One more touch of glory for Australia and Mick Rogers

This Giro started out Australian in the first week, turned very Colombian in the middle and then today, just as we're getting ready to see it finish, went back the way of Australia. Fortunately for Colombia it is still their name written all over the general classification, but Mick Rogers, who already had one stage win in this years Giro to his name, took another and did so again solo to the top of the famous Zoncolan.

An unfortunate mix up with a fan by Francesco Bongiorno just as Rogers was accelerating through the enormous crowds packing the climb from buttom to summit, gave the Aussie the gap he needed to push on to glory. When it became apparent to Bongiorno that his dream victory was alluding him, the Italian's energy dropped out of him and allowed Franco Pellizotti, who he and Rodgers had previously dropped, back onto him and ahead for second place. The demoralised Bongiorno came home 49 seconds behind Rogers.

Those three were the leading three from what was left of a large group that had gone up the road earlier in the day and had stayed clear building a large lead over an uninterested peloton. For the favorites in GC none of those ahead mattered and so the stage was reduced to two races within one. That one won by Rogers and the one between the favorites looking to take a little time out of one another. For Nairo Quintana the lead was all but secure -- he could have almost walked the Zoncolan and retained his pink jersey -- but the battle for who stood in second and third below him on the final podium was still very much up for grabs.

Coming in it was Rigoberto Uran who held second, 41 seconds up on Fabio Aru who was growing stronger as this race went on. His phenomenal mountain time-trial the day before had thrust him suddenly into podium contention and now he had designs on second overall. But tired legs prevailed and when Uran attacked only Quintana could go with him. The pair crossed the line 16 seconds up on Aru and Uran's second place was secure. So too was Aru's third for Pierre Rolland and Domenico Pozzovivo lost a handful of seconds and Rafal Majka only gained a few seconds on him.

Tomorrow is the traditional final day processional stage ... this year into Trieste and is sure to finish in a bunch gallop. Baring a disaster such as a crash, Quintana will amble over the line and win his first every grand tour. His first, but certainly not his last.

Result:

1. Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo) in 4-41-55

2. Franco Pellizotti (Androni) + 38 sec

3. Francesco Bongiorno (Bardiani) + 49 sec

4. Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-35

5. Brent Bookwalter (BMC) + 1-37

6. Robinson Chalapud (Colombia) + 1-46

Overall:

1. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in 83-50-25

2. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 3-07

3. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 4-04

4. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) + 5-46

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R) + 6-41

6. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 7-13

Quintana wins the Giro on the Cima Grappa

Baring some unforeseen disaster, the 2014 Giro d'Italia as a general classification battle, is over. Nairo Quintana has won and has done so by picking up two stage victories in superb fashion. The first a few days ago a bold attack shrouded in controversy in which he stripped minutes out of most of his rivals, the second a solo charge up the Cima Grappa in today's 26.8km individual mountain time-trial to destroy all around him except Fabio Aru who in a superb ride himself managed to limit his loss to Quintana to 17 seconds.

Indeed, today's result has put to bed any lingering debate over that stage 16 attack on the descent of the Stelvio and whether it was or was not neutralized. The 90 seconds some believe he gained because of it means little when you consider he now leads Rigoberto Uran in second place by 3 minutes, 7 seconds with a single mountain stage still to go.

Quintana put 1 minute, 26 seconds into Uran on today's stage, while Pierre Rolland, a man who has lit up the mountain stages of this Giro, lost just under 2 minutes. Domenico Pozzovivo, who looked to be on a big day when he caught his 3 minute man, Ryder Hesjedal, still lost 2-24 to Quintana while Rafal Majka lost 3-28, Evans 4-26 and Hesjedal 5-39. If there was any doubt as to who the best climber is in this years Giro, then the race of truth up the side of this mountain, ended the debate.

The result shook up the top 10 overall and the battle for the final podium spot has turned into a battle for where exactly Uran and Aru will stand in relation to Quintana on that podium thanks to Aru's spectacular performance to finish just 17 seconds back of Quintana.

Quintana's effort wasn't surprising given what we know of his talent, but the 23 year old Aru has been one of the big break through riders of this Giro, winning stage 15 and taking a few seconds out of Quintana and Uran yesterday, but he confirmed all that today.

For a while it looked as though he might even beat Quintana. He was only 8 seconds back of him at the second time check after 19.3km having been further behind near the bottom of the climb. The first 7.5km was on the flat and many riders started on time-trial bikes electing to change bikes for the mountain, Quintana and Uran included. Uran led Quintana by 15 seconds going onto the mountain, but that deficit was quickly overturned halfway up when he dropped to 36 seconds behind. Evans came onto the climb ahead of Quintana, but also faded away, while Pierre Rolland, nowhere to be seen on the flat section made a lot up on the climb finishing fourth by the top.

Starting in reverse order of their GC standings, Aru naturally came up to the line before Quintana and when he set the fastest time, 2 minutes, 8 seconds up on Domenico Pozzovivo, it looked as though we'd seen the winning time. But no longer were we spitting out superlatives when Quintana came in and bettered it still.

Aru's effort pushed him into the top three overall and tomorrow we can look forward to seeing if he has anything left in his legs to overhaul the 41 seconds he trails Uran by. As for everyone else, it's a stage win at best. Pierre Rolland will doubtlessly be going for that, as perhaps will Evans and Hesjedal, but don't count out Quintana who with two stage wins in the bank and looking stronger and stronger by the day, may want to go out in style and put on a show for the fans.

