The riders set off from Bolzano on this most important of days!
Caisse keep the pace high for Di Luca on the first climb, and nobody goes on to the attack
4km from the summit, Voeckler attacks for the mountain points!
And gets first place. This will extend his lead in the mountain classification
The pack comes back together on the long descent, until Pacheco leads a number of riders off the front. He is 8 points in front of Di Luca in the points category. If he can get some more sprint points, he might keep his jersey for just one more day!
3 more riders attack, and a 6 man break forms
The peloton relaxes and lets them go. There’s a long way to ride today!
Pacheco collects 6 sprint points, and sits up to rejoin the pack!
30km to ride, and the peloton reaches the foot of Monte Baldo. The fate of the race hangs on the next hour or so. Has Di Luca still got anything in the tank after working to get a 2 minute lead? Will Basso or Gonzalez, the two best climbers in the race, be able to win back some time? Can Gesink or Devine work together to keep up the hopes of Team Columbia? Or will we have a surprise stage winner?
Ricco and Zubeldia make the first moves. Are they feeling strong, or is this desperation? Ahead of them, the last few breakaway riders are being overtaken
Zubeldia hasn’t got the strength today, but Ricco gains some ground over the pack. Other riders try to bridge the gap…Linde and Nibali
But with 13km to go, and in a slight dip in the road, its Ortega of CSC who makes it across. Can these two work together to stay away?
The pack works hard to recover, and with 8km to ride Di Luca attacks past the leaders. Ardila, Gesink and Devine go with him!
With the steepest part of the climb just in front of them, the four attackers pass Ricco and Ortega
And ride for the finish!
But Astana is not happy about this, and work like demons to bring the 4 attackers to heel! And with 5km to ride, the leaders are all together again
The gradient increases to over 8%, and its Basso time! He attacks off the front of the peloton! Who can go with him?
No one reacts! Has Basso made the decisive attack?
Basso quickly establishes a 30” lead over the pack, and with less than 2km to ride, and with Lake Garda in the background, the question is not whether Basso can be caught, but how much time will he take out of Di Luca?
Di Luca is forced to drive the pace along in chase, but has he paid for his earlier solo efforts in the race?
The sprint for 2nd place starts, with Di Luca leading from Sammy Sanchez. Ricco is dropping back with the rest of the riders
Astana are on fire today, and Sanchez moves past Di Luca!
But today belongs to Ivan Basso!
Sanchez and Di Luca cross the line a minute behind Basso. Astana have the 1-2 today, but Di Luca will keep the lead!
Ricco comes home in 4th spot, and Gonzalez leads the rest of the elite riders home 1’30” down on Basso!
Not the best day in the saddle from Team Columbia, as Gesink moves down to 4th place overall, and Devine drops 1 place to 5th. Pacheco loses his sprint jersey aswell - Di Luca leads the competition by 2 points!
On a positive note, Voeckler is still ahead in the mountains, and 1 more decent day should see him keep the jersey to the end!
Stage Result
1 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - 5h29'03
2 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - + 59
3 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - s.t.
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - + 1'22
5 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - + 1'37 6 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - s.t.
7 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - s.t.
8 Mikkel Lund - Quick·Step - s.t.
9 Christian Knees - Liquigas - s.t.
10 Giuliano Bortolas - Silence - Lotto - + 1'55
11 Juanjo Cobo - Saunier Duval - s.t.
12 Mauricio Ortega - Team CSC Saxo Bank - s.t.
13 Jurgen Van den Broeck - Française des Jeux - s.t.
14 Kasper Linde - Lampre - s.t.
15 Vincenzo Nibali - Liquigas - s.t.
16 Vladimir Efimkin - Caisse d'Epargne - s.t.
17 Haimar Zubeldia - Euskaltel - Euskadi - s.t. 18 John Devine - Team Columbia - s.t.
19 Thomas Brigaud - Astana Cycling Team - s.t.
20 Tom Stubbe - Quick·Step - s.t.
General Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 71h30'52
2 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - + 2'30
3 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - + 3'17 4 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - + 3'20 5 John Devine - Team Columbia - + 4'02
6 Kasper Linde - Lampre - + 4'07
7 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - + 4'55
8 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - + 5'37
9 Vincenzo Nibali - Liquigas - + 6'55
10 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - + 7'23
Points Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 16 - 158 2 Francisco Pacheco - Team Columbia - 6 - 156 3 Lars Boom - Team Columbia - 0 - 111
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 14 - 102 5 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - 10 - 101
6 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - 20 - 100
Mountain Classification
1 Thomas Voeckler - Team Columbia - 10 - 87
2 Maxime Bouet - Team CSC Saxo Bank - 0 - 75
3 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 10 - 42
4 Iñigo Cuesta - Serramenti - 0 - 38
5 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 6 - 37
6 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - 20 - 28
7 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - 15 - 21
Today’s stage is the final mountain race stage of the Giro. The riders will start in Anfo, 50km to the West of yesterday’s race finish at Lake Garda, and will ride generally north into Lombardy, 204km to the finish in Livigno.
