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2006 Giro D'Italia
May 6 - May 28, 2006

Teams and riders, Stages with results , Predictions

Previous Giros

Giro 2006 Statistics.

Stages: 21 (Stage 21 is divided into two half-stages)
Total kilometers: 3.553,2
Average stage length: 169.2 km
Stage types:
Flat or undulating: 10
Medium mountains: 4
mountains 4
Hilltop finishes: 5
Individual time trial:3
Team time trials: 1
Kilometers of individual time trials: 67.2
kilometers of team trialing: 38
Rest days: 2

Thursday, April 4, Friday, April 5: Photos from the the April 4 team presentation in Liege, Belgium and the Friday, April 5 press conference

The Stages and Climbs:

Saturday, May 6, Stage 1: Seraing-Seraing (Individual time trial), 6.2 km

Climb: Seraing (158 meters)
Paolo Savoldelli is the first Maglia Rosa of the 2006 Giro

More photos from the stage 1 time trial.

Results:

1. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) 7min 50sec. 47.489 km/hr
2. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 11sec
3. Jose Guetierez (Phonak) @ 13sec
4. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
5. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 15sec
6. Francisco Perez Sanchez (Illes Balears) @ 16sec
7. Jose Ivan Gutierez (Illes Balears) s.t.
8. Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) @ 17sec
9. Davide Rebellin (GErolsteiner) @ 18sec
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 19sec
13. Ivan Basso (CSC) @ 23sec
15. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 25sec
16. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 26sec
66. Bobby Julich (CSC) @ 45sec
80. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) @ 49sec
Map and elevation of Stage 1 individual time trial.

Sunday, May 7, Stage 2: Mons-Charleroi/Marcinelle (Belgium), 197 km.

Climb: Silenrieux (256 meters)
A break that was eventually brought back for a mass romp at the end. An obviously tired Gabriele Missaglia does his turn at the front. Note the high-tech and very stylish Vittoria Premium shoes Missaglia wears.

More photos from stage 2, including the sprint finish.

Results:

1. Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) 4hr 51min 40sec. 41.142 km/hr
2. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) s.t.
3. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
4. Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) s.t.
5. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
6. Tomas Vaitkus (Ag2R) s.t.
7. Alberto Loddo (Selle Italia) s.t.
8. Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
9. Axel Richeze (Panaria) s.t.
10. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.

GC after Stage 2. No change to top 10:

1. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) 4hr 49min 30sec
2. Bradley McGee (FDJ) @ 11sec
3. Jose Guetierez (Phonak) @ 13sec
4. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
5. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 15sec
6. Francisco Perez Sanchez (Illes Balears) @ 16sec
7. Jose Ivan Gutierez (Illes Balears) s.t.
8. Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) @ 17sec
9. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 18sec
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 19sec

Savoldelli leads in all of the other jersey competitions, Purple, Green and Blue.

Points Purple Jersey:

Paolo Savoldelli: 33 points
Robbie McEwen:25
Bradley McGee: 23

Mountain's Green Jersey:

Paolo Savoldelli: 3 points
Arnaud Labbe: 3
Bradley McGee:

Intergiro Blue Jersey:

Paolo Savoldelli 120 points
Bradley McGee: 103
Danilo Di Luca: 80
Map and elevation of Stage 2

Monday, May 8, Stage 3: Perwez-Namur, 202 km. The finish has a 5% gradient, which should favor Bettini, Di Luca and Rebellin and be hard on Petacchi.

Climbs:
Evrehailles (252 meters)
Cote d'Ahin (147 meters)
Schumacher gets the stage win and the Maglia Rosa

More stage 3 photos

Results: Petacchi crashed, breaking his kneecap. He's out of the Giro.

1. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) 5hr 14min 41sec. 39.086 km/hr
2. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 2sec
3. David Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 6sec
4. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
5. Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) s.t.
6. Jens Voigt (CSC) s.t.
7. Andrea Moletta (Gerlsteiner) s.t.
8. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Illes Balears) s.t.
9. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) s.t.
10. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 9sec

GC after Stage 3:

1. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) 10hr 14min 4sec
2. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 13sec
3. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 23sec
4. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Illes Balears) @ 29sec
5. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 31sec
6. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) s.t.
7. Bradley McGee (FDJ) s.t.
8. Francisco Perez Sanchez (Illes Balears) @ 32sec
9. Jose Enrique Gurierrez (Phonak) @ 33sec
10. Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) @ 37sec
11. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 37sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Moises Aldape 5 points
2. Amael Moinard 5
3. Paolo Savoldelli 3

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Stefan Schumacher 45 points
2. Paolo Savoldelli 40
3. Paolo Bettini 30

Blue Intergiro Jersey:

1. Paolo Savoldelli 176 poinyts
2. Bradley McGee 133
3. Danilo Di Luca 102
Stage 3 route and elevation.

Tuesday, May 9, Stage 4: Wanze-Hotton, Belgium. 193 km

Climbs:
Cote de Wanne (492 meters)
Stavelot-La Haute Leuèè (504 meters)

More photos from stage 4.

Results:

1. Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) 4hr 38min 51sec. 41.527 km/hr
2. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
3. Alberto Loddo (Milram) s.t.
4. Axel Richeze (Panaria) s.t.
5. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) s.t.
6. Mirco Lorenzetto (Milram) s.t.
7. Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) s.t.
8. Tomas Vaitkus (Ag2R) s.t.
9. Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) .t.
10. Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.

GC after Stage 4. Tbe only change to the top 10 was that Bettini's 12-second time bonus for second place moved him up to 10th place in the GC:

1. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) 14hr 52min 55sec
2. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 13sec
3. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 23sec
4. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Illes Balears) @ 29sec
5. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 31sec
6. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) s.t.
7. Bradley McGee (FDJ) s.t.
8. Francisco Perez Sanchez (Illes Balears) @ 32sec
9. Jose Enrique Gurierrez (Phonak) @ 33sec
10. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) 35sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Sandy Casar 6 points
2. Moises Aldape 5
3. Amael Moinard 5

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen 50 points
2. Paolo Bettini 50
3. Stefan Schumacher 45

Blue Intergiro Jersey:

1. Paolo Savoldelli 229 points
2. Bradley McGee 167
3. Danilo Di Luca 120
Map and elevation of stage 4

Wednesday May 10: Rest Day

Thursday, May 11, Stage 5: Piacenza-Cremona (team time trial), 35 km

More photos from stage 5

Results:

1. CSC 36min 56sec. 56.859 km/hr
2. T-MOBILE @ 1sec
3. DISCOVERY @ 39sec
4. LIQUIGAS @ 42sec
5. FDJ @ 1min
6. Gerolsteiner @ 1min 3sec
7. QUICKSTEP s.t.
8. LAMPRE @ 1min 4sec
9. PHONAK @ 1min 4sec
10. CREDIT AGRICOLE @1min 7sec
11. DAVITAMON - LOTTO @ 1min 8sec
12. MILRAM @ 1min 13sec
13. ILLES BALEARS @ 1min 14sec
14. RABOBANK @ 1min 18sec
15. AG2R @ 1min 22sec
16. BOUYGUES TELECOM @ 1min 23sec
17. LIBERTY SEGUROS @ 1min 25sec
18. SAUNIER DUVAL @ 1min 26sec
19. COFIDIS @ 1min 34sec
20. SELLE ITALIA @ 1min 37sec
21. PANARIA @ 1min 41sec
22. EUSKALTEL @ 1min 56sec

GC after Stage 5:

1. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) 15hr 30min 23sec
2. Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 6sec
3. Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) s.t.
4. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) @ 10sec
5. Ivan Basso (CSC) @ 11sec
6. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @20sec
7. Nicki Sorensen (CSC) @ 29sec
8. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) @ 31sec
9. Bobby Julich (CSC) @ 33sec
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 38sec
12. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 49sec
25. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 1min 17sec
26. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) @ 1min 20sec
52. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 56sec
103. Jose Rujano (Selle Italia) @ 2min 46sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Sandy Casar 6 points
2. Amael Moinard 5
3. Moises Aldape 5

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen 50 points
2. Paolo Bettini 50
3. Stefan Schumacher 45

Blue Intergiro Jersey:

1. Paolo Savoldelli 229 points
2. Bradley McGee 167
3. Danilo Di Luca 120
Stage 5 team time trial map and elevation

Friday, May 12, Stage 6: Busseto-Forlì, 227 km

More photos from stage 6

Results

1. Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) 5hr 24min 13sec. 42.749 km/hr
2. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) s.t.
3. Tomas Vaitkus (Ag2R) s.t.
4. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
5. Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel) s.t.
6. Fabrizio Guidi (Phonak) s.t.
7. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
8. Elia Rigotto (Milram) s.t.
9. Axel Richeze (Panaria) s.t.
10. Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval) s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

1. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) 20hr 54min 34sec
2. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 2sec
3. Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 8sec
4. Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) s.t.
5. Ivan Basso (CSC) @ 13sec
6. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 22sec
7. Nicki Sorensen (CSC) @ 31sec
8. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) @ 33sec
9. Bobby Julich (CSC) @ 35sec
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 40sec
Stage 6 map and elevation

Saturday, May 13, Stage 7: Cesena-Saltara, 236 km

Climbs:
S. Marino (645 meters)
Monte Catria (1,460 meters) This climb has a patch of 18% gradient.
Monte delle Cesane (628 meters)

More photos from stage 7

Results. Di Luca had trouble on the longest stage of this year's Giro. The terrain of the region (Le Marche) is very hilly and was a good test of the riders' fitness. Verbrugghe was away in a break most of the race and then took a flyer on the uphll finish.

1. Rik Verbrugghe (Cofidis) 6hr 42min 15sec. 35.201 km/hr
2. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 14sec
3. Luca Mazzanti (Panaria) s.t.
4. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) s.t.
5. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 16sec
6. Ivan Basso (CSC) s.t.
7. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) s.t.
8. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) s.t.
9. Laurent Lefevre (Bouygues Telecom) @ 20sec
10. Michele Scarponi (Liberty Seguros) s.t.
11. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.
22. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 34sec
35. Jose Rujano (Selle Italia) @ 1min 3sec
36. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) s.t.

GC after Stage 7:

1. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) 27hr 37min 7sec
2. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 6sec
3. Ivan Basso (CSC) @ 11sec
4. Michael Rogers (T-Mobile) @ 32sec
5. Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) @ 54sec
6. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 56sec
7. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 57sec
8. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 1min 3sec
9. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 1min 7sec
10. Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 1min 9sec
11. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 1min 21sec
20. Gilberto Simoni (Saunie Duval) @ 1min 21sec
22. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) @ 2min 7sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Staf Scheirlinckx: 13 points
2. Juan Manuel Garate: 9
3. Sandy Casar: 7

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen: 75 points
2. Paolo Bettini: 63
3. Paolo Savoldelli: 60
Stage 7 map and elevation. Note the hilltop finish.

Sunday, May 14, Stage 8: Civitanova Marche-Maielletta/Passo Lanciano, 171 km

Climb: Maielletta-Passo Lanciano (hilltop finish, 1,294 meters. The final climb is 12.33 km long with 1,030 meters of elevation gain. The average gradient is 8.4% but early in the climb there is a nasty 13% patch.).

