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The Stages. I've noted the major climbs:

Saturday, May 8: 6.9 km Prologue, GENOA (individual time trial)

Weather (3:30 PM Italy): 61F (16C), Wind SSE 8 MPH (13 KPH), mostly sunny.

Results:

1. Bradley McGee (FDJ) 8min 30sec
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) @ 10sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 20sec
4. Gerhard Trampusch (Aqua & Sapone) @ 24sec
5. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 27sec
6. Marzio Bruseghin (Fassa Bortolo) @ 30sec
7. Marco Velo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 32sec
8. Magnus Backstedt (Alessio) s.t.
9. Dario Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 33sec
10. Juan Carlos Dominguez (Saunier Duval) @ 34sec
11. Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) @ 35sec
15. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) s.t.
57. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 46sec

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Sunday, May 9: Stage 1, GENOA - ALBA, 143 KM.

Colle di Cadibona (elevation 436 meters) -10.3 km - Average gradient 4.1%

Results for Stage 1:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 3hr 41min 56sec
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
3. Crescenzo D'Amore (Aqua & Sapone) s.t.
4. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.
5. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
6. Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) s.t.
7. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
8. Luciano Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) s.t.
9. David Derpas (FDJ) s.t.
10. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
14. Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) s.t.

GC after stage 1:

1. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 3hr 50min 24sec
2. Bradely McGee (FDJ) @ 2sec
3. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) @ 20sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 22sec
5. Gerhard Trampusch (Aqua & Sapone) @ 26sec
6. Crescenzo D'Amore (Aqua & Sapone) @ 32sec
7. Marco Velo (Fassa Bortolo) @ 34sec
8. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 35sec
9. Mario Cipollini @ 37sec
10. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
11. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) s.t.
37. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 48sec

Other competitions:

Points (sprinter) Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
Mountains: Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner)
Team GC: Lampre

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Monday, May 10: Stage 2, NOVI LIGURE - PONTREMOLI, 184 KM

Ascents:

Passo del Bocco (elevation 956 meters) - 15.3 km- Average gradient 5%.
Passo del Brattello (elevation 953 meters) - 10 km - 5.4%

Stage 2 results:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 4hr 37min 8sec
2. Bradley McGee (FDJ) s.t.
3. Cristian Moreni (Alessio) s.t.
4. Igor Astarloa (Lampre) s.t.
5. Eddy Mazzoleni(Saeco) s.t.
6. Gerhard Trampusch (Aqua & Sapone) s.t.
7. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
9. Giuseppe Di Grande (Formaggi Pinzolo) s.t.
10. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

1. Bradley McGee (FDJ) 8hr 27min 22sec
2. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 32sec
3. Gerhard Trampusch (Aqua & Sapone) @ 36sec
4. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) @ 37sec
5. Cristian Moreni (Alessio) @ 39sec
6. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 45sec
7. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 47sec
8. Kyrylo Pospyeyev (Aqua & Sapone) s.t.
9. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) s.t.
10. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 48sec
20. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 58sec

Other Competitions:

Sprinter's Jersey:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 25 points
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 25
3. Crescenzo D'Amore (Aqua & Sapone) 22

Mountains:

1. Alexandre Moos (Phonak) 5 points
2. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 3
3. Steve Zampieri (Vini Caldirola) 3

Team GC:

1. Lampre 24hr 57min 12sec
2. Saeco s.t.
3. Aqua & Sapone s.t.

Live updates:

The finish: McGee's teammate Gilbert leads out McGee who goes early. Cunego comes around him for the win. And Popovych must have made contact as well since he came in 10th.

6 Km. to go: A group of 8 with Astarloa and McGee have just made contact with the lead group. The Pink Jersey is over a minute behind.

Km 171: Over the top, Saeco's Cunego put the hammer down and about 40 riders are clear. Looks like all the big boys are there, but no one has seen Popovych yet. Simoni's Saeco is driving the group hard down the hill. Saeco has what looks like 5 riders up at the front. what a masterful job they have done. And... Landbouwkrediet is chasing, so Popovych must have been caught snoozing.

Km 161: Garzelli's Yellow Vini's are riding hard tempo on the climb. Simoni is right at the front keeping an eye on things.

Km 158: Saeco's Stangelj is away from the break which has come apart. In the peloton Saeco red is at the front. Will we see Simoni try to leap up to his teammate. He's done this before.

Km 155: At the base of the climb, the lead is 1 minute.

Km 141: 16 riders left in the group with a lead of 2min 38sec. they are working well together.

Km 127: On the descent after the Passo del Bocco, the lead group of 23 has 4min 5 sec.

Km 90: The lead has grown to 4min 5sec with Gerolsteiner's Robert Forster the virtual Maglia Rosa.

At Km 76, 23 riders are away with a lead of 3min 15 sec having broken away at Km 36. The group include Fornaciari, Stangelj, Hamburger, Forster, Marin, Svorada and Zampieri.

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Tuesday, May 11: Stage 3, PONTREMOLI - CORNO ALLE SCALE, 191 KM.

Ascents:

Foce Carpinelli (elevation 842 meters) -10 km - Average gradient 5.2%
Corno alle Scale (elevation 1,426 meters) - 12.8 km - 5.2%

Stage 3 results:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 5hr 46min 9sec
2. Damino Cunego (Saeco) @ 15sec
3. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 16sec
4. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) s.t.
5. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) s.t.
6. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 32sec
7. Gerhard Trampusch (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 34sec
9. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
10. Andrea Noe (Alessio) s.t.
42. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 2min 21sec

GC after stage 3:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 14hr 13min 58sec
2. Daminao Cunego (Saeco) @ 13sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 21sec
4. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 29sec
5. Gerhard Trampusch (Gerolsteiner) @ 41sec
6. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 45sec
7. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 52sec
8. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 58sec
9. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 1min 5sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) s.t.

Sprinter (points):

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 45 points
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 26
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 25

Climber:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 13
3. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) 8

Intergiro: Crescenzo D'Amore (Aqua & Sapone)

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 46hr 16min 26sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 29sec
3. Panaria @ 2min 1sec

Live updates:

2 Km to go. Saeco's Mazzoleni and Cunego cover another rider's move and get away. Then BAM! Simoni sprints out, up to Cunego and away. Simoni has wings! No one can answer. Garzelli falls back. Popovych loses ground then claws up to the 1st group behind Simoni.

6 Km to go: Saeco continues to lead. All the GC contenders are gathered at the front.

Km 180: The attacks are coming one after another. So far no one has any particular lead. Saeco is still at the front of the pack.

Around Km 177: Mazzoleni is caught. He blows a kiss to the camera. We're all together for the final assault.

Km 169: The lead is down to 3min 38sec. Saeco is at the front of the pack, in the big ring, on the climb pounding away. Garzelli's Yellow Vinis are up at the front, but keeping their noses out of the wind for now.

Km 160: Mazzoleni is in Poretta now and the final climb is starting. His lead is down to 7min 18sec.

Km 151: On the descent and the lead is down to 8min 48sec. The Saeco team is at the front doing almost all of the work.

Over the Passo del Oppio: the pack just went through a little over 9 minutes behind. The gap is going down and Mazzoleni is looking tired.

Km 133, 2 km from the top of the climb. Mazzoleni's lead is down to 11 minutes. Saeco's Fornaciari is leading the pack in the big ring!

Km 127: Mazzoleni is in the small ring as he heads for the Passo del Oppio. He still has a lead of over 12 minutes. The chase can't be too hard as the pack isn't very strung out. It is comforting to see that the pros must occasionally at least get out of the saddle for a moment on this mountain. I was just riding up here a month ago and I found it really, really hard going.

Km 102. The lead is down to 13min 35sec. Saeco and Gerolsteiner are leading the chase. After the 3rd hour, the average speed has been lifted to 33.45 km/hr. They'll be putting their bikes in the small ring pretty soon. The climb to the Passo del Oppio is a good, hard ride.

Km 97: Mazzoleni has a lead of 16min 5sec. The average speed after the second hour was 30.8 km/hr.

Km 75: Renzo Mazzoleni of Tenax is away alone with a lead of 12min 50sec. He broke away at km 36 He is on the descent of the first rated climb, the Foce Carpinelli. They are riding in the Apuan Alps, the rugged land of northern Tuscany. Yesterday two riders retired. There are now 167 riders in the Giro. Giro race news reports that the weather at the start was a bit overcast, but no rain or wind. For a while now, the riders will be in river valleys. But then the roads will really bite hard.

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Wednesday, May 12: Stage 4, PORRETTA TERME - CIVITELLA IN VAL DI CHIANA, 187 KM

Stage 4 Results:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 4hr 55min 40sec
2. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.
3. Simone Cadamuro (De Nardi) s.t.
4. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
5. Fred Rodriguez (Aqua & Sapine) s.t.
6. Massimo Strazzer (Saunier Duval) s.t.
7. Magnus Backstedt (Alessio) s.t.
8. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
9. Alejandro Borrajo (Panaria) s.t.
10. Graziano Gasparre (De Nardi) s.t.

