2009 Giro d'Italia

92nd edition: May 9 - May 31

Results, stages with running GC, maps, stage profiles and photos

2008 Giro | 2010 Giro | Giro d'Italia database | stages and results| teams and startlist | Final GC

Preliminaries | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Stage 6 | Stage 7 | Stage 8 | Stage 9 | Rest Day 1 | Stage 10 | Stage 11 | Stage 12 | Stage 13 | Stage 14 | Stage 15 | Stage 16 | Rest Day 2 | Stage 17 | Stage 18 | Stage 19 | Stage 20 | Stage 21

Live updates:

Km 45: The pack is together with LPR at the front. There haven't been any breakaways so far. The pack is riding at a leisurely 33 kph.

94 km to go: No one is trying for glory. Di Luca and Armstrong are at the front, chatting with teammates. Obviously the pack has decided to take it easy.

92 km to go: The pack has stopped at the finish line! Di Luca has taken a microphone. It seems like he is complaining about the safety of the course, but I am not sure. Now they are starting again.

Because riders complained about the dangerous nature of today's Milan circuit, the organizers decided to neutralize the stage. It will not count for GC and the other various jerseys. Di Luca's speech was to apologize to the crowd for the slow speed, saying that the course was too dangerous to ride at high speed.

81 km to go: Still going slowly with LPR at the front. Mario Cipollini is at the stage and made some remarks critical of the riders' decision to strike.

Looks like the speed is being lifted some. Maybe we'll have a race.

4 laps of the circuit to go: Nope. A couple of Katusha riders went to the front and it speeded up. Then LPR and Lampre suffocated things. Back to toodling along. Rumors are that not all the teams are happy with the slow-down. Other rumors are connecting Armstrong with the strike. If that's true, I wonder how happy Giro boss Zomagnan is after paying a (rumored) substantial sum to Armstrong to ride the Giro.

The speed has come up a tad. We're up to 37 kph. Now it's 41 kph.

3 laps (43 km) to go: The speed is up to 43 kph. A Bouygues Telecom rider seems to be trying to lift the pace a bit. Now Garmin is driving hard. 51 KPH!

The peloton is now a long string.

37 km to go: Armstrong and Di Luca are at the front, controlling the pack. The speed is mercifully higher, but there is no racing. There are no attacks.

30 km (2 laps) to go: The average speed of the race so far is 36.67 km/hr. Still no racing, but they are going fast.

22 km to go: It looks like there is a bit of fighting for postion as if the last lap is going to be raced. Micahel Barry of Columbia took a couple of hard pulls. No attempts to break away yet. 54 kph.

16 km to go, last lap: Still a high speed is maintained but I wouldn't call it a bike race. Astana, including Armstrong, have dropped off the back. Since the stage is neutralized, there will be no time penalty.

10 km to go: Now we're racing! Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) is well off the front. He's good at this sort of thing. Voeckler is caught.

6 km to go: Garmin is at the front, 3 of them. Maybe this is Tyler Farrar's day.

4 km to go: Columbia is sitting right behind Garmin. It looks like the GC boys have dropped off. The Maglia Rosa group is 15 seconds behind the peloton with the sprinters.

The finish: Boasson Hagen led the sprint out for teammate Mark Cavendish. Cavendish won the stage, which finished an hour behind schedule.

Stage 9 Milan circuit race route map.
Stage 9 elevation guide

---

May 18, Monday: Rest Day 1

---

May 19, Tuesday: Stage 10, Cuneo - Pinerolo, 262 km. High mountains.

Weather at Sestriere at 1:00 PM: Sunny, 62F (17C) with the wind from the west at 7 mph (10 kph).

Photos from Stage 10

Results:

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 6hr 30min 43sec

2. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 10sec

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.

4. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.

5. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 26sec

6. Juan Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) @ 29sec

7. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.

8. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.

9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.

10. Michal Rogers (Columbia) s.t.

11. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

12. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) s.t.

13. Lance Armstrong (Astana) s.t.

14. Michele Scarpoini (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 41sec

15. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 45sec

16. Tadej Valjavc (Ag2R) @ 1min 23sec

17. Dario David Cioni (ISD) @ 1min 34sec

18. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.

19. Francesco Maschiarelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

20. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) s.t.

22. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 1min 39sec

25. Chris Horner (Astana) s.t.

189 finishers.

GC after Stage 10:

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 44hr 11sec

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 20sec

3. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 1min 33sec

4. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 1min 40sec

5. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 53sec

6. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 1min 54sec

7. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 2min 3sec

8. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 2min 12sec

9. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2min 35sec

10. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 2min 58sec

11. Chris Horner (Astana) @ 3min 24sec

12. Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3min 58sec

13. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 4min 27sec

14. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 4min 29sec

15. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 4min 32sec

16. Kevin Seeldrayers (quick Step) @ 4min 51sec

17. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) @ 5min 18sec

18. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 5min 28sec

19. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 5min 31sec

20. Fredrik Kassiakoff (Fuji-Servetto) @ 5min 58sec

29. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 7min 32sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) 45 points

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 27

3. Andriy Grivko (ISD) 16

Points Competition (Purple Jersey)

1. Danilo Di luca (LPR: 97 points

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia) 65

3. Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) 60

Young Rider (White Jersey)

1. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) 44hr 2min 23sec

2. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 2min 39sec

3. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 4min 5sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 131hrs 23min 53sec

2. Columbia @ 2min 4sec

3. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 2min 50sec

Live updates:

Km 152: Stefano Garzelli went over Moncenisio alone with Juan Mauricio Soler chasing about a minute back. The peloton, which has shed a lot of riders is about 3min behind Garzelli.

Descending Moncenisio: Soler has been caught by the peloton and Garzelli must be riding like his hair is on fire. He's still 3 minutes ahead of the pack.

About Km 160: Garzelli's advantage has grown to 4min 50sec. Johan Bruyneel said some of the money owed to the Astana team has arrived from the Kazakh sponsors, but not enough to satisfy the balance owed.

Km 180: Garzelli was first at the intermediate sprint at Oulx. We'll have to wait for a report on the time gap. We have it. The gap has come down to 4 minutes.

Km 187: Garzelli has 4min 40sec as he climbs to Sestriere. Andriy Grivko and Giovanni Visconti (both ISD) are trying to get away but they've only been able to get 10sec on the pack. LPR is at the front of the peloton.

67 km to go: Garzelli is working hard with a pair of morons in shorts, helmets and goggles running alongside shouting what I assume is encouragement. Grivko and Visconti have started to close in on Garzelli, 2min 38sec behind him. Another break of 4 with Cardenas has also broken free of the peloton.

Km 200, 1 km from the Sestriere summit: Garzelli has 6min 20sec on the Maglia Rosa group. He could do it!!

Km 201: Garzelli goes over alone. The time gaps:

Grivko/Visconti at 3min 58sec

Cardenas/Wegelius/Cioni/Serpa at 5min 28sec.

Maglia Rosa group with all the contenders at 6min 25sec.

Cardenas is sitting 17th in GC at 3min 3sec. I'm sure LPR will eventually sober up and go after him. Garzelli has taken the Green Climber's jersey with his 1st place at the top of Sestriere.

The pack couldn't have been hammering the climb too hard. It's still quite large.

Km 208: Grivko/Visconti are 3min 35sec behind Garzelli. Armstrong is descending near the front of the peloton. The peloton is going 6kph faster than Garzelli at the moment. The Cardenas group is at 5min

Grivko/Visconti at 3min now.

50 km to go: the average speed for the stage so far is 39.831. The gaps:

Garzelli alone and descending

Grivko/Visconti is at 3min

Cardenas group at 4min 20sec

Maglia Rosa group at 5min 30sec

Garzelli still looks smooth and strong.

37 km to go: Garzelli went through Fenestrelle, about halfway down the mountain. Grivko/Visconti are at 2min 28sec.

The Cardenas group looks like its working very well together.

30 km to go: The gaps:

Garzelli alone

Visconti/Grivko at 1min 45sec

Cardenas group at 3min 8sec

Maglia Rosa group at 3min 30sec.

LPR is at the front of the peloton with Liquigas and Astana right behind.

Grivko/Visconti have closed to within about a minute of Garzelli.

The peloton has caught the Cardenas group.

25 km to go: Garzelli waited for Grivko and Visconti. They are together now. The Maglia Rosa group is 1min 58sec behind the trio. We still have a climb at Pra Martino.

20 km to go: The lead trio still has it in the 150-inch gear, hammering away. Liquigas has taken over the lead of the 70-man peloton. The gap is 2min 3sec. Clearly the uniting of the ISD duo with Garzelli has helped the escapees' fortunes. The pack has stopped eating into their lead. We've just passed the 6-hour mark for the stage. Average speed for the stage so far is 40.596 kph. The Pra Martino climb has started for the breakaway.

15 km to go: Grivko has cracked. He can't keep up with the pace Garzelli is setting on the second category Pra Martino ascent. Visconti is still with him. Gap remains at 2min. 4 km left to climb. Liquigas continues to lead the chase. Basso is sitting in second place.

Now the gap is 1min. Liquigas is throwing high heat. This is good for Basso and Leipheimer who prefer a steady fast pace rather than sharp jolts of speed.

About 10 km to go: Pellizotti has broken away from the Maglia Rosa group. He has caught Garzelli and Garzelli is struggling to catch his wheel. The pack is about 20sec back. Garzelli and Visconti clawed their way up to Pellizotti.

Di Luca has gone but Soler and Basso have closed the gap.

Pellizotti is now alone off the front on the climb.

1 km from the summit: Garzelli has been caught by the pack. Armstrong has been gapped but is fighting to get back on. Pellizotti has only 12sec.

Pellizotti went over with 8sec. A small group with Armstrong went over a few seconds after the Maglia Rosa group. He should catch back on quickly. Leipheimer is in the front chase with Basso and De Luca. This is a difficult descent on a tiny road.

7 km to go: Sastre is in the front group but Lovkvist has missed the move. Di Luca is a few meters ahead of the chasers and has almost caught Pellizotti.

5 km to go: We now have Sastre, Di Luca, Menchov, Pellizotti and Arroyo-Duran. Leipheimer, Basso and Soler are chasing 12sec back.

3km to go: Di Luca goes on the final short ascent.

He's 10 seconds ahead. It's downhill from here.

The finish: Di Luca hammered it home. The chasers, badly organized, couldn't close the gap. Di Luca got it just right as he wins the monster stage. Pellizotti takes second and then I think Menchov.

Stage 10 route map
Stage 10 elevation guide

---

May 20, Wednesday: Stage 11, Torino - Arenzano (Genova), 214 km. Mixed terrain.

Weather at Genoa at 12:30 local time: A nice day for a bike race. 72F (22C), breeze at 6mph (10kph) from the southwest and a forecast for abundant sunshine.

Stage 11 photos

Results:

1. Mark Cavendish (Columbia) 4hr 51min 17sec, 44.08 km/hr

2. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream) s.t.

3. Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) s.t.

4. Allan Davis (Quick Step) s.t.

5. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2R) s.t.

6. Davide Vigano (Fuji-Servetto)

7. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia) s.t.

8. Alexander Serov (Katusha) s.t.

9. Oscar Gatto (SD) s.t.

10. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.

11. Ben Swift (Kausha) s.t.

12. Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo) s.t.

13. Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo) s.t.