Result:

1. Nairo Quintana (MOV) in 1-05-37

2. Fabio Aru (AST) + 17sec

3. Rigoberto Uran (OPQ) + 1-26

4. Pierre Rolland (EUC) + 1-57

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ALM) + 2-24

6. Franco Pellizotti (AND) + 3-22


Overall:

1. Nairo Quintana (MOV) in 79-03-45

2. Rigoberto Uran (OPQ) + 3-07

3. Fabio Aru (AST) + 3-48

4. Pierre Rolland (EUC) + 5-26

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (ALM) + 6-16

6. Rafal Majka (TCS) + 6-59

7. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 9-25

8. Wilco Kelderman (BEL) + 9-29

9. Ryder Hesjedal (GRS) + 10-11

10. Robert Kiserlovski (TFR) + 13-59

The mountain jersey wins in a 1-2 finish for what's becoming the 'Colombian-Giro'

It's always nice at some point in a Grand Tour to see the King of the Mountains leader, decked out in his King of the Mountains jersey, win a mountain stage. Julian David Arredondo done that yesterday in fine style cresting all three of the days big climbs, the final of which he was alone to win in style. The victory all but seals the blue jersey classification in his favour and sets up the probability that Colombian riders will win both the mountains and overall titles.

Remember back to the first week of this Giro when I was talking about it being an 'Aussie-Giro' thanks to the team-time-trial won by Orica Greenedge and then Michael Matthews taking the pink jersey for several days before Cadel Evans grabbed it for a few more? Well all that has swung in the direction of a 'Colombian-Giro'.

The top two positions overall are headed by the Colombians of Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran while on today's stage Arredondo was followed home by fellow countryman, Fabio Duarte. That's three stage wins now for Colombians and their so called re-emergence back to the sharp end of cycling is all but complete and perhaps looking better than ever. People remember fondly the glory days in the 1980s of Luis Herrera and Fabio Parra but never before have they dominated in such numbers are they are right now. Even their 90s and 00s success via Oliverio Rincón, Santiago Botero and Mauricio Soler before his premature retirement, were fleeting by comparison.

One look at the age of these imerging Colombian talents says a lot as to how bright their future is: Quintana, 24 years of age; Uran, 27; Arredondo, 25; Duarte, 27, Jarlinson Pantano, 25; Sebastián Henao, 20; and (not in this Giro) Sergio Henao, 26. Their success is only beginning.

In terms of the GC battle today, the biggest loser was Cadel Evans who once again shipped time on his rivals and dropped from 3rd overall to 9th. It isn't quite as dramatic as it looks given that only 28 seconds separated 3rd to 7th coming into the stage, but it's still a big blow for the Australian who had to be thinking about winning this Giro just a week ago.

Only Fabio Aru out of the main GC boys took a little time back on Quintana -- 3 seconds -- while Quintana and Uran took a little more time out of the rest of their rivals as they edged ahead towards the line but a few seconds here and there was all that was conceded as 90 seconds now split 3rd and 9th.

This Giro is looking more and more likely to be a battle for the final podium spot than for the overall victory and that battle will be fought for fiercely tomorrow as they take to the roads alone for the mountain time-trial.

Result: 1. Julian David Arredondo (Trek Factory) in 4-49-51; 2. Fabio Duarte (Colombia) + 17sec; 3. Philip Deignan (Sky) + 37sec; 4. Franco Pellizotti (Androni) + 1-20; 5. Edoardo Zardini (Bardiani-CSF) + 1-24; 6. Thomas De Gendt (OPQS) + 1-38.

Overall: 1. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in 77-58-08; 2. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 1-41; 3. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) + 3-29; 4. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 3-31; 5. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + s.t.; 6. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 3-52; 7. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) + 4-32; 8. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) + 4-37; 9. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 4-59; 10. Robert Kiserlovski (Trek Factory) + 8-33.

Understandabe confusion reigned on all sides over 'neutralization' of Stelvio descent but the strongest rider is still in pink

“Attention: A communication to directeur sportives. The management of the organisation have planned to put ahead of the head of the riders, depending on the situation, of course, after the top, to place in front of various groups an organisation moto with a red flag. All to avoid having attacks on the descent and after this to ensure that the riders remain in their positions and to prevent taking big risks and, for all, to remain in this position until the security agents lower the red flag.”

That is a transcript of the message delivered in English, Italian and French to the teams as the race went up the Stelvio yesterday ahead of the now infamous descent that has thrown this Giro into controversy.

The word 'neutralized' is never mentioned but you can see why some riders may have thought they were all set to take it easy. The boss of RCS that organises the Giro, Mauro Vegni, has said the teams and riders misunderstood the message and that there was no neutralization of the descent, saying that "We decided to place the bikes to indicate the trajectory."

The result however was confusion as several big name riders, as well as those from the earlier break, continued to press on down the mountain with Nairo Quintana, Ryder Hesjedal and Pierre Rolland, among others, eking out a 1 minute, 30 seconds (give or take) advantage over the pink jersey of Rigoberto Uran by the foot of the mountain. By then it was very much race on. The gap never came back and only increased as they went up the final climb, and by the top we had a new leader in this Giro.

None of what happened should be blamed on Quintana, Rolland or Hesjedal for going ahead however, just as Uran and the rest should not be blamed for being left behind. It's clear that serious confusion reigned and I think if there is any blame it should fall towards the organisation whose communication was about as clear as the field of vision as the sleet fell on the Stelvio. And even at that, with no defined rules or regulations by the UCI, the organisation appeared to be winging it.

What is clear is that the UCI are going to have to look at how these messages are relayed and make clear what the exact course of action is. Do they use specific flags to denote what is going on, like in Motorsport? Or do they use officially agreed upon wording so everyone knows exactly what is expected? Should a red flag mean the stage has been temporarily stopped? Should a yellow flag mean go slow? Should a [insert colour here] mean the stage has been neutralized and as such a maximum speed of, say, 25 km/h is being enforced?