GC after Stage 4:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 19hr 09min 38sec
2. Daminao Cunego (Saeco) @ 13sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 21sec
4. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 29sec
5. Gerhard Trampusch (Gerolsteiner) @ 41sec
6. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 45sec
7. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 52sec
8. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 58sec
9. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 1min 5sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 6sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 51points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 45
3. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 34

Climber:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16 points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 13
3. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 12

InterGiro Leader: Alessandro Vanotti (De Nardi)

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 57hr 3min 26sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 29sec
3. Panaria @ 2min 1sec

Live updates:

The sprint. A tough elbows-and-belly-buttons everywhere sprint. Cipollini was up there, faded and then in the middle of the bunch, crashed hard. La Gazzetta Dello Sport says that Cipollini ran into his teammate Andrus Aug 250 meters from the line. Cipollini is being sent to the hospital to make sure there isn't any real damge to his knee.

11 Km to go. The rain has come back for the finishing curcuit. A lot of riders were caught in a crash at the back of the field before entering the circuit. They seem to be badly gapped. No CG contenders seem to be involved. Garzelli's team has moved up to the front behind Fassa. Does Garzelli feel lucky?

Km 159: Still all together with 5 Fassas in front doing the work. A bunch of Saecos are right behind them with Simoni keeping an eye on things.

Km 146: The break is caught. As they say in Italy, gruppo compatto.

Km 131: Petacchi has regained the pack. A break of 6 (A. VANOTTI, G. MURAGLIA, N. LODA, F. WEGMANN, ARANAGA-AZKUNE, M. PICCOLI) has a 48 second lead. Fassa is leading the chase. It looks like the rain has stopped.

Km 120: It's raining. It looks like Petacchi has crashed on the Poggio di Sugame. He has almost the entire Fassa team pacing him back up.

166 riders started. At kilometer 56, they were all together. The first hour was covered at the blinding speed of 33.2 km/hr. The weather in Pistoia, which they rode through in the first hour: 57 F (14C). The wind is 7 mph (11 KPH) ENE. It's cloudy. Rain is possible.

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Thursday, May 13: Stage 5, CIVITELLA IN VAL DI CHIANA - SPOLETO, 177 KM

Stage 5 results:

1. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 4hr 24min 57sec
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
3. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
4. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
5. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
6. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) s.t.
7. Andris Naudusz (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
8. Simone Cadamuro (De Nardi) s.t.
9. Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
10. Alejandro Borrajo (Panaria) s.t.

GC after Stage 5:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 23hr 34min 35sec
2. Daminao Cunego (Saeco) @ 13sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 21sec
4. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 29sec
5. Gerhard Trampusch (Gerolsteiner) @ 41sec
6. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 45sec
7. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 52sec
8. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 58sec
9. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Calidrola) @ 1min 5sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 6sec

Points (Sprinter):

1. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 59 points
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 55
3. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 45

Climber:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16 points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 13
3. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 12

Intergiro leader : Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 70hr 18min 17sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 29sec
3. Panaria @ 2min 1sec

Live updates:

The sprint. Fassa lead it out for a while, but Petacchi lost his position in the last corner. McEwen started from way out and barely won it. If the line had been a few inches further down the road, Pollack probably would have been the winner. The sprinters again have shown that nowadays they have the power to survive high speed climbs like the finishing circuits of today's stage. They surprised me. Cipollini finished the stage way back.

7 km to go: McGee and company are caught before the start of the last climb.

On the second circuit of Spoleto, Bradley McGee gets away on the climb and take Moos and Marzoli (?) with him. they are stuggling to stay with him, but they have 9 seconds. Fassa and Lampre are at the front of the pack.

Km 165: They are in Spoleto now. The break has been caught.

Km 142: here are the riders in the break: B. HAMBURGER, M. BACKSTEDT, T. ZIEGLER, M. ALBASINI, M. MORI, D. PODGORNIK. They are working well together. Fassa is leading the chase. The roads are dry.

Km 136: The break has formed into two groups with a lead group of six containing Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt about 12 seconds ahead of the rest of the break and over a minute ahead of the field. The second group contains Cioni. The second group is disorganized and appears to be falling apart.

Km 129: A break of 15 riders has a lead of 1min 12 sec. Dario Cioni who is high up in GC (at 52sec) is in the break, so the peloton is chasing hard. De Nardi is leading the pack at the moment.

Weather at 2 PM local time in Perugia, which is near the race route (see map above): Rain, 57F (14C), wind from the North at 8 mph (13 kph). Mario Cipollini did start the stage. He has some stiches, but the report from La Gazzetta Dello Sport is that he has no broken bones.

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Friday, May 14: Stage 6, SPOLETO - VALMONTONE, 164 KM

Valico della Somma (elevation 646 meters) - 5.6 km - 4.3% gradient

Results:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 4hr 55sec
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
3. Alejandro Borrajo (Panaria) s.t.
4. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) s.t.
5. Andris Nauduzs (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
6. Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapoine) s.t.
7. Andrus Aug (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
8. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
9. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.
10. Michael Albasini (Phonak) s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

1. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 27hr 35min 30sec
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) @ 13sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 21sec
4. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 29sec
5. Gerhard Trampusch (Gerolsteiner) @ 41sec
6. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 45sec
7. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 52sec
8. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 58sec
9. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Calidrola) @ 1min 5sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 6sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 80 points
2. Robbie Mcewen (Lotto) 66
3. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 62

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 17points
2. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16
3. Alexandre Moos (Phonak) 14

Intergiro Leader: Crescenzo d'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 82hr 21min 2sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 29sec
3. Panaria @ 2min 1sec

Live updates:

At about Km 146, in the hard rain the pack was all together. Over the next few kilometers, there was a series of counter attacks. Fassa's pace leading into town was nothing short of blistering. In the heavy rain, riders were coming off the back (including Cipollini and Quaranta) as Petacchi's team made sure things stayed together. With a couple of kilometers to go, World Champion Astarloa tried to get away, but Fassa was having none of that. He was caught with about 500 meters to go. It was "gruppo compatto" for a big sprint. Petacchi easily won. Just over the line, it looked as if Andrus Aug touched the rear wheel of the man in front of him. Aug went down heavily and was taken away in an ambulance.

Km 112: Baliani is 2 min ahead of Fertonani and 4 min 15 sec ahead of the field. Cipollini is having trouble staying in contact with the pack. Fassa is at the front stringing things out. They want the break caught. Next update will be in a little over an hour.

Km 99: A lone Fortunato Baliani (Panaria) is leading solo Marco Fertonani (Phonak) by 42 seconds and the field by 2 min 25 seconds.

The weather: Partly cloudy, 60F (16C), wind from the Southeast at 10 MPH (16 KPH) 165 riders started today, there were no overnight abandonments. In La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Cipollini said that he suffered badly in Thursday's stage because of his Wednesday crash. "It was a miracle I made it. What an ordeal," he said. Also, Petacchi noted that he had been ordered to make sure he stayed out of trouble during the circuits of Spoleto in yesterday's race. That would probably explain why he let himslef lose position so easily in the last corner before the sprint. He did feel bad that he didn't properly contest the sprint after his team worked so hard.

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Saturday, May 15: Stage 7, FROSINONE - MONTEVERGINE DI MERCOGLIANO, 214 KM.

Ascents

Monteforte Irpino (elevation 519 meters) - 6.1 km - Average gradient 3.8%
Montevergine (elevation 1,270 meters) - 17.1 km - 5%

Results:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 5hr 26min 25sec
2. Bradley McGee (FDJ) s.t.
3. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) s.t.
4. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) s.t.
5. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 3sec
6. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) s.t.
7. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) s.t.
8. Andrea Noè (Alessio) s.t.
9. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) s.t.
10. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) s.t.

GC after Stage 7:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 33hr 1min 48sec
2. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 10sec
3. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 28sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 31sec
5. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 52sec
6. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 1min 8sec
7. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 10sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 1min 15sec
9. Andrea Noè (Alessio) @ 1min 17sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 25sec

Points (sprinter)

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 80 points
2. Daminao Cunego (Saeco) 70
3. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 66

Climber:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28 points
2. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 17
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader: Massimo Strazzer (Saunier Duval)

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 98hr 40moin 36sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 51sec
3. Lampre @ 5min 4sec

Live updates:

About km 200: All the breakaway riders had been caught on the final climb. The break had broken up and they were reeled in one by one. During the final kilometers, Giuliano Figueras tried to get away several times. The last couple of kilometers saw blistering pace. Saeco's Damiano Cunego was the perfect domestique, marking each attack. At the end, Simoni led it out and Cunego took off and won the sprint. There was a real gap between Cunego and 2nd place Bradley McGee. The 20-second time bonus for winning the stage puts Cunego in pink.

Km 180. At the start of the climb, the lead is down to 3min 40 sec. I'll post the results of the stage at about 9:30 AM PDT.

Km 155: At Km 12, Rubens Bertogliati and Massimo Strazzer (both Saunier Duval) broke away. They were joined by Michele Gobbi (De Nardi), Niki Aebersold (Phonak), Luca Mazzanti (Panaria) and Daniele Righi (Lampre). The six riders now enjoy a lead of 5min 5sec. Saeco is leading the chasing pack. The average speed of today's race is much higher than the earlier Giro stages. By Km 149, the average was at 42.150 KPH.

The weather in Caserta, through which the stage will pass at Km 142: 70F (21C), mostly sunny with the wind at 5 MPH (8 KPH) from the Northeast. Three riders did not start today's stage: Mario Cipollini, still suffering from his Stage 4 crash, Andrus Aug, who is still in the hospital after yesterday's crash, and Ondrej Sosenka of Acqua & Sapone. 161 riders rolled off to start Stage 7.