More stage 8 photos

Results:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 4hr 4min 19sec. 41.994 km/hr
2. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 30sec
3. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) s.t.
4. Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros) @ 45sec
5. Luca Mazzanti (Panaria) @ 1min 9sec
6. Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 15sec
7. Gilbero Simoni (Saunier Duval) s.t.
8. Danilo Di Lica (Liquigas) @ 1min 32sec
9. Jose Rujano (Selle Italia) @ 1min 50sec
10. Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria) @ 1min 52sec
15. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 2min 20sec
19. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 2min 34sec
95. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) @ 16min 4sec

GC after Stage 8:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 31hr 41min 17sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 1min 34sec
3. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 1min 48sec
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 2min 35sec
5. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 2min 43sec
6. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 2min 48sec
7. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 3min 20sec
8. Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros) @ 3min 23sec
9. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 3min 31sec
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 3min 39sec

Green Climbers' Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 15 points
2. Staf Scheirlinckx: 13
3. Damiano Cunego 10

Purple Sprinter's Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen: 75 points
2. Paolo Bettini: 63
3. Paolo Savoldelli: 61
Stage 9 map and elevation

Monday, May 15, Stage 9: Francavilla al Mare-Termoli, 127 km

Climb: Palata (520 meters)

Results:

1. Tomas Vaitkus (Ag2R) 3hr 5min 13sec. 42.760 km/hr
2. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
3. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) s.t.
4. Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
5. Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) s.t.
6. Alexandre Botcharov (Credit Agricole) s.t.
7. Manuele Mori (Saunier duval) s.t.
8. Axel Richeze (Panaria) s.t.
9. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
10. Alessandro Spezialetti (Liquigas) s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 34hr 46min 30sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 1min 34sec
3. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 1min 48sec
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 2min 35sec
5. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 2min 43sec
6. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 2min 48sec
7. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 3min 20sec
8. Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros) @ 3min 23sec
9. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 3min 31sec
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 3min 39sec

Green Climbers' Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 15 points
2. Staf Scheirlinckx: 13
3. Damiano Cunego 10

Purple Sprinter's Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen: 89 points
2. Paolo Bettini: 83
3. Olaf Pollack 68
Map and elevation of stage 9

Tuesday, May 16, Stage 10: Termoli-Peschici, 187 km

Climb: Monte S. Angelo (796 meters)

Results:

1. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) 4hr 39min 47sec. 40.745 km/hr
2. Vladimir Efemkin (Illes Balears) s.t.
3. Sergey Yakovlev (Liberty Seguros) @ 2sec
4. Herbert Dupont (Ag2R) s.t.
5. Theo Elkink (Rabobank) @ 3sec
6. Jose Luis Carrasco (Illes Balears) s.t.
7. Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval) @ 5sec
8. Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
9. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rabobank) s.t.
10. Joan Horrach (Illes Balears) @ 8sec

GC after Stage 10:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 39hr 29min 40sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 1min 34sec
3. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 1min 48sec
4. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 2min 5sec
5. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 2min 35sec
6. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 2min 43sec
7. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 2min 48sec
8. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 3min 20sec
9. Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros) @ 3min 23sec
10. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 3min 31sec

Green Climbers' Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 15 points
2. Staf Scheirlinckx: 13
3. Damiano Cunego 10

Purple Sprinter's Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen: 89 points
2. Paolo Bettini: 83
3. Olaf Pollack 68
Stage 10 map and elevation

Wednesday, May 17: Rest Day

Sadly, stages 7 through 10 had some notable abandons:

Davide Rebellin, broken rib from stage 10 crash
Bradley McGee, sciatic probelms from crash earlier in the season
Cristian Moreni
Greame Brown
Koldo Fernandez
If no more abandonments are announced, there should be 184 riders on the line for the time trial in Pontadera (near Pisa) on Thursday.

Thursday, May 18: Stage 11: Pontedera-Pontedera (individual time trial), 50 km.

A pan-flat ride along the Arno river into the center of Pisa. They'll go by the Leaning Tower and cathedral.

The moment jusr before Ivan Basso (in pink) caught 2004 Giro winner Damiano Cunego.

