2008 Giro d'Italia

The stages:

Thursday, May 8: Team Presentation


Here's the Slipstream team at the presentation. David Miller is on the far left with giant Magnus Backstedt next to him.

Saturday, May 10: Stage 1, Palermo 23.6 km Team Time Trial


Slipstream nails the team time trial and puts Vande Velde in Pink

More stage 1 pictures by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Results:

Slipstream: 26min 32sec. 53.366 km/hr
CSC @ 6sec
High Road @ 7sec
Liquigas @ 9sec
Barloworld @ 14sec
LPR @ 28sec
Astana @ 29sec
Tinkoff @ 33sec
Quick Step @ 42sec
Lampre @ 45sec
Milram s.t.
Serramenti PVC @ 51sec
Gerolsteiner @ 54sec
Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
Saunier Duval @ 1min 2sec
Rabobank @ 1min 4sec
Ag2R @ 1min 5sec
Cofidis s.t.
CSF @ 1min 15sec
Euskaltel @ 1min 17sec
Silence-Lotto @ 1min 18sec
FDJ @ 1min 26sec

GC after Stage 1:

Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) 26min 32sec
David Zabriskie (Slipstream) s.t.
Ryder Hesjedal (Slipstream) s.t.
Julian Dean (Slipstream) s.t.
Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream) s.t.
Michael Blaudzun (CSC) @ 6sec
Niki Sorensen (CSC) s.t.
Bradley McGee (CSC) s.t.
Stuart O'Grady (CSC) s.t.
Jason McCartney (CSC) s.t.
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 28sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) s.t.
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 29sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) s.t.
Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 2sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 4sec


Stage 1 route map for the team time trial in Palermo

Stage 1 elevation guide.

Sunday, May 11: Stage 2, Cefalu - Agrigento, 207 km. Mixed terrain

More pictures from Stage 2.

Results:

David Zabriskie (Slipstream) was injured in a crash and had to be taken to the hospital.

Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) 5hr 48min 35sec. 35.629 km/hr
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) s.t.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) s.t.
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.
Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ) @ 4sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 8sec
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) s.t.
Andreas Kloden (Astana) s.t.
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 16sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 20sec

GC after Stage 2:

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 6hr 15min 16sec
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 1sec
Chris Sorensen (CSC) @ 7sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) s.t.
Morris Possoni (High Road) @ 8sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
Nicki Sorensen (CSC) @ 17sec
Bradley McGee (CSC) s.t.
Konstantsin Siutsou (High Road) @ 18sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 19sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 30sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 40sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 2sec

Points:

Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) 25 points
Danilo Di Luca: 20
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner): 16

Mountains:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 5 points
David Loosli (Lampre): 3
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 3


	Stage 2 route map.

Stage 2 elevation guide.

Monday, May 12: Stage 3, Catania - Milazzo, 221 km. Flat

More pictures from Stage 3

Results:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas)5hr 37min 1sec. 39.523 km/hr
Erik Zabel (Milram) s.t.
Danilo Hondo (Serramenti PVC) s.t.
Thomas Fothen (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
Alberto Loddo (Tinkoff) s.t.
Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
Tiziano Dall'Antonia (CSF) s.t.
Marlon A. Perez Arango s.t.
Mark Cavendish (High Road) s.t.
Oscar Gatto (Gerolsteiner) s.t.

GC after stage 3:

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 11hr 52min 17sec
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 1sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 7sec
Morris Possoni (High Road) @ 8sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
Nicki Sorensen (CSC) @ 17sec
Kanstantsin Siutsou (High Road) @ 18sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 19sec
Andrea Noè (Liquigas) @ 22sec
Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) @ 25sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 28sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 30sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 33sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 40sec
Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 2sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 5sec

Points:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 29 points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 25
Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 20
Erik Zabel (Milram): 20

Mountains:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 8 points
David Loosli (Lampre): 3
Daniele Pietropolli (LPR) 3
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 3


Stage 3 Route Map. The Giro has moved to the mainland from Sicily. Note that the early kilometers circle Mt. Etna.

Stage 3 elevation guide

Tuesday, May 13: Stage 4, Pizzo Calabro - Catanzaro Lungomare, 183 km. Flat

Another big crash (maxi-caduta in Italian) at the finish. This one took out Nick Nuyens (Cofidis). Yesterday CSC lost both Bradley McGee and Stuart O'Grady to crashes.