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Sunday, May 16: Stage 8: GIFFONI VALLE PIANA - POLICORO, 214 KM

Results: Robbie McEwen was second across the line but relegated to the back of his group for getting a madison hand-sling from a teammate just before the sprint.

Daimano Cunego in pink

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 4hr 52min 49sec
2. Tomas Vaitkus (Landbouwkrediet) s.t.
3. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
4. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
5. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
6. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
7. Zoran Klemencic (Tenax) s.t.
8. Albert Borrajo (Panaria) s.t.
9. Alberto Loddo (Saunier Dival) s.t.
10. Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) s.t.

GC after Stage 8:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 37hr 54min 37sec
2. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 10sec
3. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 28sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 31sec
5. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 52sec
6. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 1min 8sec
7. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 10sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 1min 15sec
9. Andrea Noè (Alessio) @ 1min 17sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 25sec

Points (Sprinter)

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 105 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 78
3. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 70

Climber:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28 points
2. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 17
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader: Massimo Strazzer (Saunier Duval)

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 113hr 19min 3sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 51sec
3. Lampre @ 5min 4sec

Live updates:

With about 20 Km to go, the break was caught. Then, the Fassa Bortolo train delivered Signor Petacchi on time and in place for his 4th stage win this Giro.

Km 172: Now the lead is down to 1min 55sec. Looks like it's probably another bunch sprint.

Km 164: The break's lead is down to 2min 55sec.

Km 130: This stage is really rolling along. The average speed so far is 40.430 KPH. Since Kilometer 52, there has been a break. At one time, the group of six had a lead of 7min 5sec. At present it is 6min 16sec. Off the front are: A. BERTOLINI, J. PEREZ CUAPIO,M. VELO,M. PICCOLI,J. DURAND, and M. PEREZ ARANGO .

The weather at 2:00 PM, local time: 64F (18C), partly sunny with an 11 MPH (18 KPH) wind from the north. 159 riders started today. Davide Rebellin and Juan Carlos Dominguez have retired from the race.

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Monday, May 17: Stage 9, POLICORO - CAROVIGNO, 142 KM

Results:

1. Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone) 4hr 4min 38sec
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
3. Angelo Furlan (Alessio) s.t.
4. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.
5. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
6. Andris Nauduzs (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
7. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
8. Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
9. Simone Cadamuro (De Nardi) s.t.
10. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 41hr 59min 15sec
2. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 10sec
3. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 28sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 31sec
5. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 52sec
6. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 1min 8sec
7. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 10sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 1min 15sec
9. Andrea Noè (Alessio) @ 1min 17sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 25sec

Points (Sprinter)

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 125 points
2. Robbie Mcewen (Lotto) 80
3. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 78

Climber:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28 points
2. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 17
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader: Massimo Strazzer (Saunier Duval)

Team Classification

1. Saeco 125hr 32min 57sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 51sec
3. Lampre @ 5min 4sec

Live updates:

The finish. Out of the last corner, Petacchi bides his time on the wheel of his last leadout man and up the side, Fred Rodriguez jumps hard. Petacchi goes and slowly closes the gap, but it's too little, too late. Fred Rodriguez gets a good, clean win!

Km 129: The breakaways have been caught. Now we'll have 3 times around the finishing circuit. Gerolsteiner's sprinter Olaf Pollack was caught in the crash. There are two big groups chasing, one at 22 seconds and one at 3 minutes behind the main field.

Km 116. Illiano and Vanotti are working well together, but their lead continues to fall. It is now at 30 seconds. There was a big crash at the back of the field. Fredy Gonzalez has been taken away in an ambulance. Intergiro Leader Massimo Strazzer was badly delayed.

Km 112: the lead is down to 1min 5sec as the Blue Meanies of Fassa Bortolo are all lined up at the front to make sure things are together at the end their printer Alessandro Petacchi.

Km 80: Rafaele Illiano and Alessandro Vanotti are away with a lead of 1min 5sec on a slow moving pack.

There were no overnight retirements. 159 riders started today's stage which largely follows the coastline of the arch of the boot of Southern Italy along the coast of the Gulf of Taranto. It should be a short sprinter's stage. The first hour was done quite slowly, at 27.6 KPH. After 2 hours, the group is still together.

Weather at Taranto today: 64F (18C), mostly sunny with a 12 MPH (19 KPH) wind from the NNE.

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Tuesday, May 18: Rest Day. No Giro today. The racers will travel north to the region of Le Marche, on the northwest coast of Italy for the start of Stage 10 on Wednesday.

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Wednesday, May 19: Stage 10, PORTO SANT'ELPIDIO - ASCOLI PICENO, 146 KM

Ripatransone (elevation 494 meters) - 4.8 km - Average gradient 4.3%

Stage 10 results

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 3hr 24min 17sec
2. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
3. Andris Naduzs (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
4. Magnus Backstedt (Alessio) s.t.
5. Albert Borrajo (Panaria) s.t.
6. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
7. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
8. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
9. Simone Cadamuro (De Nardi) s.t.
10. Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval) s.t.
12. Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

GC after Stage 10:

1. Damiano Cunego 45hr 23min 32sec
2. Gilberto Simoni @ 10sec
3. Franco Pellizotti @ 28sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych @ 40sec
5. Giuliano Figueras @ 52sec
6. Stefano Garzelli @ 1min 15sec
7. Andrea Noè @ 1min 17sec
8. Serhiy Honchar s.t.
9. David Dario Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 19sec
10. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 29sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 150 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 86
3. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) 85
4. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 81

Climber:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28points
2. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 23
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader: Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)

Team Classification

1. Saeco 135hr 45min 48sec
2. Alessio @ 1min 51sec
3. Lampre @ 5min 13sec

Live updates:

With 2 kilometers to go, out of seeming chaos, Fassa Bortolo gets its train going and gives Petacchi a perfect leadout and Petacchi doesn't fail. A clean, perfect win for Petacchi. The fight for his wheel was very fierce with serious bumping and pushing. Marco Zanotti was on Petacchi's wheel and would not give it up. That makes the 12th win of the season and the 5th of this Giro for Petacchi.

5 km to go: Bradley McGee take a flyer and looks beautiful. The pack is just moving too fast and he's quickly caught.

Km 136, 10 to go: The break is caught, though Bo Hambuger fought as long as he could. The speed is high with Fassa, Tenax and Lotto at the front pulling. Just back, the Saeco squad is guarding Simini and Cunego.

20 to go. The pack can just see the break, about 40 seconds up the road, but the break continues to push on.

25 to go: It's down to a minute. Lotto and Tenax are pulling at the front of the peloton now, as well.

Km 116: The gap is down to 1min 40sec. The Blue Meanies of Fassa Bortolo have the pack strung out as they work to bring back the break. The riders in the break continue to take short hard pulls.

Km 109: At the Intergiro the lead is down to 2min 15sec.

Km 95: Lanfranchi (not Illiano as I wrote earlier) came off the break. The remaining 7 are working hard and brought their lead back up to 3 minutes.

Km 80: The break is being brought back. The lead is now 2min 35sec. Petacchi and others had come unglued from the pack on Monte Gilbeto, but the peloton is back together.

At about the 20th kilometer, 8 riders escaped:. They are Bo HAMBURGER (14), Kyrylo POSPYEYEV (17), Paolo LANFRANCHI (35), Raffaele ILLIANO (55), Giuseppe MURAGLIA (107), Fabian WEGMANN (118), Daniele RIGHI (128), Oliver ZAUGG (168). At kilometer 52, their lead is 3min 22sec.

155 riders started today. Massimo Strazzer, the Intergiro leader, crashed in Stage 9. He finished the stage being pushed by a teammate. He has retired. Also quitting are Thomas Vaitkus and Gianni Farasin.

The weather at Anconca, just north of the finish: Mostly sunny. 71F (22C) with the wind from ENE at 6MPH (10KPH)

The race jury has added 9 seconds to the riders who came in 25th to 87th in Stage 9. The pack was split up because of a crash in the run-in to town. Of the top 10 GC riders this affects Popovych, Honchar and Cioni.

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Thursday, May 20: Stage 11, PORTO SANT'ELPIDIO - CESENA, 228 KM

Major climbs:

San Marino (elevation 554 meters) - 5.3 km - Average gradient 5.3%
Sogliano al Rubiconde (elevation 382 meters) - 4.5 km - 4.1%
Sorrivoli -2.3 km, average gradient of 13.1% with a section of 18%.

Stage 11 results:

1. Emanuele Salla (Panaria) 5hr 19min 8sec
2. Cristian Moreni (Alessio) @ 30sec
3. Steve Zampieri (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
4. Bo Hamburger (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
5. Ruben Lobato Elvira (Saunier Duval) s.t.
6. Juan Garate (Lampre) s.t.
7. Francisco Vila (Lampre) s.t.
8. Alexandre Moos (Phonak) @ 49sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) s.t.
10. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) s.t.
11. Bradley McGee (FDJ) s.t.
12. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) s.t.
13. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) s.t.
14. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) s.t.
30. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) s.t.