14. Thomas Fothen (Milram) s.t.

15. Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) s.t.

16. Ruggero Marzoli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

17. Alessandro Donati (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

18. Paolo Longo Borghini (Barloworld) s.t.

19. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC- Diquigiovanni) s.t.

20. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) s.t.

37. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.

40. Michael Rogers (Columbia) s.t.

42. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.

46. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

65. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.

71. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.

78. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) s.t.

82. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.

86. Lance Armstrong (Astana) s.t.

GC after Stage 11:

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 48hr 51min 28sec

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 1min 20sec

3. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 1min 33sec

4. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 1min 40sec

5. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 53sec

6. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 1min 54sec

7. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 2min 3sec

8. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 2min 12sec

9. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 2min 35sec

10. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 2min 58sec

11. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 4min 27sec

12. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 4min 29sec

13. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 4min 32sec

14. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 4min 51sec

15. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) @ 5min 18sec

16. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 5min 28sec

17. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 5min 31sec

18. Fredrik Kassiakoff (Fuji-Servetto) @ 5min 58sec

19. Juan Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) @ 6min 1sec

20. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 6min 17sec

27. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 7min 32sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey)

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 97 points

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia) 78

3. Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) 76

Points Competition (Purple Jersey)

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) 48 points

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 27

3. Andriy Grivko (ISD) 16

Young Rider (White Jersey)

1. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) 48hr 53min 40sec

2. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick step) @ 2min 39sec

3. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 4min 5sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 145hr 57min 44sec

2. Columbia @ 2min 4sec

3. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 2min 50sec

Live updates:

Km 28: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that of the 188 starters for today's stage, Chris Horner (Astana) was not among them. Horner tore a leg muscle when he crashed in stage 10.

Km 118: Levi Leipheimer crashed but was up and quickly got a new bike and rejoined the pack. The peloton is together with the exception of a lone breakaway rider, Xacobeo rider Vladimir Isaichev. Isaichev has a lead of 1min 5sec.

Km 123: Isaichev has a good lead, 6min 5sec. Oops, it now 6min 50sec.

Km 130: The average speed for the third hour was 45.20 kph. Isaichev has a lead of 8min. Garmin and Milram riders are at the front of the pack. Isaichev is no GC threat, being down about 2 hours.

Km 146, about 70 to go: The lead is down to 7min 30sec as the race passes thorugh Novi Ligure. Quick Step is helping with the chase. The chase seems to be getting a little more serious. Isaichev is riding at 49 kph and the pack is traveling at 53 kph.

The gap is now 5min 52sec.

The pack is starting to string out.

Km 155, about 51 to go: Average speed of the race so far is 43.87 kph. Gap is at 4min 55sec. Chapette's law says he'll get caught close to the end: in the closing stages of a race a determined peloton will chase down a break and close in at the rate of 1 minute per 10 kilometers traveled.

Km 170, 46 km to go: The efforts of Milram and Quick Step (mostly Milram right now) are starting to pay off. The gap is 3min 15sec. Milram has had a quiet Giro and is probably trying to set things up for their Robert Forster. The GC riders will be hoping for the easiest possible ride today with the giant 61.7km individual time trial coming tomorrow.

Gap is down to 2min 40sec.

The road will rise for the next 25km culminating in the Passo del Turchino.

Edvald Boasson Hagen took second place in the Ovado intermediate sprint, Isaichev having taken first place. Leaving Ovado the gap is 2min 2sec.

Isaichev is really laboring now as the rode rises. He looks pretty cooked.

I guess about kilometer 180, 36 to go: Gap is down to 46sec. LPR is at the front of the rising road, making sure no one gets any foolish ideas about taking off and making Di Luca chase. Is Di Luca planing something for the Turchino.

Marco Marzano (Lampre) has taken off after Isaichev.

35 km to go: Marzano has caught Isaichev and then dropped him. Armstrong and Leipheimer are sitting right behind LPR, which is leading the peloton. Average speed of the race so far is 43.631 kph.

Isaichev has been caught and Marzano continues his lone ride off the front. Now Marcos Garcia (Xacobeo) has launched himself. Di Luca has put on his sunglasses and adjusted them to perfection. He looks good, una bella figura!

30 km to go: Marzano has 50sec on the pack. Garcia is 29sec behind him. Average speed of the race so far, 44 kph. LPR is still working away at the front of the pack.

25 km to go: Marzano has 20sec. Garcia was absorbed by the peloton. We're about to start the Turchino. Looks like everyone is in the little ring. The pack just passed the road sign with the turn to the Turchino. Marzano is in sight with less than 10sec. He's caught.

Astana has gone to the front. Probably to keep a high, steady pace to protect Leipheimer from suden accelerations, which Leipheimer doesn't handle well.

20 km to go: The front of the peloton as the Turchino is ascended looks like an Astana team time trial. Di Luca is right there with the Astana riders. So is Garzelli.

Garzelli takes off to get the KOM points. Armstrong was second and Leipheimer was third over the top of the Turchino.

16 km to go: Astana is leading the descent. Armstrong is leading the pack at 63 kph. Looks like Leipheimer is right with him. So is Di Luca.

10 km to go: Armstrong is really stringing things out. He's got it in the 150-inch gear and flying down the hill. Filippo Pozatto, who crashed earlier, is off the back. Basso looks to be up near the front.

8 km to go: Armstrong eased and now Cunego took the front. It's a little less organized up front now. Popovych has taken off.

Gasparotto has caught him and the 2 have about 7 seconds.

They're caught. I don't think the sprinters want to let this one get away.

5 km to go: They are on the coast and all together.

3 km to go: Columbia has moved to the front for Cavendish.

2 km to go: Gasparotto tries again, now Ermeti goes.

The finish: All together. Columbia took control and released Cavendish. No one could come around the British speedster. It was a pretty dominating performance. Cavendish wins the stage and Di Luca remains in pink.

Stage 11 route map
Stage 11 elevation guide

---

May 21, Thursday: Stage 12, Sestri Levante - Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre), 60.6 km. Individual time trial over mixed terrain.

Weather in nearby La Spezia at 1:00 PM local time: 81F (27C), Mostly sunny with the wind from the southwest at 3 mph (5 kph). As the afternoon progresses that could increase to 15mph (22 kph).

Photos from stage 12

Results:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 1hr 34min 29sec. 38.482 km/hr

2. Levi Leipherimer (Astana) @ 20sec

3. Stefano Garzelli (Aqua & Sapone) @ 1min 3sec

4. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 1min 14sec

5. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 1min 27sec

6. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 1min 54sec

7. Bradley Wiggnins (Garmin-Slipstream) @ 1min 59sec

8. Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 2min 4sec

9. Jose Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigionvanni) @ 2min 13sec

10. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 2min 17sec

11. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) s.t.

12. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 18sec

13. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 2min 26sec

14. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 2min 46sec

15. Giovanni Visconti (ISD) @ 2min 48sec

16. Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 2min 53sec

17. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 3min

18. Marco Pinotti (Columbia) @ 3min 27sec

19. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 3min 35sec

20. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 3min 54sec

23. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 4min 7sec

GC after Stage 12:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 50hr 27min 17sec

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 34sec

3. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 40sec

4. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min

5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 52sec

6. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 2min 59sec

7. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min

8. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 4min 38sec

9. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 5min 26sec

10. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 5min 53sec

11. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 5min 55sec

12. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 6min 34sec

13. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 6min 42sec

14. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 7min 11sec

15. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 7min 15sec

16. Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 8min

17. Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 8min 5sec

18. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 8min 18sec

19. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) @ 8min 23sec

20. Fredrik Kassiakoff (Fuji-Servetto) @ 8min 35sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) 49 points

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 27

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 23

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 107 Points

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia) 78

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 76

Young Rider (White Jersey)

1. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) 50hr 33min 10sec

2. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 4min 42sec

3. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramanti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 5min 30sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 150hr 45min 11sec

2. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 6min 56sec

3. Columbia @ 8min 11sec

Live updates:

10:05 AM Eastern Time: Third check point at 44.5 kilometers. Menchov has set an incendiary pace, taking 34 seconds out of Leipheimer. Di Luca went through 1min 46sec slower than Menchov. Menchov is the virtual Maglia Rosa.

1. Menchov 1hr 13min 53sec. 36.138 km/hr

2. Leipheimer @ 34sec

3. Garzelli @ 1min 4sec

4. Pellizotti @ 1min 36sec

5. Brajkovic @ 1min 41sec

6. Di Luca @ 1min 46sec

12. Armstrong @ 2min 16sec

10:40 AM Eastern USA time: All have gone through the second check point at km 34.5.

1. Menchov 52min 38sec. 39.328 km/hr

2. Garzelli @ 12sec

3. Bosisio @ 13sec

4. Leipheimer @ 15sec

5. Pellizotti @ 30sec

6. Wiggins @ 35sec

8. Armstrong @ 41sec

10. Di Luca @ 46sec

13. Basso @ 1min 12sec

10:25 AM Eastern USA time: All the riders have gone through the first check point at 18.6 km. Di Luca is doing better than one would have thought. Rogers is doing a poorer ride than one would have expected of a time trial specialist.

1. Menchov 32min 36sec

2. Boisisio @ 17sec

3. Leipheimer @ 18sec

4. Scarponi s.t.

5. Garzelli @ 20sec

6. Di Luca @ 43sec

10. Sastre @ 58sec

11. Armstrong @ 1min

13. Basso @ 1min 4sec

17. Simoni @ 1min 27sec

20. Rogers @ 1min 37sec

9:40 AM Eastern: With a few of the top dogs still to start, Gabriele Boisisio (LPR) has the best time at the first check point. Armstrong was 6th, 43 seconds slower.

9:28 AM Eastern: There were a lot of questions as to what kind of equipment the riders were going to use on this undulating, curvy time trial course. Armstrong looks like he is using a normal road rig with time trial clip-ons. Rims looks like they are about 40-mm deep. He's using his normal road racing helmet, not an aero one. He's climbing the first hill with a supple, high-cadence pedal stroke that looks familiar.

I don't even see any clip-ons on Lovkvist's bike, but he is wearng an aero helmet.

Order of departure: The first rider off is Bart Dockx (Silence-Lotto) at 12:05 PM local time. Italy is 6 hours ahead of East Coast time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific time. They'll go in 1-minute intervals in reverse GC order until the final 20, who'll be spaced out with 3-minute gaps. The Giro organization is projecting speeds of betwwen 40 and 44 kph. That will give elapsed times of 1hr 20min to 1hr 30min. Di Luca, the last rider off, should finish around 5:15 local time

Last riders off:

Armstrong will depart at 3:04 (9:04 AM Eastern, 6:04 Pacific)

Basso 3:31 (9:31 AM)

Sastre 3:34

Pellizotti 3:37

Leipheimer 3:40

Rogers 3:43

Menchov 3:46

Di Luca 3:49 (9:31 AM Eastern, 6:31 PAcific)

Stage 12 route map
Stage 12 elevation guide

---

May 22, Friday: Stage 13, Lido di Camaiore - Firenze, 176 km. Flat stage.

Weather in Florence at 1:00 PM local time: 81F (27C), some clouds with the wind from WSW at 5 mph (11 kph). It should climb to 88F (31C) as the day progresses.

Photos from stage 13

Results:

1. Mark Cavendish (Columbia) 3hr 48min 36sec, 45.931 km/hr

2. Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) s.t.