The stage will take in 3 major climbs, before ending with a downhill run in to the finish
The first of the climbs comes after about 50km of racing, the Campo Carlo di Magno
And is about 16km of riding, with an average gradient of 6%, but with peaks of 12%
The pass is dramatic, to say the least!
The race then turns west into Lombardy, and moves into the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio, home of the world famous Gavia Pass.
This north facing pass, 18km at 8%, is one of the toughest in the Giro, and is sure to decimate the peloton.
Only the best will survive this with the energy to attack
The final climb of the day, the Passo di Foscagno, is mild in comparison. 20km long, with an average slope of 5%, this is a double hump with a 9km downhill to the finish in the resort town of Livigno
The switchback roads will almost certainly see some dramatic attacks!
The stage finish in Livigno
Team Columbia will be looking to redress the balance after yesterday's slightly disappointing stage, with Gesink and Devine hoping that other leaders will be tiring!
Voeckler needs to be alert to any attacks for the mountain points.
Team Columbia are looking for a good result today. If Gesink or Devine want a podium place, the next 2 days are where it is going to happen! The time trial on Stage 20 will suit the likes of Basso and Gonzalez. Voeckler can secure the mountain jersey with 10 or 15 more points today, so will try to get into the break.
The pack takes a gentle ride through the countryside for 30km, until the first attacks come. A few breaks are brought back until finally, 6 riders get away. Fortunately, Voeckler is in the right break!
At the foot of the first climb, the Campo Carlo Magno, the break has expanded to 12 riders, and the peloton has let them get away
Voeckler rides hard at the front, knowing that if he takes the maximum points on this climb, nobody can catch him in the mountain competition!
Voeckler rounds the final bend and takes the points! Team Columbia has won its first jersey of the Giro!
The break has a 5 minute lead as it rides towards the Passo Gavia
On the lower slopes of the Gavia, and the lead is over 6 minutes!
Agritubel and Caisse decide that enough is enough, and start to ride hard to bring the break back
And the peloton starts to disintegrate under the pressure
As the gradient increases, Voeckler sits in near the front of the break. He fancies his chances to take the points at the top of the Gavia, and prove to everybody that he is the best mountain breakaway rider in the peloton!
4km from the summit, and the pack is only a couple of minutes away!
Inside the final km to the top of the Gavia pass, and the peloton is less than half the size it was at the bottom! All of the top riders are still there, but the break is down to 6 riders
Voeckler hangs on over the top, and gets maximum points! The break, however, is doomed
Near the bottom of the descent off the Gavia, and the pack is back on terms with the breakaway. The elite riders prepare themselves for the final climb up the Passo di Foscagno
AS the pack moves up the Foscagno, the attacks come thick and fast. First to go are Gonzalez and Linde
Ricco and Zubeldia are off next!
Di Luca goes next, but Devine and Gesink wait!
3km from the top of the first peak, and a dozen or so riders are strung out in the road. Most of the leaders are here
Finally, Gesink and Devine attack, on the steepest part of the climb
2km from the summit, and Ricco and Gonzalez are out in front. Di Luca is a short way behind
The chasing group, led by Basso, are close behind though. Devine and Gesink of Columbia are here, as is Linde of Lampre all the other favourites
Bortolas and Linde attack, and Devine and Gesink go with them!
Over the top of the first peak of the Foscagno, its Gonzalez ahead of Ricco
With a small group of riders 30” behind, led by Di Luca
In the dip before the final climb of the day, Devine and Gesink stay near the back to save energy, and leave the chasing to others
Ricco and Gonzalez are still out on their own however!
And start the final 2km climb working hard together
Di Luca sets the pace for the chasers – he knows that Gonzalez will be favourite for the time trial in a couple of days, and can’t let him get too much of a lead
On the flat at the top of the climb, Devine and Gesink launch a counterattack!
And they catch Ricco and Gonzalez in the final couple of km
Di Luca works as hard as he can to minimize the time loss
Inside the final km, and Devine launches an attack
Gesink is in 2nd place in the sprint, but Ricco is an excellent sprinter!
Across the line its John Devine! He takes his first stage win in the Giro, and is rewarded for all of his hard work. Can Gesink hang on to make it a fabulous Team Columbia 1-2?