More pictures from Stage 4

Results:

Mark Cavendish (High Road) 4hr 49min 9sec. 37.558 km/hr
Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) s.t.
Assan Bazayev (Astana) s.t.
Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) s.t.
Erik Zabel (Milram) s.t.
Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) s.t.
Tony Martin (High Road) s.t.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.

GC after Stage 4:

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 16hr 41min 26sec
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 1sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 7sec
Morris Possoni (High Road) @ 8sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
Nicki Sorensen (CSC) @ 17sec
Kanstantsin Siutsou (High Road) @ 18sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 19sec
Andrea Noè (Liquigas) @ 22sec
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) @ 24sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 28sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 30sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 33sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 40sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 2sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 5sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 45 points
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 32
Erik Zabel (Milram) 30

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 9 points
Daniele Pietropolli (LPR): 5
David Loosli (Lampre): 3


Stage 4 route map.

Stage 4 elevation guide.

Wednesday May 14: Stage 5, Belvedere Marittimo - Contursi Terme, 203 km. Mixed terrain

More stage 5 pictures

Results:

Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff) 5hr 4min 52sec. 39.951 km/hr
Johannes Fröhlinger (Gerolsteiner) @ 4sec
Luis Felipe Laverde (CSF) @ 10sec
Francisco Perez Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) @ 31sec
Daniele Petropolli (LPR) s.t.
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier duval) s.t.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.
Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ) s.t.
Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.

GC after Stage 5:

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 21hr 46min 49sec
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 1sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 7sec
Morris Possoni (High Road) @ 8sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
Nicki Sorensen (CSC) @ 17sec
Kanstantsin Siutsou (High Road) @ 18sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 19sec
Andrea Noè (Liquigas) @ 22sec
Enrico Gasparotto @ 25sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 28sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 30sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 33sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 40sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 2sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 5sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 46 points
Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval): 34
Pavel Brut (Tinkoff): 33

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 9 points
Daniele Pietropolli (LPR): 5
Luis Felipe Laverde (CSF): 3


Stage 5 route map

Stage 5 elevation guide.

Thursday, May 15: Stage 6, Potenza - Peschici ~~(Circuit of Gargano), 265km.~~ To satisfy rider complaints that their days have been overlong because of tedious transfers, the Giro organization eliminated the final Circuit of Gargano. The stage will be 231.6 kilometers long.

More Stage 6 Photos

Results:

Matteo Priamo (CSF) 5hr 24min 49sec. 42.854 km/hr
Alan Perez Lezaun (Euskaltel) @ 8sec
Nikolai Trusov (Tinkoff) @ 27sec
Paul Martens (Rabobank) @ 31sec
Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana) @ 32sec
Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC) @ 36sec
Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) @ 40sec
Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) s.t.
Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream) @ 43sec
Mattias Russ (Gerolsteiner) @ 47sec
Jason McCartney (CSC) @ 1min 3sec
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) @ 11min 34sec, field sprint winner.

GC after Stage 6:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 27hr 14min 4sec
Mattias Russ (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 22sec
Alan Perez Lezaun (Euskaltel) @ 4min 42sec
Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) @ 5min 34sec
Matteo Priamo (CSF) @ 9min 7sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 9min 8sec
Danilo De Luca (LPR) @ 9min 15sec
Morris Possoni (High Road) @ 9min 16sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.y.
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 9min 23sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 9min 27sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 9min 36sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 9min 38sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 9min 41sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 10min 10sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 10min 11sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 10min 13sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 50 points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 34
Pavel Brut (Tinkoff): 33
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 32
Erik Zabel (Milram): 30

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 12 points
Daniele Pietropolli (LPR): 5
Luis Felipe Laverde (CSF): 3


Stage 6 route map

Stage 6 elevation guide.

Friday, May 16: Stage 7, Vasto - Pescocostanzo, 176 km. Hilltop finish.

Ascent into the city of Pescocostnzo is 2.8 km long with an average gradient of 6%. There is a patch of 9% gradient that occurs with just a little more than a kilometer to go.