GC after Stage 11:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 50hr 43min 39sec
2. Gilberto Simoni @ 10sec
3. Franco Pellizotti @ 28sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych @ 40sec
5. Giuliano Figueras @ 52sec
6. Stefano Garzelli @ 1min 15sec
7. Andrea Noè (Alessio) @ 1min 17sec
8. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) s.t.
9. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 19sec
10. Emanuele Sella (Panaria) @ 1min 25sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 150 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 86
3. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) 85

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 30points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader: Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia)

Team Classification

1. Saeco 151hr 47min 5sec
2. Alessio @ 6sec
3. Lampre @ 3min 9sec

Live updates:

Sella comes in alone for his first pro win. What a ride! Cunego arrives 49 seconds later, so he keeps the pink jersey. It was a fast stage, 43.994 KPH!

5 km to go: Sella leads the 4 chasers by 1min 30sec and the field is another 30 seconds back. More red Saeco jerseys have shown up at the front of the pack. I think Selle has it.

Km 212: Sella has lost time. His lead on the field is down to 2min 30sec after going over the top of the Sorrivoli, the last rated climb. Bradley McGee forced the pace of the field over the top. Simoni and Cunego seem to be alone with no teammates. I wonder if they cooked their team early defending the Maglia Rosa.

Km 203: Saeco has hit the panic putton. It's about 3min 30sec from the Maglia Rosa group (the main field) up to Selle. They've called Betagnolli out of the intermediate chase group back to the main field to help with the chase.

Km 191: Sella is pounding. He crashes in a declining radius corner, gets back up and goes hard again. A few others following in the same corner crash. Selle is ahead of 4 (L. BERTAGNOLLI, F. VILA ERRANDONEA, M. FERTONANI, R. LOBAT) by 25 seconds. Others follow, then the pack at about 3 minutes.

Km 180: The break has fallen into several groups on the first rated climb. On the descent the dropped riders are scrambling to get back on. It looks like Emanuele Selle (Panaria) is off the front of the break by a minute, and a group of 14 of the breakers has formed on the descent. They are about 1min 30sec ahead of the field.

Km 150: On the lower slopes of the first climb, the lead is down to 2min 18sec.

Km 118: around Km 66, 20 riders got away: Presently their lead is 2min 50sec. After they went through the feed zone (the big "R" in the maps above), they became disorganized. They are back together again. The riders are: R. NOCENTINI (13), Bo HAMBURGER (14), B. LANCASTER (34), M. PEREZ ARANGO (52), A. VANOTTI (68), G. COLOMBO (73), M. DERGANC (74), M. TOSATTO (87), F. MOUREY (96), G. MURAGLIA (107), M. STRAUSS (117), F. WEGMANN (118), Jan SVORADA (124), J. VERSTREPEN (138), N. GATES (147), M. FERTONANI (154), R. BERTOGLIATI (161), G. BOSISIO (171), N. LODA (174), D. PODGORNIK (177)

153 riders started this Giro's second longest stage. There were no overnight retirements.

The weather at Ancona, on today's route: Sunny, 72F (22C), wind from the NE at 8 MPH (13 KPH). A nice day for a bike race.

The first two hours were covered at a very fast pace, 50.200 KPH! Bradley McGee hopes to regain the Pink Jersey in Saturday's only real individual time trial. He is down 1min 58 sec, sitting in 13th place. He will have to ride very well and make sure Cungeo and Simoni don't gain any real time on him today's tough stage.

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Friday, May 21: Stage 12, CESENA - TREVISO, 210 KM

Results:

There was a split in the field during the sprint, so Simoni, Pellizotti and a few others lost 6 seconds. This is Petacchi's 6th win this Giro. He's won half of the stages.

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 4hr 48min 12sec
2. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.
3. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
4. Zoran Kemencic (Tenax) s.t.
5. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
6. Alberto Loddo (Saunier Duval) s.t.
7. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
8. Maxim Rudenko (Chocolade Jacques) s.t.
9. Andris Nauduzs (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
10. Simone Cadamuro (De Nardi) s.t.

GC after Stage 12:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 55hr 31min 41sec
2. Gilberto Simoni @ 10sec
3. Franco Pellizotti @ 28sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych @ 40sec
5. Giuliano Figueras @ 52sec
6. Stefano Garzelli @ 1min 15sec
7. Andrea Noè (Alessio) @ 1min 17sec
8. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) s.t.
9. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 19sec
10. Emanuele Sella (Panaria) @ 1min 25sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 175 points
2. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 101
3. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 98
4. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) 85

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 30points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader: Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia)

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 161hr 1min 53sec
2. Alessio @ 6sec
3. Lampre @ 2min 57sec

Live updates:

The finish. Petacchi takes another in a furious bump and push sprint. The fight for Petacchi's wheel seems to grow more fierce each stage. McEwen is number 2 and just can't come around. Vini Caldirol's Zanotti is pushed (by Klemencic?) and crashes hard.

Km 194: Oops. Now they have him. We have everyone together. Gruppo compatto. It's a long straight 1.2 km finish for what will probably be a real drag race for the sprint win. A perfect Petacchi setup. I count all 9 Fassa Bortolo riders at the front with Petacchi the last of the 9 in the line. Alessio has a parallel train moving up.

Km 193: Steegmans jumped from his breakaway companions at the Intergiro (the "I" on the maps above). He is alone and away by 35 seconds. The other two have been caught.

35 Km to go. After having written about Saeco in the posting below, now they are at the front, working. I dunno why. No one in the break is a GC threat. The gap is down to 1min 30sec

Km 165: The gap is down to 2min 10 sec. Fassa Bortolo has this well in hand. Just behind the train of Fassa policemen, the Lotto boys are also in a line. In previous stages, Saeco has been running a parallel line next to Fassa in some of these situations, using what appears to be a lot of energy. Perhaps with yesterday's Saeco burnout when Simoni and Cunego didn't have any help, Saeco realized they were squandering their team. Right now Saeco seems nicely tucked in the front third of the pack with their noses safely out of the wind. In the break, Lotto's Steegmans sems to have stopped working.

Km 145: Fassa is bringing the gap down. The lead is now 3min 30sec.

Km. 138: The break is still at 3min 58sec with Fassa Bortolo at the front of the pack. After 3 hours, the average speed is a bit higher, 43.350 KPH.

Current weather at Triviso, where the stage finishes: 74F (23C), partly sunny with the wind at only 1mph (2KPH) from the ENE. The weather could be unsetteld for tomorrw's important time trial, however. For tomorrow, rain is predicted for Trieste, where the time trial will be held.

Km 96: 3 riders broke away at km 16. They currently have a lead of 4 min 18sec. They have had a lead of as much as 5min 5sec. The riders are: Leonardo SCARSELLI (Colombia-Selle Italia), Gert STEEGMANS (Lotto), Radoslav ROGINA (Tenax).

152 riders started the stage at 12:00 Noon. Massimo Iannetti (Domina Vacanze), who was one of the riders caught in a surprising declining radius curve and crashed in one of the wild curving descents did not start. He has a fractured clavicle. After 2 hours of racing, the average speed of today's stage is a brisk 43.3 KPH.

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Saturday, May 22: Stage 13, TRIESTE - Altopiano Carsico - (Individual Time Trial), 52 KM

Rupingrande (elevation 309 meters) - 2.9 km - Average gradient 3.5% with a patch of 14%

Stage 13 Individual Time Trial results:

1. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) 1hr 6min 45sec
2. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 18sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 34sec
4. Marzio Bruseghin (Fassa Bortolo) @ 44sec
5. Rubens Bertogliati (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 32sec
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1min 43sec
7. Magnus Backstedt (Alessio) @ 1min 52sec
8. Russel Van Hount (Colombia-Selle Italia) @ 2min 14sec
9. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 2min 18sec
10. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) @ 2min 21sec
11. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 2min 30sec
15. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 2min 31sec
23. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) @ 3min 2sec

GC after Stage 13:

1. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) 56hr 39min 40sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 3sec
3. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 1min 2sec
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 1min 27sec
5. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 1min 32sec
6. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) @ 1min 48sec
7. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 2min 30sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 2min 31sec
9. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2min 34sec
10. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) @ 3min 9sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 175 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 104
3. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 101

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 30points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader: Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia)

Team Classification

1. Alessio 169hr 38min 49sec
2. Saeco @ 2min 43sec
3. Lampre @ 4min 25sec

Live updates:

The rain started to fall as the last riders (and the serious GC contenders ) got on the road. It stopped before the end of the stage, but there were some problems. Simoni slipped and tore himself up. Garzelli got a flat and needed a bike change. In light of those problems, their times weren't bad at all. And Bradley Mcgee didn't have the suds today to take the Pink Jersey.

With 84 riders in the barn, Marzio Bruseghin of Fassa Bortolo has raised the bar. He came in at 1:07:29. With the riders going out in reverse GC order, the times should continue to fall.

With 30 riders finished, big Magnus Backstedt of Alessio has the best time with 1:08:37.

I just looked at CNN's weather site and it says that it is 65F (18C), mostly cloudy with at 12 MPH (19 KPH) wind from the SSE. Showers are predicted. The course starts at about sea level, climbs to 369 meters elevation before returning to 3 meters elevation.

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Sunday, May 23: Stage 14, TRIESTE - PULA/POLA ,175 KM

Stage 14 results:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 4hr 8min 58sec
2. Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
3. Marco Velo (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
4. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
5. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
6. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
7. Luciano Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) s.t.
8. Angelo Furlan (Alessio) s.t.
9. Albert Borrajo (Panaria) s.t.
10. Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) s.t.