Ricco and Gonzalez used up too much energy earlier on in the Foscagno climb, and Gesink takes 2nd place!
A magnigficent day for us today, with a 1-2 stage finish, and Voeckler taking the Mountain jersey win! And what's more, we beat Ricco!
Gesink has moved up into 2nd place (if only by a second!) and has given himself a real chance of a Podium in Milan!
Stage Results
1 John Devine - Team Columbia - 5h51'44
2 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - s.t.
3 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - s.t.
4 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - s.t.
5 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - + 43
6 Mauricio Ortega - Team CSC Saxo Bank - s.t.
7 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - s.t.
8 Kasper Linde - Lampre - + 1'13
9 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - s.t.
10 Haimar Zubeldia - Euskaltel - Euskadi - s.t.
General Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 77h23'19 2 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - + 2'25
3 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - + 2'26
4 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - + 2'30 5 John Devine - Team Columbia - + 2'59
6 Kasper Linde - Lampre - + 4'37
7 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - + 6'07
8 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - + 6'21
9 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - + 6'40
10 Vincenzo Nibali - Liquigas - + 8'05
Points Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 12 - 170 2 Francisco Pacheco - Team Columbia - 0 - 156
3 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - 20 - 121
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 16 - 118 5 Lars Boom - Team Columbia - 0 - 111
Mountain Classification
1 Thomas Voeckler - Team Columbia - 30 - 117
2 Maxime Bouet - Team CSC Saxo Bank - 0 - 75
3 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 10 - 52
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 15 - 52
5 Iñigo Cuesta - Serramenti - 0 - 38
The 1-2 was very satisfying indeed! Especially beating Ricco
Points jersey is dodgy - Di Luca is 14 points clear at the moment. There is 1 hilly stage, 1 TT and 1 flat stage to go. Di Luca should get points in the hilly stage and the mountain TT, so I'm not sure that Pacheco will have a chance to gain enough points in the final stage!
Stage 19 is a hilly stage, starting in the resort of Livigno, and generally following a downhill path to Como. The final 20km of the 198km stage follow the same route as the historic Giro di Lombardie, taking in the climbs of the Civiglio and San Fermo
The only major climb of the day is in the first 20km, as the riders move out of the Alps. The Passo del Bernina is two short sharp climbs of about 5km each
From there the race moves downhill for a loooong way, and is fairly flat, until the Civiglio and San Fermo climbs in Como
This view shows the San Fermo hill across the town of Como from Brunate (next to Civiglio)
The climbs are steep, peaking at 11%, but relatively short, and will suit a rider like Gesink or Di Luca.
The Team is on a high today, after its excellent day yesterday, and so long as the riders feel good we will try to eke out more seconds for Gesink over Ricco and Basso. Voeckler will take things easy today, and show off his Mountain jersey to the press! Pacheco will try to slip into the brea kearly on, to get some points in the intermediate sprint if he can!
The riders give a sigh of relief as they leave the Alps behind. They just have one more pass to climb, the Passo del Bernina!
On the climb a number of riders slip away. The only name of note is Juanjo Cobo of SDV
And he takes the 10 points at the top of the Passo
Over the top and the break only has a slender lead
The pack brings them back together as they head towards the intermediate sprint
Pacheco gains 4 points in the sprint (useful but not enough!), and a new breakaway of 13 riders forms, including 3 Saunier Duval riders! Magellanes, Roberto Cobo this time, and Iriarte. They are serious about giving this break a chance!
With 80km to ride, a powerful 2nd group forms, containing van den Broeck (FdJ), Bertagnolli (Eus), Nocentini (Liq), and Champion (QST)
Agritubel and Caisse start the chase!
With 35km to ride, the two breakaway groups form one massive break on the shores of Lake Como. They have 3’ lead over the peloton! Can they stay away?
The pack are chasing hard though
Onto the Civiglio, with 15km to ride, and the break still has over a minute on the pack. Champion attcks for glory!
The peloton slows down somewhat and Gonzalez attacks. Devine and Gesink make their move!
But on the descent of the Civiglio its Champion out on his own!
Devine and Gesink chase Gonzalez, and get a lead over the peloton, but the break will make it to the end
Our two riders join up with van den Broeck and Gonzalez on the San Fermo! This is looking good for us to gain some time on our rivals!
Over the line is Champion who gets the win, followed by Moser of Serramenti and Ochoa of FdJ
Bertagnolli of Euskaltel comes home in 4th, with the rest of the breakaway behind him
Devine and Gesink finish in 17th and 18th places respectively, and have a nice gap on the peloton! Exactly what we wanted!