La Gazzetta Dello Sport talked to a few riders at the end of yesterday's stage. Franco Pellizzotti says that Astana riders Contador and Kloden have been riding very economically and that in the coming time trial they will leave everyone minutes behind. World Champion Paolo Bettini says Contador is riding better every day.

More Stage 7 pictures

Results:

Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) 4hr 45min 5sec. 37.041 km/hr
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff) @ 46sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 1min 2sec
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld) @ 1min 33sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 2min 4sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) s.t.
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) @ 2min 7sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 2min 10sec
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 2min 55sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.

Also: Kloden, Liepheimer, Simoni, Savoldelli and Menchov @ 2min 55sec

GC after Stage 7:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 32hr 3min 1sec
Mattias Russ (Gerolsteiner) @ 9sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 5min 43sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 7min 27sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 7min 36sec
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld) @ 7min 46sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 7min 53sec
Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC) s.t.
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 7min 56sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 8min 11sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 8min 30sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 8min 39sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 9min 13sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 9min 14sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 9min 16sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) 50 points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 44
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 33
Pavel Brut (Tinkoff): 33
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 32
Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 32

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 36 points
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 16


Stage 7 route map

Stage 7 elevation guide.

Saturday, May 17: Stage 8, Rivisondoli - Tivoli, 209 km. Mixed terrain.

More pictures from stage 8

Results:

Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) 4hr 41min 5sec. 44.613 km/hr
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.
Daniele Pietropolli (LPR) s.t.
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) s.t.
Emanuele Sella (CSF) s.t.
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) s.t.
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) s.t.
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld) s.t.

GC after Stage 8:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 36hr 44min 6sec
Matthias Russ (Gerolsteiner) @ 34sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 5min 53sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 7min 27sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 7min 33sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 7min 36sec
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld) @ 7min 46sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 7min 56sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 8min 11sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 8min 19sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 8min 30sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 8min 39sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 9min 13sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 9min 14sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 9min 16sec

Points Competition:

Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 69 points
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 51
Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 42
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas): 42
Paolo Bettini (Quick step): 39

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 36 points
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 16


Stage 8 route map. Note that Rome is at the far left of the map.

Stage 8 elevation guide

Sunday, May 18: Stage 9, Civitavecchia - San Vincenzo, 218 km. Flat

More Stage 9 Photos.

Results:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) 5hr 30min 6sec. 39.624 km/hr
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) s.t.
Erik Zabel (Milram) s.t.
Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
Mark Cavendish (High Road) s.t.
Tiziano Dall'Antonia (CSF) s.t.
Julian Dean (Slipstream) s.t.
Alexandre Usov s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 42hr 14min 16sec
Matthias Russ (Gerolsteiner) @ 34sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 5min 53sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 7min 27sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 7min 32sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 7min 33sec
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld) @ 7min 46sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 7min 56sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 8min 11sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 8min 15sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 8min 30sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 8min 39sec
Gilberto Simoni (Sarramenti PVC) @ 9min 13sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 9min 14sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 9min 16sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 80 points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 69
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 59
Erik Zabel (Milram): 44
Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 42

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 37 points
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 16


Stage 9 route map. The Giro has made it to Tuscany.

Stage 9 elevation guide.

Monday, May 19: Rest Day (Riposo)

Tuesday, May 20: Stage 10, Pesaro - Urbino 39.4 km Individual Time Trial.

More stage 10 photos.

Results:

Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) 56min 41sec. 41.705 km/hr
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 8sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 20sec
Marco Pinotti (High Road) @ 36sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 44sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 46sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) S 54sec
Gustav Erik Larsson (CSC) @ 59sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 1min 1sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 2sec
Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) @ 1min 5sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 2min 4sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 9sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 2min 11sec

GC after Stage 10:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 43hr 12min 2sec
Matthias Russ (Gerolsteiner) @ 3min 31sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 5min 50sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 6min 59sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 7min 52sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 7min 54sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 8min 4sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 8min 9sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 8min 32sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 8min 33sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 8min 57sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 9min 10sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 9min 10sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 9min 15sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 80 points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 69
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 59
Erik Zabel (Milram): 44
Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 42

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 37 points
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 16


Stage 10 route map. The red line marks the path the riders will take.

Stage 10 elevation guide. Note that there are patches of 10% and 12% gradient.