More stage 11 photos

Results:

1. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) 58min 48sec. 51.020 km/hr
2. Ivan Basso (CSC) @ 28sec
3. Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 1sec
4. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 1min 9sec
5. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 1min 19sec
6. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 1min 42sec
7. Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 2min 12sec
8. Gustav Erik Larsson (FDJ) @ 2min 22sec
9. Dario David Cioni (Liquigas) @ 2min 24sec
10. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Discovery) @ 2min 27sec
11. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 2min 35sec
30. Jose Rujano (Selle Italia) @ 4min 15sec
33. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier duval) @ 4min 21sec
55. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 5min 13sec
71. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 5min 34sec

GC after stage 11:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 40hr 28min 56sec
2. Jose Enrigue Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 2min 48sec
3. Serhiy Honchar (T-Mobile) @ 3min 24sec
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 3min 26sec
5. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 5min 38sec
6. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 6min 37sec
7. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 6min 54sec
8. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 6min 54sec
9. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 7min 13sec
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 7min 33sec

Green Climbers' Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 15 points
2. Staf Scheirlinckx: 13
3. Damiano Cunego 10

Purple Sprinter's Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen: 89 points
2. Paolo Bettini: 83
3. Paolo Savoldelli 73
Stage 11 map and elevation

Friday, May 19, Stage 12: Livorno-Sestri Levante, 169 km

More stage 12 pictures

Results:

1. Joan Horrach (Illes Balears) 3hr 55min 53sec. 42.987 km/hr
2. Addy Engels (Quick Step) @ 5sec
3. Emanuele Sella (Panaria) s.t.
4. Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval) s.t.
5. Fortunato Baliani (Panaria) s.t.
6. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) s.t.
7. Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner) @ 1min 3sec
8. Alberto Ongarato (Milram) s.t.
9. Joerg Ludewig (T-Mobile) s.t.
10. Manuel Beltran (Discovery) s.t.

GC after Stage 12:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 44hr 31min 52sec
2. Jose Enrique Gurtierrez (Phonak) @ 2min 48sec
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 3min 26sec
4. Emanuele Sella (Panaria) @ 4min 21sec
5. Wladimir Belli Selle Italia) @ 5min 31sec
6. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 5min 38sec
7. Manuel Beltran (Discovery) @ 6min 36sec
8. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 6min 37sec
9. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 6min 54sec
10. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) s.t.
11. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 7min 13sec
12. Danilo Di Luca (Lquigas) @ 7min 33sec

Green Climbers' Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 15 points
2. Staf Scheirlinckx: 13
3. Damiano Cunego 10

Purple Sprinter's Jersey:

1. Robbie McEwen: 89 points
2. Paolo Bettini: 86
3. Paolo Savoldelli 73
Stage 12 map and elevation. The Bassa climb at kilometer 103 has a patch of 12% gradient

Saturday, May 20, Stage 13: Alessandria-La Thuile, 216 km

Climb: Colle San Carlo, 10.52 km long with 1,031 meters of elevation gain. It averages 9.8% but in the first kilometer there is a 14% section and at km 3 there is a touch of 15%. Following the ascent there is a technical descent that will be made more dangerous by the wet and slippery conditions in the mountains today.

Notable did not start or abandons: Robbie McEwen, Michael Rogers, Tomas Vaitkus, Marcos Serrano and Jose Rujano

More photos from stage 13

Results:

1. Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) 5hr 21min 12sec. 40.348 km/hr
2. Ivan Basso (CSC) @ 44sec
3. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 1min 19sec
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) s.t.
5. Michele Scarponi (Liberty Seguros) @ 2min 9sec
6. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) s.t.
7. John Gadret (Ag2R) @ 2min 13sec
8. Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria) @ 2min 18sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 2min 36sec
10 Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) s.t.