Stage Result
1 Dimitri Champion - Quick·Step - 4h38'07
2 Leonardo Moser - Serramenti - s.t.
3 Carlos José Ochoa - Française des Jeux - s.t.
4 Leonardo Bertagnolli - Euskaltel - Euskadi - s.t.
5 Andrea Tonti - Lampre - s.t.
6 Olivier Bonnaire - Bouygues Télécom - s.t.
7 Rinaldo Nocentini - Liquigas - s.t.
8 Ramon Sinkeldam - Rabobank - s.t.
9 Giampaolo Cheula - Tinkoff Credit Systems - s.t.
10 Alejandro Magallanes - Saunier Duval - s.t.
11 Fco. Javier Iriarte - Saunier Duval - s.t.
12 Simone Masciarelli - Acqua e Sapone - s.t.
13 Christophe Riblon - AG2R La Mondiale - s.t.
14 Staf Scheirlinckx - Mitsubishi - s.t.
15 Romain Zingle - Silence - Lotto - s.t.
16 Tom Stubbe - Quick·Step - s.t. 17 John Devine - Team Columbia - s.t.
18 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - s.t.
19 Mauricio Ortega - Team CSC Saxo Bank - s.t.
20 Haimar Zubeldia - Euskaltel - Euskadi - s.t.
What! Surely this is some kind of joke! The official timekeepers have given the peloton the same time as the winner! Cheats! Surely it can't have anything to do with the fact that Gesink would have gained time on his two nearest rivals, Basso and Ricco, who are.....errr....Italian!
General Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 82h01'26 2 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - + 2'25
3 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - + 2'26
4 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - + 2'30 5 John Devine - Team Columbia - + 2'59
6 Kasper Linde - Lampre - + 4'37
7 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - + 6'07
8 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - + 6'21
9 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - + 6'40
10 Vincenzo Nibali - Liquigas - + 8'05
Points Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 0 - 170 2 Francisco Pacheco - Team Columbia - 4 - 160
3 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - 0 - 121
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 0 - 118 5 Lars Boom - Team Columbia - 2 - 113
Mountain Classification
1 Thomas Voeckler - Team Columbia - 0 - 117
2 Maxime Bouet - Team CSC Saxo Bank - 1 - 76
3 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 0 - 52
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 0 - 52
5 Iñigo Cuesta - Serramenti - 0 - 38
So, no change in the GC or the Points Classification, although Pacheco pulls the gap to Di Luca back to 10 points!
The penultimate stage of this year’s Giro, is a ‘mountain’ Time Trial. I say ‘mountain’, as I think the organizers have misnamed it.
The route takes us from Canzo up the famous Ghisallo climb from the Tour of Lombardy to the Madonna di Ghisallo church at the summit.
The difference is that in the Tour of Lombardy the riders go from the church to Canzo, so we will be riding this the wrong way round, and will be climbing up the descent!
As you can see, the profile is relatively gentle, with only a 2km stretch at 11% to tax the riders! More of a ‘hilly’ TT than a ‘mountain TT in my opinion!
Team Columbia enters the stage in a good position, although it should be better if the timekeepers hadn’t screwed us over yesterday!
Leleuso of Liquigas sets the early pace riding out in 94th place, and provides us with the time to beat for a long time
Until Larsson sets off from 39th place. He is 14” faster than Leleuso at the intermediate split
And pushes that advantage in the steeper sections near the end to come home 48” ahead of Leleuso! Larsson has set a fabulous time, and will be tough to beat!
Mikkel Lund is the next important rider to set off, in 24th place, but he can only come home in 2nd, 15” behind Larsson
Gonzalez is riding from 9th place, and is the favourite for the stage today. He is 6” faster than Larsson through the split
Linde is behind Gonzalez on the road, and is only 2” slower at the split!
Devine is not riding well, and is well off the pace today
Basso sets off from 4th, looking to gain some seconds on Gesink and try to move up to 2nd!
But Gesink is not riding well either, and has lost 20” on Basso at the split!
Up at the finish and Gonzalez is flying today, he sets the fastest time, beating Larsson by 22”
Linde tries valiantly, but can’t quite match Gonzalez’s pace, and comes home in 2nd, 6” behind Gonzalez
Devine’s exertions have told today, and he can only finish down in 27th, 1’ 02” behind Gonzalez
Basso gives it everything he has up the steep climb, and finishes in 5th, 26” off the pace. Will it be enough?
Ricco isn’t the greatest of TTers, and can only finish in 20th, 50” off the pace
And Gesink comes home with the same time as Ricco, losing 24” to Basso, and 2nd place with it! A terrible day in the saddle for Gesink!