Wednesday, May 21: Stage 11, Urbania - Cesena, 199 km. Mixed terrain

La Gazzetta dello Sport's commentary on Tuesday's time trial focused on Danilo Di Luca's disappointing performance. Di Luca said that he couldn't find the right cadence. He thought that it might be partly because of the rest day (which can upset a stage racer's body rhythms). The loss of time might mean that Di Luca has to retune his strategy for winning the Giro. Gilberto Simoni's excellent ride (taking a minute out of Pellizotti, Ricco and Di Luca) raised eyebrows and now many in Italy are really taking the 2-time Giro winner seriously. La Gazzetta called him the "Grande Vecchio" (the great old man). Stage winner Marzio Bruseghin is hoping that Franco Ballerini, the man who will decide the members of the Italian Olympic team, will remember Bruseghin when he makes the team selections.

More Stage 11 photos

Results:.

Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC) 5hr 44min 22sec. 34.672 km/hr
Pablo Lastras (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 5sec
Fortunato Baliani (CSF) s.t.
Tiziano Dall'Antonia (CSF) @ 41sec
Laurent Mangel (Ag2R) @ 1min 33sec
Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ) s.t.
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) @ 3min 53sec
Erik Zabel (Milram) s.t.
Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) s.t.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)) s.t.

GC after Stage 11:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 49hr 17sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 5min 50sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 6min 59sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 7min 52sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 7min 54sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 8min 4sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 8min 9sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier duval) @ 8min 32sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 8min 33sec
Gustav Erik Larsson (CSC) s.t.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 8min 57sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 9min 10sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 9min 15sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 89 points
Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval): 69
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 59
Erik Zabel (Milram): 52
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner): 45
Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 42
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas): 42

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 37 pooints
Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC): 20
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 16


Stage 11 route map. These are very "heavy" roads, constantly rising and falling.

Stage 11 elevation guide. I don't see anything resembling a flat road here.

Wednesday was a tough day for the peloton. Pink Jersey Giovanni Visconti said he was going 60 kilometers an hour when he crashed. He didn't break anything, but the wear and tear of the last week is showing. I didn't get a picture of it for the site, but La Gazzetta has a photo showing Andrea Tonti and Paolo Bettini pushing an exhausted Visconti across the line. When the Giro hits the Dolomites on Saturday, you should probably be able to hear Visconti's legs detonate, no matter where you are.

At least 14 riders crashed Wednesday; among them Leipheimer, Pellizotti and Sella. Yet there was no change in the standings among the real contenders. Ominous for Riccardo Ricco is that his right-hand man, Leonardo Piepoli, also crashed. As I write this, there is no word on if Piepoli will start Thursday.

La Gazzetta dello Sport made it clear that the power of Contador's team is deserving of respect when the paper referred to the team as "Fortezza Astana" (Fortress Astana).

While Ricco and Di Luca have been going deep day after day, Contador, Kloden and Savoldelli have been saving their watts. All three are probably riding into perfect form for the real fight that starts this weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday have hilltop finishes followed by Monday's hillclimb time trial. We'll see if Ricco and Di Luca left anything in the tank for the real race.

Thursday, May 22: Stage 12, Forli - Carpi, 172 km. Flat

More Stage 12 photos.

Results:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) 4hr 5min 29sec. 41.306 km/hr
Mark Cavendish (High Road) s.t.
Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) s.t.
Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
Luciano Pagliarini (Saunier Duval) s.t.
Assan Bazayev (Astana) s.t.
Alexandre Usov (Ag2R) s.t.
Alexander Serov (Tinkoff) s.t.

GC after Stage 12:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 53hr 5min 46sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 5min 50sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 6min 59sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 7min 52sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 7min 54sec
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 8min 4sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 8min 9sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier duval) @ 8min 32sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 8min 33sec
Gustav Erik Larsson (CSC) s.t.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 8min 57sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 9min 10sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 9min 15sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 120 points
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 71
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 69
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 61
Erik Zabel (Milram): 52

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 37 points
Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC): 20
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19


Stage 12 route map

Stage 12 elevation guide.