3. Allan Davis (Quick Step) s.t.

4. Robert Hunter (Barloworld) s.t.

5. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream) s.t.

6. Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo) s.t.

7. Robert Forster (Milram) s.t.

8. Ben Swift (Katusha) s.t.

9. Davide Vigano (Fuji-Servetto) s.t.

10. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2R) s.t.

11. Mark Renshaw (Columbia) s.t.

12. Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) s.t.

13. Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo) s.t.

14. Dmytro Grabovsky (ISD) s.t.

15. Ruggero Marzoli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

16. Said Haddou (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.

17. Alexander Serov (Katusha) s.t.

18. Renaud Dion (Ag2R) s.t.

19. Matteo Montaguti (LPR) s.t.

20. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) s.t.

186 finishers

GC after Stage 13:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 54hr 16min 1sec

2. Danilo Di luca (LPR) @ 34sec

3. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 40sec

4. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min

5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 52sec

6. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 2min 59sec

7. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min

8. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 4min 38sec

9. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 5min 26sec

10. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 5min 53sec

11. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 5min 55sec

12. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 6min 34sec

13. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 6min 42sec

14. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 7min 11sec

15. Stefano Gaezelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 7min 15sec

16. Garbrile Bosisio (LPR) @ 8min

17. Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 8min 5se

18. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 8min 18sec

19. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) @ 8min 23sec

20. Fredrik Kassiakoff (Fuji-Servetto) @ 8min 35sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone): 49 points

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 27

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 23

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 107 points

2. Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) 97

3. Mark Cavendish (Columbia) 79

Young Rider (White Jersey):

1.Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) 54hr 21min 54sec

2. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 4min 42sec

3. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 5min 22sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 162hr 11min 23sec

2. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 6min 48sec

3. Columbia @ 7min 55sec

Live updates:

Km 40: The day's break seems to have been established. At km 12 Leonardo Scarselli (ISD), Bjorn Schroder (Milram) and Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) got away. All 3 are over 2 hours down on GC. They currently have a lead of 3min 50sec. The average speed for the first hour was 46.10 kph. Mark Cavendish and Yohann Gene crashed but both were up and back in the peloton shortly thereafter.

Km 70: Over the third-category Montemagno the break's lead is 4min 45sec.

Km 77: Passing through San Martino and closing in on Lucca the gap is growing, now 5min 20sec.

Km 86: As the riders pass Lucca the gap is back down to 4min 50sec. The average speed for the second hour is 44.90 kph.

Km 90, 85 km to go: As the pack goes through Capannori, Garmin and Columbia are at the front of the peloton, looking after their chances for a sprint finish in Florence. Rabobank is right behind them with Menchov, happy to let the other teams keep things together.

75 km to go: Gap is 4min and falling. The peloton is a long line

Now the gap is 3min 40sec. As the riders passed through Altopascio they picked up their food musettes. As a result of the slowdown for the feed zone the gap grew to over 4min.

67 km to go: Food stowed, Columbia and Garmin are back at the front of the peloton chasing the break. Gap is 4min 15sec. All 3 of the break riders are taking their turns at the front, taking short pulls.

53 km to go: The race is about to cross the Arno river at Santa Croce sull'Arno. The gap is 4min 5sec. There was an intermediate sprint at Santa Croce which Scarselli took in an uncontested roll-through. Gap is 3min 44sec.

The break is traveling at 51kph and the pack is chasing at 53kph. Since this might be the last real chance for a big field sprint I am sure the sprinters' team will do all they can to make sure it's all together in Florence.

Around 40 km to go: Gap is down to 3min 15sec. Still Columbia and Garmin at the front of the pack.

37 km to go: Through Empoli the gap is 2min 40sec. The peloton is clearly managing the gap so that they catch the break near the finish. They've been closing in at 1 minute per 15 kilometers traveled.

30 km to go: Bjorn Schroder has left his 2 breakaway companions. Time gap to the peloton is 1min 40sec at Montelupo Fiorentino.

25 km to go: The gap to Schroder (Milram) is still 1min 45sec. Ignatiev and Scarselli are close to being caught.

20 km to go: Through Ponte a Signa. Ignatiev and Scarselli are caught while Schroder is still hanging tough at 1min 41sec.

Gap is down to 1min 29sec

15 km to go: Schroder is on the drops, hammering. He looks good. Garmin is at the front of the pack right now with Columbia with them. Gap is 1min 17sec

10 km to go: Bjorn Schroder is not giving up. Gap is 1min 14sec.

Gap is now 1min 10sec

Now it's 27sec.

5 km to go: In the city of Florence. The pack is going 9 kph faster than Schroder. The riders in the pack are elbowing each other for position. Armstrong is taking a pull at the front of the pack.

Schroder is caught. We're set for a big sprint finish.

3 km to go: All together and moving really fast. Garmin at the front.

The finish: Garmin at the front at the beginning of the last kilometer. Boasson Hagen gave a perfect lead out to Cavendish. Petacchi tried to come by, but just couldn't. Cavendish wins another one.

Stage 13 route map
Stage 13 elevation guide

---

May 23, Saturday: Stage 14, Campo Bisenzio - Bologna (San Luca), 172 km.

Weather at Bologna at 12:20 PM, Local time: 82F (28C), mostly cloudy with variable winds at 2 mph (3 kph). Forecast is for sunshine later in the day and a high of 89F (32C).

Photos from stage 14

Results:

1. Simon Gerrans (Cervelo) 4hr 16min 48sec. 40.186 km/hr

2. Rubens Bertogliati (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 12ssec

3. Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) @ 18sec

4. Evgeni Petrov (Katusha) @ 24sec

5. Philipe Deignan (Cervelo) @ 27sec

6. Christopher Froome (Barloworld) @ 36sec

7. Vasili Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 41sec

8. Francesco Reda (Quick Step) @ 1min 1sec

9. Andriy Grivko (ISD) @ 1min 4sec

10. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.

11. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) s.t.

12. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

13. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.

14. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.

15. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) s.t.

16. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 1min 7sec

17. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.

18. Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) s.t.

19. David Arroyo Duran (Caisswe d'Epargne) @ 1min 10sec

20. Michael Rogers (Columbia) s.t.

25. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 1min 29sec

36. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 1min 43sec

44. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 1min 58sec

GC after Stage 14:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 58hr 33min 53sec

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 34sec

3. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 43sec

4. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min

5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 52sec

6. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min 3sec

7. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 3min 5sec

8. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 5min 17sec

9. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 5min 26sec

10. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 6min 1sec

11. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 6min 26sec

12. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 6min 54sec

13. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 7min 15sec

14. Lance Armstropng (Astana) @ 7min 28sec

15. Yaroslav Popvych (Astana) @ 8min

16. Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 8min 8sec

17. Damiano cunego (Lampre) @ 8min 43sec

18. Fredrik Kassiakoff (Fuji-Servetto) @ 9min 1sec

19. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 9min 24sec

20. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 9min 52sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) 49 points

2. Andriy Grivko (ISD) 31

3. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 27

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 112 Points

2. Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) 96

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 79

Young Rider (White Jersey):

1. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) 58hr 40min 19sec

2. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 4min 42sec

3. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 5min 20sec

Team GC:

1. Astana 175hr 6min 40sec

2. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 4min 44sec

3. Columbia @ 7min 19sec

Live updates:

Km 24: 181 riders deaprted from Campo Bisenzio at 12:41 local time. Not starting today: Steve Chainel (Bouygues Telecom), Cameron Meyer (Garmin), Mark Cavendish and his leadout man Mark Renshaw (Both Columbia) as well as crash victim Filippo Pozzato (Katusha). Cavendish didn't see any more chances for mass sprints in the remaining stages. Moreover, he wanted to be fresh for the Tour de France, his next goal.

There are 14 riders away on the Passo della Collina. They have 4min 35sec. The closest thing to a GC threat in the break is Barloworld rider Christopher Froome, over 14min down.

Km 72: Near the summit of the second category Valico di Mediano the 14 fugitives are still away. Their lead is 3min 50sec. The average speed for the second hour was 38.80 kph.

Km 82: On the way down the Mediano through Pietrcolora the gap is 3min 42sec. LPR is leading the peloton. Obviously the very hard ascent at the end of the stage is in their minds because it suits Di Luca to a "T". Menchov is gong to have his hands full today.

Km 97: Ian Stannard (ISD), who had crashed earlier, has rejoined the peloton. The gap to the break is now 3min 37sec.

Km 102: The break has gone through the feed zone and picked up a little chow. LPR still leads the pack. Now the peloton gets its musettes. Gap remains 3min 30sec.

Km 108: On the Valico di Tole the break split in half and then came together without Milram rider Martin Muller. The break is down to 13. LPR leads the pack with the Rabobank right on their tails. It's hot and they all have their jerseys unzipped. Gap is still 3min 38sec

Gap has stretched out to 4min.

Km 115, 57 km to go: The 13 breakaways went over almost together, but the gaps closed up on the descent. In the break Andriy Grivko and Giovanni Visconti have been doing the lion's share of the work.

The pack went over the top 4min 39sec after the break.

Here's the break: Christopher Froome (Barloworld), Vasili Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne), Francsco Gavazzi (Lampre), Franesco Reda (Quick Step), Rubens Bertogliati (Serramenti PVC), Evgeni Petrov (Katusha), Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo), Simon Gerrans (Cervelo), Guillame Bonnafond (Ag2R), Giampaolo Cheula (Barloworld), Philip Deignan (Cervelo), Giovanni Visconti (ISD), Andriy Grivko (ISD).

35 km to go: Average speed for the race so far is 39.993 Kph. Gap is 3min 52sec as the riders continue to descend. LPR is hammering away. If Di Luca is going to win this Giro, he has to keep batting away, getting seconds here and there because there is still the time trial in Rome, which plays to Leipheimer and Menchov. Di Luca has to be hunting the 20 seconds time bonus for winning the stage. Rabobank seems very uninterested in helping him with that project. They seem content to leave the break out there, sweeping up the bonuses.

Km 30: Gap is 2min 54sec. Chapette's Law says they'll get caught close to the end. The race is on the Mongardino climb. Still LPR at the front of the chasing pack.

25 km to go: Liquigas seems to be moving up to the front of the peloton but doesn't show any signs of wanting to do any work yet. The gap has come down to 1min 48sec.

Up in the break Cervelo Rider Philipe Deignan has taken off but he's not getting much of a gap. He'll probobly get the KOM points then let himself get caught.

He's getting caught before the top. Cheula and Visconti have been dropped by the break.

Di Luca has moved up to second place in the peloton. Menchov has moved up behind him with a Rabobank helper.

Gap is 1min 37sec

16 km to go: At the Pontecchio Marconi intermediate sprint. Kiryienka took the uncontested sprint. The break still has a nice rotating pace line. Vorganov is having trouble with the break's high speed.

After a day of pounding in the heat the LPR guys look pretty grim-faced.

Gap is down to 58sec.

10 km to go: Gap has stretched back out to 2min 13sec. The 16km time report must have been wrong. Chapette's Law (pack closes in at 1min/10km) says this break has a chance. None of the other teams seem interested in helping LPR

Now Acqua & Sapone and Rabobank have joined in the chase.

7 km to go: 2min. Lots of action in the peloton with GC teams looking for a position near the front.

