Stage Favourites:
***Elissonde(GPM) **Salas(HLE) *Henao(YTE)

Stage 7. Here we have one of the hardest stages in this Giro. Sure there are some big climbs but today is all about the final climb up to Rifugio Calvanico which is 7.8 kilometres at 11.5% average gradient. The GC men will come to the fore.

Even though the break which included Bakelants had no danger men in it whatsoever Lampre felt the need to chase it down, gunning for Stortoni.

The final climb is almost upon us Dutch champ, Gesink, leads the peloton for YouTube as the break are caught and we hit the final climb.

Immediately Uchima attacks...

With 5 kilometres to go Salas attacks and joins up with Uchima.

We take up the chase with Vanendert his sacrifice was crucial in maintaining the gap to the two men out front...

Henao started the climb near the front but is nowhere to be seen as Vanendert breaks up the GC group...

Three riders attack out of the GC group they are: Martin, Preidler and our man Duran as Vanendert is spent.

The three make big inroads to the two men out front as Stortoni comes from a long ways back to join up when Uchima accelerates and.......Drops Salas..

Duran is sticking with Preidler as the finish beckons...

Uchima takes the win and rockets back up the GC after losing time yesterday. Is he the best climber in this Giro? His second stage win suggests he might well be.

Duran finishes in the three man group 1'07 down on the stage winner. Henao finishes strongly but looses the GC lead.

Speaking of the GC....Who leads now?

WE DO. Duran's prize for great consistency is the fact he now holds the pink jersey. We will have to make all sacrifices necessary to ensure we keep it this way. WHAT A STAGE!

Stage Favourites:
***Elissonde(GPM) **Gesink(YTE) *Hermans(RIM)

Here we have a hilly stage with two notable hills inside the last 30 kilometres. The last being the Valica del Macerone which is 3.5 kilometres @ 7.2% and this summits at about 7 kilometres before the descent to the finish.

It was a big day for us. The riders were given orders to protect Duran and his pink jersey.

Although the break didn't contain any dangers for GC we wanted to show our strength as a team and begun to shut down the break along with Ribena, RIM and Youtube.

Probably not the best tactic in hindsight.....We hit the final climb, the break is caught and HENAO attacks....

Duran doesn't go with the move as he isn't in the first dozen or so riders, it is up to the team, Pizzaballa and Vanendert, to try and bring back Henao's super attack....

We bring back Henao....but not enough to deny him the stage win and '20 bonus seconds. He will move back into the GC lead.... Duran doesn't have a sprint and could only manage 5th.

Could have gone better...that one.

Stage Favourites:
***Salas(HLE) **Elissonde(GPM) *Preidler(ISS)

A big day for the GC sees the riders finish on top of the Monte Piselli climb which is 14.6 kilometres at 6.5%. But that isn't the only big lump we also have the Piettra Stretta climb, 13.2 kilometres @ 6.7% which summits 40 kilometres from the finish.

A break made it away but weren't given any chance as the climber's teams would be interested in the points on offer, no doubt, at the finish.

The action starts really early... 50 kilometres from the finish early! Gesink ups the pace for the pink jersey on the Stretta climb catching the break and blowing the GC group to pieces.

Towards the top only 13 riders remain in the GC group as we hit the descent with 40 kilometres to go, Duran has Pizzaballa for company, Gazprom are showing well with Elissonde and Andreason both present.

The big loser appears to be Preidler who is in the chase group '40 back.

Salas is dropped on the descent!

We hit the final climb, Duran is part of the 9 men to hit the climb first. Salas and Preidler..... would regain contact on the climb.

Into the closing kilometres we hit the poor road surface. Stortoni sets the pace and Duran looks to follow. There are no big attacks just a fierce pace....

Salas takes the win. On a stage where he had to fight to get back on terms. Duran finished well in the lead group of 10, lacking the acceleration which was required for victory.

Bonus seconds now mean the Giro is really close ahead of a 26 kilometre TTT.

Stage Favourites:
***Gazprom **Qatar Optics *RIM

A flat TTT will likely see some gaps be created in the tight GC. With former TT world champion Duran leading our time and with our team we expect to challenge for victory here. We have the advantage of starting behind Youtube thanks to the team classification in which we are 4th.

Youtube had Gesink on the front for much of the day in the appalling conditions. Youtube never featured at any time check for them it would be about limiting loses.

We are down on the top times of the likes of ExxonMobil at the first checkpoint, however, we move up considerably at the second checkpoint, we are down to our last 5 riders with around 9 kilometres to go.....

With Al Ghanim and Izagirre struggling we cross the line and...... we set the best time '33 ahead of ExxonMobil, only RIM can challenge of the remaining teams.

They don't and finish '27 down on us....... That means......

Duran is back into the GC lead. We finally have a stage win, a great ride by the team. For the records, Pizzaballa crossed the line first and will be credited with the stage win.

Some big gaps open up. Duran should be able to hold the pink jersey for a bit longer this time..