Of course, the problem yesterday was always going to be the fact that different riders were on different parts of the road when word went out and interpretation of those words began and without proper regulation for such a scenario it is hard to neutralize such a stage mid-race without everyone together. Dario Cataldo was up front alone, there were scatterings of riders behind him and there was likely even more small pockets of riders off the back of the main group also. Can they realistically place a motorbike in front of all of them? I doubt it. You come over the climb 1 minute down on the main pack, you're going to descent hard to get back on, not ride down at the same pace of the main group and hit the valley floor having to start your chase.

And even if they could place motorbikes in front of every group, who dictates what speed each individual motorbike goes at? You can see where there's more questions than answers and why perhaps in the moment, with the temperatures dropping, with visibility poor, sleet falling and time gaps between various groups unreliable, so much miscommunication and confusion reigned in the giving of the message by the race officials and receiving of that message by the riders.

To me unless the whole pack is together, it's very hard to suddenly decide to neutralize a section of the course. Perhaps if they have some flag that denotes a maximum speed limit to be adopted by all riders, though how do you police that? Maybe all they could have done was stop the race, get the riders to the bottom of the hill and then set those that were ahead of the peloton off again with the time time gaps in which they crossed the summit.

Just a few ideas, though whether the UCI decide to change the method in which they relay information to the riders during dangerous sections of a course in the future remains to be seen. One things that has been suggested after the fact is that they strip time from Quintana, but how much time? Do they have exact gaps from the bottom of that descent? And where exactly would the end of the neutralized section have been ... when Quintana had a 1-20 lead or at a point in which he lead by 1-40? Back tracking in this way to recover a mistake, if indeed it's decided there was a mistake, would be like going back to a football game that had finished and scrubbing out the goal because they later found out it had been scored by the number 9 in an offside position.

As it is though, I still think the strongest man is in pink today. Quintana came off that descent with a 1-30 gap over Uran but put another 2-40 into him on the final climb. His deficit to Uran coming into yesterday's stage was 2-40 and Quintana got the time bonus on top of that for the win. Had he stuck with a 'go-slow' group down that mountain instead of pressing on, he may have been even fresher to attack that climb. Tactics would have shifted, of course, and he may not have attacked from the bottom of the final climb to get such a gap, but I still think we're seeing the man in Pink that was headed that way anyway.

People might complain that Quintana has moved into Pink in a hollow kind of way, but I disagree. Had he took 5 minutes out of Uran on the descent and then clung on to retain 2-40 of that lead at the finish, then yes, but Quintana put in one of the great riders in the history of the Giro yesterday, neutralization or not. Forget what he gained coming down the hill, it was how he increased his lead on the final climb with conditions improving and Hesjedal and Rolland taking minimal pulls on the front that was truly inspirational. It's a shame about the shambles, but it was still an epic stage to watch and nobody will say they turned off their televisions, or even moved off the edge of their seats, because they felt Uran and those taking it slowly were hard done by.

In the long run, this saga will only remain a problem and a talking point beyond that of fond historical memories if Uran starts taking back time on Quintana in the next few days and loses this Giro by less than 90 seconds. Nothing against Uran, but maybe it would be best now if Quintana went and put another two or three minutes onto his current advantage and left this incident as a non-factor in the big picture of this years Giro, which otherwise has been superb.

Quintana does one of the great rides in the most brutal of conditions to win the stage and move into the Pink jersey

Nairo Quintana, pre-Giro favorite who looked to be in a little trouble just a few days ago, pulled out what will surely go down as one of the great rides in the history of this great race to win stage 16 and turn a 2 minutes, 40 seconds deficit to fellow Colombian Rigoberto Uran into a 1 minute, 41 seconds lead in this race in one of the most difficult, yet brilliant, stages of cycling you're ever likely to see.

The 139 kilometres they raced may not have sounded extremely challenging but when faced with the three climbs they had to go over -- the Passo di Gavia, the Stelvio and Val Martello -- there was no doubt today was always going to be one of the hardest stages. But only when the weather was factored in did the stage go from tough to brutal and left many debating whether they should just cancel the stage as the snow fell and the temperatures plummeted.

There was talk for a while that the descent of the Stelvio had been neutralized by race officials, though that was later denied, yet confusion reigned and is likely to reign into the night as to how it was supposed to be raced. Naturally therefore the stage was blown wide open on that Stelvio descent with Nairo Quintana, Pierre Rolland and Ryder Hesjedal going on the attack in tricky conditions while their rivals felt the need to exercise caution. It's not yet known whether those left behind thought racing had ceased -- though no doubt many of them will claim they did -- while those who took advantage will claim it was game on for an epic encounter.

While the weather may have played a big part in the staggering fact that only 36 men finished within half an hour of Quintana, there is little doubt that it was his pure ability to also go uphill in these conditions that truly swung the balance of this Giro.

When himself, Hesjedal and Rolland hit the bottom of the Stelvio they carried a two minute advantage over the rest ... a lead so great on a descent that it has fueled the argument that the race had been neutralized but left me arguing that upon seeing these three contenders head on down the hill why wouldn't you go with them and debate the neutralization later? If indeed there was any agreement to 'take it easy' which given the official results would suggest that officially, there was not.

It mattered not however, because once they all got off the descent and the charge up to Val Martello began, Uran, devoid of team support, followed the Tinkoff-Saxo team as they tried to haul back, without success, the deficit to the three up the road, who were quickly reigning in the loan survivor of an earlier attack, Dario Cataldo, and gunning towards stage glory. Rolland and Hesjedal have been fine opportunists in this Giro, using every chance they can get to take back time and it was no great shock that in the midst of this confusion they would be seeking the advantage. And why not Quintana too, who has hooked up with Rolland on a few occasions now in this Giro, to get in on the act and take back from Uran what he had lost in the individual time-trial last week?