GC after stage 13:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 49hr 53min 36sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 3min 27sec
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 5min 30sec
4. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 7min 35sec
5. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 8min
6. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 8min 14sec
7. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 8min 35sec
8. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 8min 58sec
9. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 10min 36sec
10. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 11min 12sec

Green Climbers' Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 21 points
2. Staf Scheirlinckx: 13
3. Jose Enrique Gutierrez:13

Purple Sprinter's Jersey:

1. Paolo Bettini: 86
2. Paolo Savoldelli 79
3. Ivan Basso: 78
Map and elevation of stage 13.

Sunday, May 21, Stage 14: Aosta-Domodossola, 223 km

Climbs
Colle San Bernardo (1,875 meters)
Passo del Sempione/Simplon Pass: 2,005 meters. 20 km long with 1,324 meters of elevation gain. It has an average gradient of 6.6% with a maximum of 12% at km 6.

More pictures from stage 14

Results: A break of non-contenders went clear on the San Bernardo and that was it. Paolo Bettini won the field sprint when he came in 12th @ 7min 44sec. Sandy Casar was the best-placed member of the break and moved to 6th in the GC.

1. Luis Felipe Laverde (Panaria) 5hr 27min 5sec
2. Franceisco Perez Sanchez (Illes Balears) s.t.
3. Paolo Tiralongo (Lampre) @ 7sec
4. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
5. Raffaele Illiano (Milram) s.t.
6. Fortunato Baliani (Panaria) s.t.
7. Sandy Casar (FDJ) s.t.
8. Iker Flores (Euskaltel) s.t.
9. Steve Zampieri (Phonak) s.t.
10. Johann Tschopp (Phonak) s.t.

GC after Stage 14:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 55hr 28min 25sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 3min 27sec
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 5min 30sec
4. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 7min 35sec
5. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 8min
6. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 8min 1sec
7. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 8min 14sec
8. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 8min 35sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 8min 58sec
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 10min 36sec
11. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 11min 12sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Fortunato Baliani: 24points
2. Sandy Casar: 23
3. Ivan Basso: 21

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Paolo Bettini: 90 points
2. Paolo Savoldelli: 79
3. Ivan Basso: 78
Stage 14 map and elevation.

Monday, May 22, Stage 15: Mergozzo-Brescia, 190 km

Results:

1. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) 4hr 15min 42sec. 44.583 km/hr
2. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) s.t.
3. Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
4. Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
5. Axel Richeze (Panaria) s.t.
6. Fabrizio Guidi (Phonak) s.t.
7. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
8. Alberto Loddo (Milram) s.t.
9. Carlos Da Cruz (FDJ) s.t.
10. Gorazd Stangelj (Lampre) s.t.

GC after Stage 15:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 59hr 44min 7sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 3min 27sec
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 5min 30sec
4. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 7min 35sec
5. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 8min
6. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 8min 1sec
7. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 8min 14sec
8. Tom Danielson (Discovery) @ 8min 35sec
9. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 8min 58sec
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 10min 36sec
11. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 11min 12sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Fortunato Baliani: 24 points
2. Sandy Casar: 23
3. Ivan Basso: 21

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Paolo Bettini: 115 points
2. Olaf Pollack: 88
3. Paolo Savoldelli: 79
4. Ivan Basso: 78
Map and elevation of stage 15. Pan flat and the last sprinter's stage until Milan.

Tuesday, May 23, Stage 16: Rovato-Trento/Monte Bondone, 173 km

Climb: Monte Bondone: hilltop finish, 1,650 meters. The climb is 17.47 km long with 1,372 meters of elevation gain. Average gradient is 7.9% but around the end of the first kilometer there is a patch of 13%.
The Giro starts today with its hilltop finish at Monte Bondone. It was here in 1956 in utterly freezing conditions that Charly Gaul effectively won the Giro. Before the start of the dantesque day he was 16 minutes behind the Maglia Rosa, Pasquale Fornara. At the end of the stage 60 riders had abandoned and Gaul, in his first attempt at the Giro, was the new leader. His frozen jersey had to be cut from his body.