GC After Stage 14:

1. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) 60hr 48min 38sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 3sec
3. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 1min 2sec
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 1min 27sec
5. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 1min 32sec
6. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) @ 1min 48sec
7. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 2min 30sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 2min 31sec
9. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2min 34sec
10. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) @ 3min 9sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 200 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 118
3. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 101

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 30points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro Leader:

1. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)
2. Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia) s.t.

Team Classification:

1. Alessio 182hr 5min 43sec
2. Saeco @ 2min 43sec
3. Lampre @ 4min 25sec

Live updates:

The finish: Petacchi gets his 7th win of this Giro. He ties the postwar recod of De Vlaeminck, Maertens and Sarroni. Now, how About Alfredo Binda's all time record of 12 stage victories that he earned in the 1927 Giro? Not very likely with the Giro headed into the high mountains this week.

Km 166: The break is caught as they ride the first of two 6.5 km finishing circuits.

Km 162: It's down to 53 seconds.

Km 139: The gap is down to 1min 26sec

Km 110: Pavel Tonkov has gone back to the peloton, so now the break is three: Illiano, Marzoli and Muraglia. Their lead starting on the race's last sharp little climb is 3 minutes. Lotto is helping Fassa Bortolo at the front of the pack.

Km 90. Hauptman couldn't stay with the break and is back in the peloton. The remaining 4 have had their lead shaved to 1min 22sec.

Km 56: A break went at km 16 and is still off the front with 1min 56sec. After going over the Svi Sveti, they are still together. The riders are: Ruggero MARZOLI, Rafaele ILLIANO, Aandrej HAUPTMAN, Pavel TONKOV, Giuseppe MURAGLIA. Fassa Bortolo is at the front keeping things in check.

The weather in Trieste: 63F (17C), Sunny with the wind only 2MPH (3 KPH) from the north, a slight tailwind.

150 riders started today. Sven Montgomery and Zoren Klemencic have retired. Both crashed in yesterday's time trial. The stage goes through Slovenia and finish in Croatia. The climb (the yellow "GPM" in the maps above) at Svi Sveti is rated 2nd Category. It should not present any problem to Petaccchi and the other in-form sprinters, being so early in the stage. Their teams should make sure that things are together for the finish.

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Monday, May 24: Stage 15, POREC/PARENZO - SAN VENDEMIANO, 234 KM

The last sprinter's stage until the final stage on Sunday with its 10 circuits in Milan.

Stage 15 results:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 5hr 59min 52sec
2. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.
3. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
4. Andris Nauduzs (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
5. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
6. Fred Rodriguez (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
7. Angelo Furlan (Alessio) s.t.
8. Simone Cadamuro (De Nardi)s.t.
9. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
10. Luciano Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) s.t.

GC after Stage 15:

1. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) 66hr 48min 30sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 3sec
3. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 1min 2sec
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 1min 27sec
5. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 1min 32sec
6. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) @ 1min 48sec
7. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 2min 30sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 2min 31sec
9. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2min 34sec
10. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) @ 3min 9sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 225 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 134
3. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 121

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 30points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 28
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) 16

Intergiro:

1. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)
2. Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia) @ 9sec

Team GC:

1. Alessio 200hr 5min 19sec
2. Saeco @ 2min 51sec
3. Lampre @ 4min 25sec

Live Updates:

The sprint. It's a furious last 2 kilometers with Acqua & Sapone trying to get a rival train going to put Fred Rodriguez in position, but they are too early. Petacchi bides his time. Even though it looks too late to me, he goes and beats McEwen who looks as if he slows a bit and squeezes through a hole in the right hand side between Pollack the barriers. Petacchi wins by a wheel and gains the post-war record of stage wins in a single Giro. The sprint was clocked at 68.8 KPH (42 MPH). Now it's 8!

Km 222: The break is caught.

Km 213: Fassa pounds at the front and the gap is down to 1min 13sec.

Km 200: The gap is about 2min. There was a crash at the back of the field, but everyone is up and back in the shelter of the pack.

Km 182: The gap is down to 2min 23sec. Fassa Bortolo is at the front of the pack as is usual in the flat sprinter's stages and is slowly bringing the breakaways back.

Km 164: The lead is down to 4 minutes. Alessio's Magnus Backstedt retired from the Giro as the pack went through the feed zone. There are presently 9 out of the 19 starting teams with all their riders. OLN just reported that the Gavia Pass, the highest pont of this Giro and a monument in Italian cycling is still snowed in. The schedule calls for it to be an important part of Stage 18 on Friday.

Km 120: 4 riders are away after some early attacks and counter attacks. Presently they have 6min 35sec although at one point they had as much as 9min 35sec. The riders away are: Russell VAN HOUT (58, Colombia-Selle Italia), Mario SCIREA (79, Domina Vacanze), Daniele RIGHI (128, Lampre), Giancarlo GINESTRI (172, Tenax).

This is the 2004 Giro's longest stage. 150 riders started today at 11:25 AM. There were no overnight retirements. The weather: a nice day for a bike race, sunny, 63F (17C) with a 5 MPH (8KPH) wind from the SSW.

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Tuesday, May 25: Stage 16, SAN VENDEMIANO - FALZES, 217 KM

Major ascents:

Forcella Staulanza (elevation 1,773 meters) - 12.4 km - Average gradient 6.8%
Valparola (elevation 2,200 meters) -15.4 km - 5.8%. 889 meters of elevation gain, 14% maximum gradiet, near the top.
Passo Furcia (elevation 1,759 meters) -12 km - 6.2%, 758 meters of elevation gain. 14% maximum gradient, also near the top.
Terento (elevation 1,252 meters) - 7 km - 7.1%, 532 meters of elevation gain. 12% gradient with lots of 8% to 12%. The climb eases near the top as the profile of the mountain is rounded.

Forcast for the weather for Tuesday in Bolzano, just to the west of the route, is Sunny and warm, 69F (21C).

Stage 16 results:
145 classified finishers

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 6hr 11min 23sec
2. Rinaldo Nocentini (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1min 16sec
3. Alexandre Moos (Phonak) @ 1min 38sec
4. Raffaele Illiano (Colombia-Selle Italia) s.t.
5. Giuseppe Di Grande (Formaggi Pinzolo) s.t.
6. Julio Perez-Cuapio (Panaria) s.t.
7. Chirstophe Brandt (Lotto) s.t.
8. Luis Laverde Jimenez (Colombia-Selle Italia) @ 1min 58sec
9. Ruggero Marzoli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 29sec
10. . Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) s.t.
11. Rubens Bertogliati (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
12. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 2min 39sec
13. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) s.t.
14. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) s.t.
20. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 3min 23sec
22. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 3min 50sec
23. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 4min 18sec
29. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 5min 27sec

GC after Stage 16:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 73hr 1min 21sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 1min 14sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 2min 22sec
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 2min 38sec
5. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 3min 31sec
6. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 3min 52sec
7. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) @ 4min 20sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 4min 26sec
9. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4min 31sec
10. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 5min 31sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 225 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 134
3. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 102

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 45points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 38
3. Alexandre Moos (Phonak) 27

Intergiro:

1. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)
2. Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia) @ 9sec

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 218hr 52min 34sec
2. Panaria @ 1min 10sec
3. Alessio @ 3min 20sec

Live updates:

The finish: Cunego had been dragging Nocentini up the climb, but dropped him. Simoni seemed content to drop Popovych and then sit in on his group.

2 Km to the summit: Cunego is all alone and pedaling smoothly. Figueras has attacked the Maglia Rosa group and has a real gap. As Popovych tried to close the gap up to Figueras, Simoni could see that Popo didn't have it. So, Simoni goes and take about 3 riders with him, but not Garzelli or Popovych. Popovych is alone and chasing.

15 km to go: Cunego is riding like a man possessed. He's lost his Saeco helpers and is sweeping up the riders in the break up front. Aebersold is turning squares now. Cungeo has caught everyone. The Popovych-Simoni group is without Garzelli (I think) and is about 3 minutes down the hill.

Under the 20 km to go banner: Aebersold alone, then the original break @ 1min 30sec. Cunego's group no longer has Wegman, who blew up. They are 3 minutes behind Aebersold and 3 minutes ahead of Popovych and Simoni.

Km 190: Mountains Leader Fabian Wegman is also with the Cunego group and he's taking monster pulls wanting to get up to the break ahead and get some more climbing points.

Km 185: Cunego's group now has about 3 minutes on the Pink Jersey group of about 18. Pellizotti has rejoined and even Bradley McGee is there with Simoni and Popovych. Up the road, Aebersold is alone followed by what remains of the original big break.

Km 175: Brilliant: Saeco's Eddy Mazzoleni drops out of the front break and waits for Cunego at the top of the Furcia. Up the road, Tonti, also of Saeco, sits up and waits for Mazzoleni and Cunego. Cunego will have 2 Saeco along with Marzoli who was also caught by Cunego riders to help him. Popovych has trouble as Saeco uses their classic "rabbits up the road" strategy.

Km 160: On the Furcia. Phonak's Aebersold has attacked the lead group of 17. then, @ 1min 25 is the big break. Then following them at 4min are Piccoli, Marzoli and Pozzi. then a small group of elite GC riders in what is left of the field. Garzelli is having trouble and Pellizotti has been tossed. Cunego attacks and Popovych stays glued to Simoni's wheel.

Km 129, Descending the second major climb, the Valparola. A break went early, Km 21 with 17 riders. Noteably, Mountains Competition Wegman is in this break sucking up climbing points. A few kilometers later, another group of 5 went. As expected, super sprinter Alessandro Petacchi is having trouble on the climbs.

