2008 Giro D'Italia

91st edition: May 10 - June 1, 2008

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

2007 Giro | 2009 Giro | Giro d'Italia database | Complete final GC | Stage results with running GC | Start list

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Complete Final 2008 Giro d'Italia General Classification:

3,423.8 kms

1. Alberto Contador (Astana) 89hr 56min 49sec
2. Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 57sec
3. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 2min 54sec
4. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 56sec
5. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 3min 37sec
6. Emanuele Sella (CSF) @ 4min 31sec
7. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 6min 30sec
8. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 7min 15sec
9. Domenico Pozzovivo (CSF) @ 7min 53sec
10. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC) @ 11min 3sec
11. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 20min 14sec
12. Fortunato Baliani (CSF) @ 20min 34sec
13. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 24min 2sec
14. Gustav Erik Larsson (CSC) @ 27min 25sec
15. Paolo Savoldelli (LPR) @ 30min 15sec
16. Felix Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld) @ 30min 42sec
17. Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 41min 27sec
18. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 45min 36sec
19. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) 47min 39sec
20. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 47min 43sec
21. Vladimir Miholjevic (Liquigas) @ 50min 20sec
22. Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 52min 29sec
23. Sylvester Szmyd (Lampre) @ 52min 31sec
24. Luis Felipe Laverde (CSF) @ 57min 38sec
25. Antonio Colom (Astana) @ 1hr 0min 15sec
26. José Rodolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 1hr 0min 18sec
27. Yoann Le Boulanger (FDJ) @ 1hr 1min 25sec
28. Chris Anker Sørensen (CSC) @ 1hr 4min 9sec
29. Evgeny Petrov (Tikoff) @ 1hr 5min 4sec
30. Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) @ 1hr 5min 52sec
31. Vladimir Karpets (Caiusse d'Epargne) @ 1hr 7min 31sec
32. Jure Golcer (LPR) @ 1hr 11min 34sec
33. Andrea Tonti (Quick Step) @ 1hr 12min 53sec
34. Nicki Sørensen (CSC) @ 1he 13min 4sec
35. Vasili Kiryienka (Tinkoff) @ 1hr 14min 37sec
36. Luis Pasamontes (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1hr 18min 56sec
37. Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step) @ 1hr 19min 47sec
38. Wim van Huffel (Silence-Lotto) @ 1hr 20min 8sec
39. Andrea Noè (Liquigas) @ 1hr 20min 22sec
40. Francis De Greef (Silence-Lotto) @ 1hr 21min 4sec
41. Alessandro Spezialetti (LPR) @ 1hr 25min 45sec
42. Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) @ 1hr 30min 17sec
43. Ruslan Ivanov (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 1hr 32min 30sec
44. Morris Possoni (High Road) @ 1hr 32min 33sec
45. Vladimir Gusev (Astana) @ 1hr 34min 46sec
46. Daniele Nardello (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 1hr 35min 6sec
47. Luca Mazzanti (Tinkoff) @ 1hr 35min 19sec
48. Simon Spilak (Lampre) @ 1hr 39min 46sec
49. José Rujano (Lampre) @ 1hr 39min 48sec
50. Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ) @ 1hr 40min 46sec
51. Johannes Fröhlinger (Gerolsteiner) @ 1hr 41min 30sec
52. Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 1hr 43min 59sec
53. Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 1hr 46min 14sec
54. Ivan Velasco (Euskaltel) @ 1hr 48min 44sec
55. Maxim Iglinsky (Astana) @ 1hr 49min 51sec
56. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r) @ 1hr 52min 41sec
57. Daniele Pietropolli (LPR) @ 1hr 54min 7sec
58. David Cañada (Saunier Duval) @ 1hr 57min 51sec
59. Dmitriy Kosontchuk (Rabobank) @ 1hr 59min 20sec
60. Ryder Hesjedal (Slipstream) @ 2hr 1min 29sec
61. Carlos José Ochoa (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 2hr 1min 59sec
62. Michael Blaudzun (CSC) @ 2hr 6min 36sec
63. David Loosli (Lampre) @ 2hr 8min 35sec
64. Pablo Lastras (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2hr 9min 3sec