Results:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 4hr 51min 30sec. 34.579 km/hr
2. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 26sec
3. Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) @ 1min 37sec
4. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) s.t.
5. John Gadret (Ag2R) @ 2min 40sec
6. Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria) @ 2min 45sec
7. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 3min 12sec
8. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 3min 25sec
9. Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty SEguras) @ 3min 27sec
10. David Lopez Garcia (Euskaltel) s.t.

GC after Stage 16:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 64hr 35min 17sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 5min 24sec
3. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 9min 17sec
4. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 9min 34sec
5. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 11min 7sec
6. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 11min 59sec
7. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 12min 40sec
8. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 13min 35sec
9. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 14min 59sec
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 15min 18sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 36 points
2. Fortunato Baliani: 26
3. Sanday Casar: 23

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Paolo Bettini: 121 points
2. Ivan Basso: 103
3. Jose Enrique Gutierrez: 90
Elevation and map of stage 16

Wednesday, May 24, Stage 17: Termeno-Plan de Corones, 133 km

Climbs:
Passo delle Erbe (1,987 meters). Ascent cancelled.
Plan de Corones (hilltop finish, 2,273 meters). 16.9 km long with 1,261 meters of elevation gain. It averages 7.5% but in the final kilometer, where it is unpaved, it has a section of 24% gradient.

Stage news: Yup, The finish line is being moved about 5 km down the mountain so that the riders won't have to climb in mud, freezing mud at that. They'll end at the top of the Furcia Pass. The stage is now about 120 km long.

The riders, unhappy with today's route, delayed the start of the stage. Now, because of the weather, the riders will not go over the Passo delle Erbe. Given the very, very cold and wet weather, that would have been a horrible descent. They are still scheduled to go to the top of the Plan de Corones, which reports say is now a muddy dirt road. I'll bet they shorten the finish as well. The route now is 126 km long.

More stage 17 photos

Results:

1. Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) 3hr 21min 26sec. 34.254 km/hr
2. Ivan Basso (CSC) s.t.
3. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 15sec
4. Franco Pelizotti (Liquigas) @ 19sec
5. Julio Perez Cuapio (Panaria) @ 28sec
6. John Gadret (Ag2R) @ 37sec
7. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 41sec
8. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 48sec
9. Sergio Ghisalberti (Milram) @ 58sec
10. Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros) s.t.
16. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 1min 29sec

GC after Stage 17:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 67hr 56min 31sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 5min 43sec
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 10min 34sec
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 10min 58sec
5. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 12min 30sec
6. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 13min
7. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 14min 6sec
8. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 14min 48sec
9. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 16min 40sec
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 17min 48sec
Stage 17 elevation and map. The dotted section on the final ascent on the elevation map is unpaved and approaches 24%.

Thursday, May 25, Stage 18: Sillian-Gemona del Friuli, 207 km

Climbs:
Monte Croce Carnico (1,360 meters)
Cuel di Forcia (884 meters)

More stage 18 photos

Results:

1. Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) 5hr 31min 33sec. 37.460 km/hr
2. Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) s.t.
3. Jose Gutierrez (Illes Balears) s.t.
4. David Lopez Garcia (Euskaltel) @ 2sec
5. Charles Wegelius (Liquigas) @ 7sec
6. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) @ 2min 13sec
7. Alberto Ongarato (Milram) s.t.
8. Mathew White (Discovery) s.t.
9. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) s.t.
10. Paolo Tiralongo (Lampre) s.t.

GC after stage 18:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 73hr 30min 47sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 5min 43sec
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 10min 34sec
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 10min 58sec
5. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 12min 30sec
6. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 13min
7. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 14min 6sec
8. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 14min 48sec
9. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 16min 40sec
10. Jose Luis Rubiera (Discovery) @ 17min 48sec

Green Climber's Jersey:

1. Ivan Basso: 46 points
2. Leonardo Piepoli: 31
3. Fortunato Baliani: 26
4. Sandy Casar: 23

Purple Points Jersey:

1. Paolo Bettini: 139
2. Ivan Basso: 123
3. Jose Enrique Gutierrez: 113
Map and elevation of stage 18

Friday, May 26, Stage 19: Pordenone-Passo di San Pellegrino, 221 km

Climbs:
Forcella Staulanza (1,773 meters)
Passo Fedaia (2,057 meters)
Passo Pordoi (2,239 meters)
Passo di San Pellegrino (hilltop finish, 1,918 meters).