The group of 17, about 10 minutes ahead of the peloton: Eddy MAZZOLENI (5), Aandre TONTI (9), Rinaldo NOCENTINI (13), Alessandro BERTOLINI (23), Julio PEREZ CUAPIO (32), Fortunato BALIANI (38), Raffaele ILLIANO (55), Michele GOBBI (66), Charly WEGELIUS (69), Giuseppe DI GRANDE (106), L. LAVERDE JIMENEZ (108), Fabian WEGMANN (118), Christophe BRANDT (142), Niki AEBERSOLD (152), Alexandre MOOS (155), Rubens BERTOGLIATI (161), Oscar MASON (186)

Following them, 4min 43sec behind, 5min 17sec ahead of the pack, the ficve are now 4: Ruggero MARZOLI, Mariano PICCOLI, Renzo MAZZOLENI, Oscar POZZI

It looks like the prediction for good weather for this crucial stage in the high mountains has come true. Sunny, 75F (24C) and only a slight breeze (2 mph, 3 kph headwind) for the 147 starters. Lotto's Robbie McEwen fulfilled his promise and went home to get ready for the Tour de France.

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Wednesday, May 26: Rest Day

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Thursday, May 27: Stage 17, BRUNICO - FONDO SARNONICO, 153 KM

Passo della Mendola (elevation 1,363 meters) -14.8 km - average gradient 6.5%. Maximum gradient, 10% about 2/3 the way up the climb. 958 meters of elevation gain.

There is also a finishing circuit in the Val di Non that entails some climbing, but nothing like the Mendola.

Stage 17 results:

1. Pavel Tonkov (Vini Caldirola) 3hr 40min 5sec
2. Alessandro Bertolini (Alessio) 2min 14sec
3. Bradley McGee (FDJ) 2min 49sec
4. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) s.t.
5. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) s.t.
6. Ruggero Marzoli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.
7. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
8. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) s.t.
9. Emanuele Sella (Panaria) s.t.
10. Ruben Lobato (Saunier Duval) s.t.

Sprinters' group with Petacchi and Figueras @ 13min 53sec

GC after Stage 17:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 76hr 44min 15sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 1min 14sec
3. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 2min 22sec
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 2min 38sec
5. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 4min 4sec
6. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) @ 4min 20sec
7. Stefano Garzlli (Vini Caldirola) @ 4min 26sec
8. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4min 31sec
9. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) @ 5min 31sec
10. Tadej Valjavec (Phonak) @ 5min 40sec
21. Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) @ 14min 35sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 225 points
2. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 134
3. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 116

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 45 points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 38
3. Alexandre Moos (Phonak) 27

Intergiro:

1. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)
2. Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia) @ 9sec

Team Cllassification:

1. Saeco 230hr 1min 16sec
2. Alessio @ 2min 46sec
3. Vini Caldirola @ 7min 34sec

Live updates:

The finish: Tonkov extended his lead over Bertolini and came in all alone. Correction to the earlier posting: McGee nails the field sprint and edges out Cunego.

Km 146, under the 7 km to go banner: Tonkov is gone, Bertolini is a minute behind him. The group of seven has been caught just after Colombia's Rafaele Illinao took off on his own. Honchar's De Nardi is leading the pack.

Km 138: Tonkov just gets out of the saddle on the final series of climbs at the finish and rides away from Bertolini. Tonkov is looking smooth and strong as he rides to what will probably be a stage win.

Km 128: Under the 25 Km to go banner on the finishing Val di Non circuit: Bertolini and Tonkov are hammering. The group of seven (R. ILLIANO (55), O. ZAUGG (168), L. LAVERDE JIMENEZ (108), R. NOCENTINI (13), F. VILA ERRANDONEA (129), S. ZAMPIERI (188), M. GOBBI (66), O. POZZI (178) follows at 2min 30sec

The Maglia Rosa group has all the GC contenders except Figueras, who is clearly not up to his normal superb form. They follow the gang of 7 at 1min 27sec. The sprinters group with Petacchi and Figueras is abou 9 minutes back and is being led by Fassa Bortolo.

Km 103: Over the top of the Mendola: Tonkov (Vini Caldirola) took off after Pozzi and Bertolini. Bertolini dropped Pozzi but was caught by Tonkov near the top of the Mendola. Giuliano Figueras, who is normally quite a good climber is having a bad day and is not with the Maglia Rosa. So:

Bertolini (he has 10 pro victories) and Tonkov (former Giro winner), then Pozzi at 50sec

Then a new group of 7 containing Nocentini and Zampieri (but not Garzelli) at another 30sec.

At another 1min 30 sec is the Maglia Rosa. And Damiano Cunego has had another bike change. It looks like Firgueras' GC hope are dashed as his group is 5min behind the Maglia Rosa.

Km 91: Oh, this is interesting. Pozzi and Bertolini are still away. On the climb, 11 riders scooted off the front. Stefano Garzelli took off after them and is now in that break. At that moment, Damiano Cunego had a mechanical. Cunego is back in the pack. It's 2min 52sec from the Pozzi/Bertolini break back to the Garzelli group and then 56sec back to the Pink Jersey group which still has Alessandro Petacchi (they can't be going that hard).

Km 78: The weather in Bolzano: Light rainshowers, 59F (15C) with a light 2 mph (3kph) wind from the west.

Km 72: Oscar Pozzi (Tenax) and Alessandro Bertolini (Alessio) are away with a lead of 1min 30sec. Saeco is doing the work of pulling the field.

Stage 17: 145 riders started the stage. There were no overnight retirements. Bradely McGee had threatened to quit after being accused of taking a tow from a team car and being penalized 20 seconds. McGee submitted testimony from the riders around him at the time, but to no avail. Simoni clearly wants to win the Giro, but has vowed not to attack his fantastic teamate in Pink, Damiano Cunego. We'll see. The race is presently in the downhill run-in to the major climb, the Mendola. the average sped has been high, 51.650 kph for the first hour. The have been many attacks and counter-attacks. Jan Svorada and Luciano Paglianrini Mendonca crashed and have retired from the race.

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Friday, May 28: Stage 18, CLES Val di Non - BORMIO 2000, 118 KM.

Ascents:

Passo del Tonale (elevation 1,883 meters) - 15.2 km - Average gradient 6%, maximum gradient is 10%, about 2/3 the way up the climb. It has a rounded profile with the last 1.5 km being less than 5%. 918 meters of elevation gain.

Passo di Gavia (elevation 2,618 meters) - 16.7 km - 7.9% average gradient with a maximum of 16%. 1,322 meters of elevation gain. this is an unbelievably hard climb. Simoni says that when he's on the Gavia, he doesn't know if he's going to make it to top. The descent on the north side is pretty hairy as well.

Bormio 2000 (elevation 1,938 meters) - 9.9 km - 7.5% average graient with a maximum of 12%. 742 meters of elevation gain.

Stage 18 results:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 3hr 56min 31sec
2. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 5sec
3. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) s.t.
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 9sec
5. Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria) @ 17sec
6. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 35sec
7. Juan Garate (Lampre) s.t.
8. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 41sec
9. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) s.t.
10. Andrea Noè (Alessio) @ 43sec
11. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 1min
15. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 2min 3sec

GC after stage 18:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 80hr 40min 26sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) 1min 31sec
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 3min 7sec
4. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 3min 23sec
5. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4min 44sec
6. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) @ 5min 21sec
7. Bradley McGee @ 5min 24sec
8. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 6min 45sec
9. Juan Garate (Lampre) @ 6min 56sec
10. Andrea Noé (Alessio) @ 6min 58sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 225 points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 141
3. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 134

Climber:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 53
2. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 50
3. Alexandre Moos (Phonak) 27

Intergiro:

1. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone)
2. Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia) @ 9sec

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 241hr 51min 33sec
2. Alessio @ 10min 18sec
3. Lampre @ 16min 30sec

Live updates:

The finish: The 5 were looking edgy and Cunego kept looking back for Simoni. I assume he wanted to lead Simoni out for a stage win and the time bonus. Honchar was leading and then Cunego kicked it and NO ONE could stay with him. He came in alone. Simoni has dragged himself up onto the podium.

3 Km to go. Cioni has dragged Honchar and Cunego up to Simoni. And now Julio Perez Cuapio is bridged.

4 Km to go: Fassa's Cioni attacks and take Honchar and Cunego. They are slowly getting up to Simoni.

5 Km to go: Simoni dropped Sella. Cunego's group has Popovych hanging on for dear life. I think the gap up to Simoni may have grown to 30 seconds. Miholievic has been caught.

8 km to go: Saeco's Mazzoleni hits the front hard. Garzelli and Pellizotti are tossed.

BAM! Here it is. Simoni goes. Cunego stays in the group. Panaria's Sella goes after him

Selle easily bridges up to Simni and takes the point. This is not the old, masterful Simoni. Now Cunego attacks and loses some riders. Fassa's Cioni and Honchar are still with him. Now Cioni is leading the Cunego group up to Simoni/Sella.

!0 Km to go. Garzelli is caught. Miholievic still has a good lead, maybe 2minutes. Helmets and jackets off for the final climb. All the big boys are in the Maglia Rosa group.

