We have moved!!!

Come to see us @

www.justcycling.net

Tomorrow´s Stage Agordo - Lienz, 189 km

Riccó wins First Giro Stage

23 year-old Riccardo Riccò has added his name to a list that includes Merckx and Gimondi by conquering the 184-kilometre stage to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and in the process has won his first Giro d'Italia stage. He crossed the line with early escape companion, teammate Piepoli, with Ivan Parra (Cofidis) and Julio Pérez (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) following behind.
In the fight for Maglia Rosa Danilo Di Luca reined champion by controlling the dangerous gap to attacker Eddy Mazzoleni. The Astana rider moved up the overall, 1'51" behind Liquigas' Di Luca, but was not able to take the race lead. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval-Prodir) was not able to put Di Luca into difficulty and ended the day content with his team's success. Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) finished sixth, behind his former leader.
"Thanks to Gibo to let me and Leo [Piepoli] go for the stage, I am very happy to have a teammate like him," said Riccò after the stage, complementing his team captain, Simoni. "We did the climb this winter. He called me and said 'come with me and we will ride the hardest stage of the Giro.'"
Riccò was part of the Saunier one-two when his teammate opened the throttle at 325 metres to the top of the cold Tre Cime summit. The stage win moved him up in the GC and closer to his pre-Giro objective, the young riders Maglia Bianca. He is now only 43" behind leader Andy Schleck (Team CSC).
"I am happy to win my first Giro stage, and it was the hardest stage of the Giro."

Eddy Merckx, winner on Tre Cime di Lavaredo in 1968, was on hand to witness the moment. "That win was my most memorable," he reflected. "It is hard to make parallels back to my day but this was truly a difficult day," said the five-time Giro winner. "Today was very, very hard and young Riccò did an amazing job. He first did lots of work with Piepoli on the Pellegrino and then was able to win on the Tre Cime. ... I think both Riccò and Andy Schleck are two riders for the future."
Leo Piepoli waved through his young mate in the final 75 metres. The rider from Puglia had worn the Maglia Verde of best climber all day, however it was on loan from Di Luca and Piepoli set affairs correct by moving in the lead with 19 points.
Colombian Parra and Mexican Pérez provide an international mix to the finale but neither of the true mountain-men could match Saunier's aces. Romping towards the line, just under one minute later, was Mazzoleni. The rider who was named after Merckx was at one point the virtual race leader but ended the day satisfied with his seven-place jump in the overall; he is now in second.
After to Riccò, Di Luca's performance shined the brightest on this cloudy, mythical day to Tre Cime. 'The Killer' struck at 2000 metres to go and left behind a dead looking Simoni, Cunego and Schleck. He was out to save his pink jersey that was in the claws of Mazzoleni.

"Mazzoleni had attacked us on the descent of Giau and I just tried to save myself," recalled Di Luca of the taxing moment. "I was without teammates, but, in the end, I was happy with the result. ... At one point I did not have the maglia but I managed my force in the final kilometres."
Di Luca can consider himself luckily to have the lead when his team had disappeared and Saunier was on the hunt. "My team was tired, they had pulled early. Mazzoleni put in a good attack and I had to finish off the work." Di Luca is now looking at the final difficult stages before the race wraps up in Milano, next Sunday. "Mazzoleni is close on the classification and he can go well in the crono. But I am also watching Schleck."
"Di Luca has good form and his team has worked hard," echoed Merckx. "He as enough experience to manage himself over the next days. Tomorrow is a rest day and he will just need to handle the final difficult stages."
Simoni lost another opportunity to dunk Di Luca into the deep end. On home roads, he simply did not have the legs to mount an offensive on Di Luca and join his teammates up the road. "I had good teammates up front and I am happy for them," Gibo noted optimistically. "It was a really hard stage but I am very content. Saunier Duval showed a lot of force today."
He said to his winning teammate, "Complements to you Riccò! I said when he left 'you are crazy!'" ... I am going for the Maglia Rosa, the time doesn't matter, I will go on." He is fourth overall.
Cunego, who is looking tired the tail-end of the Corsa Rosa, was also with out a punch to throw at Di Luca. "We tried but it is like that. I will try everyday, not just wait until Zoncolan. Everyday will be a battle," concluded an exhausted Cunego.
How it unfolded

and Tomorrow....Mountain TT!!!!!