More photos from stage 19

Results:

1. Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step), 7hr 13min 36sec, 30.581 km/hr
2. Jens Voigt (CSC) @ 4sec
3. Francisco J. Vila (Lampre) @ 1min 21sec
4. Tadej Valjavec (Lampre) @ 1min 55sec
5. Emanuele Sella (Panaria) @ 2min 6sec
6. Ivan Ramiro Parra (Cofidis) s.t.
7. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 2min 15sec
8. Ivan Basso (CSC) s.t.
9. Johann Tschopp (Phonak) s.t.
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 2min 19sec
12. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 2min 40sec
16. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 4min 16sec
18. Tom Danielson (Doscovery) s.t.

GC after Stage 19:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC), 80 hr 46min 38sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 6min 7sec
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 10min 34sec
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 12min 59sec
5. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 15min 13 sec
6. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 15min 26sec
7. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 16min 7sec
8. Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step) @ 16min 40sec
9. Wladimir Belli (Selle Italia) @ 17min 23sec
10. Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) @ 18min 31sec
Map and elevation of stage 19

Saturday, May 27, Stage 20: Trento-Aprica, 212 km

Climbs:
Passo del Tonale (1,883 meters),
Passo Gavia (Cima Coppi, highest point in the Giro, 2,618 meters),
Passo del Mortirolo (1,854 meters)
Map and elevation of stage 20.

Sunday, May 28, Stage 21: Museo Del Ghisallo- Milano, 140 km.

More stage 21 photos

Results:

1. Robert Forster (Gerolsteiner) 3hr 56min 3sec. 35.585 km/hr
2. Axel Richeze (Panaria) s.t.
3. Olaf Pollack (T-Mobile) s.t.
4. Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) s.t.
5. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) s.t.
6. Elia Rigotto (Milram) s.t.
7. Yuriy Krivtsov (Ag2R) s.t.
8. Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
9. Renaud Dion (Ag2R) s.t.
10. Koen De Kort (Liberty Seguros) s.t.

Final GC after Stage 21:

1. Ivan Basso (CSC) 91hr 33min 36sec
2. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) @ 9min 18sec
3. Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) @ 11min 59sec
4. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) @ 18min 16sec
5. Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) @ 19min 22sec
6. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 23min 53sec
7. Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step) @ 24min 26sec
8. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) @ 25min 57sec
9. Victor Hugo Pena (Phonak) @ 26min 27sec
10. Francisco J. Vila (Lampre) @ 27min 34sec
Stage 21 map and elevation

Predictions:

Our fearless crew of experts are starting to send in their prognostications for the Giro.

Franco Bitossi: 147 pro victories including 1968 Tour de France Green Jersey:

Pink Jersey: 1st Basso, 2nd Cunego, 3rd Simoni.
Sprinter: Petacchi (even though I am not sure if Petacchi will be able to finish the Giro).
Climber: Rujano

Pietro Piazzalunga: Legendary mechanic to Gimondi, Argentin, Motta. Ballarini, etc:

I believe that Simoni will win the Giro. His manger Algeri put a very good team together for him and he is a tough man. Then Cunego and Basso. I think Basso cares more for the Tour.
Sprinter: Petacchi.
Climber: Rujano.

Antonio Mondonico:

Pink Jersey: 1st Damiano Cunego, 2nd Jan Ullrich, 3rd Ivan Basso
Sprinter: A tossup between Alessandro Petacchi and Bradley McGee
Climber: Impossible to predict betwen Basso, Simoni and Cunego. Rujano doesn't seem to have properly prepared for this year.