Giro race leader Giovanni Visconti said that it's his dream to ride the brutal Marmolada Pass on Sunday still in pink, even if he has to ride it alone, dropped by the leaders. That's going to be a tough one. Saturday is the first day in the high mountains and Gilberto Simoni and Riccardo Ricco have been completely focused on Saturday's, Sunday's and Monday's climbing stages. Di Luca has made it clear that he must and will attack. And the Astana machine hasn't burned a single watt needlessly. I am sure Kloden, Leipheimer and Contador are ready. For Visconti to remain in the lead after Saturday will be a surprise. The penultimate major climb Saturday is the Passo Manghen. It's 23.5 kilometers long and its final 6.6 kilometers average 9.9% with a chunk of 15% gradient. And the climb to the finish, Mio Dio! It's only 748 meters long, not even a kilometer. But it averages 9.6% with a 16% run 3/4 of the way to the top, and that's after almost 200 kilometers of hard racing. I can't wait.

Oh, and Leonardo Piepoli, Riccardo Ricco's main domestique in the mountains who crashed in stage 11, is still in the Giro. He finished 102nd, same time as the rest of the field.

Friday, May 23: Stage 13, Modena - Cittadella, 177 km. Flat

More stage 13 photos

Results:

Mark Cavendish (High Road) 4hr 11min 7sec. 42.291 km/hr
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) s.t.
Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
Erik Zabel (Milram) s.t.
Julian Dean (Slipstream s.t.
Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre) s.t.
Alexandre Usov (Ag2R) s.t.
Nikolai Trusov (Tinkoff) s.t.
Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) s.t.
Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.

GC after Stage 13:

Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) 57hr 17min 6sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 5min 50sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 6min 59sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 7min 41sec
Vincenzo Nibali (liquigas) @ 7min 51sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 7min 52sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 8min 20sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 8min 20sec
Gustav Erik Larsson (CSC) @ 8min 31sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 8min 32sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 8min 57sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 9min 2sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 9min 10sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 144 points
Mark Cavendish (High Road ): 86
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 71
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 69
Erik Zabel (Milram): 66

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 37 points
Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC): 20
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld): 16


Stage 13 route map.

Stage 13 elevation guide. Stage 14 will look a bit different. I promise.

Saturday, May 24: Stage 14: Verona - Alpe Di Pampeago / Val Di Fiemme, 195 km. High mountains with a hilltop finish.

More photos from stage 14.

Results:

Emanuele Sella (CSF) 5hr 37min 14sec. 34.338 km/hr
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff) @ 4min 38sec
Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 5min 5sec
José Rujano (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 7min 28sec
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) @ 7min 59sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 8min 48sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 8min 57sec
Riccardo Riccò s.t.
Gilberto Simoni @ 9min 1sec
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) s.t.
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 9min 3sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 9min 14sec
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) @ 9min 27sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 9min 33sec
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 9min 38sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 9min 57sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 10min 11sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 10min 37sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 13min 8sec
Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) @ 18min 2sec

GC after Stage 14:

Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) 63hr 10min 47sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 5sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 28sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 2sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 1min 7sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 1min 11sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 18sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 31sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 32sec
Giovanni Visconti (Quick step) @ 1min 35sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 1min 40sec
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 2min 54sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 5min 51sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 144 points
Mark Cavendish (High Road ): 86
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 84
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 77
Erik Zabel (Milram): 66

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 62 points
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC): 20
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19

Live updates:

At the finish: Emanuele Sella wins the stage and Fortress Astana seems to have brought a knife to this gunfight. Yet...by riding carefully and without drama, Contador is first in GC of what the Italians call the "Big".

Km 180, 15 to go: Sella is on a tear. He went over the top of the Manghen alone. Rodriguez and Kiryienka followed at about 2 minutes. Golcer and Rujano were another minute back. Wegelius, Voigt, Bettini and I think Nocentini went over 5min 28sec behind Sella. The group with the contenders (Contador, Di Luca, etc) went over 10min 55sec after Sella. The Pink Jersey group was only 1 min 45sec behind the Contador/Di Luca group. Heck, Visconti may sleep in Pink tonight.

Km 150, 45 to go: Here is the situation about part-way up the Manghen. Emanuele Sella has taken off from the lead break. 35 seconds behind him are Jure Golcer and Joaquin Rodriguez. Another 10 seconds behind that duo are Bettini, Wegelius, Rujano and Kiryienka. The Pink Jersey group with all the contenders is 6min 15sec behind the Bettini group.

