STAGE 1

Because I entered the stage as hilly, it played like one even though it was meant for a mass up-hill sprint, so it got a bit crazy! Still it was a fun start to the Giro.


On y va! Wait, that's not right...


Vandewalle wastes no time in putting things into motion. That poor man hasn't even lowered his flag yet.


He can form a group with Perez and Lagutin. The Uzbekistani will wear the mountains jersey tomorrow.


Surprisingly, attacks start coming from behind. That's Roche.


A couple of the escapees hang out front but the guys behind are coming fast.


The big favourites attack too! But it proves to be more of a defensive measure as they soon sit up against a chasing peleton.


Ladies and gentlemen take note - this may be the only time you ever see a 50 FTR sprinter make an attack in Pcm... and it's Mark Cavendish!


Nibali and Andy Schleck see this late move as an oppurtunity to get a lead ahead of the steep ramp to the finish and head up to Cavendish.


Unsurprisingly, Cavendish cracks on the way up and Nibali can oust Schleck for the win and the first, rather hard-fought, Magalia Rosa!


Basso leads in the rest of the favourites soon after. Well except this man, Jose Rujano, who has lost around a minute to his rivals already.

STAGE 2


There's Dutch champion and crowd favourite Rick Flens with the breakaway today.


Here's another favourite, Vincenzo Nibali. One of the favourites for the Italians, and maybe now a new favourite for the overall race?


Flens heads into the final 10km with Perez. They have over a minute lead!


In the peleton something odd happens as Goss begins to pull Davis away to lead him out, and now they are bearing down on the escapees as they head into Pisa.


Aww no, there's no chance for Flens now. The peleton are regaining speed behind...


Goss launches Davis just as Cavendish flies through on the right. Tony Martin is even getting involved on the left?


Now Fischer and Farrar have accelerated also. It's going to be close!!


Aussie champ Davis takes it by half a wheel ahead of Fischer!

STAGE 3


Hoogerland (Bouygues) is the most notable name in the break. Etna looms.


Vandewalle beats him in the mountain sprint at the top. Both of these guys are challangers for Lagutin's mountain jersey. So it's down, back round and up Etna again to the finish now.


Here we go again.


Duggan is keeping the pace steady for Magalia Rosa, Nibali. He'll be proud to wear the jersey up his home region's famous volcano.


Valverde is lining one up from deep!


Soon after, Andy Schleck makes a move. And it looks like the pink jersey is following!


White jersey Quintana takes to the front and reels them back in. Valverde still has a sizeable advantage out front.


Quintana detaches the others and heads off in pursuit of Valverde.


Several riders pass before we catch a glimpse of pink again, alongside Nicolas Roche. Not looking too good for Vincenzo.


Quintana has caught Valverde with 1km to go, can he power past him to the finish line now?


Wow, talk about a close finish! Who won?


Valverde thinks he was victorious, and the photofinish agrees.


Next in, Andy Schleck ahead of Jose Rujano. A green blur in the distance indicates Ivan Basso.


Nibali comes in with Dyachenko a short while after. Not such a great day for Liquigas or their Sicilian hope.





Points
Andy Schleck (CSC)

Mountains
Sergey Lagutin (VAC)

Youth
Nairo Quintana (LIB)

Team
Liquigas

This stage was really fun to play. mpardo has been busy making lots of races for pcm09, so you can check out his thread for the Etna stage and lots more.

STAGE 4


The customary break. Nothing too special about it today.


But, after yesterday's brutality, the peleton are happy enough to let the break steal some glory today.


Larsson is the first to try and make a dash for victory.


Him and the Giro's "Mr. Breakaway", Kristoff Vandewalle, head under the 10km banner.


Perez has caught up with them and the sprint begins!


Vandewalle just squeezes past Larsson in the final metres to take the win. He deserves it after his aggresive riding in this Giro.


Andre Greipel leads home a disorganised bunch sprint. The sprinters are now out of the running for the points jersey.