Di Luca rides sensibly and safely, finishing in 12 place, 40” off the pace
At the end of today’s stage, Di Luca comfortably retains the lead in the Giro, and barring disaster will win this year’s edition. Basso takes over 2nd place after a strong ride today. But its disappointment for Gesink as he drops to 3rd place overall. Still, a podium was not guaranteed at the start of the race, and we are very happy with his performance this year. Ricco and Devine stay in 4th and 5th place respectively.
In the points race, Di Luca takes back the 4 points that Pacheco recovered yesterday, to extend his lead back to 14, and looks likely to win that competition. Pacheco has to get a podium spot on tomorrow’s final stage to have a chance of winning the points jersey back.
Stage Results
1 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - 18'03
2 Kasper Linde - Lampre - + 6
3 Gustav Larsson - Team CSC Saxo Bank - + 22
4 Thomas Brigaud - Astana Cycling Team - + 23
5 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - + 26
6 Mauricio Ortega - Team CSC Saxo Bank - + 31
7 Giuliano Bortolas - Silence - Lotto - + 34
8 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - s.t.
9 Mikkel Lund - Quick·Step - + 37
10 Juanjo Cobo - Saunier Duval - + 39
11 Vincenzo Nibali - Liquigas - s.t.
12 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - + 40
13 Vladimir Efimkin - Caisse d'Epargne - + 42
14 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - + 45
15 Maxime Bouet - Team CSC Saxo Bank - + 47
16 Jurgen Van den Broeck - Française des Jeux - s.t.
17 Remco Broers - Rabobank - + 48
18 Haimar Zubeldia - Euskaltel - Euskadi - + 49
19 Jonathan Castroviejo - Euskaltel - Euskadi - + 50
20 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - s.t. 21 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - s.t.
General Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 82h20'09
2 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - + 2'16 3 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - + 2'35
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - + 2'36 5 John Devine - Team Columbia - + 3'21
6 Kasper Linde - Lampre - + 4'03
7 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - + 6'00
8 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - + 6'01
9 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - + 6'26
10 Vincenzo Nibali - Liquigas - + 8'04
Points Competition
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 4 - 174 2 Francisco Pacheco - Team Columbia - 0 - 160
3 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - 0 - 121
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 0 - 118 5 Lars Boom - Team Columbia - 0 - 113
Mountain Competition
1 Thomas Voeckler - Team Columbia - 0 - 117
2 Maxime Bouet - Team CSC Saxo Bank - 0 - 76
3 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 0 - 52
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 0 - 52 -
5 Iñigo Cuesta - Serramenti - 0 - 38
The final day! A relatively short and easy stage today, a mere 141km from Cantu to Milan.
Apart from all of our riders getting through to the finish, and Gesink and Devine holding on to 3rd and 5th respectively, the big question of the day is who will win the Points jersey.
Pacheco lies in second place, 14 points behind Di Luca. With 25, 20, and 16 points on offer for 1st to 3rd place respectively, Pacheco has to get a podium spot today to stand any chance of winning back the jersey he has worn for most of the Giro. Unfortunately, Di Luca has taken part in a lot of sprint finishes, and only needs to get a decent result today to scupper our chances!
The peloton sets off on this final day and takes it easy in the opening few km
Team Columbia pose for the cameras! Voeckler in green, Gesink in white, and Pacheco in mauve (still wearing the sprint jersey as Di Luca is in the leader’s jersey!)
As usual though, the day’s break forms after about 20km
And 6 riders work together to get a small lead over the peloton
The pack isn’t too bothered, but never lets them get more than about 4 minutes lead
Blanco falls! And picks up an injury! But the peloton is going slowly enough for him to rejoin. All of our riders will finish the Giro today
Cuesta is in the same crash! How unlucky can he get? Cuesta has fallen in the first and last stages of the Giro! Definitely showing his age
Today’s break was never going to make it through to the finish, and with 16km to ride the pack swallows them up
The trains form for the sprint, with Columbia in the middle as usual.
Di Luca works his way to the front in the last few km and will contest the sprint!
The sprint starts, and Boom leads out for Pacheco. Rabobank have set a good pace though and Machado is right there with us, with Menzies of Tinkoff on his wheel
Machado is flying today, he had a better lead out than we did, and Menzies is reaping the reward of that in 2nd place. But Pacheco is still strong!
And is closing the gap!
But not quickly enough, and can only get 3rd place! The 16 points may be enough to win the points jersey, but where is Di Luca?
No changes in the General Classification, but the big news is that Di Luca finishes in 14th place, picking up 2 points. Pacheco's 3rd place gains him 16 points, meaning that its a tie for the Points classification on 176 points!