Km 141: A lead group of 13 has started the ascent of the Manghen. They are 7min 15sec ahead of the main pack. In the break are some fine riders: Vande Velde, Sella Rujano, Voigt, Iglinskiy and Bettini. None are GC threats but with all that horsepower, they won't be caught easily.

Km 50: 163 riders began the stage. There were 4 nonstarters: Robbie McEwen, Koldo Fernandez, Davide Rebellin and Robert Forster. Rebellin couldn't find the form he had earlier in the year and the others are non-climbing sprinters who decided to cut their suffering short. At about the 50th kilometer there were some other notable retirements: Jonathan McCarty, Luciano Pagliarini and Graeme Brown.


Stage 14 route map.

This is what the climbers have been licking their chops for, the first day in the Dolomites. Here's the elevation guide for stage 14.

It's odd, but stage racing can reward the man who doesn't race to win, but to not lose. That is, by avoiding serious time loss day after day, a racer can win a Grand Tour. It isn't satisfying to the fans to watch a man win a la Balmamion (who won the Giro without winning a stage) or a la Walko (after Roger Walkowiak who did the same in the Tour de France) but it is the accumulated lowest time that determines the winner. Contador hasn't displayed any particular brilliance this Giro, but there he is, at the top of the heap of the contenders (i big as the Italians say), well ahead of riders like Ricco and di Luca who have been at the front of the peloton and have been working like dogs to win stages.

Sunday, May 25: Stage 15, Arabba - Passo Fedaia / Marmolada (Dolomiti Stars), 153 km. High mountains with a hilltop finish.

More Stage 15 photos

Results:

Emanuele Sella (CSF) 4hr 53min 24sec. 31.492 km/hr
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 2min 5sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 2min 11sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 2min 20sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 2min 27sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 2min 34sec
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 3min 18sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 3min 22sec
Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 3min 27sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 7min 47sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 9min 6sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 10min 9sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 14min 48sec

There were 152 classified finishers at the end of this stage.

GC after stage 15:

Alberto Contador (Astana) 68hr 6min 43sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 33sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 55sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 1min 18sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 20sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 26sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 27sec
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 2min 50sec
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 4min 4sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 4min 41sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 6min 26sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 9min 17sec
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 12min 16sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 12min 25sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 144 points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 93
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 92
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 86
Emanuele Sella (CSF): 83

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 117 points
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27


Stage 15 route map

Stage 15 elevation guide.

Alberto Contador continues to speak humbly about his chances. He says that his Giro is already a success, given that a short time ago he was lying on the beach, not even dreaming about a ride in the Giro. Meanwhile, Riccardo Ricco says he can take the lead after Monday's time trial. He needs 33 seconds. The main Italian contenders have all done a reconnaissance of the road in today's hill-climb time trial. Neither Menchov nor Contador have done an advance ride. The road not only has unpaved portions, with about a kilometer to the finish (see the map below) the road reaches a leg-shattering 24% gradient.

Monday, May 26: Stage 16, San Vigilio Di Marebbe - Plan De Corones 12.9 km Individual Time Trial. Hill-climb time trial.

More Stage 16 pictures.

Results:

Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 40min 26sec. 19.142 km/hr.
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 6sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 17sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 22sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 30sec
José Rujano (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 49sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 1min 4sec
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 1min 43sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 1min 45sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 49sec
Andreas Kloden (Astana) @ 2min 40sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 4min 38sec
Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 5min 33sec

GC after Stage 16:

Alberto Contador (Astana) 68hr 47min 31sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 41sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 21sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 2min
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 2min 18sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 2min 47sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 4min 25sec
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 4min 26sec
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 5min 25sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 144points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier duval): 125
Emanuele Sella (CSF): 103
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 92
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 86

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27


Stage 16 hill climb time trial route map.

Stage 16 elevation guide. Nothing but up.

Tuesday, May 27: Rest day (Riposo)

I didn't dare dream that after 3 brutal days in the Dolomites less than 3 minutes would separate the top 7 riders in the General Classification. While Contador is riding a nearly faultless race, he hasn't demonstrated any particular brilliance. What he has done is not lost time (or burned any watts needlessly) and that's been enough to put him in pink. With the race this close, no rider can afford an off day. All of the top 7 have to be considered honest contenders. I'm hoping that this equipoise remains all the way to the final time trial in Milan on Sunday.

