Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas) @ 31sec
30. Michael Morkov (Saxo) @ 46sec
31. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 46sec

51. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.

63. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 3min 59sec

GC after Stage 3:

1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) 10hr 7min 18sec
2. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
3. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 1sec
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 5sec
5. Marcel Sieberg (HTC-Columb ia) @ 7sec
6. Mathew Goss (HTC-Columbia) @ 10sec
7. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
8. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 12sec
9. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 15sec
10. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 16sec
11. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
12. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 17sec
13. Baden Cooke (Saxo) @ 19sec
14. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
15. Robert Forster (Milram) @ 21sec
16. Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) s.t.
17. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 24sec
18. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 25sec
19. Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) @ 26sec
20. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 28sec
21. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) s.t.
22. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) @ 29sec
23. Andriy Grivko (Astana) @ 42sec
24. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 43sec
25. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 44sec
26. Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia) @ 45sec
27. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 46sec
28. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) @ 50sec
29. Michael Morkov (Saxo) @ 56sec
30. Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas) @ 1min

43. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 1min 40sec

55. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 4min 28sec

Points Competition:

1. Graeme Brown (Rabobank): 28 points
2. Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step): 27
3. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 25
4. Bradley Wiggins (Sky): 25

Climbers' Competition:

1. Paul Voss (Milram): 4 points
2. Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF): 4
3. Rick Flens (Rabobank): 4

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 10hr 7min 18sec
2. Matthew Goss (HTC-Columbia) @ 10sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 25sec

Team GC:

1. Saxo: 30hr 22min 6sec
2. HTC-Columbia @ 6sec
3. Astana @ 7sec

Stage 3 route map

Stage 3 profile

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11 May, Tuesday: Rest Day. the Giro returns to Italy for the Team Time Trial on Wednesday. Here is the prediction for the time trial from La Gazzetta dello Sport: Best chance for winning: Sky, then Astana and Saxo.

An outside chance of scoring an upset: Garmin-Transitions, HTC-Columbia and Liquigas.

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12 May, Wednesday: Stage 4, Savigliano - Cuneo 33 km team time trial

Photos from Stage 4

Results:

1. Liquigas: 36min 37sec. 54.073 km/hr
2. Sky @ 13sec
3. HTC-Columbia @ 21sec
4. Katusha @ 27sec
5. Cervelo @ 38sec
6. Astana s.t.
7. Omega Pharma-Lotto @ 46sec
8. Garmin-Transitions @ 49sec
9. Saxo @ 50sec
10. Milram @ 57sec
11. Rabobank @ 1min 4sec
12. BMC @ 1min 21sec
13. Lampre @ 1min 43sec
14. Footon-Servetto @ 2min 3sec
15. Colnago-CSF @ 2min 8sec
16. Quick Step @ 2min 15sec
17. Bouygues Telecom @ 2min 19sec
18. Caisse d'Epargne @ 2min 21sec
19. Androni Giocatolli @ 2min 24sec
20. Cofidis @ 2min 29sec
21. Acqua & Sapone @ 2min 29sec
22. Ag2r @ 2min 50sec

GC after Stage 4

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) 10hr 44min
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 13sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 20sec
4. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) @ 26sec
5. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 33sec
7. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 39sec
8. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 45sec
9. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) @ 59sec
11. Baden Cooke (Saxo) @ 1min 3sec
12. Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Liquigas) s.t.
13. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 1min 4sec
14. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 1min 13sec
15. Andriy Grivko (Astana) @ 1min 15sec
16. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) s.t.
17. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 1min 16sec
18. Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 22sec
19. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 24sec
20. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) @ 1min 28sec
21. Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia) @ 1min 38sec
22. Michael Norkov (Saxo) @ 1min 41sec
23. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 1min 45sec
24. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) @ 1min 49sec
25. Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 52sec
26. Josep Jufre (Astana) @ 1min 55sec
27. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 59sec
28. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 1sec
29. Markus Fothen (Milram) @ 2min 5sec
30. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) @ 2min 6sec
31. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 2min 9sec
32. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 13sec

41. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 49sec

50. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 4min 36sec

Points competition:

1. Graeme Brown (Rabobank): 28 points
2. Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step): 27
3. Tyler Farrar: 25

Climbers' competition:

1. Paul Voss (Milram): 4 points
2. Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF): 4
3. Rick Flens (Rabobank): 4

Young Rider:

1. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas): 10hr 44min 20sec
2. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia) @ 6sec
3. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 25sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas: 30hr 59min 9sec
2. HTC-Columbia @ 1sec
3. Astana @ 19sec

Stage 4 route map

Stage 4 profile

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13 May, Thursday: Stage 5, Novara - Novi Ligure, 162 Km. flat

Photos from stage 5

The Race: Missed it by that much! Stage winner Jerome Pineau along with Julien Fouchard, Yukiya Arashiro and Paul Voss took off at about the 27th kilometer. Voss nailed the day's KOM points before fading. But the other three wouldn't give up, even though it look like their collective gooses were surely cooked. The sprinters' team hammered at the gap, which at one point was about 4 minutes. Even though it it looked like the chasing pack had made contact with less than 2 km to go, the gap actually remained and Pineau took the stage win. Tyler Farrar won the field sprint.

Results:

1. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) 3hr 45min 59sec. 43.012 km/hr
2. Julien Fouchard (Cofidis) s.t.
3. Yukiya Arashiro (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
4. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 4sec
5. Gregory Henderson (Sky) s.t.
6. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) s.t.
7. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.
8. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
9. Luca Sebastian Haedo (Saxo) s.t.
10. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
11. Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) s.t.
12. Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
13. Robbie McEwen (Katusha) s.t.
14. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.
15. Valentin Iglinskiy (Astana) s.t.
16. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
17. Alberto Loddo (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
18. Baden Cooke (Saxo) s.t.
19. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) s.t.
20. Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
21. Anthony Ravard (Ag2r) s.t.
22. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
23. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
24. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
25. Mauro Santambrogio (BMC) s.t.
26. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
27. Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas) s.t.
28. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
29. Michiel Elijzen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
30. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.

GC after stage 5:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) 14hr 30min 3sec
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 13sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 20sec
4. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia) @ 26sec
5. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 33sec
7. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 39sec
8. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 45sec
9. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Astnan) @ 59sec
11. Baden Cooke (Saxo) @ 1min 3sec
12. Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Liquigas) s.t.
13. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 1min 4sec
14. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 1min 13sec
15. Andriy Grivko (Astana) @ 1min 15sec
16. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) s.t.
17. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 1min 16sec
18. Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 22sec
19. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 24sec
20. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) @ 1min 28sec
21. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 1min 45sec
22. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) @ 1min 49sec
23. Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 52sec
24. Joseph Jufre (Astana) @ 1min 55sec
25. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 59sec
26. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 1sec
27. Markus Fothen (Milram) @ 2min 5sec
28. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 2min 9sec
29. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 13sec
30. Marcel Sieberg (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 28sec

Points competition:

1. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step): 39 points
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 39
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank): 37

Climbers' competition:

1. Paul Voss (Milram): 10 points
2. Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF): 4
3. Rick Flens (Rabobank): 4

Young Rider:

1. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) 14hr 30min 23sec
2. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia) @ 5sec
3. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 25sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas: 42hr 17min 18sec
2. HTC-Columbia @ 1sec
3. Astana @ 19sec
4. Saxo @ 24sec

Stage 5 route map

Stage 5 profile

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14 May, Friday: Stage 6, Fidenza - Carrara, 173 Km. undulating terrain

Photos from stage 6

The Race: Less than 50 kilometers into the stage Rubens Bertogliati and Matthew Lloyd escaped the pack. And that was the race. They worked together until the final climb of the day, the Bedizzano (See the route map and profile below the results) when Lloyd drop the tiring Bertogliati. Lloyd motored in for a solo stage win while Bertogliati had enough suds left to take second just in front of the thundering herd.