65. Marco Pinotti (High Road) @ 2hr 12min 30sec
66. Andrey Mizurov (Astana) @ 2hr 13min 10sec
67. Francisco Perez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2hr 14min 15sec
68. Alexander Efimkin (Quick Step) @ 2hr 19min 59sec
69. Charles Wegelius (Liquigas) @ 2hr 22min 49sec
70. Daniele Bennati (Liquigas0 @ 2hr 23min 39sec
71. Gabriele Missagaglia (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 2hr 24min 9sec
72. Alan Perez (Euskaltel) @ 2hr 27min 17sec
73. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step) @ 2hr 28min 50sec
74. Markel Irizar (Euskaltel) @ 2hr 31min 2sec
75. Iker Camaño (Saunier Duval) @ 2hr 33min 33sec
76. Julio Perez Cuapio (CSF) @ 2hr 34min 11sec
77. Theo Eltink (Rabobank) @ 2hr 39min 0sec
78. Paul Martens (Rabobank) @ 2hr 39min 22sec
79. Philip Deignan (Ag2r) @ 2hr 40min 19sec
80. Erik Zabel (Milram) @ 2hr 41min 19sec
81. Joan Horrach (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2hr 45min 26sec
82. Jérémy Roy (FDJ) @ 2hr 46min 19sec
83. Giairo Ermeti (LPR) @ 2hr 46min 24sec
84. Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) @ 2hr 46min 41sec
85. Lilian Jégou (FDJ) @ 2hr 47min 5sec
86. Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas) @ 2hr 47min 12sec
87. Marco Velo (Milram) @ 2hr 47min 20sec
88. Paolo Bailetti (LPR) @ 2hr 47min 29sec
89. Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 2hr 48min 15sec
90. Marlon Alirio Perez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2hr 48min 56sec
91. Blaise Sonnery (Ag2r) @ 2hr49min 7sec
92. Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) @ 2hr 49min 52sec
93. Laurent Mangel (Ag2r) @ 2hr 51min 16sec
94. David Millar (Slipstream) @ 2hr 56min 50sec
95. Jason McCartney (CSC) @ 2hr 57min 21sec
96. Steven Cummings (Barloworld) @ 3hr 0min 35sec
97. Assan Bazayev (Astana) @ 3hr 3min 36sec
98. Tiziano Dal'Antonia (CSF) @ 3hr 4min 9sec
99. Eros Capecchi (Saunier Duval) @ 3hr 4min 26sec
100. Hubert Schwab (Quick Step) @ 3hr 4min 30sec
101. Frantisek Rabon (High Road) @ 3hr 12min 35sec
102. Anders Lund (CSC) @ 3hr 12min 55sec
103. Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 3hr 13min 57sec
104. Danilo Hondo (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) @ 3hr 14min 2sec
105. Addy Engels (Quick Step) @ 3hr 14min 40sec
106. Alberto Benitez (Saunier Duval) @ 3hr 15min 42sec
107. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ag2r) @ 3hr 17min 11sec
108. Adam Hansen (High Road) @ 3hr 17min 15sec
109. Fabio Baldato (Lampre) @ 3hr 17min 53sec
110. Serguei Klimov (Tinkoff) @ 3hr 18min 20sec
111. Damien Monier (Cofidis) @ 3hr 18min 53sec
112. Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3hr 19min 2sec
113. Guillaume Levarlet (FDJ) @ 3hr 12min 41sec
114. Nikolay Trusov (Tinkoff) @ 3hr 21min 52sec
115. Mauro Facci (Quick Step) @ 3hr 22min 12sec
116. Gerben Löwik (Rabobank) @ 3hr 22min 32sec
117. Dries Devenyns (Silence-Lotto) @ 3hr 23min 18sec
118. Geraint Thomas (Barloworld) @ 3hr 23min 38sec
119. Alexandre Usov (Ag2r) @ 3hr 27min 12sec
120. Bram De Groot (Rabobank) @ 3hr 27min 36sec
121. Mickaël Buffaz (Cofidis) @ 3hr 27min 48sec
122. Nicolas Rousseau (Ag2r) @ 3hr 28min 57sec
123. Kjell Carlström (Liquigas) @ 3hr 34min @ 19sec
124. Alexandre Serov (Tinkoff) @ 3hr 34min 20sec
125. Riccardo Chiarini (LPR) @ 3hr 35min 42sec
126. Carlo Scognamiglio (Barloworld) @ 3hr 37min 6sec
127. Nicolas Hartmann (Cofidis) @ 3hr 37min 48sec
128. Tony Martin (High Road) @ 3hr 29min 14sec
129. Matej Jurco (Milram) @ 3hr 44min 32sec
130. Alberto Ongarato (Milram) @ 3hr 46min 37sec
131. Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner) @ 3hr 49min 58sec
132. Mark Cavendish (High Road) @ 3hr 55min 37sec
133. André Greipel (High Road) @ 3hr 56min 33sec
134. Bradley Wiggins (High Road) @ 3hr 57min 52sec
135. Yann Huguet (Cofidis) @ 4hr 0min 55sec
136. Timothy Gudsell (FDJ) @ 4hr 7min 0sec
137. Danny Pate (Slipstream) @ 4hr 7min 19sec
138. Josu Agirre Aseginolaza (Euskaltel) @ 4hr 7min 56sec
139. Nick Gates (Silence-Lotto) @ 4hr 9min 39sec
140. Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff) @ 4hr 9min 51sec
141. Markus Eichler (Milram) @ 4hr 33min 41sec