If their lead was two minutes going onto the climb, then it says something to Quintana's form as this race progresses that he only increased that with pedal stroke, coming home more than four minutes ahead of Uran. That Quintana put two minutes into Uran alone on the climb when he came into the stage 2-40 off his lead, suggests that had he waited on the descent, further conserving his energy, he might well have overturned that 2-40 on the climb to Val Martello alone anyway.

I find it hard to argue that the best man isn't tonight in the pink jersey. Especially when you go about acquiring it in such fashion.

And make no mistake about it, Quintana didn't ride the coat tails of his fellow escapees here, the lions share of work was done by the Colombian as Hesjedal and Rolland fought to hang on. On several occasions Hesjedal was dropped when the gradient percentage ramped up into double figure only to claw, in true diesel fashion, his way back on when it leveled off a little. It looked for a while as though Rolland would take the tow to the top and out sprint Quintana for the stage, but surprisingly it was he that fell away first as Hesjedal continue to go mind over body to keep on the flying Quintana's wheel.

Into the final kilometre and things kicked up again and this time Quintana shedded Hesjedal for good, winning solo, though only 8 seconds up on the Canadian. Rolland rolled in 1-13 behind with Wilco Kelderman the first of the chasing pack to come home 3-32 down. He was followed in by Domenico Pozzovivo at 3-37, Fabio Aru at 3-40, Rafal Majka at 4-08 and Uran on the wheel of Sebastian Henao at 4-11. Struggling more still in the conditions was Cadel Evans who finished at 4-48 but has done just about enough to maintain a podium position in the general classification.

Quintana now leads that classification over Uran by 1-41 with Evans at 3-21. Rolland has jumped into fourth, five seconds behind Evans and should continue to move up, while Majka sits fifth at 3-28 and Aru in sixth at 3-34.

And following his inspired ride to stay as close to the wheel of Quintana as possible, Ryder Hesjedal moved into the top ten overall in 9th place, 4-16 down though I can't help think what might have been had stage 1 not gone so badly for his Garmin team?

That wet day in Belfast, Garmin lost 2-31 to Movistar when Dan Martin slipped on a manhole and brought down the majority of his team forcing the likes of Hesjedal to wait until the minimum compliment of riders could get themselves together and finish as a team.

But had Garmin remained upright, they were on pace to set one of the better times and Quintana's Movistar team finished 55 seconds behind the winning time posted by Orica Greenedge, as such, Garmin might well have put 30 seconds into Movistar. A lot of if's and but's here that mean nothing because crashes are a part of cycling and the times all count, but without that stage 1 nightmare that also took Dan Martin out of the Giro, Hesjedal might have been going to bed tonight a single minute off the race lead with five days to go.

And one minute that includes the 41 seconds lost to Quintana in the individual time-trial, though that was a straight up battle in which the time swings went fair and square.

Of course, what is still to come in this Giro favours Quintana so a one minute deficit to the young Colombian may not have changed the direction in which this race is headed anyway, but it's nice for Canadian cycling fans to speculate what might have been. That said, the potential podium is still a very realistic possibility, stage 1 crash or not, because Hesejdal today sits only 55 seconds behind a tiring Cadel Evans in 3rd.

Six men abandoned the stage (including Thomas Dekker, Alessandro Petacchi and Michele Scarponi), which given the conditions and the 167 that started (Edvald Boasson Hagen did not take to the start) it's surprising that it wasn't more. I'm not exactly sure what the cut off time was, but I have to figure discretion will be shown by the race referees, especially given this whole 'neutralized' debate, not to mention the fact that if the cut off was 30 minutes, only 37 men would be taking to the start tomorrow.

It was one of the great rides today by Nairo Quintana ... attacking on the descent in freezing conditions and blitzing the final climb as a chasing pack of high quality riders only continued to lose time to him. It was the stuff of Merckx and it was the stuff that very well could win him the 2014 Giro d'Italia.

Result:

1. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in 4-42-35

2. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) in 8 sec

3. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) + 1-13

4. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) + 3-32

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 3-37

6. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 3-40

7. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 4-08

8. Sebastian Henao (Sky) + 4-11

9. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + s.t.

10. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 4-48

Overall:

1. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) in 68-11-44

2. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 1-41

3. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 3-21

4. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) + 3-26

5. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 3-28

6. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 3-34

---

9. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) + 4-16

Pierre Rolland's Giro: If only he could time-trial

A rest day today and how they need it given the past couple of stages. Uran comes into it with the Pink jersey on his shoulders and while he's look a little vulnerable on the climbs he has limited his losses to mere seconds which he will accept having taken minutes out of everyone else in the individual time-trial.

One man who has looked good on the climbs and if not a contender for the GC due to his 4 minutes, 47 defect to Uran, then certainly a stage winner, is Frenchman Pierre Rolland, who is looking every bit the rider the French thought they had found when he won that stage to L'Alpe d'Huez in the 2011 Tour de France and finished 10th overall and 1st in the young rider classification.

So how come Rolland is facing such a gap to Uran if he's climbing so strong? He never lost any time to him in any of the crashes earlier on the Giro, always finishing in groups with the Colombian. Well, the answer lies against the clock.

In the team-time-trial to start this Giro back in Belfast Rolland's Europcar team had a nightmare ride and the Frenchman lost a whopping 1 minute, 43 seconds. As I said back then, you cannot win the Giro on an opening stage team-time-trial, but you sure can lose it and it looked right away as though that time loss would be problematic to Rolland.

For all his climbing ability, Rolland has never been strong against the clock. He reminds me of a certain Richard Virenque in that regard -- and only that regard, thankfully. Able to soar in the mountains and always willing to go off the front in search of a stage win or mountains classification points, but too weak against the clock to ever win a Grand Tour.

And so it is in this Giro for Rolland. On stage 8 he lost 16 seconds to Uran when his aggressive climbing caught up with him just before the line, but it was the individual time-trial were his Giro aspirations likely vanished when Uran took a devastating 3 minutes and 46 seconds out of him. That left him 5-45 behind Uran on GC and essentially left looking for stage victories.