The countback process begins, and Pacheco is given the overall win in the classification, due to his higher placings in the early stages! Remarkable!
Stage Result
1 Honorio Machado - Rabobank - 3h08'37
2 Karl Menzies - Tinkoff Credit Systems - s.t. 3 Francisco Pacheco - Team Columbia - s.t.
4 Philip Nielsen - Mitsubishi - s.t.
5 Bernardo Riccio - Liquigas - s.t.
6 Sébastien Chavanel - Française des Jeux - s.t. 7 Lars Boom - Team Columbia - s.t.
8 Michel Reisinger - Team CSC Saxo Bank - s.t.
9 Dominique Rollin - Gerolsteiner - s.t.
10 Pieter Seyffert - Acqua e Sapone - s.t.
11 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - s.t.
12 Luciano Pagliarini - Saunier Duval - s.t.
13 Dimitri Claeys - Silence - Lotto - s.t.
14 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - s.t.
General Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 85h28'46
2 Ivan Basso - Astana Cycling Team - + 2'16 3 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - + 2'35
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - + 2'36 5 John Devine - Team Columbia - + 3'21
6 Kasper Linde - Lampre - + 4'03
7 Héctor González - Saunier Duval - + 6'00
8 Álex Ardila - Rabobank - + 6'01
9 Samuel Sánchez - Astana Cycling Team - + 6'26
10 Vincenzo Nibali - Liquigas - + 8'04
Points Classification
1 Francisco Pacheco - Team Columbia - 16 - 176
2 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 2 - 176
3 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 5 - 123 4 Lars Boom - Team Columbia - 9 - 122
5 Robert Gesink - Team Columbia - 0 - 121
Mountain Classification
1 Thomas Voeckler - Team Columbia - 0 - 117
2 Maxime Bouet - Team CSC Saxo Bank - 0 - 76
3 Danilo Di Luca - Caisse d'Epargne - 0 - 52
4 Riccardo Riccò - Agritubel - 0 - 52
5 Iñigo Cuesta - Serramenti - 0 - 38
The sponsors were very happy with Voeckler and Pacheco wearing the mountain and points jerseys for most of the race, but as the race wasn't a specific goal for them weren't that excited about the high GC places