Km 98. Through Bormio at the Intergiro: Miholievic, then the garzelli goup at 1min 54sec and the the Saeco (now I count 5 Saecos) at 2min 20 behind the leader. Everyone is eating, fortifying themselves for the final climb. Garzelli is riding as if he knows he will be caught.

About Km 90: They are off the steep part of the descent and headed to the town of Bormio. Miholievic is still in the lead. Garzelli with Gomes, Vila and Moreni is at 1min 15sec.

Cunego with 3 other Saeco's (including Simoni) in the chase group of about 15 is another 1min 20sec back. They are closing the gap to Garzelli. They rode the Gavia economically and saved their energy for the final ascent.

KM 73: Over the top of the Gavia. Alessio's Miholievic is still out front. Garzelli who has picked up Saunier Duval's Gomis comes across 1min 5sec later. Then there are some riders from the break and then the Maglia Rosa Group at about 3 minutes. Garzelli gained about 2minutes on the Gavia. There are steep walls of snow . The riders are picking up jackets for the (OK, for me it was scary) very scary descent down the north face of the Gavia.

Km 70: Garzelli is hauling. He's sweeping up the breakways and has dropped Mason.. There are only 4 men in front of him now. He has about 40 seconds on the Cunego group.

Km 65: Garzelli looks very good. Oscar Mason, also a Yello Vini, who was in the break up front has come back to help him. Belli is trying to get up to Garzelli, but is not making headway. The domestiques of Saeco are still leading the peloton with Cunego sitting 3rd.

Garzelli takes off from the Maglia Rosa peloton. No reaction .It's a really steep and narrow road here.

Kilometer 59: On the lower slopes of the Gavia. The front break is coming apart and the Saeco-lead pack is 3 minutes back. The weather on the Tonale was wet and cold. It looks better here.

Kilometer 50: Wegman lead the break over the Tonale and scooped up more mojntain points. The Maglia Rosa pack followed at about 2min 45sec.

Kilometer 38: The riders have a 2min 38sec lead near the top of the Tonale. Petacchi is in trouble in that group. The riders averaged 33.6 kph for the first hour. This is at the slower end of the Giro organization's projections for the stage.

Kilometer 30: 20 riders have broken away and have a lead of 2min 18sec. None seem to be be GC threats. Fabian Wegman is there, looking for more King of the Mountains points. The riders away are: L. BERTAGNOLLI (2), G. STANGELJ (7), K. POSPYEYEV (17), V. MIHOLYEVIC (25), C. MORENI (26), L. MAZZANTI (36), I. PUGACI (67), A. NAUDUZS (78), A. PETACCHI (85), P. GILBERT (94), M. STRAUSS (117), F. WEGMANN (118), D. RIGHI (128), F. VILA ERRANDONEA (129), V. BILEKA (131), N. SIYMENS (136), D. SCHNIDER (157), R. BERTOGLIATI (161), J. GOMIS LOPEZ (164), O. MASON (186).

Super breakaway rider Jacky Durand retired from the race. I don't know why.

141 riders started today's stage. The highest point of the Giro, the "Cima Coppi" is the monster Gavia Pass. Panaria's Giuliano Figueras had stomach trouble yesterday and did not start today. Also, Lampre sprinters Svorada and Pagliarini who crashed yesterday, also did not start.

The weather in Trento, just south of the start is 66F (19C) partly sunny with a wind from the ESE of 8mph (13kph). Thunderstorms are predicted for today.

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Saturday, May 29: Stage 19, BORMIO - PRESOLANA, 122 KM.

Passo del Mortirolo (elevation 1,855 meters) - 12.8 km - average gradient 10.2%, 18% maximium. 1322 meters of elevation gain.

Passo del Vivione (elevation 1,827 meters) - 19.8 km - 6.9%, average gradient with a maximum of 13%. 1,378 mewters of elevation gain.

Presolana (elevation 1,297 meters) - 7.9 km - 6.9% average gradient with a maximum of 16%. 547 meters of elevation gain.

Stage 19 results:

1. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) 3hr 52min 16sec
2. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 2sec
3. Tadej Valjavec (Phonak) @ 23sec
4. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 52sec
5. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) s.t.
6. Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) @ 1min 23sec
7. Pavel Tonkov (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
8. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) s.t.
9. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 1min 43sec
10. Franco Pellizotti (Alessio) s.t.
11. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) s.t.
16. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 2min 34sec

GC after Stage 19:

1. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 84hr 33min 34sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (De Nardi) @ 2min 2sec
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) @ 2min 5sec
4. Dario David Cioni (Fassa Bortolo) @ 4min 44sec
5. Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet) @ 5min 5sec
6. Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) @ 5min 31sec
7. Wladimir Belli (Lampre) s.t.
8. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 6min 15sec
9. Tadej Valjavec (Phonak) @ 6min 34sec
10. Juan Garate (Lampre) @ 7min 47sec

Points (sprinter):

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 225 points
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 153
3. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 134

Climber:

1. Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) 56
2. Damiano Cunego (Saeco) 54
3. Gilberto Simoni 36

Intergiro:

1. Raffaele Illiano (Colombia-Selle Italia)
2. Crescenzo D'Amore (Acqua & Sapone) @ 9sec
3. Marlon Perez Arango (Colombia-Selle Italia) @ 18sec

Team Classification:

1. Saeco 253hr 30min 38sec
2. Vini Caldirola @ 19min 28sec
3. Lampre @ 26min 6sec

Live updates:

The rest of the race: Garzelli, Simoni and Valjavec went over the Vivione about 2 minutes ahead of the Cunego/Honchar group. Emanuelle Selle tried to get up to Garzelli, but couldn't do it. Honchar worked hard to keep the chase moving to keep Simoni from taking his second place in GC. On the run-in to the Presolana, several Fassa Boys made it to Cunego/Honchar/Cioni group and helped on the chase

On the Presolana climb, Cioni, answering a Pellizotti attack, took Cunego with him. Cunego stuck to Cioni all the way to the top and easily preserved his Pink Jersey. Simoni and Garzelli dropped Valjavec on the climb. Simoni lead out the sprint, knowing the very quick Garzelli would win. Simoni couldn't get quite enough time to budge Honchar out of second place.

Km 82, on the Vivione. It's Simoni/Garzelli/Valjavec with the Maglia Rosa Cunego/Honchar group about 1min 40sec back. I think this puts Simoni in second place unless Honchar and the De Nardis put some hustle in the chase. This is the last update until the finish. I'll post the results about 9:30 AM PDT.

On the run in to the Vivione. Illiano has been joined by Bertolini and they lead. Simoni and Garzelli have picked up many of the riders of the first break and are working to catch the lead duo a little over a minute up the road. Cunego/Cioni/Honchar/Popovych have are still about 55 seconds back of them and their group has grown. Simoni better be full of lots of energy as well as anger if he is going to work this hard this early and still be able to stay away.

Over the top of the Mortirolo: Raffaele Illiano went over alone with members of his break scattered on the hill. Simoni/Garzelli/Valjavec are a little over a minute behind him. Cunego with Honchar and the others are another 45 seconds back. La Gazzetta Dello Sport's headline: "Simoni-Cunego: Il Grande Freddo (literally, "The big cold)". Ouch.

On the slopes of the massive Mortirolo:Garzelli attacked and took a furious (at Cunego) Simoni and Valjavec with him. Cunego and the other big boys are about 20 seconds back. It's early days in this stage.

At Km 10, a break went. None are GC contenders, but Fabian Wegman is hoping to get some mountains points so that he might retake the Green Jersy from Cunego. The break is falling apart. The riders are: R. MARZOLI (11), A. BERTOLINI (23), R. ILLIANO (55), I. PUGACI (67), F. WEGMANN (118), M. PICCOLI (127), F. VILA ERRANDONEA (129), N. SIYMENS (136), O. POZZI (178), O. MASON (186)

This is the last challenging stage with tomorrow's finale in Milan. 140 riders started today, there were no overnight retirements. Gilberto Simoni is learning that winners of Grand Tours are almost never over 32 years old. Simoni was born in 1971 and it looks as if Father Time has caught up with him. Despite every effort on the part of Saeco and Cunego to set Simoni up for a stage win yesterday, Simoni's legs just couldn't respond the way they did a year ago.

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Sunday, May 30: Stage 20, CLUSONE - MILANO, 149KM

The race: All 140 finishers of yesterday's stage started today. The weather is very fine. It is 75F (24C) and will get warmer in Milan. It's partly cloudy with a mild breeze of 4mph (6kph) from the ESE. The riders will have a 10 lap finishing ciruit in downtown Milan. The first hour was covered at only 30.3 kph with everyone together. The Giro is basically over and no one is in any rush at this point.

The peloton slowly cruised into Milan. As they started their 10 circuits in the city, Fassa Bortolo took over the duties of leading the pack from Saeco. They kept the speed high enough to prevent any breakaways from succeeding. At the end, they perfectly delivered Petacchi to the line for his 9th win this Giro. Damiano Cunego safely crossed the line for what is sure to be the start of a legendary cycling career.

Damiano Cunego and Gilberto Simoni

Stage 20 results:

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) 4hr 7min 1sec
2. Marco Zanotti (Vini Caldirola) s.t.
3. Aart Vierhouten (Lotto) s.t.
4. Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
5. Albert Borrajo (Panaria) s.t.
6. Alexandre Usov (Phonak) s.t.
7. Marco Velo (Fassa Botolo) s.t.
8. Simone Cadamuro (De Nardi) s.t.
9. Angelo Furlan (Alessio) @ 3sec
10. Marcus Ljungvist (Alessio) s.t.

