Giro d'Italia

Real life: Won by Garmin-Barracuda in 37:04 ahead of Katusha and Saxo Bank.

Samuel Sanchez have not been looking forward to this stage, and the rain doesn’t really improve his mood. A few riders including Greek TT-champion Tamouridis have been brought mainly with the TTT’s in my, so let’s see how much they can limit Sammy’s losses today.

The big disadvantage for Rodríguez is the TT’s, so he has brought a team to help him diminish the losses on the two Team Time Trials with Menchov being the big engine today. Katusha is 7th team to pass the intermediate. Provisional best in same time as Euskaltel.

Blanco does well to get provisional best on the first intermediate.

With two National Champions on the team, Astana was counted among the favourites for today. And they live up to that.

Being the only team to have won stages this far, holding 1st and 2nd in the GC, with two national champions, a world champion and defending world champions in TTT a lot of eyes are on Omega Pharma – QuickStep.

With all teams passed the first intermediate Astana is in the lead followed by Blanco and Movistar. All teams are within 19 seconds!

Sky Wiggins was the main favourite for today, but haven’t quite lived up to it yet.
With 5 km to go Sky Froome start losing riders behind.

All have passed the second intermediate. Movistar leading ahead of Katusha and Blanco. 55 seconds between the best and the worst at this point.

Saxo – Tinkoff have not shown the strength Contador had hoped and with 3,7 km to go gaps start appearing with Alberto behind! This could be expensive if they don’t slow down and get their captain along with them…

Andy Schleck is hoping to get a lot of help from his team today and they manage to finish in a provisional 5th.

Van Garderen is leading BMC over the line to a slightly disappointing 8th place.

Giro d'Italia

Real life: Won by Cavendish ahead of Goss and Bennati in 4:43:15.

Lots of attacking early on. Even World Champion Gilbert tries. They’re never allowed more than two minutes though.

Boom and Klöden has better luck though and have build a gap of 3’39’’ when the Dutchman is first to pass the intermediate sprint. The bonus seconds put him in the GC lead!

Is Cavendish showing weakness? Greipel oversprints him in the battle for 3rd in the intermediate. 93 km to rest before the two have another fight.
With 70 km to go Boom and Klöden have 5 minutes, but the gap is starting to close.

Sagan haven’t had the best Giro this far and with 60 km to go he has a solo crash on the flat. Three teammates down to help him up, but will he be ready for the sprint?

Thomas attack from the peloton to take the mountain sprint of the day. Sagan still 3’30’’ behind the peloton.

With 5 km to go Orica seem to have the best train again.

2,2 km and Davis starts his leadout.
Cavendish far behind at the moment.

Going into the last km Boonen have brought Cav to the front and the final battle can begin.

400 m. Cavendish in third position behind Goss and Greipel with Degenkolb coming from behind.

Who would have known: The Brit is beatable!