5 km to go: Grivko takes off from the break. He still has the San Carlo climb in front of him. Liquigas is driving the peloton.

3 km to go: Grivko has 6sec. The race is in Bologna.

2 km to go: Grivko has been caught by the break. The break and the pack are both on the San Carlo.

The finish: This is steep. Simon Gerrans (Cervelo) opened up a huge gap with Christphoer Froome (Barloworld) and takes a clean win. Di Luca led Garzelli, Pellizotti and Menchov up the hill. Then there was some regrouping. Looks like Pellizotti took the field sprint. Menchov was with Di Luca.

Simon Gerrans takes the stage.

Stage 14 route map
Stage 14 elevation guide

---

May 24, Sunday: Stage 15, Forli - Faenza, 161 km. Mixed terrain.

Weather in nearby Imola at 1:00 PM local time: 90F (32C), wind from the NNE at 6mph (10 kph).

Pictures from Stage 15

Live updates:

Km 5: 178 riders started in Forli today. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream) and Eros Capecchi (Fuji-Servetto) didn't start. Break attempts are going almost from the gun. Jens Voigt and Dries Devenyns are having a go right now.

After Di Luca failed to put a dent in Menchov's armor yesterday in a stage that was perfectly suited to Di Luca's abilities, Di Luca vowed that this race is not over. He was a bit hot under the collar over the fact that his LPR team had to do all the chasing yesterday. He asked where Liquigas had been, since they had vowed to attack. I'm sure Liquigas was quite happy to let LPR use themselves up. Menchov's Rabobanks must have been grateful for the gift of having another team control the race while they sat on.

All of today's climbs are rated second and third category. By the way, in the Giro there is no Hors Category climb. The hardest climbs are rated category 1. So the two category 2 climbs in today's stage, the Eremo (first climb) and Trebbio (last climb), would be roughly the same as Tour de France cat 1 ascents.

Km 24: Voigt and Devenyns have been caught.

Km 55: A group of 16 riders went clear at km 27. They have gone over the second category Passo dell'Eremo 3min 26sec ahead of the pack. Today Rabobank is taking up the duties of working at the front of the peloton.

Km 66: The break has gone through Marradi 3min 40sec ahead of the pack. The riders are unzipping their jerseys in the oven-like temperatures the day has brought.

Km 72: The break went over the third category Carnevale with 4min 40sec. Rabobank still at the front of the peloton and seemingly unworried about the break. It certainly poses no threat to Menchov. With nearly all the teams represented in the break, I can't expect Rabobank to get much help today.

In the break, a lot of the usual suspects: Jose Serpa (best placed rider in the break, I think, at about 10min), Leonardo Bertagnolli (both Serramenti), Lars Ytting Bak (Saxo), Andriy Grivko (ISD) Pablo Lastras Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne), Marco Pinotti (Columbia), Daniel Navarro (Astana),Eduar Vorganov (Xacobeo), Marco Manzano (Lampre), Serge Pauwels (Cervelo), Nikita Eskov (Katusha), Gorazd Stangelj (Liquigas), Mauro Facci (Quick step), Alessandro Donati (Acqua & Sapone), Hector Gonzalez (Fuji) and Matteo Montaguti (LPR).

Average speed so far, 37.8 kph.

Km 86, 75 km to go: Lead is 5min 5sec. Looks like Di Luca had a mechanical, but he's back up in the pack.

67 km to go: Everyone has passed thorugh the feed zone. Gap is 4min 10sec.

Km 100, 61 to go: The gap is out to 5min 26sec. The average speed for the race so far is 38.806 kph.

53 km to go: At Valico La Valletta with the break descending and the peloton climbing, the gap is up to 6min 20sec. While Rabobank was leading up the climb the peloton was rather compact. Rabobank isn't investing too much energy in this chase. Liquigas looks like it has had it with the slow pursuit and has moved to the front and started to work. Menchov jumped ahead to near the front to keep an eye on the Liquigas team in case they had any mischief in mind.

45 km to go: Oh my!! When Liquigas dropped the hammer, the peloton split. Wonder who was caught napping at the back? Menchov is there and there are some Astana jerseys. Gap to Maglia Rosa group is 4min 58sec.

35 km to go: On the Monte Casale ascent. Basso, Pellizotti, Leipheimer, Armstrong, Garzelli, Di Luca are in the front chasing group, for sure.The gap to the second peloton is at least a half-minute.

Bam!!! Basso takes off and Garzelli and Sastre go after him. Garzelli gets his wheel. Garzelli is leading Basso now. Sastre is slowly closing in on the pair.

No, it's not Sastre, it's another Cervelo rider chasing Garzelli and Basso.

An LPR rider is leading Di Luca with Leipheimer on his wheel.

At the crest of the Casale: A reduced break without Grivko, among others head down the hill.

Basso and Garzelli have formed a perfectly working pair and are picking up and dropping riders from the break. They go over 2min 19sec after the front of the break.

The Maglia Rosa group goes over at 3 minutes after the front of the break, 40 seconds behind Basso and Garzelli.

Hoo Ha! The race is in play. Garzelli is a good descender, he should be able to get Basso, who is not a good descender, off the hill in good time. Di Luca also is a superb descender.

Garzelli is indeed leading Basso on the descent. A Liquigas breakaway rider, Stangelj has waited for Basso.

Now we'll have the tough Monte Trebbio ascent.

30 km to go: Stangelj turned himself inside out helping on the approach to Monte Trebbio and as soon as the ascent strted, he was dropped. Basso is leading Garzelli now and both still look smooth. LPR rider Spezialetti is still doing all the work to lead the Maglia Rosa group. Lovkvist has made it up to the Maglia Rosa group after missing the split.

Gaps: Front of break then Basso and Garzelli at 1min 58sec then the Maglia Rosa group at 3min 7sec. Basso and Garzelli therefore have a lead of 1min 9sec on the the Menchov group.

26 km to go: The crest of Monte Trebbio, the last climb of the day: The break has shattered and now it's Pauwels and Bertagnolli at the very front.

Garzelli and Basso (both former Giro winners) with Grivko and Serpa go over 2min 13sec.

Di Luca goes and Menchov closes up immediately. They go over at 3min 15sec. There is still about a minute between Basso and Di Luca/Menchov.

20 km to go: Pauwels/Bertagnolli then Basso/Garzelli at 2min 11sec and the Maglia Rosa group at 2min 49sec. Menchov and company are closing the gap to Basso. It's now 38sec.

15 km to go: Basso has 19sec on the Menchov group. The Menchov group has grown and looks like all the better riders are in it.

Basso and Garzelli are sitting up and waiting for the Maglia Rosa group. They are caught.

Leonardo Bertagnolli is alone out in front now.

10 km to go: Bertagnolli goes through 2min 5sec ahead of the Maglia Rosa group. A bit behind them is a foursome with Armstrong, Popovych, Cunego and Donati.

5 km to go: Bertagnolli has Lars Ytting Bak, Pauwels, Marzano and Pinotti about a half-minute behind him.

The finish: Leonardo Bertagnolli takes a superb solo win. Serge Pauwels looked to be the first in of the chasers. Maglia Rosa group comes in at 1min 56sec

Stage 15 route map
Stage 15 elevation guide

---

May 25, Monday: Stage 16, Pergola - Monte Petrano, 237 km. Mixed terrain with a hilltop finish.

Weather in nearby San Marino at 1:00 PM local time: Hot! 90F (32C), sunny skies with variable winds at 3 mph (5 kph).

Photos from stage 16

Results:

1. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) 7hr 11min 54sec. 32.646 km/hr

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 25sec

3. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 26sec

4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 29sec

5. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1min 19sec

6. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 1min 21sec

7. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.

8. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 2min 11sec

9. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC_ @ 2min 35sec

10. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 2min 51sec

11. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.

12. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.

13. Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) s.t.

14. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 3min 2sec

15. Michael Rogers (Columbia) s.t.

16. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) s.t.

17. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) s.t.

18. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 3min 21sec

19. Serge Pauwels (Cervelo) @ 3min 39sec

20. Francis De Greef Silence-lotto) @ 3min 43sec

23. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 5min 1sec

57. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 20min

62. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 24min 46sec

GC after Stage 16:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 70hr 6min 30sec

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 39sec

3. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 19sec

4. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 3min 8sec

5. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min 19sec

6. Levi Leipheimer (Astana)@ 3min 21sec

7. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 5min 54sec

8. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 8min 21sec

9. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 8min 39sec

10. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 8min 47sec

11. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 9min 27sec

12. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 11min 6sec

13. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 12min 4sec

14. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 12min 14sec

15. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 13min 57sec

16. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 14min 29sec

17. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 17min 29sec

18. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 18min 10sec

19. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 21min 3sec

20. Francis De Greef (Silence-lotto) @ 24min 37sec

24. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 30min 59sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone): 51 points

2. Andriy Grivko (ISD) 39

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 33

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 130 points

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 99

3. Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) 96

Young Rider (White Jersey):

1. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) 70hr 20min 27sec

2. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 4min 13sec

3. Francis De Greef (Silence-Lotto) @ 10min 40sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 209hr 53min 36sec

2. Columbia @ 17min 32sec

3. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 25min 19sec

Live updates:

Roughly km 100, at the town of Furlo: There is a group of 18 riders off the front with a gap of 7min 55sec. Some of them are formidible: Damiano Cunego, Yaroslav Popovych, Michele Scarponi, Gabriele Bosisio, Jens Voigt, Pavel Brutt, Kjell Carlstrom.

This is a hard stage in the hills of Le Marche. Several riders have predicted an explosive stage as this is an important chance to take time from Menchov and Di Luca, if this can be done. Astana, Liquigas, LPR and Rabobank have riders in the break who will be able to help their captains if Menchov, Basso, Di Luca and Leipheimer need them to wait to give help. Cervelo missed this move and Sastre won't have this advantage.

Belgians are unhappy with the Cervelo team after yesterday. Belgian rider Serge Pauwels was in the winning break with Bertagnolli. Near the end Pauwels was told to wait for Cervelo team leader Sastre beacuse Basso was rampaging down the road and Sastre needed help. Almost immediately after Pauwels sat up Basso was caught and Bertagnolli took a stage that Pauwels might very well have won.

Km 112, 125 to go: The gap is 6min 30sec. The average speed for the third hour was 37.80 kph. The fastest average speed projected by the organizers was 38 kph for this stage and La Gazzetta dello Sport says we're ahead of that schedule.

Rabobank is doing its duty and riding at the front of the peloton.

Km 136, 101km to go: The break is descending into Secchiano. The next stop is Monte Nerone, rated as a first category climb (remember in the Giro this is the hardest rating, there is no Hors Category) and will be crested at km 157. Gap is 7min 20sec.

Michele Scarponi, who crashed earlier, gets a new bike and a new jersey.

Km 147, 89 km to go: The break is on the Monte Nerone ascent. The day's average speed has slowed to 36.10 kph. The gap is 5min 45sec. Rabobank has 2 riders at the front of the peloton. The break has started to shed riders. Serramenti riders De Bonis and Scarponi are leading the break with Popovych sitting in third.

88 km to go: The Nerone road is very narrow with rough pavement The gap is stable, still 5min 48sec. Menchov is sitting in third place in the peloton, just behind his 2 domestiques. The GC contenders are close by. The peloton is still rather compact. The break is climbing at 19 kph and the peloton is going 21 kph.

