Gilberto Simoni has based his entire season on the Giro.

Fortress Astana. I expect Leipheimer and Contador along with Andreas Kloden (not in this picture) to be spectacular Saturday.

Paolo Bettini (in white with rainbows) has been very selfless in his efforts to keep Giovanni Visconti in the Maglia Rosa. If Visconti manages to fulfill his dream and keep the lead through Saturday's high mountain stage, Bettini will have been a lot of the reason.

No photofinish today. Mark Cavendish easily takes the stage. Yesterday Bennati said he was surprised when he was awarded the win in stage 12 (Thursday) because Cavendish was moving so much faster. Lucky for Bennati the line wasn't a few yards farther down the road.