Results:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto) 4hr 24min 20sec. 39.268 km/hr
2. Rubens Bertogliati (Androni Giocatolli) @ 1min 6sec
3. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) @ 1min 15sec
4. Manuel Belleti (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
5. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) s.t.
6. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
7. Sacha Modolo (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
8. Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
9. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) s.t.
10. Baden Cooke (Saxo) s.t.
11. Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) s.t.
12. Muaro Santambrogio (BMC) s.t.
13. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
14. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) s.t.
15. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
16. Rene Mandri (Ag2r) s.t.
17. Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step) s.t.
18. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) s.t.
19. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
20. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
21. Craig Lewis (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
22. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
23. Alberto Losada (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
24. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
25. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) s.t.
26. David Loosli (Lampre) s.t.
27. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) s.t.
28. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) s.t.
29. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) s.t.
30. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.

GC after stage 6:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) 18hr 55min 38sec
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 13sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 20sec
4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 33sec
5. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 39sec
6. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 45sec
7. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
8. Baden Cooke (Saxo) @ 1min 3sec
9. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 1min 4sec
10. Didier Laurent (Saxo) s.t.
11. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 1min 15sec
12. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 1min 16sec
13. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 24sec
14. Andriy Grivko (Astana) @ 1min 25sec
15. Josep Jufre (Astana) @ 1mn 25sec
16. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 59sec
17. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 1sec
18. Markus Fothen (Milram) @ 2min 5sec
19. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 2min 9sec
20. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 13sec
21. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 2min 35sec
22. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 2min 40sec
23. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 49sec
24. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) s.t.
25. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3min 43sec
26. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 3min 45sec
27. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) @ 3min 49sec
28. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 4min 11swsec
29. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) s.t.
30. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) @ 4min 13sec
31. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 4min 36sec

Points competition:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 43 points
2. Graeme Brown (Rabobank): 40
3. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step): 39

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 13 points
2. Paul Voss (Milram): 10
3. Rubens Bertogliati (Androni-Giocatolli): 8

Young Rider:

1. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) 18hr 55min 58sec
2. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 25sec
3. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 4sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas: 55hr 34min 3sec
2. Astana @ 19sec
3. Saxo @ 24sec
4. Milram @ 1min 19sec

Stage 6 route map

Stage 6 profile

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15 May, Saturday: Stage 7, Carrara - Montalcino, 222 Km. undulating terrain and gravel roads (see route map below) near the end of the stage.

Photos from stage 7

The race: La Gazzetta summed it up: rain, fog, wind and mud. The bad weather made a mess of the gravel roads that the racers confronted in the final kilometers. The day started hard with the first hour covering 52.5 km. It didn't get easier after that. Maglia Rosa Vincenzo Nibali crashed with about 30 km to go, proably ruining his classification chances for good.

Meanwhile Vinokourov and several others dropped the hammer. The results was that by the time the riders reached graveled roads, the major players, less Basso, Nibali and Sastre, were off the front.

In the final kilometers it was Vinokourov, Evans, Damiano Cunego and Arroyo Duran. Evans led the final kilometer and won the stage. Vinkourov's aggressive efforts paid off with the pink jersey.

Results:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC) 5hr 13min 37sec. 42.089 km/hr
2. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 2sec
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.
4. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 6sec
5. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 12sec
6. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 27sec
7. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 29sec
8. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 1min 1sec
9. Cayetano Sarmiento (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1min 7sec
10. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 10sec
11. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 1min 11sec
12. Thomas rohregger (Milram) s.t.
13. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) s.t.
14. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 1min 18sec
15. Gustav Erik Larsson (Saxo) @ 1min 42sec
16. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
17. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 2min
18. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec
19. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) @ 2min 24sec
20. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 2min 53sec
21. Joseph Jufre (Astana) @ 2min 55sec
22. Johann Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
23. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 58sec
24. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 2min 59sec
25. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 3min 6sec
26. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 3min 8sec
27. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) s.t.
28. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 3min 41sec
29. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 3min 45sec
30. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 3min 50sec

34. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 4min 30sec

37. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 5min 20sec

GC after Stage 7:

1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) 24hr 9min 42sec
2. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 12sec
3. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 1min 29sec
4. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 1min 30sec
5. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 1min 33sec
6. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 1min 40sec
7. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 1min 48sec
8. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 1min 51sec
9. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 1min 54sec
10. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min
11. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 47sec
12. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 3min 8sec
13. Michele Scaproni (Androni Giocatolli) @ 3min 9sec
14. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3min 28sec
15. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 3min 38sec
16. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 3min 39sec
17. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 4min 5sec
18. Josep Jufre (Astana) @ 4min 23sec
19. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 4min 38sec
20. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 6min 5sec
21. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) @ 6min 10sec
22. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 6min 52sec
23. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 7min 2sec
24. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 7min 6sec
25. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 7min 21sec
26. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 8min 39sec
27. Andriy Grivko (Astana) @ 8min 56sec
28. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 9min 41sec
29. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 10min 12sec
30. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 12min

Points competition:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 43 points
2. Cadel Evans (BMC): 41
3. Graeme Brown (Rabobank): 40

Climbers' Competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 13 points
2. Paul Voss (Milram): 10
3. Rubens Bertogliati (Androni Giocatolli): 8

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 24hr 11min 42sec
2. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 1min 38sec
3. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec

Team GC:

1. Saxo: 71hr 21min 35sec
2. Liquigas @ 32sec
3. Astana @ 4min 33sec

Stage 7 route map. The gravel roads are in white near the end of the stage

Stage 7 profile. The gravel roads (strade bianche) are in white as well.

---

16 May, Sunday: Stage 8, Chianciano Terme - Terminillo, 189 Km. hilltop finish

Photos from stage 8

The Race: About 65 kilometers into the race a big group managed to get clear of the pelton. Once the final climb to Terminillo was reached the 17-man break started to come apart. It was finally Simoni Stortoni and Chris Sorensen and Sorensen was the stronger of the two. He climbed through the fog for a solo win. Vinokourov and Evans finished together (I still think the Giro is going to come down to these two) with Vino keeping the pink jersey and Evans taking over the red points jersey. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) was the biggest casualty of the day, moving from 3rd to 33rd.

Results:

1. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) 4hr 50min 48sec. 38.995 km/hr
2. Simone Stortoni (Colnago-CSF) @ 30sec
3. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 36sec
4. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 49sec
5. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 55sec
6. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 56sec
7. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.
9. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
10. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
11. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
12. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
13. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) s.t.
14. Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF) @ 1min 12sec
15. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 16sec
16. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 1min 12sec
17. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
18. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 1min 27sec
19. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 1min 33sec
20. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 50sec
21. Morris Possoni (Sky) @ 1min 52sec
22. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 59sec
23. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 2min
24. Marcel Wyss (Cervelo) s.t.
25. Vladimir Mihholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
26. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) s.t.
27. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.
28. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
29. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) s.t.
30. Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.

GC after Stage 8:

1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) 29hr 1min 26sec
2. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 12sec
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 1min 33sec
4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 1min 51sec
5. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 17sec
6. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 26sec
7. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 2min 34sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 47sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 3min 8sec
10. Micele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 3min 9sec
11. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 4min 22sec
12. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 4min 25sec
13. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 4min 42sec
14. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 5min 42sec
15. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 6min 5sec
16. Xaiver Tondo (Cervelo) @ 6min 34sec
17. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) @ 7min 46sec
18. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 7min 56sec
19. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 8min 1sec
20. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 8min 8sec
21. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 8min 10sec
22. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 8min 14sec
23. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 9min 5sec
24. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 9min 8sec
25. Josep Jufre (Astana) @ 10min 43sec
26. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 10min 45sec
27. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 11min 15sec
28. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 11min 59sec
29. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 14min 37sec
30. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 16min 22sec

33. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 18min 28sec

Points competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 48 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 47
3. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 43

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 16 points
2. Chris Sorensen (Saxo): 15
3. Paul Voss (Milram): 10

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 29hr 3min 52sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 59sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 2min 16sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas 85hr 57min 39sec
2. Saxo @ 3min
3. Rabobank @ 10min 5sec

Stage 8 route map

Stage 8 profile

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17 May, Monday: Stage 9, Frosinone - Cava De' Tirreni, 187 Km. flat

photos from stage 9

The Race: It was a day for the sprinters. Columbia kept the day's break in reach, catching them with 5 km to go. As the speed started to climb in the final kilometers, the peloton snapped. Cadel Evans, caught on the wrong side of the broken string, had to bridge the gap. Matthew Harley Goss took the stage and Tyler Farrar's third further cemented his lead in the points competition. Goss' win was HTC-Columbia's first stage victory for this Giro.