Top 20 after today´s Stage

1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 56.42.25
2 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 1.03
3 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 1.16
4 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.25
5 Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Fondital 1.39
6 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 2.10
7 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Ceramica Panaria 2.14
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.34
9 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit System 2.48
10 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana 3.28
11 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 4.03
12 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 5.11
13 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 6.03
14 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Liquigas 7.07
15 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Astana 7.51
16 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Ceramica Panaria 8.16
17 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana 9.15
18 Mario Aerts (Bel) Predictor - Lotto 9.20
19 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 9.34
20 Marco Pinotti (Ita) T-Mobile Team 10.05

Di Luca Back to Pink!

Danilo Di Luca controlled the finale of stage 12 into Briançon, attacking an elite group of five twice in the final kilometre. His last jab distanced his rivals and he won ahead of a re-emerging Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval-Prodir) and a stunning Andy Schleck (Team CSC). With the powerful efforts of a strong Saunier Duval many of the favourites were distanced, including previous race leader Andrea Noè, allowing Di Luca to also take the race leader's Maglia Rosa.

"I did not know the descent [of Izoard] and I did not want to risk it. Then others re-entered and I did not want to push harder," said Di Luca, who chose to save his final strike for the short blast to Briançon.

Already knowing the race leadership would be his, 'The Killer' hunted for the stage victory as the parcours kicked upwards in the final 1300 metres to Briançon's Citadelle. Simoni led Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) and Eddy Mazzoleni (Astana) when Di Luca first launched at 900 metres to go. The fifth of five riders, Schleck, immediately latched onto Di Luca's wheel.

"I went at 900 metres to go for the win and to try to distance the others but it did not work." Schleck and then Simoni clawed their way back on to Di Luca's wheel. The 31 year-old rider led the duo over the medieval streets, and following two bridge crossings he powered off the front starting at -450m on a tight fan-packed pavé section.

Simoni was able to remount and vie for the sprint while 21 year-old came in a few seconds later, splendid in the Maglia Bianca of best young rider.

"The giro is still open," continued Di Luca, who has both the Maglia Rosa and the best climber's Maglia Verde. "My advantages are not earth-shaking. ... I hope I will go well in the next week."

Luxemburger Andy Schleck now sits fourth overall, 1'25" behind Di Luca, after finishing with the favourites. The almost unknown rider, younger brother of Fränk, is now emerging as an overall threat. "Schleck is going well, he also goes will in the time trials so I will have to continue to monitor him," noted the Italian, fourth in the 2005 Giro. "Today, what was important is that we narrowed down the classification."

He reflected on Saunier's strength over the Agnello and Izoard, "I was afraid at the beginning on Agnello because [Saunier's Leonardo] Piepoli was nailing the pace and he was really going strong. If he continued like that I don't know what I would have done."

Schleck played down his dominance after arriving at the end of the 163-kilometre stage. "I was not here to win but I am happy with how it went today," noted the only non-Italian from the winning group. "I was there with Simoni and Di Luca on the final pavé in to Briançon."

Regarding the next week, he said, "I still have the legs I will try again for a win in the coming stages. However, I have to try from far out because I don't have the legs for last minute bursts."
Damiano Cunego is one that normally has the legs speed for such bursts, however, today he was seen yo-yoing at the back of the favourites' gruppo. He finished with the front five but hopes to his form improves over the coming days, which includes the Oropa mountain TT, tomorrow, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Sunday, and Monte Zoncolan, Wednesday.