On stages 14 and 15 he went about trying to do just that, getting in on the attack early and then riding with Ryder Hesjedal one day and Nairo Quintana the next after they had bridged across to him. Neither resulted in a stage victory -- often the early break had gone far enough ahead to leave any gap impossible to close -- but it did chip away a little at Uran's lead. 38 seconds on stage 14 and 20 seconds on stage 15. Just under a single minute all in; still 4-47 behind with just four big mountain stages to go. Rolland is going to have to hope Uran falls apart in this final week but that would still leave six very good riders ahead of him to overcome to have any hope of winning this Giro.

It's extremely unlikely, though I do admire his willingness to keep trying and I hope he wins a stage for it. No doubt French cycling fans everywhere are hoping that if only he could improve his time-trialing just a little he might one day contend to become the first French Grand Tour winner since Laurent Jalabert at the Vuelta in 1995, and before that Bernard Hinault at the Tour de France in 1985.

Aru wins thrusting himself into GC contention; Quintana takes back seconds; Evans loses time

And suddenly Fabio Aru has thrust himself right into contention for this years Giro with a superb attack in the final kilometres of this summit finish to Montecampione to take 22 seconds out of Nairo Quintana, 42 seconds out of the Pink jersey of Rigoberto Uran, and 1 minute, 13 seconds out of Cadel Evans. He's put himself into fourth place overall under two and a half minutes back on Uran who maintained (and extended thanks to him taking time on a tired looking Evans) his lead in this years race.

The early break once again tried to share the spoils of the stage but never carried enough of a lead into a long finishing climb. It was a day that was perfectly flat before the climb and so all eyes were on that final ramp into the sky. At one point Irishman, Philip Deignan, had a crack out of an ever decreasing lead peloton, but when the main contenders to win this Giro began to make their moves his lead was quickly overcome.

Once again the first to go was Pierre Rolland, and once again they let him go, though this time it took his second surge before he got a gap. Rolland came into today 5-07 down on Uran but again took time, but while those time gaps are limited to seconds rather than minutes and while Uran has so much competition around him to go chasing every move, Rolland will be allowed to chip away at his lead and perhaps look to win a stage before this Giro is done.

Shortly after Quintana made his bid but was followed by this time but Uran, who after yesterday, looked much stronger. It was Evans who once again looked like he was tiring out in this Giro. He couldn't follow the crucial moves and finished in a small group containing Ryder Hesjedal who spent the majority of the final portions of the climb going off and on the back of what was left of the main pack. Hesjedal, like Evans in many ways, is a big diesel engine, he doesn't react well to the quick changes in pace and prefers to grind up the hills in his own rhythm. It's why when the pace went up, Hesjedal went back, but when those surges inevitably ceased and the contenders began to look at one another to pick up the slack that he got back on. Another like that is former two-time winner, Ivan Basso, but his glory days are behind him now and when those surges ceased, he couldn't get back on. And so it was for Evans but as the kilometres closed in the pace remained high and so the gap continued to grow. Thankfully for him the metres ran out before the clock did serious damage but losing 31 seconds to Uran and dropping more than a minute behind him overall is not a good sign with the biggest climbing to come.

When Quintana kicked a second time Uran couldn't react but the damage was limited to 20 seconds. Someone Quintana couldn't shake was Rolland having earlier bridged across to his attack. Rolland is looking stronger by the day and those around him will be thankful that his gap to the Pink jersey is still just shy of five minutes.

The competition however remains fierce. Is there anyone in the top six of the overall -- separated by a mere 2 minutes, 42 seconds -- who cannot still win this Giro? Especially with all the climbing still to come? The past two days have shown that they're only gaining seconds on one another and so Uran's more than a minute lead on second place Evans is still an advantage, you have to think with the worst still to come and legs getting tireder, the gaps may increase and with it the chances for someone -- maybe all of them on given days -- to have a bad day and lose minutes.

Result:

1. Fabio Aru (Astana) in 5-33-06

2. Fabio Duarte Arevalo (Colombia) + 21 sec

3. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 22 sec

4. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) + s.t.

5. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 42 sec

6. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 52 sec

---

9. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) + 1-13

10. Cadel Evans (BMC) + s.t.

Overall:

1. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) in 63-26-39

2. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 1-03

3. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-50

4. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 2-24

5. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 2-40

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 2-42

An epic finish to a very unpredictable stage

The word's '...I've ever seen' are thrown around far too loosely sometimes, but believe me when I say it this time, I mean it: That was one of the best finishes to a stage I have ever seen. Not in the context of the general classification or even the entire final climb, but as a stand alone finish, it was epic. More twists and turns than the road itself and like this Giro as a whole, giving no clue as to which way it might go next.

Enrico Battaglin was the man who won the day -- the man who's name will go into the record books -- but it was more than he who made it what it was.

Men like Dario Cataldo who looked set to sprint Jan Polanc for the stage just a few kilometres further down the hill as the rest struggled to stay with them and who must have thought he had won when he came around the shoulder of Jarlinson Pantano only to have Battaglin come past him again all within the final hundred metres.

Men like Nicolas Roche who went off on his own on the second to last climb in a bid for solo glory only to get reeled in on the long descent to the foot of the final rise.

Men like Albert Timmer who attacked on that final descent, who pushed himself to stay clear on the final climb only to have the chasers behind catch him and leave him behind. He found reserves to come back, not once, but twice before finally falling short in the final half kilometre.

They all lit up the race to win the stage ... remnants of the days early break that got enough time to stave off the pace of the GC men behind. And it was those GC men and the battle for the pink jersey that only added another dimension to a phenomenal stage. Pierre Rolland and Ryder Hesjedal are a number of minutes back overall and so were allowed to go up the road on the penultimate climb and they carried that lead over their rivals to the finish, but only just.