Final General Classification
1 Danilo Di Luca Caisse d'Epargne 85h28'46
2 Ivan Basso Astana Cycling Team + 2'16 3 Robert Gesink Team Columbia + 2'35
4 Riccardo Riccò Agritubel + 2'36 5 John Devine Team Columbia + 3'21
6 Kasper Linde Lampre + 4'03
7 Héctor González Saunier Duval - Scott + 6'00
8 Álex Ardila Rabobank + 6'01
9 Samuel Sánchez Astana Cycling Team + 6'26
10 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas + 8'04
11 Jurgen Van den Broeck Française des Jeux + 8'30
12 Thomas Brigaud Astana Cycling Team + 8'44
13 Mauricio Ortega Team CSC Saxo Bank + 8'49
14 Giuliano Bortolas Silence - Lotto + 9'07
15 Haimar Zubeldia Euskaltel - Euskadi + 9'28
16 Tom Stubbe Quick·Step + 10'21
17 Marco Osella Quick·Step + 10'42
18 Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott + 11'46
19 Niccolò Sestili Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 12'25
20 Christian Knees Liquigas + 12'52
21 Jonathan Castroviejo Euskaltel - Euskadi + 12'54
22 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Cycling Team + 13'27
23 Mikkel Lund Quick·Step + 13'29
24 Francesco Masciarelli Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 13'59
25 Vladimir Efimkin Caisse d'Epargne + 14'07
26 Remco Broers Rabobank + 14'27
27 Giovanny Báez Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 14'46
28 Morris Possoni Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 15'54
29 Dimitri Champion Quick·Step + 16'14
30 Maxime Bouet Team CSC Saxo Bank + 16'18
31 Yasuharu Nakajima Euskaltel - Euskadi + 16'56
32 Raffaele Illiano Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 17'29
33 Leonardo Bertagnolli Euskaltel - Euskadi + 18'13
34 Emanuele Sella Astana Cycling Team + 18'52
35 David Muñoz Barloworld + 19'25
36 Rodrigo García Lampre + 20'08
37 Luigi Sestili Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 22'38
38 Alex Mancini Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 22'42
39 Gustav Larsson Team CSC Saxo Bank + 24'34
40 Mario Fagotti Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 29'36 41 Lars Boom Team Columbia + 29'55
42 Rubén Plaza Quick·Step s.t.
43 Rinaldo Nocentini Liquigas + 30'19
44 Andrea Tonti Lampre + 32'35 45 David Blanco Team Columbia + 35'08
46 Eddy Ratti Astana Cycling Team + 35'30
47 Matteo Carrara Team CSC Saxo Bank + 36'28
48 Jussi Veikkanen Française des Jeux + 37'53
49 Pierluigi Caffa Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 39'42
50 Ivan Santaromita Liquigas + 39'44 51 Thomas Voeckler Team Columbia s.t.
52 Giovanni Visconti Agritubel + 39'48
53 Dario Cioni Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 39'56 54 Dani Moreno Team Columbia + 40'24
55 Michel Reisinger Team CSC Saxo Bank + 40'28
56 Ángel Vicioso Team CSC Saxo Bank + 40'39
57 Leonardo Moser Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 41'01 58 Frantisek Rabon Team Columbia + 42'24
59 Carlos José Ochoa Française des Jeux + 43'38
60 Andrea Palini Liquigas + 44'21
61 Paco Lara Euskaltel - Euskadi + 44'29
62 Emanuelle Bindi Lampre + 45'11
63 Eduardo Gonzalo Caisse d'Epargne + 45'30
64 Giampaolo Cheula Tinkoff Credit Systems + 45'54
65 Jérôme Pineau Française des Jeux + 46'28
66 Maurizio Biondo Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 47'44
67 Sven Nys Silence - Lotto + 49'53
68 Stanislav Kozúbek Astana Cycling Team + 50'05
69 Paolo Bailetti Tinkoff Credit Systems + 51'27
70 Guido Trentin Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 51'31
71 Bram Tankink Agritubel + 51'40
72 Matthew Lloyd Agritubel + 53'02
73 Rik Verbrugghe Lampre + 53'16
74 Rubén Martínez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 54'08
75 Giambattista Tamburro Barloworld + 54'23
76 Michael Albasini Gerolsteiner + 56'18
77 Dominique Rollin Gerolsteiner + 56'37
78 Valerio Agnoli Liquigas + 56'39
79 Juan Carlos Martínez Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne + 56'51
80 Nicolas Crosbie AG2R La Mondiale + 57'11
81 Roman Kireyev Astana Cycling Team + 1h01'55
82 Alexandr Kolobnev Gerolsteiner + 1h02'24
83 Remmert Wielinga Barloworld + 1h02'25
84 Alexander Arekeev Lampre + 1h02'59
85 Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux + 1h08'35
86 Matthias Ruß Gerolsteiner + 1h09'06
87 Luca Mazzanti Barloworld + 1h13'59
88 José María Ortega Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1h18'13
89 Dimitri Claeys Silence - Lotto + 1h21'07
90 Anthony Charteau AG2R La Mondiale + 1h22'06
91 Jesús Ramírez Tinkoff Credit Systems + 1h22'18
92 Dennis Vanendert Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 1h22'48 93 Francisco Pacheco Team Columbia + 1h25'09
94 Stefano Leleuso Liquigas + 1h27'14
95 Olivier Bonnaire Bouygues Télécom + 1h31'13
96 Mauro Facci Gerolsteiner + 1h32'58
97 Leonardo Giordani Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 1h33'01
98 Alessandro Proni Quick·Step + 1h33'49
99 Mathieu Perget Caisse d'Epargne + 1h34'14
100 Derio Fochi Tinkoff Credit Systems + 1h34'41
101 Paolo Longo Borghini Barloworld + 1h35'25
102 Arnaud Plestan Bouygues Télécom + 1h35'42
103 Antonio D'Aniello Barloworld + 1h36'02