"Today, and also in the previous days, Danilo showed that he is brilliant," said Kid Cunego. "But we are on the first of the big mountains. ... I did not go badly. I am still lacking a little bit but I hope in the next days to go better. There are truly some grand climbs coming in this grand Giro, so, we will see."

Mazzoleni showed incredible strength for such a big framed rider. It was him that shepherded Cunego to his 2004 Giro win, and, thanks to team captain Paolo Savoldelli cracking, he was able to continue on his own. The rider from Bergamo my not be able to take the top step of the podium but he could vie for one of its two neighbours.

Distanced but strong in the first of the big mountain days was Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo). The 2000 Giro Champ fought back leg pains on the Col d'Izoard but held his own to finish solo in sixth.

"I had craps on the beginning of the climb, and in the last kilometre the cramps became stronger," noted the bald headed rider from Varese. "It was a very hard day but I battled with the big champions, and in regards to the previous two days I feel great."

He commented on his former teammate, Di Luca, "He is strong but we will have to wait for the Zoncolan."

2002 and 2005 Giro Winner, Savoldelli, suffered today, and he was already out of the race's picture with nine kilometres to go to the top of the Colle dell'Agnello (-70km to the line).

"My legs felt like they were not going," noted the rider in his Bergamasco accent. "The pace seemed so strong and I just felt like I could not go."

He was bothered from yesterday's finish line crash and, knowing his form, told Mazzoleni to ride ahead. "Even this morning I thought about not riding. After a crash like that you need a couple of days to recover. I hope in the next days to go better; we will see. ... I told Mazzoleni to stay up front and make his own race and that I would look after myself."

Todays Stage

LIVE HERE

Piepoli wins the 10th

Leonardo Piepoli conquered the intimidating stage ten to Santuario Nostra Signora della Guardia when he flew away from an elite group with four kilometres remaining on the final climb and hammered to a solo win and his third career Giro d'Italia stage. He reponded to the initial move by Italian Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas), who had attacked but then reconsidered his strategy. When Saunier's Piepoli launched himself on the steep slopes of the final climb, nobody could respond.
A brave move by Andy Schleck (Team CSC) was reeled in by another attack from Di Luca, who rode up to the Luxemburger, and then dropped him in the final kilometre to finish second. A visibly agonized Schleck managed to hold off Piepoli's team-mates, Simoni and Riccò who finished fourth and fifth.
Previous race leader Marco Pinotti (T-Mobile), admittedly not the strongest climber, faded on the 14% gradients of Santuario and was forced to give up his pink jersey to 38 year-old Andrea Noè (Liquigas), who finished 10th on the stage, and now leads the overall classification by 1'08" over Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre - Fondital).
Piepoli's attack on the day's final climb reminded the tifosi of his two 2006 stage victories (La Thuile and Furcia) and just how strong of a domestique Simoni has. The rider from Puglia rocketed away from a select group of favourites once the remainder of the day's escapees had been caught (Baliani, Losada, Hincapie and then Parra - 173km of freedom).
"I did not have time to talk to Gibo but I knew it was the right move," remarked the 35 year-old Italian. Behind, team captain Simoni and his super-domestique, Riccò, marked the general classification rivals. Piepoli held off Schleck and then Di Luca over the final stiff 14% gradients. "When the final 300 metres came it was really, really difficult."
Once Piepoli attacked he remained solo for the rest of climb even though 21 year-old Giro-revelation Schleck came within a whisker of closing him down at 1800 metres to go. The CSC rider finished third for the day and was rewarded with the Maglia Bianca of best young rider.
"I hope to have this maglia in Milan," he said in French at the finish. The tall rider, younger-brother of Fränk, immediately came to a stand-still next to the barriers after crossing the line. "I had stopped at the finish because I had really given my all. Di Luca had closed on me and Simoni was chasing hard."