Nairo Quintana and Domenico Pozzovivo made their move on the final climb and the pink jersey of Rigoberto Uran could only look on. He stuck with Cadel Evans who himself got rid of Uran in the closing metres. Rafal Majka -- one of the breakout performers of this years Giro -- also got clear of Uran to gain back some time on the overall.

But the time gaps were small. Uran limited his losses and what looked like the potential for big gaps were kept to under 30 seconds. Quintana led home Pozzovivo by 4 seconds; 17 seconds behind Hesjedal; 13 seconds behind Rolland. Majka came home with another breakout performer, Wilco Kelderman, 8 seconds behind Quintana; Evans was at 20 seconds and Uran limped over the line an exhausted, but safe, 25 seconds back.

It's becoming very apparent that Uran may well need every second that he gained on last Thursday's individual-time-trial as those behind him look to chip away at his advantage each time the road goes upward. He looks as though he might just struggle a little against the likes of Quintana in the mountains. Whether his now 3 minute, 4 second lead over his fellow Columbian can hold remains to be seen.

One thing that isn't in doubt in this years Giro is the unpredictability of it all. Nobody looks dominant; everyone looks like they'll struggle on certain days. Some people are often quick to question the legitimacy of a big performance in cycling these days and slow to acknowledge the purity of a race like this. So let me say it, the style in which these riders attacked today, the way nobody could force home a decisive advantage, the way a surge only lasted for hundred meters or so before the rider had to continue in tempo, the way they struggled when they hit the wall, the suffering, it all paints a good picture of where the sport is at right now. We're in the early days of the mountains and so everyone in GC contention is close to matching one another and everyone's limit is not too far from the others. As legs grow tired and this race continues along those gaps may grow, but make no mistake, the all around suffering will grow with it and the outcome may well continue -- like the final climb itself today -- to surprise and change right until the final day.

We're in for for a heck of a final week. Better them doing it that I, but I'm a lucky cycling fan for getting to watch it.

Result:

1. Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani-CSF) in 4-34-41

2. Dario Cataldo (Sky) + s.t.

3. Jarinson Pantano (Colombia) + 7 sec

4. Jan Polanc (Lampre) + 17 sec

5. Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 22 sec

6. Albert Timmer (Giant-Shimano) + 26 sec

---

13. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) + 2-22

14. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) + 2-26

15. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 2-39

17. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 2-43

18. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) + 2-47

19. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + s.t.

20. Wout Poels (OPQS) + 2-59

21. Cadel Evans (BMC) + s.t.

22. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 3-04

Overall:

1. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) in 57-52-51

2. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 32 sec

3. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-35

4. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 2-11

5. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) + 2-33

6. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 3-04

---

12. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) + 6-13

The Folorn Hope Survive!

At last, the days selection of forlorn hopes have made it stick and brought it home. Marco Canola out-dueled Jackson Rodriguez and Angelo Tulik, three of what had been a six man break, to win his first Giro d'Italia stage and only his second win as a professional to go with a stage win at the Tour de Langkawi two years ago.

It was supposed to be a day for the sprinters before they hit the mountains tomorrow but their teams spent too much time looking at one another to take up the chase and it allowed the break just enough room to survive.

With the mountains tomorrow, none of the GC contenders and their teams would have any interest in bringing them back and a number other riders will have been thinking of the survival task ahead to have worried much about this group. The stars aligned and they stayed clear.

And it was a break -- also containing Jeffry Romero, Gert Dockx and  -- that went clear right from the start of the 157km stage and though they never built a huge advantage, you have to think that might have been for the best. The peloton behind must have thought they were always within reach when they needed to up the pace and catch them and so left it and left it, and left it too late.

As it were the man who stood most to benefit from them being caught, Nacer Bouhanni, led him the peloton a mere 11 seconds behind.

Result:

1. Marco Canola (Bardiani-CSF) in 3-37-20

2. Jackson Rodriguez (Androni-Giocattoli) + s.t.

3. Angelo Tulik (Europcar) + s.t.

4. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) + 11 sec

5. Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) + s.t.

6. Elia Viviani (Cannondale) + s.t.

Urán Crushes Time-Trial; Snatches Pink From Shoulders Of Evans

An incredible ride in today's 41.9 km individual time-trial by Rigoberto Urán tured the Giro on its head as he took more than a minute and a half out of Cadel Evans and stripped him of his race leaders pink jersey. At first it looked as though Evans was on a bad day, but what quickly became apparent was that Evan's wasn't so much on a bad day as Urán was on a brilliant day.

It was supposed to be the day that favoured Evans; a day in which he would put some time in the bank against those who might later try to win it back in the high mountains, and essentially he did do that though he must not have factored in Urán. Last week when a huge crash held up everyone but Evans and a handful of other we were wondering if the time gained by the Australian then, on top of what he might take in the time-trial, had eliminated the competition from the Giro, yet today we're sitting looking at the overall, thankful for that chaotic sixth stage for without it Urán might be the one walking away with the Pink jersey.

As it is his 1 minute, 34 second margin over Evans today puts him 37 seconds ahead in the general classification with Rafal Majka the only other rider within two minutes of Urán. Majka finished fourth in today's time-trial, 1-39 behind the Omega Pharma Quickstep riders' spectacular time of 57 minutes, 34 seconds over the 41.9 km course for an average speed of 43.7 km/h in which two of his team-mates also finished in the top six and three in the top ten.

In second was the new Italian hero Diego Ulissi at 1-17 who built on his superb stage win on stage eight. Indeed, had Ulissi not crashed yesterday and lost 4-21 to Evans and Urán, he would today find himself only two minutes back of the pink jersey and fourth overall. Instead he sits 14th, 6-24 down and out of contention. The future however is very bright for the 24 year old.