Results:

1. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia) 4hr 8min 17sec. 45.190 km/hr!
2. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) s.t.
3. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
4. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.
5. Federico Canitu (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
6. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2r) s.t.
7. Wouter Weylandts (Quick Step) s.t.
8. Gregory Henderson (Sky) s.t.
9. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) s.t.
10. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) s.t.
11. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
12. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
13. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) s.t.
14. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
15. Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
16. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
17. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Saxo) s.t.
18. Didier Laurent (Saxo) s.t.
19. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
20. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-lotto) s.t.
21. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) s.t.
22. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
23. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
24. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
25. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.
26. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) s.t.
27. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
28. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
29. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.
30. Cameron Wurf (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) 33hr 9min 43sec
2. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 12sec
3. Vincenzo Nobali (Liquigas) @ 1min 33sec
4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 1min 51sec
5. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 17sec
6. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 26sec
7. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 2min 34sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 47sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 3min 8sec
10. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 3min 9sec
11. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 4min 22sec
12. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 4min 25sec
13. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 5min 18sec
14. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 6min 5sec
15. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 6min 34sec
16. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 7min 31sec
17. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) @ 7min 46sec
18. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 7min 56sec
19. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 8min 1sec
20. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 8min 14sec
21. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) s.t.
22. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 9min 59sec
23. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 10min 51sec
24. Bradley Wiggins (sky) @ 10min 54sec
25. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 10min 57sec
26. Josep Jufre (Astana) @ 11min 5sec
27. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 11min 15sec
28. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 11min 59sec
29. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 14min 37sec
30. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 16min 22sec

Points competition:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 59 points
2. Cadel Evans (BMC): 52
3. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia): 47

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharam-Lotto): 16 points
2. Chris Sorensen (Saxo): 15
3. Paul Voss (Milram): 10

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 33hr 12min 9sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 59sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 2min 52sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas 98hr 22min 30sec
2. Saxo @ 3min
3. Rabobank @ 10min 5sec

Stage 9 route map

Stage 9 elevation guide

---

18 May, Tuesday Stage 10, Avellino - Bitonto, 230 Km. flat

Photos from stage 10

The Race: An ambitious trio of Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharma), Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) and Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) took off in the day's first kilometers. The sprinters' team let them stay away until about 16 km to go. Columbia and Sky did most of the work keeping the break in sight. But, it was Garmin-Transitions who did a perfect job of getting Tyler Farrar in place in the difficult final kilometers. Farrar unleashed an irresistible turn of speed that gave him is second stage win in this Giro. So far the Italians have not won an individual stage, just the Liquigas victory in the team time trial. A Kazakh has the pink jersey, An American holds the Maglia Rossa (Points), and so on. The Italian press is growing snippy about it.

Results:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) 5hr 49min 14sec. 39.515 km/hr
2. Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas) s.t.
3. Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
4. Robbie McEwen (Katusha) s.t.
5. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.
6. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2r) s.t.
7. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
8. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) s.t.
9. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
10. Mathew Hayman (Sky) @ 3sec
11. Alberto Loddo (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
12. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
13. Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
14. Gregory Henderson (Sky) s.t.
15. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.
16. Adam Blythe (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
17. Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
18. Filippo Pozzatto (Katusha) s.t.
19. Michiel Elijzen (Omega Pahrma-Lotto) s.t.
20. Marco Velo (Quick Step) s.t.
21. Luca Sebastian Haedo (Saxo) s.t.
22. Danilo Wyss (BMC) s.t.
23. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
24. Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas) s.t.
25. Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Liquigas) s.t.
26. Guillaume Blot (Cofidis) s.t.
27. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
28. Mauro Santambrogio (BMC) s.t.
29. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) s.t.
30. Paul Voss (Milram) s.t.

GC after Stage 10:

1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
2. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 12sec
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 1min 33sec
4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 1min 51sec
5. Marcp Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 17sec
6. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 26sec
7. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 2min 34sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 47sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 3min 8sec
10. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 3min 9sec
11. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 4min 22sec
12. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 4min 25sec
13. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 5min 18sec
14. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 6min 5sec
15. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 6min 34sec
16. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 7min 31sec
17. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) @ 7min 46sec
18. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 7min 48sec
19. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 8min 1sec
20. Thomas Rohregger (Milram) @ 8min 14sec
21. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) s.t.
22. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 9min 59sec
23. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 10min 51sec
24. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 10min 54sec
25. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 10min 57sec
26. Josep Jufre (Astana) @ 11min 5sec
27. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 11min 15sec
28. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 11min 59sec
29. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 14min 37sec
30. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 16min 16sec

Points competition:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitons): 84 points
2. Cadel Evans (BMC): 52
3. Matthew Harley Goss (HTC-Columbia): 47
4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 47

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 16 points
2. Chris Sorensen (Saxo): 15
3. Paul Voss (Milram): 10

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 39hr 1min 26sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 59sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 2min 52sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas 115hr 50min 18sec
2. Saxo @ 3min 3sec
3. Rabobank @ 10min 8sec

Stage 10 route map

Stage 10 profile

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19 May, Wednesday: Stage 11, Lucera - L'Aquila, 262 Km. undulating terrain. This is the 2010 Giro's longest stage.

Apologies for the late posting. Our internet provider, Centurylink, has been down almost all day.

Photos from stage 11

The Race: What the heck!?!?!? I have no idea what Vinokourov, Evans, Nibali and Basso (And their team directors) were thinking when they let a 54-man break take off at kilometer 20 but I'm sure they will regret their inattention, maybe for the rest of their careers. This wasn't just any group of no-hopers. It had half the Sky team, including Wiggins along with Sastre and some Cervelo riders. Very importantly, it contained some Saxo riders, including Richie Porte. In other words, all the people who could reasonably be thought to offer a real threat to yesterday's GC leaders, plus a bunch of their teammates were up the road.

Apparently the other teams looked to Astana to pull the break back during the first chaotic minutes, but Vino's team is sick, exhausted and not up to a chase of this sort. Liquigas, especially, had the horsepower to help but thought it could force the weaker BMC and Astana to do all the work. It was a stupid blunder because Cervelo, Saxo and Sky were hammering at the break's front while Liquigas watched Basso and Nibali lose tons of time to capable opponents. .

The break went really fast and pulled into L'Aquila with almost 13 minutes in hand. Wunderkind Richie Porte is the new leader. And Sastre and Wiggins, thought dead yesterday, are now in contention. It looks like Vino is starting to run out of gas. He's had a tough 11 stages and the Giro is only starting.

Vino and Evans will be even more on their own. Astana lost 3 riders and Evans' BMC squad lost 2 riders today.

There's a saying on Wall Street. Bear make money, bulls make money and pigs go to the slaughterhouse. In other words, one can succeed in all sorts of conditions if one keeps one's head about one's self. Liquigas was greedy, trying to hold Basso's and Nibali's high position in the GC by using the efforts of the other teams. They got butchered for their piggishness

Bravo to Sastre and Wiggins for not giving up and doing a terrific ride.

It's a whole new race.

Results:

1. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) 6hr 28min 29sec
2. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 5sec
3. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.
4. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 7sec
5. Alexandre Efimkin (Ag2r) s.t.
6. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) s.t.
7. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) s.t.
8. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
9. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) s.t.
10. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
11. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 18sec
12. Jose Rodolfo Serpa (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
13. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 21sec
14. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 23sec
15. Thomas Voeckler (Bouyues Telecom) s.t.
16. Mauricio Ardila (Rabobank) @ 26sec
17. David Moncoutie (Cofidis) @ 31sec
18. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-lotto) s.t.
19. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 41sec
20. Massimo Codol (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
21. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 53sec
22. Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 10sec
23. Yuiy Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1min 22sec
24. Matthias Russ (Milram) @ 1min 37sec
25. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 2min 10sec
26. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) s.t.
27. Giampaolo Cheula (Footon-Servetto) s.t.
28. Juan Horrach (Katusha) s.t.
29. Matteo Bono (Lampre) s.t.
30. Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF) s.t.