Di Luca showed 'The Killer' look as he powered past Schleck with 1400 metres remaining. He had previously launched on Santuario at five kilometres out but then sat up; however, on his second attempt he was able to distance his GC rivals.
"It was a great test," said Di Luca, who took the Maglia Verde of best climber from Luis Felipe Laverde (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare). "I got a nice second place." He noted of the earlier launch, "I think my first attack went well but it was too soon."
Some doubt his form, saying that his willingness to show his cards on an early 'easy' mountain stage might mean he believes he does not have the legs to contend for the three-week title. "The first exam of the Giro... I am very happy. After Montevirgine, I think the Giro is going very well. I don't think I won the Giro today but it was an important part of the overall."
He could not match his stage win of seven days ago. "Piepoli was truly strong. If we had caught him right away then maybe the finish could have been different.
While Piepoli pounded on the Santuario slopes teammates Riccò and Simoni were watching the other favourites. Riccò was caught off-guard, looking back several times for Simoni, but he was later impressed by his captain's diesel engine.
"When Di Luca went I waited for Gibo. I only thought of him," explained an exhausted Riccò. "We showed to have a great team today."

Simoni backed up his young companion. "I believe that Piepoli is not a surprise, and for our team it is great prize," the two-time Giro champion remarked of the stage win. "He did what he wanted to do and we are happy.
"Riccò did some great work. There were not great surprises by anyone. The Giro did not start today but every day it keeps getting tougher. The battle is day-by-day."
2004 Giro winner and Simoni's old teammate followed in the Saunier duo. Cunego was not able to keep up with Di Luca but, like Simoni, believes the big days are yet to come.
"I felt OK," he said of the ride. "I think that I demonstrated to be going well and that the attackers had their chance today. The team did well and we were always there. In other words, I am satisfied. I think the next stages will go even better for me."
"The Giro is long and it is just starting now. There are still many climbs. How did I finish?" he asked. "Seventh? Oh, good!" he concluded with a smile.

The race lead slipped out of the grip of Marco Pinotti (T-Mobile). Pink Pinotti showed well over the last few days and confirmed his earlier prediction that the Santuario would be his last moment in the lead. Noè started the day 28" down and finished 3'39" up on Pinotti, enough to give the campaigner his second career Maglia Rosa.
"Today it was my day to try; to try to push out Pinotti and take the maglia," noted Noè in his raspy voice. "It is important to be in this jersey again. ... This morning, in the team meeting we decided that if there was a chance then I would be able to go for the maglia, as a prize. But from here on in I am completely for Danilo."
"Complements to Noè at 38 years-old for taking the Maglia Rosa," Di Luca added his praise.

The "real" giro starts tomorrow, Camaiore - Sº Sta. Mª della Guardia, 250 km

Napolitano opens his account

Danilo Napolitano took a dream win ahead of sprint greats Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto) and Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) at the end of the 177-kilometre stage to Lido Di Camaiore. The 26 year-old Lampre-Fondital rider from Sicily took advantage of the work of Milram to conquer Petacchi on home roads for his first Giro d'Italia win. Marco Pinotti's T-Mobile team did its share of the day's pace-making to keep the Italian in Rosa.
Petacchi had to settle for third, despite a picture-perfect set up from his Milram lead out train, which had the bunch spread out single file for the last five kilometres. With Alessandro Cortinovis (Milram) taking to the front for the right-hander into the final stretch along the Mar Tirreno and Viale Sergio Bernardini, Petacchi had to contend with Julian Dean of Crédit Agricole trying to set up his captain Thor Hushovd, as well as a last ditch attack by Salvatore Commesso's (Tinkoff Credit Systems) was captured at 800 metres to go.
Petacchi kept his cool in his maglia ciclamino and hitched on to Hushovd's wheel as the riders made the left curve at 500 metres, but he had McEwen and then Napolitano glued to his wheel. With 200 metres to go, Petacchi's last man pulled off and Ale-Jet started his sprint, but McEwen was able to jump around on his left followed by Napolitano, who surprised McEwen to grab the win from the seasoned Grand Tour stage winner.
"I am very content with this win," noted Napolitano at the finish. "I wanted to follow Petacchi but McEwen moved up very quickly and his wheel ended up being bellissima! And it is always a big gamble to try to grab Petacchi's wheel."
Petacchi makes his home just north of Lido di Camaiore and was not so happy to miss out on the win