So is it a two horse race now between Evans and Urán? It is beginning to look that way though nobody could have expected that it would be Urán heading towards the mountains in control. Evans carried a 57 seconds lead over Urán into the time-trial and if you asked me I'd have put good money on him coming out with well over a minutes advantage on everyone else. Thankfully my wallet stayed in my pocket.

Pre-Giro favourite, Nairo Quintana looked towards this time-trial as one he would limit his losses in, but after a terrible team-time-trial in Belfast and losing more time on the split on stage six, Quintana was left needing to limit losses more than ever. In the end he lost 2-41 to Urán and will have to attack like a wounded animal come the mountains if he's to stand any chance of overcoming it. It looks unlikely though here's hoping he makes a go of it, and should he do it, then we'll be putting the 2014 Giro down as one of the all time greats.

For now though Urán is in control heading to a territory he favours and it is over to Evans to suddenly go on the attack in the mountains rather than try control the race around him as he would have preferred to do. Grand Tours are often unpredictable, though less so individual time-trials, but today was a big exception.

Result:

1. Rigoberto Urán (OPQS) in 57-34

2. Diego Ulissi (Lampre) + 1-17

3. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 1-34

4. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-39

5. Gianluca Brambilla (OPQS) + 1-53

6. Wout Poels (OPQS) + 2-00

Overall:

1. Rigoberto Urán (OPQS) in 49-37-35

2. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 37 sec

3. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-52

4. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 2-32

5. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) + 2-50

6. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 3-29

Rogers puts a rough winter and an absent spring behind him to give us a solo winner (at last!) at the Giro

It wasn't quite the win from the early days break that I was looking for, but beggars can't be choosers in this day and age and so I had to make do with seeing veteran Australian Michael Rogers break clear on the descent of a climb that had reduced the peloton to 40 and hold them off to the line. A superbly timed attack and an incredible descent for a result that only enhances the idea that this race is quickly becoming Aussie-Giro.

With his victory, Australian cycling have seen their Orica Greenedge team take the opening stage team-time-trial, Michael Matthews move into Pink on stage two for six days, Cadel Evans take up that jersey for stage eight, and now Rogers take victory in stage 11. It doesn't go much better than that (except for Matthews abandoning the race after stage 10 following a nasty crash earlier in the day).

And it looked for a while as though the break of the day might well be one that stuck given it contained 14 riders including Nicolas Roche who had come into the Giro as a contender to win it only to get caught up on stage six's crash and lose an epic amount of time. But yet despite the numbers the group couldn't make it last and on that second category climb which peaked 28 kilometres of the from the finish of the 248 they would race, the last of them got swept up leaving Rogers to make his move.

It was the perfect opportunity: None of the sprinters were there, no team had their full collection of riders, the GC favorites wanted to conserve as much energy as possible for the following days time-trial, and so Rogers must have seen the chance to make a move and not find a concerted effort behind him trying to bring him back. He flew down the hill and quickly built a lead that hovered around 40 to 50 seconds and stuck that way until the road got flat with 4 kilometres remaining. The gap dropped to 12 seconds but it seemed apparent that BMC were trying to scupper any serious chase and it quickly went back out to 20 seconds allowing Rogers time to celebrate his win on the ride to the line.

BMC putting men on the front to slow things can only have been a Australian for an Australian thing from Evans to Rogers and perhaps with it in mind that Rogers might pull a favour or two in return come the mountains. Or maybe there was nothing to it and Evans put his team on the front, not to chase but to keep safe, unconcerned with the stage result.

Whatever it was, it was nice to see that kind of a result after what had been a rough winter for Rogers as he fought to clear his name from a positive test for Clenbutrol at the Tour of Japan late last season, a fight that kept him out of racing all year right up until Liège-Bastogne-Liège just before this Giro, but one that he won as it was accepted the product appeared in his system by way of tainted beef he ate in China days before.

Australia's Giro will look to continue tomorrow in the individual time-trial with Evans hoping for a big result that will see him cement his lead in this years race.

Result

1. Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo) in 5-48-07

2. Simon Geschke (Giant-Shimano) + 10 sec

3. Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani) + s.t.

4. Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) + s.t.

5. Gianluca Brambila (OPQS) + s.t.

6. Moreno Moser (Cannondale) + s.t.

Overall

1. Cadel Evans (BMC) in 48-39-04

2. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 57 sec

3. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-10

4. Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 1-20

5. Steve Morabito (BMC) + 1-31

6. Fabio Aru (Astana) + 1-39

We're back after a rest day for them and a rest weekend for me

The Grio was back and racing after a single rest day for them and what was a three day long weekend rest day for me. In my time away from the computer, and for the most part, away from the Giro (it would have been an entire time away from it if it weren't for social media updates!), Nacer Bouhanni, Diego Ulissi and Pieter Weening took stage wins while Cadel Evans maintained his control of the pink jersey. Today with racing back once more, it was essentially another rest day given that the stage was tame for the contenders and left to the sprinters to sort out the spoils.

Naturally there was the days early break, which these days is becoming more and more an exercise in sponsorship for the names on the jersey to get on the television rather than any real attempt for someone to win a stage. Perhaps a cleaner race is affecting the ability for a solo -- or small man group -- exploit to take the day, but I must admit I do miss seeing someone spoil the day of the peloton.

It seems more than ever the only way it's likely to work is if the peloton switches off -- which would require them switching off their race radios rather than their mental focus -- or if a couple of hills are tough enough to shed the sprinters but small enough to keep the contenders quiet. We might get that tomorrow, and wouldn't it be nice to see?

As it were, Nacer Bouhanni once again took the bunch sprint for his third of this Giro, taking over right were Marcel Kittel left off when he had to abandon due to illness before the start of stage four. Unfortunately for Bouhanni he'll have people questioning whether he would have been so successful with Kittel still present, but success in a Grand Tour is about being able to start and finish each day and you can only beat what is put in front of you.