45. Michele Scarponi (Andorni Giocatolli @ 12min 42sec

46. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.

48. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapoine) s.t.

49. Vincnezo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.

52. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 12min 45sec

53. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.

54. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.

GC after Stage 11:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 45hr 30min 16sec
2. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 42sec
3. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 56sec
4. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 3min 54sec
5. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 4min 41sec
6. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 5min 16sec
7. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 5min 34sec
8. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 7min 9sec
9. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 7min 24sec
10. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 8min 14sec
11. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 8min 35sec
12. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 9min 58sec
13. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 11min 10sec
14. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 11min 28sec
15. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 11min 49sec
16. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 12min 15sec
17. Francis De Greef (Omega pharma-Lotto) @ 12min 21sec
18. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 12min 32sec
19. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 12min 42sec
20. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 13min 3sec
21. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 13min 4sec
22. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 13min 22sec
23. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 15min 34sec
24. Bauke Molleme (Rabobank) @ 16min 3sec
25. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 16min 14sec
26. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 17mi 38sec
27. Mauricio Ardila (Rabobank) @ 17min 38sec
28. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 18min 48sec
29. Jose Rodolfo Serpa (Androni Giocatolli) @ 20min 45sec
30. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 21min 8sec

Points competition:

1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 59 points
2. Cadel Evans (BMC): 52
3. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step): 48

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29 points
2. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo): 16
3. Chris Sorensen (Saxo): 15

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 45hr 30min 16sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 56sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas): @ 4min 41sec

Team GC:

1. Saxo 135hr 24min 13sec
2. Liquigas @ 6min 42sec
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto @ 13min 31sec

Stage 11 route map

Stage 11 profile

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20 May, Thursday: Stage 12, Città Sant'Angelo - Porto Recanati, 206 Km. flat

Photos from stage 12

The Race: The day's 3-man break was swept up on schedule, before a final circuit (See map below results) returned the riders to Porto Recanati. On the final ascent 12 riders went clear. This was a dangerous move as it had Vinokourov, Nibali and Basso, but neither Evans nor Porte. A vigorous chase reduced the gap from 20 to 10 seconds. Vinkourov, never a man to give up, went for the stage win and the time bonus, but wasn't quite fast enough. Filippo Pozzato took the stage and became the first Italian individual stage winner in this Giro.

Results:

1. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) 5hr 15min 50sec. 39.514 km/hr
2. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
3. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) s.t.
4. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
7. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
8. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.
10. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
11. Robbie McEwen (Katusha) @ 10sec
12. Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
13. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
14. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
15. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
16. Gregory Henderson (Sky) s.t.
17. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2r) s.t.
18. Michiel Elijzen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
19. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
20. Danilo Hondo (Lampre)) s.t.
21. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.
22. Yukiya Arashiro (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
23. Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas) s.t.
24. Mathew Hayman (Sky) s.t.
25. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
26. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
27. Alessandro Donati (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
28. Christopher Sutton (Sky) s.t.
29. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
30. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.

GC after Stage 12:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 50hr 46min 16sec
2. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 42sec
3. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 56sec
4. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 3min 54sec
5. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 4min 41sec
6. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 5min 16sec
7. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 5min 34sec
8. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 7min 9sec
9. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 7min 24sec
10. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 8min 14sec
11. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 8min 35sec
12. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 9min 48sec
13. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 11min 10sec
14. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 11min 18sec
15. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 11min 39sec
16. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 12min 5sec
17. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 12min 21sec
18. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 12min 32sec
19. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
20. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 12min 53sec
21. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 12min 54sec
22. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 13min 22sec
23. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 15min 34sec
24. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 16min 3sec
25. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 16min 14sec
26. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 17min 38sec
27. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 19mn 1sec
28. David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) @ 19min 14sec
29. Jose Rodolfo Serpa (Androni Giocatolli) @ 20min 59sec
30. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 21min 46sec

Points competition:

1. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step): 66 points
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 59
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 59

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29 points
2. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo): 16
3. Chris Sorensen (Saxo): 15

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 50hr 46min 16sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 56sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 4min 41sec

Team GC:

1. Saxo 151hr 12min 13sec
2. Liquigas @ 6min 22sec
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto @ 13min 31sec

Stage 12 route map

Stage 12 profile

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21 May, Friday: Stage 13, Porto Recanati - Cesenatico, 223 Km. undulating terrain

Photos from stage 13

The Race: Another day with a successful break. This time 17 riders got clear at about kilometer 60 and most of them stuck it out to the end with Manuel Belletti taking the stage. Back in the chasing peloton Vladimir Karpets broke loose and rode with Juan Horrach, who had dropped back from the break, to finish almost 2 and a half minutes ahead of the main group. That allowed Karpets to move from 19th to 14th place in the GC. Tomorrow, the first day in the big mountains. Will David Arroyo be the new leader?

Results:

1. Manuel Belletti (Colnago-CSF) 5hr 27min 12sec. 40.892 km/hr
2. Greg Henderson (Sky) s.t.
3. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) s.t.
4. Paul Voss (Milram) s.t.
5. Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
6. Kalle Kriit (Cofidis) s.t.
7. Mathieu Claude (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
8. Craig Lewis (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
9. Serguei Klimov (Katusha) s.t.
10. Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Transitions) @ 5sec
11. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 9sec
12. Mauro Facci (Quick Step) @ 12sec
13. Danilo Wyss (BMC) @ 34sec
14. Marco Marzano (Lampre) s.t.
15. Andriy Grivko (Astana) @ 38sec
16. Rubens Bertogliati (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
17. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 5min 2sec
18. Juan Horrach (Katusha) @ 5min 19sec
19. Filippo Pozzatto (Katusha) @ 7min 26sec
20. Arnold Jeannesson (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
21. Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Liquigas) @ 7min 28sec
22. Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas) s.t.
23. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
24. Xavier Zandio (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
25. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) s.t.
26. Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
27. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
28. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
29. Andrei Amador (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
30. Robbie McEwen (Katusha) s.t.

GC after Stage 13:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 56hr 20min 56sec
2. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 42sec
3. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 56sec
4. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 3min 54sec
5. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 4min 41sec
6. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 5min 16sec
7. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 5min 34sec
8. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 7min 9sec
9. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 7min 24sec
10. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 8min 14sec
11. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 8min 35sec
12. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 8min 38sec
13. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 9min 48sec
14. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 10min 6sec
15. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 11min 10sec
16. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 11min 18sec
17. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 11min 39sec
18. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 12min 5sec
19. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 12min 21sec
20. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 12min 32sec
21. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 12 min 53sec
22. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 12min 54sec
23. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 13min 32sec
24. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 15min 53sec
25. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 16min 3sec
26. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 17min 48sec
27. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobnak) @ 19min 20sec
28. Jose Rodolfo Serpa (Androni Giocatolli) @ 21min 18sec
29. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 21min 22sec
30. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 21min 46sec

Points competition:

1. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step): 66 points
2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream): 59
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 59

Climbers' Competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29 points
2. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo): 16
3. Rubens Bertogliati (Androni Giocatolli): 16

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 56hr 20min 56sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 56sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 4min 41sec

Team GC:

1. Saxo 167hr 56min 13sec
2. Katusha @ 4min 34sec
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto @ 6min 3sec

Stage 13 route map

Stage 13 profile

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22 May, Saturday: Stage 14, Ferrara - Asolo, 201 Km. mountains

Photos from stage 14

The Race: Liquigas had promised to light up the race in stage 14 and they delivered. When the peloton hit the base of Monte Grappa the team set an incendiary pace. Bradley Wiggins tried to get away but the Liquigas pace was nothing short of infernal and the Sky team captain was quickly caught. An elite group of Nibali, Basso, Evans and Scarponi were together near the top of the ascent with Vinokourov chasing. Nibali went clear of the others early in the descent a rode like his hair was on fire. Evans and Scarponi with Basso in tow chased him for all they were worth and managed to close the gap somewhat on the flat leading to Asolo but Nibali's solo ride and stage victory was nothing short of beautiful.