83 km to go: The Serramenti rides are still driving the break. Back in the peloton Menchov has Di Luca for a shadow. Basso is riding next to Di Luca. The gap is 5min 20sec. Average speed for the race so far is 34.311 kph.

It is hot! The riders are constantly drinking and pouring water on their heads, trying to get a little relief.

80 km to go: The gap to the peloton is 3min 42sec. A little bit after the summit the road down is a lot nicer than the road up. It's freshly paved and wide enough for a center line. Still 2 more climbs to go, Monte Catria and Monte Petrano. Maarten Tjallingii was one of the 2 Rabobank riders in the break. He had been dropped earler. He picked up a lot of water bottles while waiting for the peloton and handed them out to his teammates at the crest of the Nerone. I think Rabobank still has Ardila in the break. Yes, he's there. I just saw him sitting on the back. He won't be doing any work, especially with Cunego in the break.

The road may be in good condition, but it is very twisty. Rabobank leads the peloton on the way down.

70m km to go: The break went through Serravale di Carda, about halfway down the mountain. The peloton is much smaller after that climb. I can't tell how many are left, maybe 60 riders. It will grow as riders take terrible chances to regain the bunch on the descent. Gap is 3min 55sec. The race just went over the 5-hour mark and the hardest part is still to come.

59 km to go: In the break, De Bonis still leads with Scarponi right behind him. then comes Jens Voigt and Damiano Cunego.

They are on the short ascent to Moria. Scarponi has applied some pressure and Cunego goes with him. A good gap is quickly established.

Popovych (Astana) and Bosisio (LPR) are chasing Scarponi and Cunego. The gap between the 2 pairs is 8 seconds.

In the peloton Liquigas is moving to the front. Rabobank has taken the lead of the peloton again.

News just came that Barloworld rider Juan Mauricio Soler has abandoned.

52 km to go: Popovych and Bosisio have caught Cunego and Scarponi.

50 km to go: The lead 4 have gone through Catiano and are beginning the Monte Catria ascent. It averages 8% but has a patch of 13%. The gap from the 4 to the peloton is 5min 26sec. The peloton is strung out into a long line.

Cunego is 9min 43sec down on GC. Scarponi looks really hot and really tired but he still has a good smooth pedal stroke. Cunego looks good.

In the front : Popovych, Cunego, Bosisio and Scaponi.

1min 28sec back: The remainder of the original break, Dion, Bellotti, Jeannesson, Gomez-Gomez, Carlstrom, Cataldo, Ardila, De Bonis and Voigt.

The Maglia Rosa group is 4min 44sec behind the Cunego group.

45 km to go, on the Catria ascent: Cunego accelerated and Scarponi couldn't take it. He's dropped. Now he's clawing his way back.

It looks like Thomas Lovkvist (White Jersey) has been dropped from the Maglia Rosa group. Simoni is in trouble. He's dropped.

37 km to go: Cunego and Bosisio look the best in the break. The Maglia Rosa group looks like about 25-30 riders strong.

There are is the Cunego group at the front. The then Jens Voigt group made up of the remnents of the orginal break at 1min 33sec and then the Maglia Rosa bunch at 3min 24sec

Popovych goes and Cunego and Boisisio immediately close up. Scarponi is cooked and can't respond. It's now 3 in front.

Kjell Carlstrom (Liquigas) is making a bid to get to the lead trio. He has passed Scarponi and is 33sec behind the trio.

Near the top of Monte Catria Cunego attacks and take Bosisio with him. Popovych is dropped but is not giving up.

34 km to go: Over the top of Monte Catria, the lead trio went over together with Carlstom crossing about 90 seconds later. At the crest Scarponi is caught by the Maglia Rosa group which went over 3min 12sec after the Cunego group. Now a fast descent and the ride to the top of Monte Petrano.

30 km to go: Popovych has put it in the 150-inch gear on the descent and has opened up a 12sec gap on Cunego and Bosisio. He's going 73 kph. He'll need that gap for the ascent, he was showing real weakness on the Catria climb.

25 km to go: Popovych is hauling, smoothly taking the turns in the descent. 13sec now.

Leipheimer has a mechanical!!! He's stopped. Bad time. He's back up and chasing after a puncture.

Popovych has 2min 48sec on the Maglia Rosa group. Leipheimer has several teammates to help with the chase back to the Maglia Rosa group.

20 km to go, 10 km before the start of the climb: Cunego has dropped Bosisio who seems to have had a mechanical. Leipheimer seems to be on the back of the Maglia Rosa group.

The gap from Popovych to the Maglia Rosa group was 4min 42sec. Rabobank seems to have taken their collective feet off the gas, probably a sportsmanlike move to let Leipheimer get back on.

15 km to go: Popovych went through abut a half-minute ahead of Cunego. All the major GC contenders are with Menchov. The Maglia Rosa group is 5min behind Popovych.

11 km to go: Popovych has just gone through Cagli 18 seconds ahead of Cunego.

10 km to go: Menchov has a last snack before the ascent starts. When will the first blow be struck and who will deliver it?

Liquigas has hit the front hard. Cervelo rider Simon Gerrans goes to the front and ups the pace still more.

Basso is at the front for a moment. Sastre is well back. Armstrong and Leipheimer are very close to the front but not making any moves yet.

Bam!! Basso goes with Menchov, Garzelli and Di Luca on his wheel. Leipheimer can't go with the move. Armstrong has closed up to the Basso group.

Sastre gets up to them and goes right to the front. Armstrong is dropped.

8 km to go: Di Luca hits hard and Menchov closes. Sastre gets up to the pair.

Now it's Sastre, Basso Menchov and Di luca.

Popovych has extended his lead over Cunego at the front to 1min.

6 km to go: Sastre attacks again. He looks gone. Basso goes after him while Menchov and Di Luca stay together.

5 km to go: Popovych is still way out in front.

Di Luca goes again and Menchov closes quickly.

Sastre has passed Cunego. He's now hunting Popovych. Now Basso and then Menchov and Di Luca have caught Cunego.

Well back Armstrong is pulling Leipheimer who is seeing his Giro chances ride away up the road.

4 km to go: Sastre is 1min 40sec behind Popovych.

Menchov attacks Di Luca. Di Luca sticks with the Russian. They are about 30sec behind Sastre.

3 km to go: Sastre closes to within 40sec of Popovych.

Sastre has caught Popovych and now Sastre has the 20sec time bonus for winning the stage in his sights. I think Sastre is down about 3min in the GC.

2 km to go: Sastre then Basso at 24sec. Then Di Luca and Menchov about 42sec behind Sastre.

1 km to go: this stage is for Sastre, then Basso at 17sec. Menchov and Di Luca at 30sec.

The finish: Sastre takes it. time is 7hr 11min 54sec. Di Luca and Menchov catch Basso.

Menchov easily beats Di Luca in the sprint

Stage 16 route map
Stage 16 elevation guide

---

May 26, Tuesday: Rest Day 2

---

May 27, Wednesday: Stage 17, Chieti - Blockhaus, 83 km. Steady climb to a hilltop finish.

Weather at Pescara at 1:00 PM local time: 84F (29C), sunny with wind from the north at 7 mph (11 kph). 20% chance of rain in the afternoon.

Photos from stage 17

Results:

1. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), 2hr 21min 6sec. 35.294 km/hr

2. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 42sec

3. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 43sec

4. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 48sec

5. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 57sec

6. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 1min 54sec

7. Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas) @ 1min 55sec

8. Michael Rogers @ 1min 59sec

9. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) s.t.

10. Lance Armstrong (Astana) s.t.

11. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.

12. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) s.t.

13. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 2min 5sec

14. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 9sec

15. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 2min 17sec

16. David Lopez Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 3min 18sec

17. David Arroyo Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.

18. Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) s.t.

19. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) s.t.

20. Hector Gonzalez (Fuji-Servetto) @ 3min 43sec

GC after Stage 17:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 72hr 28min 24sec

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 26sec

3. Franco Pellizotti (LPR) @ 2min

4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min 28sec

5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 3min 30sec

6. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 4min 32sec

7. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 7min 5sec9.

8. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 8min 3sec

9. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 9min 58sec

10. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 10min 33sec

11. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne0 @ 11min 9sec

12. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 12min 17sec

13. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 14min 44sec

14. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 16min 43sec

15. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 17min 24sec

16. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 18min 58sec

17. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 19min 31sec

18. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 25min 33sec

19. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 25min 34sec

20. Francis De Greef (Silence-Lotto) @ 29min 48sec

26. Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 42min 24sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone): 61 points

2. Andriy Grivko (ISD) 39

3. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 39

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 146 points

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 113

3. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 103

Young Rider (White Jersey):

1. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step): 72hr 45min 48sec

2. Francsco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 7sec

3. Francis De Greef (Silence-Lotto) @ 12min 24sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 217hr 6min 10sec

2. Columbia @ 16min 47sec

3. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 25min 14sec

Live updates:

Km 6: The race started a little late. 172 riders departed today. The peloton is compact and riding under sunny skies.

Km 10: As the peloton goes through Sanbuceto, Bouygues Telecom escape artist Thomas Voeckler has decided to test his luck on a break. He has 10sec on the pack. Others are going now. I'm sure each of the GC teams will want to have help up the road to assist their captains on the Blockhaus climb.

Peloton has started to speed up.

Km 13: The race has reached Pescara, Di Luca's home town. The break seems to be getting established. It has: Thomas Voeckler, Giuseppe Palumbo, Felix Cardenas, Ruggero Marzoli, Giovanni Visconti, Matteo Bono, Gonzalo Rios, Giuseppe Palumbo and Riccardo Chiranini. Looks like a well organized break, each rider taking short pulls. None are GC threats. the best placed is Cadenas, 104min down. There is another break 20sec behind them and the the peloton yet another 20 or more seconds back.

Km 20: Through Francavilla al Mare, the speeds seem to be rather high. The peloton is a long single file. The Voeckler group at the front is 44sec ahead of the second break and 1min 44sec ahead of the Rabobank-led Peloton. The average speed of the race so far is 40.266 km/hr.

LPR has gone to the front. They clearly want Di Luca to win the stage and get the bonus seconds.

Km 28: The chasing break of 5 that was in the middle has been caught.

The break is going 53kph and the pack is traveling at 51kph. The gap to the Voeckler group is 1min 27sec.

50 km to go: The road has started to rise and dip a bit. Voeckler applied some pressure and the break fractured a bit. It's come together again. The gap is 1min 45sec. Lots of Rabobank and LPR riders at the front of the peloton with Di luca keepng an eye on Menchov. And vice-versa.

42 km to go: The gap has grown to 2min 30sec. It's all LPR at the front of the peloton now with Rabobank sitting behind them. There are a few Cervelo riders riding next to Rabobank. Sastre has to do something today.

There was a crash in the peloton involving Grivko and Astana rider Rubiera and a few others. They are chasing back on.

At Villamagna, the lead has stretched out to 3min 5sec.

35 km to go: The finish at Blockhaus is starting cloud over. The gap to the break is down to 2min 46sec. LPR's efforts at the front of the peloton are starting to pay off.

30 km to go: Petacchi has gone back for water bottles for his LPR teammates. I guess they won't need him on the final ascent to Blockhaus. Gap is 2min 56sec. Visconti took the intermediate sprint followed by Palumbo.