Maybe it will be like the 1968 Tour de France. That year, going into the final time trial the top 7 were only 2 minutes apart. Jan Janssen's time trial ride blew everyone's doors off. Franco Bitossi, who was sitting in fourth, only 58 seconds down, finally collapsed when he lost almost 4 1/2 minutes in that day. He had been waging a relentless war with Walter Godefroot for the points jersey (which he did win). It wasn't until that final time trial that complete exhaustion set in. Maybe we'll have that same sort of drama this Sunday. The riders still have have a hilltop finish on Friday and a trip over the Gavia and Mortirolo passes on Saturday. This race may just be starting.

Wednesday, May 28: Stage 17, Sondrio - Locarno, 146 km. Mixed terrain.

More stage 17 photos.

Results:

André Greipel (High Road) 3hr 27min 5sec. 42.301 km/hr
Mark Cavendish (High Road) s.t.
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) s.t.
Erik Zabel (Milram) s.t.
Assan Bazayev (Astana) s.t.
Alexandre Usov (Ag2R) s.t.
Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) s.t.
Bram De Groot (Rabobank) s.t.
Alexander Serov (Tinkoff) s.t.
Nikolai Trusov (Tinkoff) s.t.

GC after Stage 17:

Alberto Contador (Astana) 72hr 14min 46sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier duval) @ 41sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 21sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 2min
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 2min 18sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 2min 47sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 4min 25sec
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 4min 26sec
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 5min 25sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 160 points
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 106
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 105
Emanuele Sella (CSF): 103
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 92

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27


Stage 17 Route map. Milano is roughly due south of Como

Stage 17 elevation guide.

Thursday, May 29: Stage 18, Mendrisio - Varese, 147 km.

More Stage 18 pictures

Results:

Jens Voigt (CSC) 3hr 22min 46sec. 42.314 km/hr
Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) @ 1min 7sec
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2R) s.t.
Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) s.t.
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) @ 2min 4sec
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld) s.t.
Alan Perez Lezaun (Euskaltel) s.t.
Mauricio A. Ardila (Rabobank) s.t.
Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2min 6sec

Peloton with all the big guys came in at 7min 51sec

GC after Stage 18:

Alberto Contador (Astana) 75hr 45min 17sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 41sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 21sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 2min
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 2min 18sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 2min 47sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 4min 25sec
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 4min 26sec
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 5min 25sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 180 points
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 106
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 106
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 105
Emanuele Sella (CSF): 103

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27


Stage 18 route map.

Stage 18 elevation guide

Contador continues to insist that the true danger to his lead is not Riccardo Ricco, who is second at 41 seconds, but 2-time Giro winner Gilberto Simoni, currently third at 1 minute 21 seconds. He said that Simoni's experience lets him manage his efforts and use his energy correctly. Ricco has been complaining that his bronchitis has hampered his efforts. But, he said that the time for excuses is over and that he looks forward to Friday's stage. Ricco, Simoni, Di Luca and the other contenders have to do more than just take the lead from Contador when they attack in the mountains Friday and Saturday. The challengers must build a lead large enough to withstand Contador's superior time trialing ability. In the stage 10 Urbino chrono, Contador beat Simoni by roughly a minute and Ricco by 2. Sunday is the final stage, a 28.5 kilometer individual time trial into downtown Milan.

Friday, May 30: Stage 19: Legnano - Presolana / Monte Pora, 228 km. High mountains with a hilltop finish

More Stage 19 photos

Results:

Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff) 6hr 37min 32sec. 35.921 km/hr
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 4min 36sec
Alexander Efimkin (Quick Step) @ 4min 43sec
Steven Cummings (Barloworld) @ 5min 25sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 5min 44sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 6min 21sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) s.t.
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) s.t.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) s.t.
Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 12min 18sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 25min 36sec

GC after Stage 19:

Alberto Contador (Astana) 82hr 29min 10sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 4sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 21sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 2min
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 2min 47sec
Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 4min 25sec
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 4min 26sec
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 5min 25sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 7min 18sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 180 points
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 117
Emanuele Sella (CSF): 113
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 106
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 106

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 63
Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27


Stage 19 route map.