Richie Porte lost 4 minutes and 46 seconds and had to give up the Maglia Rosa to David Arroyo, who finished in the first chase group.

Results:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) 4hr 57min 51sec. 41.900 km/hr
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 23sec
3. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
4. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 1min 34sec
6. Branislau Samoilau (Quick Step) @ 2min 25sec
7. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) s.t.
8. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.
9. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) s.t.
10. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
11. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) s.t.
12. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
13. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) s.t.
14. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.
15. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 2min 31sec
16. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3min 6sec
17. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 4min 46sec
18. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-lotto) s.t.
19. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) s.t.
20. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
21. Alessandro Bisolti (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
22. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
23. Christopher Froome (Sky) s.t.
24. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
25. John Gadret (Ag2r) s.t.
26. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) s.t.
27. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) s.t.
28. Yuriy Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
29. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) s.t.
30. Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha) s.t.

GC after Stage 14:

1. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) 61hr 22min 54sec
2. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 39sec
3. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 2min 12sec
4. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 2min 35sec
5. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 3min 52sec
6. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 5min 27sec
7. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 6min 32sec
8. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 6min 51sec
9. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 7min 15sec
10. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 7min 26sec
11. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 7min 43sec
12. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 9min 2sec
13. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 10min 23sec
14. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 10min 45sec
15. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 11min 11sec
16. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 1m2in 27sec
17. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 14min 11sec
18. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 14min 21sec
19. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 14min 26sec
20. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 17min 45sec
21. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 18min 44sec
22. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 19min 46sec
23. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 19min 59sec
24. Laurent Didier (Saxo) @ 22min 7sec
25. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 22min 33sec
26. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 23min 21sec
27. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 25min 34sec
28. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 27min 15sec
29. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 30min 36sec
30. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 33min 19sec

Points competition:

1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 71 points
2. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step): 66
3. Cadel Evans (BMC): 66
4. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha): 65
5. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions): 59

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharam-Lotto): 29 points
2. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo): 16
3. Rubens Bertogliati (Androni Giocatolli): 16

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 61hr 23min 33sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 1min 56sec
3. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 11min 48sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas: 183hr 1min 17sec
2. Rabobank @ 9min 1sec
3. Sky @ 12min 23sec

Stage 14 route map

 

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23 May, Sunday: Stage 15, Mestre - Monte Zoncolan, 218 Km. hilltop finish

Photos from stage 15

The Race: The race to the top on Monte Zoncolan was a day of terrific racing. Once the peloton hit the first climbs Liquigas hit the front and started breaking legs. Once on Lo Zoncolan Michele Scarponi was feeling good and hit the very reduced group of contenders with a hard attack. Bam! Then Basso, who so far had been riding almost as Nibali's domestique, dug deep and it was lights out for almost everyone but Evans and Scarponi. Basso kept throwing high heat and first Scarponi had to relent and then near the top a grimly determined Evans had to concede. Basso is now third at 3min 33sec. Arroyo managed to hold on to the Maglia Rosa for another day.

Results:

1. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) 6hr 21min 58sec. 35.186 km/hr
2. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 1min 19sec
3. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 1min 30sec
4. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 1min 58sec
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 2min 26sec
6. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 44sec
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 3min 7sec
8. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 3min 20sec
9. Daniel Martin (Garmin-Transitions) @ 3mn 31sec
10. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 3min 46sec
11. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3min 50sec
12. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 4min 4sec
13. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) s.t.
14. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 4min 24sec
15. Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 4min 26sec
16. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 5min 19sec
17. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 5min 27sec
18. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 5min 46sec
19. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) @ 5min 50sec
20. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 5min 53sec
21. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 6min 1sec
22. Yury Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) @ 6min 11sec
23. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 6min 14sec
24. Branislau Samoilau (Quick Step) @ 6min 43sec
25. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 6min 45sec
26. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 7min 10sec
27. Ludovic Turpin (Ag2r) @ 7min 22sec
28. Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocatolli) @ 8min 2sec
29. Arnold Jeannesson (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 8min 2sec
30. Jerome Pineua (Quick Step) @ 8min 13sec
31. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 8min 36sec

104. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 25min 32sec

GC after Stage 15:

1. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) 67hr 48min 42sec
2. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 35sec
3. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min 33sec
4. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 4min 21sec
5. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 4min 43sec
6. Alexnadre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 5min 51sec
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 6min 8sec
8. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 6min 34sec
9. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 7min 12sec
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 8min 13sec
11. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 9min 19sec
12. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 9min 53sec
13. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 13min 9sec
14. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 14min 35sec
15. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 14min 45sec
16. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 16min 37sec
17. Maurisio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 22min 2sec
18. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 22min 29sec
19. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 22min 51sec
20. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 23min 42sec
21. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 23min 47sec
22. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 24min 33sec
23. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 28min 14sec
24. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 32min 55sec
25. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 33min 7sec
26. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 33min 33sec
27. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 35min 31sec
28. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 36min 30sec
29. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 36min 45sec
30. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) @ 38min 17sec

Points competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 86 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 83
3. Jerome Pineau (Quick Step): 74

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29 points
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 25
3. Ludovic Turpin (Ag2r): 20

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 67hr 51min 17sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 5min 38sec
3. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 12min

Team GC:

1. Liquigas: 202hr 19min 46sec
2. Rabobank @ 11min 50sec
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto @ 27min 7sec

Stage 15 route map

Stage 15 profile

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24 May, Monday: Rest day. The Tour may be a more prestigious race but the Giro under Angelo Zomagnan has consistently delivered better racing. The has been none of the conservative, racing-not-to-lose that sometimes taints big races. Everyone is giving it his all, day after day. I don't think we'll know the winner until the last man crosses the finish line in the time trial in Verona.

---

25 May, Tuesday: Stage 16, San Vigilio di Marebbe/St. Vigil - Plan de Corones/Kronoplatz, 12.9 km timed individual hill climb.

Photos from stage 16

The Race: 2000 Giro winner Stefano Garzelli proved that once again he is a man to be respected when the race is against the clock and the road points a little bit (or a lot) up. Evans' ride pulled him 28 seconds closer to Basso and Basso gained 1min 5sec on Arroyo. The race is getting tighter and the time gaps from stage 11 are slowly being erased.

Results:

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) 41min 28sec. 18.665 km/hr
2. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 42sec
3. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 54sec
4. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 1min 1sec
5. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 1min 7sec
6. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 1min 10sec
7. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 36sec
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 1min 37sec
9. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 1min 41sec
10. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 1min 46sec
11. Branislau Samoilau (Quick Step) @ 2min 5sec
12. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 2min 6sec
13. Johann Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
14. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 2min 10sec
15. Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas) @ 2min 12sec
16. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2min 16sec
17. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 17sec
18. Yury Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) @ 2min 18sec
19. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 31sec
20. Daniel Martin (Garmin-Slipstream) @ 2min 32sec
21. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 2min 36sec
22. Vladimir Miholhevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 37sec
23. David Moncoutie (Cofidis) @ 2min 38sec
24. Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2min 42sec
25. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2min 43sec
26. Damien Monier (Cofidis) @ 2min 47sec
27. Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 2min 49sec
28. Muariocio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 2min 54sec
29. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 2min 57sec
30. Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) @ 2min 59sec

67. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 4min 51sec

103. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 5min 59sec

GC after stage 16:

1. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) 68hr 32min 26sec
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 2min 27sec
3. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 36sec
4. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 3min 9sec
5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 4min 36sec
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 4min 53sec
7. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 5min 12sec
8. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 5min 25sec
9. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 8min 57sec
10. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 9min 13sec
11. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 10min 20sec
12. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 10min 55sec
13. Dario Cataldo (Quicki Step) @ 14min 10sec
14. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 14min 34sec
15. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 15min 16sec
16. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 18min 57sec
17. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 21min 7sec
18. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 22min 40sec
19. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 23min 11sec
20. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 25min 14sec
21. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 27min 14sec
22. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 27min 28sec
23. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 20min 39sec
24. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 30min 49sec
25. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 33min 23sec
26. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 36min 15sec
27. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 36min 35sec
28. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 37min 56sec
29. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) @ 40min 38sec
30. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 41min 47sec

Points competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 106 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 91
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas): 78

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29 points
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 25
3. Cadel Evans (BMC): 25

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 68hr 35min 2sec
2. Robert Kiserovski (Liquigas) @ 6min 21sec
3. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 11min 34sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas: 204hr 28min 33sec
2. Rabobank @ 16min 47sec
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 33min 21sec

Stage 16 route map

Stage 16 profile

---

26 May, Wednesday: Stage 17, Brunico/Bruneck - Peio Terme, 173 Km. undualting terrain with hilltop finish

Photos from stage 17

The Race: The contenders clearly plan to settle this race between Friday and Sunday. Today after about 50 km of racing a 19-man break rolled away. Unlike stage 11, there were no GC danger men in this break, so it was allowed a good sized gap that was still about 10 minutes at the end. Damien Monier won the first ever race in his 6-year pro career. He took off up the uphill finish after Danilo Hondo had given it a good shot and went by the German for a victroy I'm sure he'll never forget.

10 minutes later the "Big" went up the final hill fast enough to shed nearly every one but themselves. With the exception of Sastre's 5-second loss, there was no change to the standings.

Results:

1. Damien Monier (Cofidis) 4hr 29min 19sec. 38.987 km/hr
2. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) @ 36sec
3. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 39sec
4. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 5sec
5. Steven Cummings (Sky) @ 1min 18sec
6. Simone Stortoni (Colnago-CSF) @ 1min 48sec
7. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 1min 55sec
8. Marco Marzano (Lampre) @ 1min 57sec
9. Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervelo) @ 2min 1sec
10. Carlos Jose Ochoa (Androni Giocatolli) @ 2min 7sec
11. Nicki Sorensen (Saxo) @ 2min 10sec
12. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) @ 2min 12sec
13. Yukiya Arashiro (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
14. Markus Fothen (Milram) @ 2min 25sec
15. Andrei Amador (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2min 37sec
16. Danilo Wyss (BMC) @ 3min 28sec
17. Vicente Reynes (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
18. Roman Kireyev (Astana) s.t.
19. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 9min 52sec
20. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 9min 53sec
21. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
22. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
23. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) s.t.
24. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
25. John Gadret (Ag2r) s.t.
26. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
27. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) s.t.
28. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 9min 58sec
29. Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) @ 9min 58sec
30. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 10min 1sec
31. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) s.t.
32. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.

GC after Stage 17:

1. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) 73hr 11min 38sec
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 2min 27sec
3. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 44sec
4. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 3min 9sec
5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 4min 41sec
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 4min 53sec
7. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 5min 12sec
8. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 5min 24sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 9min 21sec
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 9min 32sec
11. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 10min 28sec
12. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 10min 59sec
13. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 11min 36sec
14. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 14min 10sec
15. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 14min 34sec
16. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 15min 24sec
17. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 21min 7sec
18. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 23min 22sec
19. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 23min 48sec
20. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 28min 20sec
21. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 28min 37sec
22. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 29min 13sec
23. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 32min 39sec
24. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 33min 31sec
25. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 34min 32sec
26. Bradley Wiggins (sky) @ 36min 55sec
27. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 37min 58sec
28. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 38min
29. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) @ 42min 37sec
30. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 43min 33sec

Points competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 106 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 91
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas): 78

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29 points
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 25
3. Cadel Evans (BMC): 25

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo): 73hr 14min 22sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski @ 6min 48sec
3. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 11min 26sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas: 218hr 26min 44sec
2. Rabobank @ 7min 48sec
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto @ 27min 12sec

Stage 17 route map

Stage 17 profile

---

27 May, Thursday: Stage 18, Levico Terme - Brescia, 140 Km. flat

Photos from Stage 18

The Race: This was the last flat stage of this year's Giro and Andre Greipel, who came to the Giro sick, wasn't about to waste this chance. A 2-man break of Oliver Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Alan Marangoni (Colnago-CSF) was allowed to gain 3 minutes but Greipel's HTC-Columbia team did not let them get more than that. At the right time, about 3 km to go, the two were caught. With Tyler Farrar and Robbie McEwen watching this Giro on TV now, there isn't anyone left in the peloton with the big German's speed, which he proved with today's decisive win.

Results:

1. Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) 3hr 14min 59sec. 43.080 km/hr
2. Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) s.t.
3. Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Liquigas) s.t.
4. Greg Henderson (Sky) s.t.
5. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) s.t.
6. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.
7. Luca Sebastian Haedo (Saxo) s.t.
8. Michiel Elijzen (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
9. Fabio Sabatini (Liquigas) s.t.
10. William Bonnet (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
11. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2r) s.t.
12. Alessandro Donati (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
13. Yukiya Arashiro (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
14. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) s.t.
15. Marco Velo (Quick Step) s.t.
16. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.
17. Mathieu Claude (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
18. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
19. Pablo Lastras (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
20. Maciej Bodnar (Liquigas) s.t.
21. Luke Roberts (Milram) s.t.
22. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
23. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
24. Matteo Bono (Lampre) s.t.
25. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
26. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
27. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
28. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) s.t.
29. Christopher Sutton (Sky) s.t.
30. Michael Morkov (Saxo) s.t.

GC after Stage 18

1. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) 76hr 26min 37sec
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 2min 27sec
3. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 2min 44sec
4. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 3min 9sec
5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 4min 41sec
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 4min 53sec
7. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 5min 12sec
8. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 5min 24sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 9min 21sec
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 9min 32sec
11. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 10min 28sec
12. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 10min 59sec
13. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 11min 35sec
14. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 14min 10sec
15. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 14min 34sec
16. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 15min 24sec
17. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 21min 7sec
18. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobak) @ 23min 22sec
19. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 23min 48sec
20. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 28min 37sec
21. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 28min 41sec
22. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 29min 13sec
23. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 32min 39sec
24. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 33min 31sec
25. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 34min 32sec
26. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) @ 37min 32sec
27. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 37min 58sec
28. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 38min
29. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) @ 42min 37sec
30. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 43min 33sec

Points Competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 106 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 91
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas): 78

Climbers' Competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29 points
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 25
3. Cadel Evans (BMC): 25

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 76 hr 29min 21sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 6min 48sec
3. Dario Cataldo (Quick Step) @ 11min 26sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas 228hr 11min 41sec
2. Rabobank @ 7min 48sec
3. Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 27min 12sec

Stage 18 route map

Stage 18 profile

---

28 May, Friday: Stage 19, Brescia - Aprica, 195 Km. mountains with hilltop finish

Photos from Stage 19

The Race: The stage played out almost exactly as expected. On the gigantic Mortirolo pass Ivan Basso personally shredded the field. Over the top it was Basso, teammate Vincenzo Nibali and Michele Scarponi. Maglia Rosa David Arroyo hung on as long as he could but the front trio was on song. Because Basso is a slow descender, the chasers made up some ground on the lead trio but once the final ascent to Aprica was reached, Basso drove hard, working for every second he could. It looked like Basso didn't contest Scarponi's sprint for first and Nibali let Basso get second place with its bonus time.

After the Mortirolo the chasers, Arroyo, Vinokourov, Evans and Sastre were clearly shattered as they tried to get back on terms with the leaders. Arroyo did a magnificent descent off the Mortirolo but Basso was too strong today. Notable place changes include Nibali's moving up to third place and Evans dropping to fifth.

Tomorrow is the Gavia. I can't even imagine how hard it will be after today's ride.