(as yesterday)

Points Kristof Vandewalle (QST)

Mountains Sergey Lagutin (VAC)

Youth Nairo Quintana (LIB)

Team Liquigas

STAGE 5

Mountain time trial up Sestriere today.


Timothy Duggan has been an impressive domestique thus far. He takes his performance to another level today, managing 6th place (+39')


Evans has been a little less impressive here. 8th place for him (+45')


Here's Tinkoff's Kazakhstani man Dyachenko. Same time as Duggan in 7th (+39')


Roche is weakest out of the GC contenders today, but he's not that far back. 10th (+51')


Rujano is strong today and comes in considerably faster than anyone else so far. Will it hold?


Ivan Basso should thrive on this challenge. He posts a strong time, good enough for 5th place (+36')


Liquigas' other leader - Nibali - is less impressive. 9th (+47')


Andy Schleck does well today. 4th (+35')


Colombian Nairo Quintana can take 2nd (+6') with a strong showing.


So the question is, did Valverde beat Rujano's time or did he only manage to take the 3rd place behind the 2 south americans?


Here he comes... it's stage win number 2 for the Spaniard, who extends his lead over Quintana. But it's still a case of just 14 seconds going into tommorow's queen stage!





Points
Alejandro Valverde (CAI)

Mountains
Sergey Lagutin (VAC)

Youth
Nairo Quintana (LIB)

Team
Liquigas

STAGE 6

It's crunch time. 4 of the toughest climbs the Alps has to offer, culminating in a leg churning ascent of the Galibier, before the riders tackle the final climb of Isola 2000. 14 seconds seperate Valverde from second placed Nairo Quintana. The Giro will be won here today, ahead of the final procession in Milan.


Today the king of the mountains will undoubtably be decided. Jersey wearer Lagutin tries to make the break, but ultimately fails, and leaves his fate in the hands of the Cycling Gods.


After a host of unsuccesful moves, Kashechkin gets clear, and it looks like that is 5th placed Ivan Basso on his wheel!


Basso loses a little ground to Kashechkin in dodging that poorly positioned villa. But anyway he gets back to him on the descent.


Surprisingly, Rujano is next to appear at the villa. Things are getting a bit crazy already, and Grupo Basso-Kashechkin have built up a fair advantage to the main group.


Shame for Kashechkin as he punctures. Basso has no time to spare for the Kazakhstani and is already far into the distance.


Basso is on the Col d'Aspin and is really building up a decent advantage. Incredibly, there's been no reaction from Valverde's Caisse team yet...


Here he comes over the top. Let's have a time check... wow he's already made 12 minutes on the Magalia Rosa!


Onto the monstrous Col du Galibier. 2650 metres of elevation mustn't seem too appealing for Basso right now.


Finally, a reaction comes, as Quintana begins to lead the parade of favourites.


Not that Basso cares - he's going à bloc and is 17 minutes up at the top of the Galibier!! This could be one of the defining moments of Diamond League history!


Back down and into the valley, and Basso is all ready to get climbing up to the final destination - Isola 2000. Reportedly, Quintana has detached Valverde atop Galibier, but all cameras are focused on this man.


The sun comes out, but it's exposing a tired, tired man. Basso is beginning to crack with just 10km separating him and the mythical Magalia Rosa!


Quintana is coming after him. Fast.
Meanwhile Valverde might as well have got lost on the descent for all we know, we've no idea where he's got to.


A beautiful win. Has he done enough for the ultimate prize? He needs 3 minutes on Quintana.


Quintana pushes so hard in the closing kilometres... and he makes it in time. So, so sad for Ivan, but it's truly a splendid effort from both of these men today.


A visibly shaken Valverde appears a while later. It looks like Basso might have edged him out for the second spot on the podium.


(Eventually) other men begin to arrive. Here's Rujano, ahead of an impressive Dyachenko.


Further down the mountain, and the sun might be shining on Nibali here, but it's a bad day for Basso's team-mate as he slips to 9th overall.


A tough, tough day in the saddle for everyone concerned. Several riders miss the time-cut, although most of the big names survive to ride around Milan tommorow.