104 Marco Benfatto Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 1h36'15
105 Alejandro Magallanes Saunier Duval - Scott + 1h36'39
106 Johnny Van Diermen Rabobank + 1h40'38
107 Iñigo Cuesta Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 1h40'45
108 Aurélien Passeron Silence - Lotto + 1h50'25
109 Stefano Barberi Barloworld + 1h54'05
110 Laurent Mangel Caisse d'Epargne + 1h54'09
111 Ricardo Martins Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 1h55'31
112 Leonardo Pinizzotto Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 1h58'48
113 Simone Masciarelli Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 1h59'20
114 Christophe Riblon AG2R La Mondiale + 1h59'37
115 Luis Pérez Romero Caisse d'Epargne + 2h00'38
116 Christophe Kern Agritubel + 2h00'50
117 Honorio Machado Rabobank + 2h01'11
118 Tim Gudsell Française des Jeux + 2h02'57
119 Anders Fialla Team CSC Saxo Bank + 2h05'22
120 Karl Menzies Tinkoff Credit Systems + 2h10'09
121 Xavier Hérinne Silence - Lotto + 2h10'55
122 Evgeni Sokolov Bouygues Télécom + 2h11'17
123 Manuele Boaro Tinkoff Credit Systems + 2h12'11
124 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 2h12'27
125 Marino Palandri Lampre + 2h12'55
126 Víctor Hugo Revuelta Saunier Duval - Scott + 2h13'47
127 Stefano Cavallari Liquigas + 2h18'03
128 Philip Nielsen Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 2h18'05
129 Timothy Vangheel Silence - Lotto + 2h18'15
130 Roberto Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott + 2h18'35
131 Regis Afanou AG2R La Mondiale + 2h19'36
132 Staf Scheirlinckx Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 2h23'52
133 Alexander Khatuntsev Tinkoff Credit Systems + 2h26'01
134 Joshua Soberon Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 2h27'00
135 Fco. Javier Iriarte Saunier Duval - Scott + 2h27'56
136 Renzo Granzotto Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 2h29'38
137 Bram De Groot Rabobank + 2h32'21
138 Arjen De Baat Rabobank + 2h40'29
139 Kasper Klostergaard Team CSC Saxo Bank + 2h40'32
140 Campbell Eaddy Rabobank + 2h43'22
141 Romain Zingle Silence - Lotto + 2h46'18
142 Marco Corti Barloworld + 2h50'27
143 Manuele Mori Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 2h56'20
144 Ramon Sinkeldam Rabobank + 2h56'32
145 Francesco Ginanni Quick·Step + 2h59'02
146 Etienne Pierret AG2R La Mondiale + 3h00'46
147 Markel Irizar Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3h02'44
148 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale + 3h06'26
149 Nicolas Filippi Bouygues Télécom + 3h06'51
150 Michele Gobbi Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 3h07'54
151 Luca Celli Lampre + 3h10'53
152 Benoit Sinner Agritubel + 3h14'17
153 Jos Pronk Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 3h14'27
154 Cyrille Monnerais Française des Jeux + 3h15'36
155 Marijan Perkovic Astana Cycling Team + 3h18'12
156 Baden Cooke Silence - Lotto + 3h20'02
157 Sébastien Chavanel Française des Jeux + 3h20'22
158 Tom Boonen Quick·Step + 3h20'45
159 Bernardo Riccio Liquigas + 3h23'11
160 Marco Marcato Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli + 3h23'42
161 Luciano Pagliarini Saunier Duval - Scott + 3h27'26
162 Jean-Patrick Nazon AG2R La Mondiale + 3h28'59 163 Phil Southerland Team Columbia + 3h29'29
164 Jhonny Cattaneo Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 3h31'19
165 Erki Pütsep Bouygues Télécom + 3h42'00
166 Pierre Drancourt Agritubel + 3h43'13
167 Bruno Bertolini Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 3h43'18
168 Ben Van der Kooi Rabobank + 3h45'02
169 Pieter Seyffert Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo + 3h45'59
170 Hilko Renno Gerolsteiner + 3h53'08
171 Lasse Bøchman Team CSC Saxo Bank + 3h56'59
172 Dimitri Le Boulch AG2R La Mondiale + 4h00'45
173 Hilton Clarke Bouygues Télécom + 4h08'15
174 André Greipel Gerolsteiner + 4h08'40
175 Davide Viganò Quick·Step + 4h10'57
176 Thomas Fothen Gerolsteiner + 4h12'53
177 Fabien Taillefer Bouygues Télécom + 4h15'54
178 José Gustavo Lizarralde Caisse d'Epargne + 4h16'20
179 Nuno Marta Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 4h21'33
180 Jérôme Giaux Tinkoff Credit Systems + 4h22'32
181 Pedro Quiñoa Saunier Duval - Scott + 4h25'27
182 Marco Di Pasquale Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 4h25'52
183 Andoni Lafuente Euskaltel - Euskadi + 4h27'36
184 Yohann Gené Bouygues Télécom + 4h28'27
185 Frank Dressler Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 4h44'48
186 Frédérique Robert Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech + 4h46'40
187 Sebastian Lang Gerolsteiner + 4h51'45
188 Jacopo Guarnieri Tinkoff Credit Systems + 5h01'23
189 Pier Luigi Mazzola Lampre + 5h01'50
190 Raivis Belohvosciks Saunier Duval - Scott + 5h02'35
191 Nicolas Fouda Bouygues Télécom + 5h21'08
And what's more, we beat Ricco! 
Surely this is some kind of joke! 
The official timekeepers have given the peloton the same time as the winner! Cheats! Surely it can't have anything to do with the fact that Gesink would have gained time on his two nearest rivals, Basso and Ricco, who are.....errr....Italian! 