"I would have liked to win because I live close by," said the Milram sprinter. "However, I have already won two stages so I am happy nonetheless. And I am happy with the sprint I did today."
He reflected on that sprint. "I went from too far out and I was in the wind for too long. ... Danilo Napolitano was so strong today, it was clear, but thanks to all my teammates for working - they did a great job."
A crash in the final 75 metres involved Yohann Gène (Bouygues Telecom) but did not stop Napolitano further up the road. The Italian must give thanks to the Green Crédit Agricole team who did a superb job and forced Petacchi on the defensive in the final kilometres. Hushovd had to be satisfied with another placing but the Norwegian is showing some impressive sprint strength.
T-Mobile kept Pinotti safe and the rider from Bergamo enjoyed another day in the leader's maglia rosa. "I am little tired from yesterday but I think everyone was like that today," noted Pinotti. The stage was noticeably calmer than the day before.
Pinotti is concerned about tomorrow's stage to Santuario Nostra Signora Della Guardia and hopes he can see home roads while still in the pink jersey. "I am watching my rivals. I will try to stay close tomorrow and see if I can live out my dream of being in the maglia when the race arrives in Bergamo."

Today´s Stage, Reggio Emilia - Lido di Camaiore, 177 km

Aversen takes the 8th!

Kurt-Asle Arvesen grabbed success from an escape group of 22 riders in the eighth stage of the 2007 Giro d'Italia. The Norwegian CSC rider hooked on to World Champ Paolo Bettini's (Quickstep-Innergetic) wheel in the final 500 metres to capture a last minute dash by Emanuele Sella (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare). Marco Pinotti's T-Mobile had to work extremely hard to conserve the race lead but the team, thanks to the helping-hand of Saunier Duval, was able to keep the Maglia Rosa on the shoulders of its leader by 28 seconds.
The escape that formed by kilometre 49 worked smoothly all day until its dynamics fell apart in the final kilometres. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r Prévoyance) opened up a gap that was followed by Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff Credit Systems) and then Emanuele Sella (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare). The latter kept going and looked to have a serious chance of winning the stage in Fiorano Modenese.
But it was the World Champion himself who reacted with less than five hundred metres remaining. Tagged by Arvesen, he immediately picked up Brutt and had the punchy Sella in his sites. Sella was smacked down with only 150 metres remaining, and at the same time, Arvesen started his sprint on Bettini's right. He continued his charge and nipped the Italian at the line.
"Today went very well," said the 32 year-old Arvesen after the stage win. "The team tried to get into an escape. Once in the escape, I think that the riders rode well together."
Regarding Bettini, he added, "I am sorry for him, but he wins a lot but I can only win every four years." It was his second win in the Corsa Rosa; his first one came exactly four years ago, on May 20.
Bettini seems to be getting better by the day and maybe tomorrow, when the race enters his home region of Tuscany, he will go one better. He showed an amazing turn of speed when he jumped to reel in Sella.
"I feel better than three days ago, but it is too bad that... Nothing," Bettini said with disappointed. "I knew the finale would be hard and that the others would watch me. It goes like that. ... I went at 150 metres but Kurt-Asle Arvesen is a great sprinter."
Controversy reigned early on in the race when Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) was part of the escape that formed on the backside of Passo della Futa. The rider from Formigine, near the stage finish, came under fire from his escape companions who believe his move would ruin the their chances of staying clear to the line.