Look out! Cervelo has moved its team to the front of the peloton.

25 km to go: Cervelo is still at the front of the peloton, driving hard. Gap to the break is now 2min 6sec. Thick fog has enveloped the finish line.

Riders in the break are in their small front rings.

Average speed for the race so far is 41.194 kph.

13 km to go: Sorry for the silence, my computer froze. The break has been caught. Pellizotti is a little off the front with Lance Armstrong chasing him down!

Armstrong is 10sec behind Pellizotti. The other GC men are at the front of a very reduced peloton. Maglia Rosa group is 30sec behind Pellizotti.

10 km to go: Bam!! Di Luca goes with Garzelli on his wheel. Menchov closes up with Basso. Armstrong is caught. He has tagged on to the Maglia Rosa group. No Sastre here.

Sastre is chasing now. There's a real gap from him up to the Menchov group. Di Luca is hammering with Menchov on his wheel. Pellizotti is still off the front. Armstrong has been dropped and been picked up by Sastre.

7 km to go: Garzelli had been dropped by the Menchov group and then rejoined. Sastre is chasing with Simoni, Armstrong and Szymd on his wheel. Pellizotti still has 28sec on the Maglia Rosa group and 58sec on the Sastre group.

Average speed for the stage so far is 36.7 kph.

6 km to go: They aren't catching Pellizotti. The gap is 30sec

5 km to go: Pellizotti's gap is still at 31sec to the Maglia Rosa (Basso, Di Luca, Garzelli and Menchov) group and 1min 20 to Sastre. Fog has lifted at the finish line. The Giro is getting away from Di Luca and Sastre.

3 km to go: Pelizotti still looks good. He has 42sec on the Maglia Rosa group and 1min 18sec on the Sastre group. Di Luca is still doing all the work leading Menchov, Basso and Menchov.

2 km to go: Di Luca has attacked and Menchov is the only rider to go with him. Di Luca is digging deep!

The finish: Pellizotti takes the stage. The fog has come back. Garzelli has recaught Menchov and Di Luca. Garzelli leads in Di Luca and Menchov who has to let them go. Menchov stays in pink.

Stage 17 route map
Stage 17 elevation guide

---

May 28, Thursday: Stage 18, Sulmona - Benevento, 182 km. Mixed terrain.

Weather in nearby Campobasso: Forecast is for mostly sunny but with a chance of scattered showers, 69F (21C)with the wind from the north at 10 to 15 mph (15 to 25 kph).

Photos from stage 18.

Results:

1. Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) 4hr 7min 41sec. 44.088 km/hr

2. Felix Cardenas (Barloworld) s.t.

3. Danny Pate (Garmin-Slipstream) s.t.

4. Lars Ytting Bak (Saxo) s.t.

5. Dmytro Grabowsky (ISD)@ 6sec

6. Dries Devenyns (Quick Step) @ 20sec

7. Jason McCartney (Saxo) @ 24sec

8. Giovanni Visconti (ISD) @ 37sec

9. Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 39sec

10. Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 42sec

11. Andrey Zeits (Astana) @ 44sec

12. Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo) @ 58sec

13. Jonas Ljungblad (Silence-Lotto) @ 1min 9sec

14. Fracnesco Gavazzi (Lampre) s.t.

15. Thomas Voeckler (Bouyges Telecom) s.t.

16. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick step) s.t.

17. David Lopez Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne) s.t.

18. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

19. Kanstantsin Siutsiu (Columbia) s.t.

20. Thomas Lovkvist (Columbia) @ 1min 17sec

GC after Stage 18:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 76 hr 40min 2sec

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 26sec

3. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min

4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min 28sec

5. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 3min 30sec

6. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 4min 32sec

7. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 7min 5sec

8. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 8min 3sec

9. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 9min 58sec

10. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 10min 33sec

11. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 11min 9sec

12. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 12min 17sec

13. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 14min 3sec

14. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 14min 34sec

15. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 14min 44sec

16. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 16min 10sec

17. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 16min 43sec

18. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 25min 33sec

19. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 25min 34sec

20. Lars Ytting Bak (Saxo) @ 27min 31sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone): 61 Points

2. Andriy Grivko (ISD) 39

3. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 39

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 246 Points

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 113

3. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 103

Young Rider (White Jersey):

1. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) 76hr 54min 36sec

2. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 9sec

3. Francis De Greef (Silence-lotto) @ 15min 14sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 229hr 35min 11sec

2. Columbia @ 17min 12sec

3. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 25min 52sec

Live updates:

Km 28: 172 riders departed from Sulmona. There is a serious rated climb which begins almost at the the day's start, the second category Piano delle Cinque Miglia. Gilberto Simoni attaked at the third kilometer but was brought back almost immediately. The peloton broke up into two pieces on the climb, separated by 40 seconds.

Yesterday Stefano Garzelli was lamenting (I think cursed might be a better translation for maledetto) his terrible day on the stage 5 ascent to Alpi di Susi where he lost almost 7 minutes. Without that catastrophe, at 8min 3sec, he would be in the hunt for the Maglia Rosa. He certainly proved he had the chops yesterday when he outsprinted Di Luca and Menchov at Blockhaus.

Km 43: The peloton came back together on the descent. The average speed for the first hour was 39.7 kph.

Km 53: At the crest of an unrated climb (Rionero Sannitico on the maps below) a group of about 21 riders has a gap. Michele Scarponi tried an earlier break on the climb and has been caught by the front group.

Km 58: Now it looks like Yaroslav Popovych, Danny Pate, Gabriele Bosisio and Michele Scarponi have put together a break.

Km 65: Right now it's the Popovych group followed by the break of 21 riders at 22sec and the peloton at 53sec.

ISD rider Dymitro Grabovsky has clawed his way up to the Popovych group. There are 20 riders chasing the now 5-man Popovych group.

Km 70: The 20 chasers have caught the Popovych group. There is now a break of 25 riders who are 1min 30sec ahead of the peloton.

Km 74: This looks like the day's break. The 25 riders have a lead of 2min 20sec. Rabobank is riding tempo at the front.

Km 80: Yup. the gap has stretched out to 3min 5sec.

Km 83: Now the the leaders' advantage is 3min 45sec.

There are some really good riders in the break. Here are a few of them:

Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) and Michele Scarponi (Serramenti). Notably both riders in real contention for the young rider's white jersey, Francesco Masciarelli and Kevin Seeldrayers (current owner) are in the break. They are surely watching each other rather closely. Thomas Voeckler, Giovanni Visconti, Thomas Lovkvist, Constantsin Siutsou, Lars Ytting Bak and Evgeny Petrov are there as well. This is a high-powered group, none of whom have any hope of winning the Giro. Their only threat is to those who want a stage win today. That would probably include Di Luca.

Km 91: The lead is now 4min 10sec. The average speed of the second hour was a brisk 45.10 kph.

Km 97: 5 min lead now.

Km 107: The peloton has gone through the feed zone. The streets look wet. There have been some sprinkles. The break's lead is 4min 45sec.

Km 112: The lead has gone back up. It's 6min 15sec. Average speed for the race so far is 43.255 kph.

Km 121: Milram and Caisse d'Epargne are helping out with the chase. With Cavendish and Farrar having left the race, perhaps they hope again that their Robert Forster will have a good day in a mass sprint.

Km 127: The gap has come down a bit, 5min 30sec.

Km 136, 46 km to go: The speed has picked up a bit. Average for the day is 43.89 kph.

Km 146, 36 to go: Giovanni Visconti won the intermediate sprint at Telese Terme. The peloton went through the sprint point 3min 57sec later. It looks like the chase is growing more determined.

35 km to go: The gap went down 7sec, it's now 3min 50sec. The break is going 46 kph while the chasing peloton is screaming along at 52 kph.

30 km to go: The peloton just went through the 30 km to go mark 3min 18sec after the break. Fuji-Servetto, Milram and Caisse d'Epargne have done a lot of work at the front of the peloton.

25 km to go: Gap is 3min even. The peloton is strung out from the high speed of the chase. The break is going 50kph, the peloton is racing at 54kph.

20 km to go: Gap is 2min 42sec.

15 km to go: Here we go. The attacks are starting to come from the break. Grabowsky was the first to try his luck. Looks like Scarponi, Pate, Cardenas, Scarponi are in a move of 7. The dropped break riders are coming back.

10 km to go: In Benevento. The fugutives from the break seem to have made their move stick. Jason McCartney is in this lead group. He tried to get away but was brought back. They have 36sec on the remnants of the break.

5 km to go: It Cardenas and McCartney with a gap on the front break.

3 km to go: It's still McCartney and Cardenas. The peloton is 3min 38sec back.

The finish: No one was giving up. Cardenas and McCartney were caught and the attacks kept coming.

Devenyns went first then Michele Scarponi went by Danny Pate. Michele Scarponi takes the stage.

Di Luca followed Menchov over the line, not trying to get a gap.

Stage 18 route map
Stage 18 elevation guide

---

May 29, Friday: Stage 19, Avellino - Vesuvio, 164 km. Mixed terrain with a hilltop finish.

Weather at Salerno at Noon, local time: 79F (26C), partly cloudy with the wind at 7 mph (11 kph) from the south.

Photos from stage 19.

Results:

1. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) 4hr 33min 23sec. 35.993 km/hr

2. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 21sec

3. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 30sec

4. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.

5. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 35sec

6. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 53sec

7. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 1min 14sec

8. Serge Pauwels (Cervelo) @ 1min 15sec

9. Jose Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 1min 15sec

10. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

11. David Arroyo Duran (Caise d'Epargne) s.t.

12. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 1min 29sec

13. Gilberto Simoni (Serramanti PVC-Diquigiovanni) 2 1min 32sec

14. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 1min 38sec

15. Francesco Maschiarelli (Aqua & Sapone) @ 1min 40sec

16. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 1min 42sec

17. Arnold Jeannesson (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1min 54sec

18. Daniel Navarro (Astana) @ 2min 26sec

19. Mauricio Alberto Ardila (Rabobank) @ 2min 41sec

20. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 2min 44sec

GC after Stage 19:

1. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 81hr 13min 55sec

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 18sec

3. Franco Pellizotti (liquigas) @ 1min 39sec

4. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 40sec

5. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min 33sec

6. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) 4min 55sec

7. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 8min 48sec

8. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 9min 32sec

9. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 10min 42sec

10. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 11min 32sec

11. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 11min 54sec

12. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 13min 29sec

13. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 15min 29sec

14. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 15min 42sec

15. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 16min 24sec

16. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 17min 53sec

17. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 18min 37sec

18. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 27min 48sec

19. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 28min

20. Lars Ytting Bak (Saxo) @ 31min 10sec

Climbers' Competition (Green Jersey):

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone): 61 points

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 45

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 41

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 162 points

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 127

3. Franco Pellioztti (Liquigas) 123

Young Rider (White Jersey):

1. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) 81hr 29min 37sec

2. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapoine) @ 2min 11sec

3. Francis De Greef (Silence-Lotto) @ 16min 33sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 243hr 20min 21sec

2. Columbia @ 24min 21sec

3. Serramanti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 24min 35sec

Live updates:

Km 7: The race started at 1:06 PM, local time, with 171 riders left in the race. No breaks yet. Today the Giro will race on the Amalfi Road, one of the most beautiful stretches of pavement in the world. It hugs the coastline from Vietri sul Mare to Sorrento (see the route map below).