Results:

1. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) 5hr 27min 4sec. 35.772 km/hr
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
4. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 3min 5sec
5. John Gadret (Ag2r) s.t.
6. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 3min 6sec
7. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
8. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.
9. Branislau Samoilau (Quick Step) @ 5min 27sec
10. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
11. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) s.t.
12. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) s.t.
13. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) s.t.
14. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 5min 31sec
15. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) s.t.
16. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 8min 17sec
17. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.
18. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 10min 44sec
19. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
20. Marcel Wyss (Cervelo) s.t.
21. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) s.t.
22. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
23. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
24. Xabier Zandio (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
25. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
26. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) s.t.
27. Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
28. Charles Wegelius (Omega pharma-Lotto) s.t.
29. Daniele Righi (Lampre) s.t.
30. Markus Eibegger (Footon-Servetto) @ 14min 26sec

GC after Stage 19:

1. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) 81hr 55min 56sec
2. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 51sec
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 2min 30sec
4. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 2min 49sec
5. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 4min
6. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 5min 32sec
7. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 6min
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 6min 22sec
9. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 12min 44sec
10. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 13min 40sec
11. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 15min 23sec
12. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 18min 36sec
13. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 20min 5sec
14. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 21min 57sec
15. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 23min 3sec
16. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 26min 38sec
17. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 29min 50sec
18. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 35min 51sec
19. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 36min 10sec
20. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 40min 48sec
21. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 42sec
22. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) @ 49min 34sec
23. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 52min 22sec
24. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo) @ 54min 24sec
25. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 55min 25sec
26. Jan Bakelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 58min 42sec
27. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 58min 53sec
28. Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 58min 54sec
29. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 1hr 1min 54sec
30. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1hr 5min 26sec

Points competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 116 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 105
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas): 94

Cimbers' Competition:

1. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 35 points
2. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 29
3. Cadel Evans (BMC): 25

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 82hr 1min 56sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 6min 44sec
3. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 12min 36sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas 244hr 38min 20sec
2. Rabobank @ 18min 46sec
3. Caisse d'Epargne @ 51min 34sec

Stage 19 route map

Stage 19 profile

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29 May, Saturday: Stage 20, Bormio - Ponte di Legno - Tonale, 178 Km. mountains with hilltop finish

Photos from stage 20

The Race: There had been fear that bad weather would force the organizers to skip the Gavia pass but this morning it was announced that the planned route (map below) would be used.

A big move went away on Forcola di Livigno. In it were Gilberto Simoni and eventual stage winner Johann Tschopp. Near the top of the Gavia, Simoni, who will end his pro racing career tomorrow, attacked, taking Tschopp with him. Tschopp dropped Simoni on the descent of the Gavia and stayed away until the end.

On the final climb, the Tonale, Cadel Evans unleashed a searing attack but he couldn't gain enough time to bring himself up to the podium. He still resides in 5th place. The big news is that Scarponi was able to drop Nibali on the Tonali and get within 1 second of the young Italian rocket. Experts don't see Scarponi out-time trialing Nibali tomorrow and barring misfortune Basso and Arroyo should be able to maintain their places.

Results:

1. Johan Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom) 5hr 26min 47sec. 32.865 km/hr
2. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 16sec
3. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 25sec
4. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
5. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 41sec
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 43sec
7. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 48sec
8. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 50sec
9. Daniele Righi (Lampre) @ 57sec
10. Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 2sec
11. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 1min 26sec
12. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1min 39sec
13. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.
14. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) s.t.
15. Cayetano Sarmiento (Androni Giocatolli) s.t.
16. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) s.t.
17. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) s.t.
18. Yury Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1min 42sec
19. Richie Porte (Saxo) s.t.
20. Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharam-Lotto) @ 2min 13sec
21. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) s.t.
22. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 2min 23sec
23. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 2min 48sec
24. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 2min 50sec
25. Anders Lund (Saxo) @ 2min 53sec
26. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 2min 53sec
27. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 3min 40sec
28. Josep Jufre (Astana) s.t.
29. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 4min 45sec
30. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 6min 2sec

GC after Stage 20:

1. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) 87hr 23min 0sec
2. David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 15sec
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 2min 56sec
4. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocatolli) @ 2min 57sec
5. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 3min 47sec
6. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 7min 25sec
7. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 7min 31sec
8. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 8min 55sec
9. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 14min 6sec
10. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 15min
11. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 16min 45sec
12. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 19min 9sec
13. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 22min 28sec
14. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 25min 9sec
15. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 32min 23sec
16. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 34min 31sec
17. Dario David Cioni (Sky) @ 35min 35sec
18. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 37min 13sec
19. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 38min 41sec
20. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 44min 43sec
21. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 48min 37sec
22. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 1hr 6min 47sec
23. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1hr 9min 20sec
24. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1hr 9min 54sec
25. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 1hr 10min 19sec
26. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1hr 17min 24sec
27. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) @ 1hr 18min 51sec
28. Yury Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1hr 19min 1sec
29. Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1hr 19min 46sec
30. Jose Rodolfo Serpa (Androni Giocatolli) @ 1hr 23min 31sec

Points competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 136 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 112
3. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 104

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 56 points
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 41
3. Johan Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom): 38

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 87hr 30min 25sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 6min 41sec
3. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 11min 44sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas 261hr 1min 28sec
2. Rabobank @ 24min 30sec
3. Caisse d'Epargne @ 1hr 4min 56sec

Stage 20 route map

Stage 20 profile

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30 May, Sunday: Stage 21, Verona 15 km individual time trial

Photos from Stage 21

1. Gustav Erik Larsson (Saxo) 20min 19sec. 44.298 km/hr
2. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 2sec
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 17sec
4. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 22sec
5. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 23sec
6. Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervélo) s.t.
7. Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) @ 29sec
8. Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Transitions) @ 32sec
9. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli) @ 35sec
10. Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank) @ 37sec
11. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 39sec
12. Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse D'Epargne) s.t.
13. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ s.t.
14. Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) @ 41sec
15. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 42sec
16. Gregory Henderson (Team Sky) @ 45sec
17. Matthias Russ (Milram) s.t.
18. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 48sec
19. Matthisa Brandle (Footon-Servetto) @ 54sec
20. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) s.t.
21. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) @ 55sec
22. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 56sec
23. Josep Jufre (Astana) s.t.
24. Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) @ 57sec
25. Alan Marangoni (Colnago-CSF) s.t.
26. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 1min
27. Charles Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1min 1sec
28. Brent Bookwalter (BMC) s.t.
29. Craig Lewis (HTC-Columbia) @ 1min 3sec
30. Yuriy Krivstov (Ag2r) @ 1min 4sec

Final GC after stage 21:

1. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 87hr 44min 1sec
2. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse D’Epargne) @ 1min 51sec
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 2min 37sec
4. Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli) @ 2min 50sec
5. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 3min 27sec
6. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 7min 6sec
7. Richie Porte (Saxo) @ 7min 22sec
8. Carlos Sastre Candil (Cervélo) @ 9min 39sec
9. Marco Pinotti (HTC-Columbia) @ 14min 20sec
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 14min 51sec
11. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 17min 10sec
12. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 19min 41sec
13. John Gadret (Ag2r) @ 23min 3sec
14. Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) @ 25min 21sec
15. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 32min 29sec
16. Linus Gerdemann (Milram) @ 34min 49sec
17. David Cioni Dario (Team Sky) @ 36min 44sec
18. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 37min 27sec
19. Alexander Efimkin (Ag2r) @ 39min 43sec
20. Hubert Dupont (Ag2r) @ 45min 17sec
21. Francis De Greef (Omega Pharam-Lotto) @ 50min 8sec
22. Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto) @ 1hr 7sec 37sec
23. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1hr 10min 16sec
24. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 1hr 10min 55sec
25. Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1hr 11min 10sec
26. Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma-Lotto) @ 1hr 19min 31sec
27. Chris Sorensen (Saxo) @ 1hr 19min 34sec
28. Yury Trofimov (Bouygues Telecom) @ 1hr 19min 58sec
29. Charles Wegelius (Omega Phartma-Lotto) @ 1hr 20min 5sec
30. Jose Rodolfo Serpa (Androni Giocatolli) @ 1hr 24min 28sec

Points competition:

1. Cadel Evans (BMC): 150 points
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana): 128
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas): 116