"He was too close in the overall, also the young riders' classification. So we could not go on with him," said Arvesen after the finish.
"There were some 20 riders in that escape and there was not much agreement," Riccò recalled. "My directeur told me to come back and be with my captain Simoni." Riccò initially refused to talk when he crossed the finish line, but team captain Gilberto Simoni indicated that there was an order for him to return from the break to the peloton. "I decided on my own to come back; the riders in general did not want me in that escape," Riccò tried to clarify.
Due to the absence of a Saunier rider and several Liquigas and Lampre men up front, the yellow squad was forced to pull for the majority of the day. "I made a mistake to go back to the group," Riccò said.
Saunier Duval also got help from T-Mobile, who was desperate to save the Maglia Rosa of Pinotti. Andrea Noè (Liquigas) was the major threat in the escape as he started the day only 4'38" down on the race leader. Pinotti himself was pulling in the final kilometres to conserve race leadership.
"I saved the maglia thanks to my teammates," said the 31 year-old from Bergamo. "Bernucci, Merckx, Olson, and the others all did well, but we can't work like this again tomorrow."

"Volata" Awaiting at the 8th Stage, Barberino di Mugello - Fiorano Modenese, 200 km

Petacchi Makes it two!

Alessandro Petacchi revved his big engine to success on the Mugello race track in Tuscany. Team Milram had its cylinders pumping hard in the finale with Lancaster and then Ongarato to deliver the 33 year-old Italian to the win over Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), Paolo Bettini (Quickstep-Innergetic) and Danilo Napolitano (Lampre-Fondital). Marco Pinotti (T-Mobile) enjoyed his first full day in pink and arrived safely to keep the leader's Maglia Rosa.

"I had good sensations and I was able to make a great sprint," said Petacchi after taking Giro win number 21, the second in this year's edition. "I know that that there were other sprinters who were more tired than me [after the climb]. The team really put its faith in me. Also, thanks to my teammates at home, like Marco Velo."

Quickstep did the majority of the work today, especially to bring back the escape of four that at one point had a lead of 11 minutes and 30 seconds. Once the escape was reeled in, at 39 kilometres to go, the Belgian team did not ease off of the pace and kept the throttle down all the way to the Mugello race track.

Once on the track, Milram took the reins of the peloton. Petacchi had six men on the front with three kilometres to go and looked to be in control of the finale. But there was a scare when Salvatore Commesso (Tinkoff) launched an attack.

Totò's move only lasted 1,500 metres. After the Italian was caught at 1,000 metres to go, Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) hit Milram hard. The Swiss gave the Italian team a run for its money. Brett Lancaster (Milram) kept pulling hard on the front for the next 400 metres and peeled off at 600 metres to go. Teammate Alberto Ongarato took over and caught Cancellara at 250 metres to the line, and then he turned the sprint over to team captain Petacchi at 175 metres to go.

"I am getting better day by day," Petacchi continued. "I think all the bad moments have passed. I am now restarting and doing the sprints how I should be doing them. I think Hushovd did very well today, he showed a lot of force. I think McEwen [finished 14th - ed.] suffered a little on the climb but tomorrow will be another day and I will watch for him."

World Champion Bettini came up on the right but he did not have the legs to close down Petacchi. Norwegian Hushovd snuck up on the left of the day's winner to get second.

"We tried to organize ourselves over the long stage," said Bettini of Quickstep's team tactics. "The final was nervous, and we tried to make the sprinters work a lot. I think Petacchi benefited from our work but it is like that.

"It is easier to lose a stage against those sprinters, Petacchi and Hushovd, and the others, than to win. I really wanted to win here in my home region, with my wife and daughter present. ... Everyday that passes is an opportunity that I miss. But, today was the first day that I have raced with good sensations."

Napolitano battled with Hushovd in the last 300 to 200 metres and finally lost the fight for Bettini's wheel. However, the Italian kept going, following the Hushovd's wheel, and then came around on the right of Petacchi and Bettini, while Hushovd approached on the left.

"In that last climb Quickstep really made a hard tempo. I was able to re-join on the decent," commented Napolitano, who has yet to win a Giro stage. Regarding the struggle with Hushovd, he added, "I lost my space, and it was too late to remount on Bettini and Petacchi."

