STAGE 19: Casazza - Colle Gallo 173 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Nieve(TBG) **Gadret(BOE) *Navarro(CAR)

The final mountain stage.

14 strong riders get away in the break, they are: Arashiro, Bak, Clement, Vanspeybrouck, Ginanni, Vilela, Pate, Brenes, Bauer, Bole, Pantano, Dyachenko, Dombrowski and Garate.

Dombrowski wins the KOM points unconstested at the two intermediate climbs, if the break holds on for the finish he would claim the KOM jersey.

With 35 kilometres to go, only Bole has been dropped from the break having crashed. The break have 4'17 over the peloton.

With 17 kilometres to go and the break @ 3'00 Gadret and Meyer attack out of the peloton. The break are looking strong so whether they are to be caught is in the balance.

With 4 kilometres to go the break are caught by Gadret, Garate attacks and drops the rest of the break but surely he can't hold off the Frenchman.

Dombrowski did well to follow the pink jersey but ultimately couldn't match him and would end up second on the stage and second in the KOM standings.

Vorganov was the rest of the rest today as he dropped the other big favourites in the final.

Stage Favourites:
***Duque(CRL) **Ligthart(BOR) *Schumacher(TMO)

With 200 kilometres to go a 10 man break is established, the riders: Tanner, Pate, Dmitriyev, Gene, Saramotins, Bauer, Maes, Chaoufi, Offredo and Chainel.

With 45 kilometres to go the break have 10:00 over the peloton. Maes who punctured is the only rider to be dropped so far, but then the break explodes. Borussia Dortmund with Pate/ Offredo are doing all of the pace settin and one by the one the riders are dropped...

With 37 kilometres to go Roy, knowing a good attack will move him up in the GC, and Gadret attack despite the break being at 10:00, although the break are really really fatigued.

On the Cipressa the two Dortmund riders look dead on their legs yet they lead the race and Gadret by 5'00....

Despite this Gadret tares up the road and....would catch up to the stage leader, Pate, on the Poggio...

The opposition have no answers for a super Gadret....

Slagter then Tschopp lead home the GC group next. All the big favourites are together apart from Niemiec, he can say goodbye to dreams of a top 10.

Stage Favourites:
***Tuft(ALC) **Millar(IBA) *Grabsch(TMO)

The early battle for the best time, which may end up being the winning time, was between messrs Tuft and Grabsch. Tuft was '2 up on Grabsch at the first checkpoint.

But Grabsch would the ride the second half quicker and finish at 44'40 which was '6 faster than Tuft. Good enough for the stage win?

Roy goes '11 seconds faster than Grabsch at the first checkpoint....

But wilted in the second half and was unable to beat the German. Roy finishes at 44'50, whether that time would sneak him into the top remained to be seen.

The Frenchman would be nowhere near challenging for the GC today.... News comes in of a great checkpoint time....by Millar

Millar storms around the course and almost catches Navarro as he would take the stage win for Iberia with a time of 44'19 and move into the top 5.

Some last day GC changes see Tschopp, Slagter and Konig move down with Gusev, Meyer and Millar advancing.....

This tour will be remembered as Gadret's tour his attacking really did put the lambs to the proverbial. Join us next time when there, surely can't, be such repeat dominance.

TEAM:

FIN....