Points Classificaton:

1. Daniele Bennati (liquigas): 189 points
2. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 138
3. Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval): 131
4. Mark Cavendish (High Road): 106
5. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): 106

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 136 points
2. Vasili Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 63
3. Fortunati Baliani (CSF): 48
4. Julio Perez Cuapio (CSF): 20
5. Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni): 20

Young Rider:

1. Riccardo Riccò (Sanier Duval) 89hr 58min 46sec
2. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) @ 4min 33sec
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 18min 17sec
4. Chris Anker Sørensen (CSC) @ 1hr 2min 12sec
5. Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) @ 1hr 3min 55sec

Team Classification (Fast Team):

1. CSF Group-Navigare: 268hr 52min 44sec
2. Astana @ 43min 48sec
3. Liquigas @ 1hr 0min 42sec
4. LPR Brakes-Ballan @ 1hr 6min 45sec
5. Silence-Lotto @ 1hr 38min 13sec

Team Points (Super Team):

1. Liquigas: 360 points
2. Astana: 347
3. CSF Group-Navigare: 340
4. LPR Brakes-Ballan: 267
5. High Road: 258

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The stages:

Thursday, May 8: Team Presentation

More team presentation photos

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

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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:

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

GC after Stage 1:

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

Stage 1 route map for the team time trial in Palermo
Stage 1 elevation guide.

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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.

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

GC after Stage 2:

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

Points:

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

Mountains:

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

	Stage 2 route map.
Stage 2 elevation guide.

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

More pictures from Stage 3

Results:

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

GC after stage 3:

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

Points:

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

Mountains:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 8 points
2. David Loosli (Lampre): 3
3. Daniele Pietropolli (LPR) 3
4. 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

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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:

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

GC after Stage 4:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

Stage 4 route map.
Stage 4 elevation guide.

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

More stage 5 pictures

Results:

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

GC after Stage 5:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

Stage 5 route map
Stage 5 elevation guide.

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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:

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

GC after Stage 6:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

Stage 6 route map
Stage 6 elevation guide.