Marco Pinotti was all smiles at the finish; the Italian from Bergamo enjoyed his day in the general classification lead without having to work too hard.

"I am very happy to be in the maglia, and the emotions don't seem to stop," said "Pino" after the finish. "I keep getting phone calls of congratulations - I have hardly had a moment of rest since I took the jersey yesterday."

He wishes to keep the jersey for the next two "flat" days before having to fight for its honour on the 10th stage to Nostra Signora Della Guardia. "I hope my teammates will get help from the other teams in the coming days."

Cycling Moments To Remember

Stage 7, Spoleto - Scarperia, 254 km Another chance for the sprinters

Top 20 after stage 6

1 Marco Pinotti (Ita) T-Mobile Team 23.44.32

2 Hubert Schwab (Swi) Quickstep - Innergetic 3.30

3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 4.12

4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 4.38

5 Andrea Noe' (Ita) Liquigas 4.47

6 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

7 Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Col) Ceramica Panaria - Navigare 4.49

8 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 5.05

9 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 5.06

10 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC 5.15

11 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Astana 5.19

12 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana "

13 Andrey Mizourov (Kaz) Astana "

14 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astana "

15 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Esp Lampre - Fondital 5.29

16 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre - Fondital "

17 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - Fondital "

18 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Lampre - Fondital "

19 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 5.36

20 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 5.37

Laverde wins, change of pink!

Luis Felipe Laverde (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare) and Marco Pinotti (T-Mobile) have scored a double success in the 177-kilometre stage to Spoleto. With an attack on their three escape companions on the slopes of the Forca di Cerro, the duo moved free towards the finish in southern Italy, where the Colombian won the stage and the Italian took the Maglia Rosa. Danilo Di Luca's Liquigas squad controlled the pace all day but released its stranglehold on the leader's jersey for an earned rest.
"When one believes in something I think that they can make it happen," said the 31 year-old Pinotti, who lives in Bergamo. He was the only one of an early escape of five (Christophe Kern, Daniele Contrini and Hubert Schwab) who could stick with the attack of Laverde, who attacked at less than 22 kilometres to race, four kilometres before the summit of he days final climb.
Already quasi-secure of the Maglia Rosa due to Liquigas loosing its control, Pinotti worked in harmony on the downhill run to the Umbrian town of Spoleto. The duo had a pact and 'Pino' did not contest the sprint by Laverde.
"Today went really well in the escape, I am very happy with this win," said the 27 year-old, winner of stage 14 (Domodossola) in 2006. "The rules were respected, in that I took the stage and he took the jersey. It is not written this is always the case but it was great gesture."
The Colombian rider who makes his home in Imola remarked on the original escape, which went free at kilometre 61. "When we were in five it was a little more risky. When I attacked it was great to have him [Pinotti] with me because he was going for the jersey."
The acid-green Liquigas team controlled the pace all day with a tempo that allowed the leader's jersey to move out of its camp. Di Luca is now 4'12" back on compatriot Pinotti and plans for a classification shake-up in stage 10, to Santuario Nostra Signora Della Guardia.

"It is normal in cycling," commented the 31 year-old rider, still in the Maglia Rosa that he would soon release. "Cycling is beautiful, with all of these tactics. I think back in the cars that all of the directeurs must have been busy talking and deciding what to do," he joked.
"We will look forward to the tenth stage." The team also lost the Di Luca's Maglia Verde to Laverde and Vincenzo Nibali's Maglia Bianca to Schwab (Quickstep-Innergetic).
Pinotti reckons he should be able to keep his first ever leader's jersey for another 631 kilometres, or three stages.
"It is my first leader's jersey to ever take," continued 'Pino.' For me it was a good gesture to let Laverde win the stage, I was secure to take the Maglia Rosa, so we both got something."
The team is now down to only six riders with the abandons of Barry, Hansen and Ziegler. "I think my team will be able to defend the jersey. I know we have had some bad luck but we should be able to keep the jersey for two or three days."