Final Complete 2004 Giro d'Italia General Classification

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Summary of the Race:

	2002	2003	2004
STAGES	20 and prologue	21	20 and prologue
TOTAL KILOMETERS	3,363	3,485.5	3,435 about
DAILY AVERAGE	168.150	165.980	171.750 about
KIND OF STAGE:
Level	11	11	12
Semi Mountain	3	3	4
Mountain	4	5	3
Time Trial	2	2	1
AGAINST THE CLOCK	81	82	59
Gradient in meters	18,200	17,300	18,500
REST DAYS	2	2	2

Final 2004 Giro d'Italia General Classification:

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The Teams. Provisional Giro rider start list with backnumbers:

Saeco
	1	SIMONI, Gilberto	ITA
	2	BERTAGNOLLI, Leonardo	ITA
	3	CUNEGO, Damiano	ITA
	4	FORNACIARI, Paolo	ITA
	5	MAZZOLENI, Eddy	ITA
	6	SPEZIALETTI, Alessandro	ITA
	7	STANGELJ, Gorazd	SLO
	8	SZMYD, Sylvester	POL
	9	TONTI, Andrea	ITA
Acqua & Sapone-Caffe Mokambo
	11	MARZOLI, Ruggero	ITA
	12	FERRIGATO, Andrea	ITA
	13	NOCENTINI, Rinaldo	ITA
	14	HAMBURGER, Bo	DEN
	15	D'AMORE, Crescenzo	ITA
	16	RODRIGUEZ, Fred	USA
	17	POSPYEYEV, Kyrylo	UKR
	18	SOSENKA, Ondrej	CZE
	19	TRAMPUSCH, Gerhard	AUT
Alessio-Bianchi
	21	BACKSTEDT, Magnus	SWE
	22	FURLAN, Angelo	ITA
	23	BERTOLINI, Alessandro	ITA
	24	LJUNGQVIST, Marcus	SWE
	25	MIHOLIEVIC, Vladimir	CRO
	26	MORENI, Cristian	ITA
	27	NOE', Andrea	ITA
	28	PELLIZOTTI, Franco	ITA
	29	RASTELLI, Ellis	ITA
Ceramiche Panaria-Margres
	31	FIGUERAS, Giuliano	ITA
	32	PEREZ-CUAPIO, Julio A.	MEX
	33	DAVIS, Scott	AUS
	34	LANCASTER, Brett	AUS
	35	LANFRANCHI, Paolo	ITA
	36	MAZZANTI, Luca	ITA
	37	SELLA, Emanuele	ITA
	38	BALIANI, Fortunato	ITA
	39	BORRAJO, Alejandro Alberto	ARG
Chocolade Jacques Wincor-Nixdorf
	41	ARANGA-AZKUNE, Andoni	ESP
	42	ARDILA CANO, Mauricio Alberto	COL
	43	BRARD, Florent	FRA
	44	KOSTYUK, Denys	UKR
	45	GADRET, John	POL
	46	RUDENKO, Maxim	UKR
	47	VAN DE WALLE, Jurgen	BEL
	48	VERHEYEN, Geert	BEL
	49	VAN VELZEN, Jan	NED
Colombia-Selle Italia
	51	GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, Fredy	COL
	52	PEREZ ARANGO, Marlon Alirio	COL
	53	MARIN, Ruber Alverio	COL
	54
	55	ILLIANO, Raffaele	ITA
	56	SCARSELLI, Leonardo	ITA
	57	SCHNYDER, Philippe	SUI
	58	VAN HOUT, Russel	AUS
	59	WILSON, Trent	AUS
DeNardi
	61	HONCHAR, Serhiy	UKR
	62	BORGHI, Ruggero	ITA
	63	CADAMURO, Simone	ITA
	64	GASPARRE, Graziano	ITA
	65	GIORDANI, Leonardo	ITA
	66	GOBBI, Michele	ITA
	67	PUGACI, Igor	MDA
	68	VANOTTI, Alessandro	ITA
	69	WEGELIUS, Charles	GBR
Domina Vacanze
	71	CIPOLLINI, Mario	ITA
	72	AUG, Andrus	EST
	73	COLOMBO, Gabriele	ITA
	74	DERGANC, Martin	SLO
	75	GALLETTI, Alessio	ITA
	76	IANNETTI, Massimo	ITA
	77	LOMBARDI, Giovanni	ITA
	78	NAUDUZS, Andris	LAT
	79	SCIREA, Mario	ITA
Fassa Bortolo
	81	BRUSEGHIN, Marzio	ITA
	82	CIONI, Dario David	ITA
	83	CODOL, Massimo	ITA
	84	ONGARATO, Alberto	ITA
	85	PETACCHI, Alessandro	ITA
	86	SACCHI, Fabio	ITA
	87	TOSATTO, Matteo	ITA
	88	GUSTOV, Volodymir	UKR
	89	VELO, Marco	ITA
FDjeux.com
	91	BICHOT, Freddy	FRA
	92	DEREPAS, David	FRA
	93	FRITSCH, Nicolas	FRA
	94	GILBERT, Philippe	BEL
	95	McGEE, Bradley	AUS
	96	MOUREY, Francis	FRA
	97	VAUGRENARD, Benoit	FRA
	98	VOGONDY, Nicolas	FRA
	99	WILSON, Matthew	AUS
Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave'
	101	QUARANTA, Ivan	ITA
	102	MANZONI, Mario	ITA
	103	MERVAR, Bostjan	SLO
	104
	105	GUALDI, Domenico	ITA
	106	DiGRANDE, Giuseppe	ITA
	107	MURAGLIA, Giuseppe	ITA
	108	LAVERDE JIMENEZ, Luis Filipe	COL
	109	SERINA, Corrado	ITA
Gerolsteiner
	111	FARESIN, Gianni	ITA
	112	FORSTER, Robert	GER
	113	MONTGOMERY, Sven	SUI
	114	POLLACK, Olaf	GER
	115	REBELLIN, Davide	ITA
	116	SERPELLINI, Marco	ITA
	117	STRAUSS, Marcel	SUI
	118	WEGMANN, Fabian	GER
	119	ZIEGLER, Thomas	GER
Lampre
	121	GARATE, Juan Manuel	ESP
	122	BELLI, Wladimir	ITA
	123	ASTARLOA, Igor	ESP
	124	SVORADA, Jan	CZE
	125	HAUPTMAN, Andrej	SLO
	126	PAGLIARINI MENDONCA, Luciano A.	BRA
	127	PICCOLI, Mariano	ITA
	128	RIGHI, Daniele	ITA
	129	VILA ERRANDONEA, Francisco	ESP
Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
	131	BILEKA, Volodymyr	UKR
	132	DUMA, Vladimir	UKR
	133	DURAND, Jacky	FRA
	134	GASPERONI, Cristian	ITA
	135	POPOVYCH, Yaroslav	UKR
	136	SIJMENS, Nico	BEL
	137	VAITKUS, Tomas	LTU
	138	VERSTREPEN, Johan	BEL
	139	ADYEYEV, Sergiy	UKR
Lotto-Domo
	141	McEWEN, Robbie	AUS
	142	BRANDT, Christophe	BEL
	143	GARDEYN, Gorik	BEL
	144	WADECKI, Piotr	POL
	145	VIERHOUTEN, Aart	NED
	146	DETILLOUX, Christophe	BEL
	147	GATES, Nick	AUS
	148	STEEGMANS, Gert	BEL
	149	VERBRUGGHE, Ief	BEL
Phonak Hearing Systems
	151	ALBASINI, Michael	SUI
	152	AEBERSOLD, Niki	SUI
	153	BENNATI, Daniele	ITA
	154	FERTONANI, Marco	ITA
	155	MOOS, Alexandre	SUI
	156	MURN, Uros	SLO
	157	SCHNIDER, Daniel	SUI
	158	USOV, Alexandre	BLR
	159	VALJAVEC, Tadej	SLO
Saunier Duval-Prodir
	161	BERTOGLIATI, Rubens	SUI
	162	CANADA GRACIA, David	ESP
	163	DOMINGUEZ, J. Carlos	ESP
	164	GOMIS LOPEZ, Juan	ESP
	165	LOBATO ELVIRA, Ruben	ESP
	166	LODDO, Alberto	ITA
	167	MORI, Manuele	ITA
	168	ZAUGG	SWI
	169	STRAZZER, Massimo	ITA
Tenax
	171	BOISISIO, Gabriele	ITA
	172	GINESTRI, Giancarlo	ITA
	173	KLEMENCIC, Zoran	SLO
	174	LODA, Nicola	ITA
	175	MAZZOLENI, Renzo	ITA
	176	PIETROPOLLI, Daniele	ITA
	177	PODGORNIK, Dean	SLO
	178	POZZI, Oscar	ITA
	179	ROGINA, Radoslav	CRO
Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie
	181	GARZELLI, Stefano	ITA
	182	TONKOV, Pavel	RUS
	183	ANDRIOTTO, Dario	ITA
	184	GEROSA, Mauro	ITA
	185	MASCIARELLI, Simone	ITA
	186	MASON, Oscar	ITA
	187	SIRONI, Gianluca	ITA
	188	ZAMPIERI, Steve	SUI
	189	ZANOTTI, Marco	ITA

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