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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:

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

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

GC after Stage 7:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

Stage 7 route map
Stage 7 elevation guide.

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

More pictures from stage 8

Results:

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

GC after Stage 8:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

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

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

More Stage 9 Photos.

Results:

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

GC after Stage 9:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

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

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Monday, May 19: Rest Day (Riposo)

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

More stage 10 photos.

Results:

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

GC after Stage 10:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 37 points
2. Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
3. 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.

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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:.

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

GC after Stage 11:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 37 pooints
2. Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC): 20
3. Gabriele Bosisio (LPR): 19
4. 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.

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

More Stage 12 photos.

Results:

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

GC after Stage 12:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

Stage 12 route map
Stage 12 elevation guide.

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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.

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

More stage 13 photos

Results:

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

GC after Stage 13:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

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

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

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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:

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

GC after Stage 14:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 62 points
2. Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
3. Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC): 20
4. 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.

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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.

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

More Stage 15 photos

Results:

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

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

GC after stage 15:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 117 points
2. Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
3. Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27

Stage 15 route map
Stage 15 elevation guide.

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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.

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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:

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

GC after Stage 16:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
2. Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
3. Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27

Stage 16 hill climb time trial route map.
Stage 16 elevation guide. Nothing but up.

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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.

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

More stage 17 photos.

Results:

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

GC after Stage 17:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
2. Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
3. Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27

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

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

More Stage 18 pictures

Results:

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

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

GC after Stage 18:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
2. Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 28
3. Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27

Stage 18 route map.
Stage 18 elevation guide

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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.

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

More Stage 19 photos

Results:

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

GC after Stage 19:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 127 points
2. Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 63
3. Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 27

Stage 19 route map.
Stage 19 elevation guide.

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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!

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

More Stage 20 photos

Results:

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

GC after Stage 20:

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

Points Competition:

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

Climbers' Competition:

1. Emanuele Sella (CSF): 136 points
2. Vasil Kiryienka (Tinkoff): 63
3. Fortunato Baliani (CSF): 48

Stage 20 route map
Stage 20 elevation guide.

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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.

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

More stage 21 photos.

Results:

1. Marco Pinotti (High Road) 32min 45sec. 52.213 km/hr
2. Tony Martin (High Road) @ 7sec
3. Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff) @ 10sec
4. Bradley wiggens (High Road) @ 13sec
5. Christian Vande Velde (Slipstream) @ 24sec
6. Danny Pate (Slipstream) @ 24sec
7. Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) s.t.
8. Steven Cummings (Barloworld) s.t.
9. Vladimir Gusev (Astana) @ 31sec
10. Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 33sec
11. Alberto Contador (Astana) @ 39sec
13. David Millar (Slipstream) @ 42sec
18. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 56sec
25. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 29sec
27. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 30sec
28. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 1min 33sec
68. Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) @ 2min 32sec
112. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 3min 36sec
135. 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.

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Teams, startlist with back numbers as of May 6:

LPR BRAKES

1 DI LUCA Danilo ITA

2 BAILETTI Paolo ITA

3 BOSISIO Gabriele ITA

4 CHIARINI Riccardo ITA

5 ERMETI Giairo ITA

6 GOLCER Jure SLO

7 PIETROPOLLI Daniele ITA

8 SAVOLDELLI Paolo ITA

9 SPEZIALETTI Alessandro ITA

AG2R LA MONDIALE

11 VALJAVEC Tadej SLO

12 DEIGNAN Philip IRL

13 MANDRI Rene EST

14 MANGEL Laurent FRA

15 NOCENTINI Rinaldo ITA

16 ROUSSEAU Nicolas FRA

17 SONNERY Blaise FRA

18 USOV Alexandre BLR

19 KRIVTSOV Yuriy UKR

ASTANA

21 LEIPHEIMER Levi USA

22 CONTADOR Alberto ESP

23 GUSEV Vladimir RUS

24 COLOM Antonio ESP

25 IGLINSKY Maxime KAZ

26 MURAVYEV Dimitri KAZ

27 MIZOUROV Andrei KAZ

28 KLODEN Andreas GER

29 BAZAYEV Assan KAZ

BARLOWORLD

31 BELLOTTI Francesco ITA

32 CALCAGNI Patrick SUI

33 CARDENAS RAVALO Felix Rafael COL

34 CUMMINGS Steven GBR

35 GASPAROTTO Enrico ITA

36 PFANNBERGER Christian AUT

37 SCOGNAMIGLIO Carlo ITA

38 SOLER HERNANDEZ Juan M. COL

39 GERAINT Thomas GBR

CAISSE D'EPARGNE

41 ARROYO DURAN David ESP

42 HORRACH RIPPOLL Joan ESP

43 KARPETS Vladimir RUS

44 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo ESP

45 PEREZ SANCHEZ Francisco ESP

46 PERGET Mathieu FRA

47 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin ESP

48 RUJANO GUILLEN José VEN

49 PASAMONTES RODRIGUEZ Luis ESP

COFIDIS

51 BUFFAZ Mickael FRA

52 DUCLOS-LASSALLE Hervé FRA

53 FERNANDEZ BUSTINZA Bingen ESP

54 HARTMANN Nicolas FRA

55 HEIJBOER Mathieu NED

56 HUGUET Yann FRA

57 MONIER Damien FRA

58 NUYENS Nick BEL

59 VERBRUGGHE Rik BEL

CSF GROUP - NAVIGARE

61 SELLA Emanuele ITA

62 BALIANI Fortunato ITA

63 RICHEZE Ariel Maximiliano ARG

64 LAVERDE JIMENEZ Luis Felipe COL

65 PEREZ CUAPIO Julio Alberto MEX

66 SAVINI Filippo ITA

67 PRIAMO Matteo ITA

68 DALL'ANTONIA Tiziano ITA

69 POZZOVIVO Domenico ITA

EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI

71 AGIRRE ASEGINOLAZA Josu ESP

72 APERRIBAY Lander ESP

73 FERNANDEZ Koldo ESP

74 GALDOS ALONSO Aitor ESP

75 GALPARSORO MARTINEZ Dionisio ESP

76 IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel ESP

77 LANDALUZE INTXAURRAGA Inigo ESP

78 PEREZ LEZAUN Alan ESP

79 VELASCO MURILLO Ivan ESP

FRANÇAISE DES JEUX

81 CHEREL Mikael FRA

82 GUDSELL Timothy NZL

83 HUTAROVICH Yauheni BLR

84 JEGOU Lilian FRA

85 LE BOULANGER Yoann FRA

86 LEVARLET Guillaume FRA

87 ROY Jérémy FRA

88 VANENDERT Jelle BEL

89 VEIKKANEN Jussi FIN

GEROLSTEINER

91 FÖRSTER Robert GER

92 FOTHEN Thomas GER

93 FRÖHLINGER Johannes GER

94 GATTO Oscar ITA

95 KRAUSS Sven GER

96 MOLETTA Andrea ITA

97 ORDOWSKI Volker GER

98 REBELLIN Davide ITA

99 RUSS Matthias GER

HIGH ROAD

101 CAVENDISH Mark GBR

102 GREIPEL Andrè GER

103 HANSEN Adam AUS

104 MARTIN Tony GER

105 PINOTTI Marco ITA

106 POSSONI Morris ITA

107 RABON Frantisek CZE

108 SIUTSOU Kanstantsin BLR

109 WIGGINS Bradley GBR

LAMPRE

111 BRUSEGHIN Marzio ITA