Stage 19 elevation guide.

Italian sports fans love a polemica (a controversy or dispute) between an event's protagonists. And where you find Riccardo Ricco, it's likely that a polemica is close by. Today (Friday, after stage 19) was no exception. Ricco was a bit unsettled after finding that he was only 4 seconds behind Contador in the General Classification. He did say that now the Giro was on fire, thanks to him and Di Luca. He went on to complain loudly and angrily about Emanuele Sella because Sella worked with Contador after Simoni had been dropped, when Contador seemed to be in real trouble. Sella, surprised, countered that no one was combining against Ricco, that he was riding his own race and had an opportunity to move up in the GC. Fair enough. Ricco also complained that he couldn't get his chain in the big ring at the end of the stage, hampering his efforts. He also said that without the stage 10 time trial in Urbino and the opening team time trial he would be in the lead. And if frogs had pockets they could carry guns. Funny about this Grand Tour stuff, to win you have to have all sorts of skills. Yesterday Ricco said the time for excuses was over. I guess for that day.

Bravo to Di Luca. He attacked by having the finest living descender, Paolo Savoldelli, lead him down the technical descent of the Passo del Vivione. If Di Luca had the skill and courage to stay with Savoldelli on a wet, twisty, scary mountain road, my hat is off to him.

2 more stages and the Giro is tighter than ever. What a race!

Saturday, May 31: Stage 20, Rovetta - Tirano, 224 km. High mountains

More Stage 20 photos

Results:

Emanuele Sella (CSF) 6hr 52min 45sec. 33.735 km/hr
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 1min 4sec
Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 22sec
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 30sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) s.t.
Antonio Colom (Astana) s.t.
Fortunato Baliani (CSF) s.t.
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) s.t.
Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) s.t.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.
Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) s.t.
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) s.t.
Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 5min 27sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) s.t.

GC after Stage 20:

1. Alberto Contador (Astana) 89hr 23min 25sec
2. Riccardo Riccò (Saunieor Duval) @ 4sec
3. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 2min
4. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec
5. Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 2min 35sec
6. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 2min 47sec
7. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 4min 18sec
8. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 4min 26sec
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 5min 25sec
10.Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 6min 40sec

Points Competition:

Daniele Bennati (Liquigas): 180 points
Emanuele Sella (CSF): 138
Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 131
Mark Cavendish (High Road): 106
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 106

Climbers' Competition:

Emanuele Sella (CSF): 136 points
Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 63
Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 48


Stage 20 route map

Stage 20 elevation guide.

4 seconds after 3 weeks. That's all the separates Alberto Contador and Riccardo Ricco. Ricco lost 2 minutes to Contador and Bruseghin in the stage 10 time trial, so the young man with the big mouth is unlikely to topple the Spaniard. Ricco again spent a lot of energy blaming his second place on everything and everyone except his own failure to have a lower accumulated time than Contador. He even blamed his team. I wonder how the guys on the Saunier Duval squad felt after sweating bricks for the boy and hearing that!

Clearly Di Luca's audacious attack on Friday left him spent. When the others starting throwing high heat, Di Luca wilted and lost about 4 minutes to Contador.

Sunday, June 1: 21st and final stage, Cesano Maderno - Milano 28.5 Individual Time Trial.

More stage 21 photos.

Results:

Marco Pinotti (High Road) 32min 45sec. 52.213 km/hr
Tony Martin (High Road) @ 7sec
Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff) @ 10sec
Bradley wiggens (High Road) @ 13sec
Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 24sec
Danny Pate (Slipstream) @ 24sec
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) s.t.
Steven Cummings (Barloworld) s.t.
Vladimir Gusev (Astana) @ 31sec
Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 33sec
Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 39sec
David Millar (Slipstream) @ 42sec
Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 56sec
Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 29sec
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 30sec
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 1min 33sec
Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) @ 2min 32sec
Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 3min 36sec
Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 5min 2sec

Complete Final 2008 Giro d'Italia General Classificaton


Stage 21 route map. The red line into downtown Milan is the the the way the bikes will take in the time trial.

2008 Giro D'Italia

91st edition: May 10 - June 1, 2008

Results, stages with running GC, commentary, maps, stage profiles, startlist with backnumbers

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