Km 30: The day's break is probably gone. At the 16th kilometer Yuri Kirvtsov (Ag2R) and Mauro Facci (Quick Step) attacked. The duo currently have a 5-minute lead. Both riders are hours down on GC so there is no threat from that department. Certainly if Di Luca and Sastre want to claim the bonus seconds in play for winning the stage they'll have to make sure the break is eventually shut down.

Km 62: Facci and Krivtsov have a lead of 6min. LPR is at the front, keeping the break withing closing distance. Menchov had a flat, but he was back in the peloton with little trouble. Average speed for the first hour was 49.8 kph.

Km 74: LPR is working hard at the front of the peloton which is riding along magnificent Amalfi Coast. The gap to the Facci/Krivtsov pair is down to 4min 20sec. Armstrong fell on one of sharp corners along the very narrow road. He's up, has teammate Rubiera to help him and is chasing back.

Km 81, 82 km to go: Armstrong has rejoined the peloton.

76 km to go: The break has gone thorugh Positano 4min 40sec ahead of the peloton. There isn't a level or straight meter of pavement on the Amalfi Road.

67 km to go: Out of Positano, after the feed zone, the race climbs the Picco Sant'Angelo. LPR is still slaving away at the front of the peloton. Menchov's Rabobank men are right behind. Gap between Kivtsov and Facci to the peloton is is 4min 38sec.

63 km to go: At the top of the Picco Sant'Angelo. Facci went over first. The gap back to the peloton has been closed to 4min even.

Andriy Grivko has left the peloton and took third over the top.

The situation now:

Mauro Facci and Andriy Krivtsov descending, in the lead.

Grivko 3min 15sec behind

Maglia Rosa group 4min 35sec behind Facci/Krivtsov.

Km 112, 51 km to go: In Sorrento there is an intermediate sprint.The escaping pair contested the sprint with Krivtsov taking the win. Facci isn't happy about that and wags a finger at Krivtsov.

Pack is 3min 55sec back. Looks like Grivko is sitting up and is caught by the pack. LPR still at the front of the peloton. Average speed for the third hour is 37.6 kph.

41 km to go: The leaders go through Vico Equense. The entire LPR team is at the front of the peloton with Di Luca the last of his team in a straight line. Then come the Rabobank rders and some Liquigas team members. Is Pellizotti feeling frisky?

Gap from Facci and Krivstov to the peloton is 3min 40sec. Average speed of the race so far is 37.027 kph.

35 km to go: Just before arriving at the city of Castellemare di Stabia and now the riders are on the coast. They can see the gigantic form of Vesuvius waiting for them across the Golfo di Napoli (Bay of Naples).

Ooh! The gap is now 2min 40sec.

30 km to go: Average speed is 37.33 kph. Gap is 2min on the button. Alessandro Petacchi is working at the front of the pelton for Di Luca. Vesuvius is looking ever larger.

25 km to go: Krivtsov and Facci are looking gassed. They are still working, but both are rocking in the saddle, struggling to stay on top of their gears. The gap is down to 1min 38sec.

20 km to go, 7 km to the start of the ascent: Getting close. Gap is down to 1min 15sec. In the peloton there is a lot of movng up, bustling for position before the start of the climb. I think this ascent is going to be something. The riders who want to take on Menchov will need the entire ascent to get enough time.

Gap is 37sec. They'll be caught shortly. The leading LPR rider is hammering at the front, out of the saddle.

15 km to go: The speed seems to be going up. LPR is relentless. Liquigas is fighting to get to the front.

In Ercolano and the real start of of the Vesuvius climb. The break is caught.

The pack is splintering. Where's Di Luca? The LPR team is looking around. there he is, a few riders back. Garzelli, Menchov and the others are at or near the front.

10 km to go: Liquigas is leading. A couple of LPR riders seem to have gone to the front to slow things down as Di Luca keeps moving up to the front.

Liquigas rider Agnoli takes off. Now Lampre rider Tiralongo takes off. Tiralongo has caught Agnoli.

Now it's 2 LPR riders at the front of the peloton with Di Luca sitting in third. No action from the contenders. Every kilometer of intact peloton plays to Menchov's advantage.

Here we go: Basso and Garzelli take off.

Bam!! Di Luca goes with Menchov on his wheel. The peloton sticks to them.

8 km to go: It's Basso and Garzelli at the front.

Basso has dropped Garzelli.

Now Sastre has taken off after Basso. Sastre is riding like a rocket.

7 km to go: It's Sastre and Basso leading a very small peloton. They are 15 seconds ahead of the Maglia Rosa group. Simoni is trying to get up to them.

Garzelli had been caught by the peloton but now he goes again. Sastre is doing all the work of leading Basso up the volcano. David Arroyo Duran has caught Simoni.

5 km to go: Sastre still leads Basso. Further back is Garzellli then Simoni/Arroyo-Duran. Popovych is leading the Maglia Rosa group.

Sastre drops Basso.

Di Luca goes again and takes Menchov and Pellizotti. Pellizotti counters but can't get away from Di Luca. Simoni has been caught.

Di Luca group has been caught as they slow. Sastre has 40 seconds now.

Armstrong is in the Maglia Rosa group.

3 km to go: Pellizotti goes again. Di Luca goes after him with Menchov (of course!) on his wheel. Sastre now has 48sec.

Garzelli is caught again.

Di Luca goes again and again with Menchov on his wheel. Pellizotti hammers them both. This is incredible!

2 km to go: Sastre goes through 58sec ahead of Menchov, Di Luca and Pellizotti.

Pelizzotti won't give up. He's now finally got a real gap now on Menchov and Di Luca. Basso is up ahead waiting for his teammate Pellizotti.

Di Luca keep attacking and can't drop Menchov.

The finish: Sastre wins the stage. Di Luca and Menchov went by Basso, who had been dropped by Pellizotti.

It's Sastre, Pellizotti and then Di Luca with Menchov on his wheel.

Menchov stays in pink.

Stage 19 route map
Stage 19 elevation guide

---

May 30, Saturday: Stage 20, Napoli - Anagni, 203 km. Mixed terrain.

Weather at Naples at 1:30 PM, local time: 70F (21C) and sunny, wind from the ENE at 5 mph (8kph). There is a 30% chance of showers late in the afternoon

Photos from stage 20

Results:

1. Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) 4hr 30min 7ssec

2. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) 2sec

3. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & sapone) @ 7sec

4. Allan Davis (Quick Step) s.t.

5. Sebastien Hinault (Ag2r) s.t.

6. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.

7. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia) s.t.

8. Giovanni Visconti (ISD) s.t.

9. Simon Gerrans (Cervelo) s.t.

10. Serge Pauwels (Cervelo) s.t.

11. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) s.t.

12. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) s.t.

13. Rubens Bertogliati (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) s.t.

14. Ruggero Marzoli (Acqua & Sapone) s.t.

15. Alexander Serov (Katusha) s.t.

16. Renaud Dion (Ag2R) s.t.

17. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.

18. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) s.t.

19. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) s.t.

20. Christopher Froome (Barloworld) s.t.

64. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 1min 38sec

GC after Stage 20:

1. Denis Mencov (Rabobank) 85hr 44min 5sec

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 20sec

3. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 1min43sec

4. Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) @ 2min 44sec

5. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 3min 37sec

6. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 4min 59sec

7. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 8min 44sec

8. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 9min 36sec

9. Tadej Valjavec (Ag2R) @ 10min 46sec

10. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 11min 36sec

11. David Arroyo Duran (Caisse d'Epargne) @ 11min 58sec

12. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 15min 4sec

13. Jose Rudolfo Serpa (Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni) @ 15min 33sec

14. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) @ 15min 46sec

15. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 16min 28sec

16. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapoine) @ 17min 57sec

17. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Columbia) @ 18min 41sec

18. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 27min 52sec

19. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 28min 4sec

20. Lars Ytting Bak (Saxo) @ 31min 14sec

Climbers' Competition

1. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) : 61 points

2. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) 45

3. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 41

Points Competition (Purple Jersey):

1. Danilo Di Luca (LPR): 170 points

2. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) 138

3. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 133

Young Rider (White Jersey):

1. Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) 85hr 59sec 51sec

2. Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 2min 11sec

3. Francis De Greef (Silence-lotto) @ 16min 33sec

Team GC:

1. Astana: 256hr 51min 3sec

2. Columbia @ 24min 21sec

3. Serramenti PVC-Diquigiovanni @ 24min 35sec

Live updates:

Km 34: 170 riders departed Naples this morning. Yesterday Dario Andriotto (Acqua & Sapone) crashed on the Amalfi Road section and had to retire.

The day's break seems to have formed very early. At the fourth kilometer 8 riders escaped and they now have a gap to the peloton of 3min. Three teams are at the front keeping the break's from getting out of hand: LPR, ISD and Columbia.

Km 47: The gap is down to 2min 33sec. The average speed for the first hour was 46.2 km/hr.

Km 61: The break's lead has grown. It's now at 3min 43sec. David Lopez Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne) was hurt badly enough in a crash to require transport to a hospital.

Here are the riders in the break: Robert Forster (Milram), Pablo Lastras Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne), Anders Lund (Saxo), Feliz Rafael Cardenas (Barloworld), Ben Swift (Katusha), Angel Gomez (Fuji-Servetto), Francesco De Bonis (Serramenti) and Guillaume Bonnagond (Ag2R). Garcia is the best place rider at only 1hr 29min down on GC. Forster is over 4hr behind Menchov.

Km 82: The peloton isn't letting this break have much freedom. Their lead is 2min 43sec. I wonder if Di Luca, a good sprinter, is going to try for the bonus seconds in the intermediate sprints.

Km 102: At the feed zone in Cassino the gap is 3min 15sec. The average speed after the second hour is 45.1 kph.

Km 113: Currently the break is going 46 kph and the peloton is rolling along at 51 kph. The gap to the break of 8 riders is 3min 11sec.

Km 119: Passing through Roccasecca the gap is down to 2min 41sec. Looks like Sastre had a flat and has a couple of teammates dragging him back up to the peloton.

Weather in Rome for tomorrow's time trial isn't pretty. There is a 70% chance of rain in the afternoon. Perhaps a quarter inch may fall.

Acqua & Sapone is helping the peloton chase.

Km 137, 66 km to go: The break has reached Ceprano. The peloton is really lined out, chasing the break hard. Silence-Lotto, Acqua & Sapone, LPR are at the front of the peloton. The efforts are paying of. The gap to the break is down to 1min 9sec. Average speed of the race so far is 45.2 kph.

60 km to go: Both the break and the chase are well organized. The break has a good circular pace line going and it looks like everyone is taking his pull.

LPR, Silence-Lotto and Acqua & Sapone are taking turns at the front of the peloton. The gap has been cut down to 53sec.

55 km to go: 37sec now. Will they be caught in time for the intermediate sprint at Frosinine?

15sec now. I think so.

48 km to go: The break is caught, LPR is at the front. There are 6 bonus seconds in play in the intermediate sprint. Pack is really compact.

Di Luca is moving towards the front as the race enters Frosinone.

LPR is going for the sprint doing what looks like a leadout train. Menchov has jumped on Di Luca's wheel.