112 BOSSONI Paolo ITA

113 BALDATO Fabio ITA

114 LOOSLI David SUI

115 SZMYD Sylvester POL

116 SPILAK Simon SLO

117 LORENZETTO MircoZE ITA

118 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro ITA

119 GAVAZZI Francesco ITA

LIQUIGAS

121 BENNATI Daniele ITA

122 CARLSTRÖM Kjell FIN

123 CATALDO Dario ITA

124 MIHOLJEVIC Vladimir CRO

125 NIBALI Vincenzo ITA

126 NOE' Andrea ITA

127 PELLIZOTTI Franco ITA

128 VANOTTI Alessandro ITA

129 WEGELIUS Charles GBR

QUICKSTEP

131 BETTINI Paolo ITA

132 EFIMKIN Vladimir RUS

133 ENGELS Addy NED

134 FACCI Mauro ITA

135 GARATE Juan Manuel ESP

136 SCHWAB Hubert SUI

137 SEELDRAYERS Kevin BEL

138 TONTI Andrea ITA

139 VISCONTI Giovanni ITA

RABOBANK

141 ARDILA CANO Mauricio Alberto COL

142 BROWN Graeme AUS

143 DE GROOT Bram NED

144 ELTINK Theo NED

145 HAYMAN Mathew AUS

146 KOZONTCHUK Dmitry RUS

147 LÖWIK Gerben NED

148 MARTENS Paul GER

149 MENCHOV Denis RUS

SAUNIER DUVAL - SCOTT

151 RICCO' Riccardo ITA

152 BENITEZ ROMAN Jose Alberto ESP

153 BELOHVOSCIKS Raivis LAT

154 CAPECCHI Eros ITA

155 CANADA GRACIA David ESP

156 CAPELLI Ermanno ITA

157 CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker ESP

158 PAGLIARINI MENDONCA Luciano BRA

159 PIEPOLI Leonardo ITA

SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI - ANDRONI

161 SIMONI Gilberto ITA

162 BERTOLINI Alessandro ITA

163 HONDO Danilo GER

164 ILLIANO Raffaele ITA

165 IVANOV Ruslan MDA

166 MISSAGLIA Gabriele ITA

167 NARDELLO Daniele ITA

168 OCHOA Carlos José VEN

169 SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo COL

SILENCE - LOTTO

171 STEURS Geert BEL

172 CORNU Dominique BEL

173 DE GREEF Francis BEL

174 DEVENYNS Dries BEL

175 GATES Nick AUS

176 LLOYD Matthew AUS

177 MCEWEN Robbie AUS

178 VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen BEL

179 VAN HUFFEL Wim BEL

SLIPSTREAM - CHIPOTLE

181 BACKSTEDT Magnus SWE

182 DEAN Julian NZL

183 HESJEDAL Ryder CAN

184 MILLAR David GBR

185 MC CARTY Jonathan Patrick USA

186 PATE Danny USA

187 SUTTON Christopher AUS

188 VANDEVELDE Christian USA

189 ZABRISKIE David USA

TEAM CSC

191 LUND Anders DEN

192 MCGEE Bradley AUS

193 SÖRENSEN Chris DEN

194 LARSSON Gustav Erik SWE

195 MCCARTNEY Jason USA

196 VOIGT Jens GER

197 BLAUDZUN Michael DEN

198 SÖRENSEN Nicki DEN

199 O'GRADY Stuart AUS

TEAM MILRAM

201 ZABEL Erik GER

202 ASTARLOA ASCASIBAR Igor ESP

203 EICHLER Markus GER

204 GHISALBERTI Sergio ITA

205 JURCO Matej SVK

206 ONGARATO Alberto ITA

207 POITSCHKE Enrico GER

208 SABATINI Fabio ITA

209 VELO Marco ITA

TINKOFF CREDIT SYSTEMS

211 PETROV Evgeni RUS

212 KIRYIENKA Vasil BLR

213 MAZZANTI Luca ITA

214 LODDO Alberto ITA

215 IGNATIEV Mikhail RUS

216 TRUSSOV Nikolai RUS

217 BRUTT Pavel RUS

218 KLIMOV Serguei RUS

219 SEROV Alexander RUS

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