Climbers' competition:

1. Matthew Lloyd (Omega Pharma-Lotto): 56 points
2. Ivan Basso (Liquigas): 41
3. Johan Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom): 38

Young Rider:

1. Richie Porte (Saxo) 87hr 51min 23sec
2. Robert Kiserlovski (Liquigas) @ 7min 29sec
3. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) @ 12min 19sec

Team GC:

1. Liquigas 262hr 4min 40sec
2. Rabobank @ 24min 21sec
3. Caisse d'Epargne @ 1hr 5min 55sec

Stage 21 route map

Stage 21 profile

---

Rider start list with back numbers:

BMC

1. Cadel Evans
2. Brent Bookwalter
3. Martin Kohler
4. Jeffry Louder
5. Mauro Santambrogio
6. John Murphy
7. Michael Schar
8. Florian Stalder
9. Danilo Wyss

Acqua & Sapone

11. Stefano Garzelli
12. Dario Andriotto
13. Massimo Codol
14. Alessandro Donati
15. Francesco Failli
16. Andrea Masciarelli
17. Francesco Masciarelli
18. Vladimir Miholjevic
19. Cayetano Sarmiento

Ag2r

21. Guillaume Bonnafond
22. Hubert Dupont
23. Alexander Efimkin
24. John Gadret
25. Sébastien Hinault
26. Yuriy Krivtsov
27. Rene Mandri
28. Anthony Ravard
29. Ludovic Turpin

Androni Giocattoli

31. Michele Scarponi
32. Leonardo Bertagnolli
33. Alessandro Bertolini
34. Rubens Bertogliati
35. Alberto Loddo
36. Carlos José Ochoa
37. Jackson Rodriguez
38. Jose Rodolfo Serpa
39. Cameron Wurf

Astana

41. Alexandre Vinokourov
42. Paolo Tiralongo
43. Enrico Gasparotto
44. Andriy Grivko
45. Josep Jufre
46. Roman Kireyev
47. Valentin Iglinskiy
48. Gorazd Stangelj
49. Alexsandr Dyachenko

Bouygues Telecom

51. Thomas Voeckler
52. Yukiya Arashiro
53. William Bonnet
54. Anthony Charteau
55. Mathieu Claude
56. Damien Gaudin
57. Guillaume Le Floch
58. Yury Trofimov
59. Johann Tschopp

Caisse d'Epargne

61. Marzio Brusegh
62. Andrei Amador
63. David Arroyo
64. Arnold Jeannesson
65. Vasil Kiryienka
66. Pablo Lastras
67. Alberto Losada
68. Rigoberto Uran
69. Xabier Zandio

Cervelo

71. Carlos Sastre
72. Inigo Cuesta
73. Volodymir Gustov
74. Edward King
75. Ignatas Konovalovas
76. Daniel Lloyd
77. Marcel Wyss
78. Gabriel Rasch
79. Xavier Tondo

Cofidis

81. David Moncouti 
82. Guillaume Blot
83. Mickael Buffaz
84. Remi Cusin
85. Leonardo Duque
86. Julien Fouchard
87. Kalle Kriit
88. Nico Sijmens
89. Damien Monier

Colnago-CSF

91. Domenico Pozzovivo
92. Manuel Belletti
93. Sacha Modolo
94. Alessandro Bisolti
95. Federico Canuti
96. Marco Frapporti
97. Alan Marangoni
98. Simone Stortoni
99. Stefano Pirazzi

Footon-Servetto

101. Ermanno Capelli
102. Matthias Brandle
103. Eros Capecchi
104. Giampaolo Cheula
105. Markus Eibegger
106. Iban Mayoz Echeverria
107. Marco Corti
108. Michele Merlo
109. Martin Pedersen

Garmin-Transitions

111. David Millar
112. Christian Vande Velde
113. Tyler Farrar
114. Jack Bobridge
115. Julian Dean
116. Murilo Antonio Fischer
117. Daniel Martin
118. Cameron Meyer
119. Svein Tuft

Lampre

121. Damiano Cunego
122. Alessandro Petacchi
123. Gilberto Simoni
124. Matteo Bono
125. Danilo Hondo
126. Marco Marzano
127. David Loosli
128. Daniele Righi
129. Alessandro Spezialetti

Liquigas

131. Ivan Basso
132. Vincenzo Nibali
133. Valerio Agnoli
134. Maciej Bodnar
135. Tiziano Dall'Antonia
136. Robert Kiserlovski
137. Fabio Sabatini
138. Sylvester Szmyd
139. Alessandro Vanotti

Omega Pharma-Lotto

141. Sebastian Lang
142. Jan Bakelandts
143. Adam Blyth
144. Francis De Greef
145. Michiel Elijzen
146. Olivier Kaisen
147. Matthew Lloy
148. Daniel Moreno Fernandez
149. Charles Wegelius

Quick Step

151. Dario Cataldo
152. Addy Engels
153. Mauro Facci
154. Jérome Pineau
155. Francesco Reda
156. Branislau Samoilau
157. Matteo Tosatto
158. Marco Velo
159. Wouter Weylandt

Rabobank

161. Steven Kruijswijk
162. Mauricio Alberto Ardila
163. Graeme Brown
164. Rick Flens
165. Dmitry Kozontchuk
166. Tom Stamsnijder
167. Bauke Mollema
168. Jos Van Emden
169. Pieter Weening

Sky

171. Bradley Wiggins
172. Michael Barry
173. Dario David Cioni
174. Steven Cummings
175. Christopher Froome
176. Mathew Hayman
177. Gregory Henderson
178. Morris Possoni
179. Christopher Sutton

HTC - Columbia

181. Andre Greipel
182. Marco Pinotti
183. Michael Albasini
184. Matthew Harley Goss
185. Adam Hansen
186. Craig Lewis
187. Frantisek Rabon
188. Vicente Reynes
189. Marcel Sieberg

Katusha

191. Filippo Pozzato
192. Vladimir Karpets
193. Robert McEwen
194. Giampaolo Caruso
195. Juan Horrach
196. Mikhail Ignatiev
197. Luca Mazzanti
198. Evgeni Petrov
199. Serguei Klimov

Milram

201. Linus Gerdemann
202. Robert Förster
203. Markus Fothen
204. Luke Roberts
205. Dominik Roels
206. Thomas Rohregger
207. Matthias Russ
208. Paul Voss
209. Fabian Wegmann

Saxo

211. Anders Lund
212. Baden Cooke
213. Chris Sörensen
214. Nicki Sörensen
215. Gustav Erik Larsson
216. Laurent Didier
217. Lucas Sebastian Haedo
218. Michael Morkov
219. Richie Porte

---

March 22: The Giro organization announced the 22 teams invited to ride the Italian national tour. Several teams were notably missing; ISD, Ceramiche Flaminia, and Radio Shack. Radio Shack had made it clear that it was sending its star riders to the Tour of California. Flaminia, having just hired disgraced rider Riccardo Ricco, was not going to get an invite. The Giro organizers want to see the mouthy bad boy stay out of trouble for a year before he gets another chance to wreck the race. Notably, BMC did get asked to the dance. Cadel Evans will probably be in Italy in May going for the pink jersey.

ACQUA E SAPONE (ITA)
AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)
ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI-DIQUIGIOVANNI (ITA)
ASTANA (KAZ)
BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM (FRA)
BMC RACING (USA)
CAISSE D'EPARGNE (ESP)
CERVELO TEST TEAM (SUI)
COLNAGO-CSF INOX (IRL)
COFIDIS-LE CREDIT EN LIGNE (FRA)
FOOTON-SERVETTO (ESP)
GARMIN-TRANSITIONS (USA)
LAMPRE-FARNESE VINI (ITA)
LIQUIGAS-DOIMO (ITA)
OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO (BEL)
QUICK STEP (BEL)
RABOBANK (OLA)
SKY PROFESSIONAL CT (GBR)
TEAM HTC-COLUMBIA (USA)
TEAM KATUSHA (RUS)
TEAM MILRAM (GER)
TEAM SAXO BANK (DAN)

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