45 km to go: Menchov goes, seemingly catching Di Luca by surprise. It looks like Di Luca's teammate Alessandro Petacchi kept Menchov from grabbing the sprint. It was Petacchi, Menchov and Di Luca.

Menchov has grabbed 2 second overall gain with his second place in the intermediate sprint.

The new GC:

1. Menchov

2. Di Luca @ 20sec

3. Pellizotti @ 1min 43sec

Di Luca lost ground as a result of his tactical set-piece.

Right afer the sprint 3 riders escaped and have a 15sec lead: Agnoli, Brutt and Fothen.

36 km to go: Now it's just Pavel Brutt and Markus Fothen in the lead by 15sec. 45.21 kph is the race's average speed so far.

30 km to go: The gap is 37sec. Silence-Lotto and ISD are at the front of the chasing pack.

22 km to go: Average speed for the day is 45.14kph. We are closing in on starting the Anagni circuit. Fothen and Brutt are caught. Gruppo compatto.

19 km to go: On the first climb to the finish things are breaking up Di Luca and Menchov are are near the front. A Liquigas rider is dishing out some real pain at the front.

The peloton is coming back together after the climb. Now a trip through the city and then another trip up the hill.

15 km to go: The descent is really fast and the peloton is really lined out. Three riders have pulled away: Anthony Charteau, B. Huzarski and Paolo Tiralongo. They have about 15sec. Given Di Luca's ongoing aggression, I can't see how LPR will let them stay away. Silence-Lotto may have ambitions for their fantastically talented Philippe Gilbert. Silence-Lotto doesn't have much to show for this Giro.

Marco Pinotti made it up to the lead trio.

10 km to go: Their lead is 20sec

8 km to go: 23sec. Liquigas is leading the peloton.

5 km to go: 28sec.

3 km to go: The final ascent of the Anagni has started. Lead is only 20sec. The 4 riders will be caught.

Caught.

2 km to go: LPR leads up the hill. Di Luca is riding third with Menchov right on his wheel.

Bam! Philippe Gilbert goes with Thomas Voeckler on his wheel.

The Finish: Gilbert takes the stage, Voeckler is second. Looks like no time bonus at the finish for Di Luca.

Stage 20 route map
Stage 20 elevation guide

---

May 31, Sunday: Stage 21, Rome 14.4 km individual time trial. Flat.

Weather at Rome at Noon, local time: 75F (24C), mostly cloudy with the wind from the south at 9 mph (14kph). Forecast is a 70% chance of light rain developing in the afternoon.

Menchov crashed on wet cobbles in the final kilometers but remounted immediately and was able to preserve his lead. Di Luca went out with the fastest time at the first check point but ran out gas towards the end.

Photos from stage 21

Results:

1. Ignatas Konavalovas (Cervelo) 18min 42sec. 46.203 km/hr

2. Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) @ 1sec

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia) @ 7sec

4. Yaroslav Popovych (Astana) @ 11sec

5. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) @ 16sec

6. Giovanni Visconti (ISD) @ 18sec

7. Dries Devenyns (quick Step) @ 20sec

8. Maarten Tjalungii (Rabobank) @ 21sec

9. Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) @ 23sec

10. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) @ 24sec

11. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 27sec

12. Marco Pinotti (Columbia) @ 29sec

13. Gabriele Bosisio (LPR) @ 30sec

14. Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) @ 36sec

15. Andriy Grivko (ASD) @ 39sec

16. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 40sec

17. Danilo Di Luca (LPR) @ 45sec

18. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 46sec

18. Tom Stamsnijder tied with Basso at 46sec

20. Michael Rogers (Columbia) @ 49sec

27. Levi Leipheimer (Astana) @ 53sec

53. Lance Armstrong (Astana) @ 1min 19sec

Final 2009 Giro d'Italia General Classification

Stage 21 route map
Stage 21 elevation guide

---

Thursday, May 7: The teams entered in the Giro were presented to the press.

22 Teams have been invited to ride the Giro. Here they are in alphabetical order along with the riders and their back-numbers:

ACQUA & SAPONE - CAFFE MOKAMBO (Italy)

1 GARZELLI Stefano

2 ANDRIOTTO Dario

3 CODOL Massimo

4 DONATI Alessandro

5 FAILLI Francesco

6 MARZOLI Ruggero

7 MASCIARELLI Andrea

8 MASCIARELLI Francesco

9 PALUMBO Giuseppe

AG2R LA MONDIALE (France)

11 VALJAVEC Tadej

12 EFIMKIN Vladimir

13 HINAULT Sébastien

14 KRIVTSOV Yuriy

15 LOUBET Julien

16 PLIUSCHIN Alexandr

17 SENAC Jean Charles

18 SONNERY Blaise

19 TURPIN Ludovic

ASTANA (Kazakhstan)

21 ARMSTRONG Lance

22 BRAJKOVIC Janez

23 HORNER Christopher

24 LEIPHEIMER Levi

25 MORABITO Steve

26 NAVARRO GARCIA Daniel

27 POPOVYCH Yaroslav

28 RUBIERA VIGIL José Luis

29 ZEITS Andrey

BARLOWORLD (South Africa)

31 SOLER HERNANDEZ Juan M.

32 AUGUSTYN John Lee

33 BELLOTTI Francesco

34 CACCIA Diego

35 CARDENAS RAVALO Felix Rafael

36 CHEULA Giampaolo

37 FROOME Christopher

38 HUNTER Robert

39 LONGO BORGHINI Paolo

BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM (France)

41 BELGY Julien

42 CHAINEL Steve

43 GENE Yohann

44 HADDOU Said

45 QUEMENEUR Perrig

46 SOKOLOV Evgeny

47 SPRICK Matthieu

48 TSCHOPP Johann

49 VOECKLER Thomas

CAISSE D'EPARGNE (Spain)

51 ARROYO DURAN David

52 JEANNESSON Arnold

53 KIRYIENKA Vasil

54 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo

55 LOPEZ GARCIA David

56 PEREZ SANCHEZ Francisco

57 PERGET Mathieu

58 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin

59 CHARTEAU Anthony

CERVELO TEST TEAM (Switzerland)

61 SASTRE CANDIL Carlos

62 DEIGNAN Philip

63 GERRANS Simon

64 GUSTOV Volodymir

65 HUNT Jeremy

66 KING Edward

67 KONOVALOVAS Ignatas

68 LLOYD Daniel

69 PAUWELS Serge

FUJI-SERVETTO (Switzerland)

71 CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker

72 CAPECCHI Eros

73 VIGANO Davide

74 GOMEZ GOMEZ Angel

75 DEL NERO MONTES Jesus

76 GONZALEZ BAEZA Hector

77 FERNANDEZ RAMOS Alberto

78 KESSIAKOFF Fredrik

79 SERRANO GONZALEZ Ricardo

GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM (USA)

81 DANIELSON Tom

82 DEAN Julian

83 FARRAR Tyler

84 MEYER Cameron

85 MILLAR David

86 PATE Danny

87 VANDE VELDE Christian

88 WIGGINS Bradley

89 ZABRISKIE David

ISD (Italy)

91 VISCONTI Giovanni

92 GATTO Oscar

93 CIONI Dario David

94 STANNARD Ian

95 GRIVKO Andriy

96 GRABOVSKYY Dmytro

97 HUZARSKI Bartosz

98 SCARSELLI Leonardo

99 PIDGORNYY Ruslan

LAMPRE-NGC (Italy)

101 CUNEGO Damiano

102 BONO Matteo

103 BRUSEGHIN Marzio

104 DA DALTO Mauro

105 GASPAROTTO Enrico

106 GAVAZZI Francesco

107 MARZANO Marco

108 MORI Manuele

109 TIRALONGO Paolo

LIQUIGAS (Italy)

111 BASSO Ivan

112 AGNOLI Valerio

113 CARLSTRÖM Kjell

114 MIHOLJEVIC Vladimir

115 PELLIZOTTI Franco

116 QUINZIATO Manuel

117 STANGELJ Gorazd

118 SZMYD Sylvester

119 VANOTTI Alessandro

LPR BRAKES - FARNESE VINI (Ireland)

121 DI LUCA Danilo

122 BOSISIO Gabriele

123 CHIARINI Riccardo

124 ERMETI Giairo

125 GOLCER Jure

126 MONTAGUTI Matteo

127 PETACCHI Alessandro

128 PIETROPOLLI Daniele

129 SPEZIALETTI Alessandro

QUICK STEP (Belgium)

131 DAVIS Allan

132 CATALDO Dario

133 DEVENYNS Dries

134 ENGELS Addy

135 FACCI Mauro

136 REDA Francesco

137 HULSMANS Kevin

138 SEELDRAYERS Kevin

139 MALACARNE Davide

RABOBANK (Netherlands)

141 MENCHOV Denis

142 ARDILA CANO Mauricio Alberto

143 TEN DAM Laurens

144 VAN EMDEN Jos

145 DE GROOT Bram

146 HORRILLO MUNOZ Pedro

147 KOZONTCHUK Dmitry

148 STAMSNIJDER Tom

SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI - ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI (Venezuela)

151 SIMONI Gilberto

152 BERTAGNOLLI Leonardo

153 SCARPONI Michele

154 BERTOLINI Alessandro

155 SERPA PEREZ Jose Rodolfo

156 BERTOGLIATI Rubens

157 DE BONIS Francesco

158 OCHOA Carlos José

159 RODRIGUEZ Jackson

SILENCE - LOTTO (Belgium)

161 BRANDT Christophe

162 DE GREEF Francis

163 DOCKX Bart

164 GILBERT Philippe

165 JACOBS Pieter

166 LJUNGBLAD Jonas

167 KAISEN Olivier

168 VANENDERT Jelle

169 WEGELIUS Charles

TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD (USA)

171 BARRY Michael

172 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald

173 CAVENDISH Mark

174 LÖVKVIST Thomas

175 PINOTTI Marco

176 POSSONI Morris

177 RENSHAW Mark

178 ROGERS Michael

179 SIUTSOU Kanstantsin

TEAM KATUSHA (Russia)

181 POZZATO Filippo

182 BRUTT Pavel

183 ESKOV Nikita

184 IGNATIEV Mikhail

185 KLIMOV Serguei

186 MAZZANTI Luca

187 PETROV Evgeni

188 SEROV Alexander

189 SWIFT Ben

TEAM MILRAM (Germany)

191 BARLA Luca

192 FÖRSTER Robert

193 FOTHEN Markus

194 FOTHEN Thomas

195 MÜLLER Martin

196 ROHREGGER Thomas

197 RUSS Matthias

198 SCHOLZ Ronny

199 SCHRÖDER Björn

TEAM SAXO BANK (Denmark)

201 CANCELLARA Fabian

202 VOIGT Jens

203 LUND Anders

204 MCCARTNEY Jason

205 HAEDO Juan José

206 VAN GOOLEN Jurgen

207 BAK Lars Ytting

208 GOSS Matthew Harley

209 SÖRENSEN Nicki

XACOBEO GALICIA (Spain)

211 MARTINEZ ACEVEDO Serafin

212 CESAR VELOSO Gustavo

213 GARCIA DA PENA David

214 ISAICHEV Vladimir

215 RABUNAL RIOS Gonzalo

216 FERNANDEZ CRUZ Delio

217 MAYOZ ECHEVERRIA Iban

218 GARCIA FERNANDEZ Marcos

219 VORGANOV Eduard

.