Bouhanni is only 23 and a huge prospect for French cycling and these results will do his confidence the world of good giving him the belief that he can take the next step and beat the likes of Kittel, Cavendish and Greipel head-to-head. Sadly though there are rumours he may not even make it to the Tour de France, which would be ironic for the French; they've waited years for someone capable of frequent stage wins to come along, only for him to do the Giro instead.

How the time gaps affect the pre-race GC favourites, part 2

Yesterday's massive pile up that appeared to bring down, or at least hold up, the entire peloton baring about eight men positioned right at the front of the race. One of those was one of the pre-race favorites Cadel Evans, using all his veteran savvy to stay at the front and out of danger once the break was caught and the speed was being ramped up ahead of the final climb to the finish on wet roads. The result was chaotic to the GC.

Everyone lost time to Evans, but the biggest loser was Joaqium Rodriguez, who like Dan Martin on stage 1 had to abandon as a result of the rain. Unlike Martin however, Rodriguez managed to limp home before pulling out with a broken rib and thumb, finishing 7 minutes and 43 seconds behind Evans. At 35 years of age, Rodriguez's chances of winning a Grand Tour are narrowing by the year. This Giro was seen as a huge chance for him to finally get it done having racked up five top five finishes including nine top ten finishes across the three Grand Tours since 2008.

Another big loser was Nicolas Roche who lost over 15 minutes on the day and who will now turn his attention to helping teammate Rafal Majka who sits fourth overall, little over a minute behind Evans.

As a result of the times lost by those we came into this Giro considering as potential winners, their general classification now stands as thus:

1. Cadel Evans

2. Rigoberto Urán + 57 secs

3. Ivan Basso + 1-45

4. Nairo Quintana + 1-47

5. Michele Scarponi + 2-07

6. Ryder Hesjedal + 4-18

7. Nicolas Roche + 15-34

Abandoned: Dan Martin (Stage 1), Joaqium Rodriguez (Stage 6).

The upshot is that Evans holds a pretty commanding lead and unless things change -- which they probably will -- will see him in control come the mountains. At 37 years of age, this is the perfect scenario for him. There's a chance he could tire later in the race and so having this kind of a lead to defend suits him better than having to chance time. But fear not for a conservative final two weeks for Nairo Quintana at 1 minute, 47 seconds is going to have to throw caution to the wind in the mountains and attack early and often to try claw back the time. 1-47 is very doable, likewise Urán's 57 seconds, and it'll be fascinating to see if they can.

Carnage at the Giro: Rodriguez loses big time; Evans gains big time; the pink jersey wins the day

Everything looked to be shaping up as normal as the race headed into its final 12 kilometres yesterday ... the early break was being swept up and the final climb to the finish beckoned. It was a chance for the favorites to try and steal a second or two over one another and for Michael Matthews to try hang onto his pink jersey for another day. But laying underneath it all was the rumblings of chaos.

That break had just been caught, the rain was falling and the roads were becoming ever greasy, the pace was being ramped up as the race charged towards that climb and everyone was scrambling for position. Cadel Evans seen all the hallmarks of a crash and he put his team on the front.

And then there was a crash.

Two crashes in quick succession, the first bringing down a handful of riders, the second bringing down -- or at least holding up -- what appeared to be some 186 riders. Only eight men remained in motion and one of them was Evans. Three of them were his teammates. Another was the pink jersey of Michael Matthews.

The hammer went down and the time gaps began to grow.

Another left behind and on the ground was Giampaolo Caruso. He lay motionless for quite some time before finally being lifted into an ambulance though did appear to be conscious.

Onto the climb and Evans had his BMC boys put down a hard tempo. Eventually Evans himself took over as the gap hovered anywhere from 30 to 40 seconds from a large group chasing behind. As they neared the finished the pink jersey of Matthews sprung past Evans to take the stage, but the older of the two Australians will not have worried too much. The time gained in the bigger picture was what mattered to him most.

Further back was Joaqium Rodriguez, brought down in the crash and losing huge chunks of time. Nicholas Roche was also stranded with a broken bike and because of the carnage was left waiting a length of time for a new one that ruled him right out of Giro contention. He would roll home more than 15 minutes behind the stage winner. Rodriguez would lose 7 minutes, 43 seconds and later abandon the race with a broken rib and broken thumb.

What it has done is put Evans in a superb position and so long as he keeps himself up right he can go into the mountains looking to contain his rivals rather than having to take time. That style of racing will suit Evans best, especially at the age of 37 now. Others like Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran, who came home in a large group 49 seconds behind Evans, will be forced to go on the attack. While it's a shame to lose Rodriguez from the race and Roche from GC contention, the race is still up for grabs and the Giro has still a lot to offer in the coming weeks, though I can see how it's beginning to look like the winner might be whomever is the last man standing!

Result

1. Michael Matthews (Orica Greenedge) in 6-37-01

2. Tim Weelens (Lotto Belisol) + s.t.

3. Cadel Evans (BMC) + s.t.

4. Matteo Rabottini (Neri Sottoli) + s.t.

5. Ivan Santaromita (Orica Greenedge) + 13 sec

6. Steve Morabito (BMC) + 23 sec

---

15. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 49 sec

19. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + s.t.

28. Ivan Basso (Cannondale) + s.t.

89. Joaqium Rodriguez (Katusha) + 7-43

171. Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 15-08

General Classification

1. Michael Matthews (Orica Greenedge) in 24-18-14

2. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 21 sec

3. Rigoberto Uran (OPQS) + 1-18

4. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) + 1-25

5. Steve Morabito (BMC) + s.t.

6. Matteo Rabottini (Neri Sottoli) + s.t.

---

11. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) + 2-08

Meanwhile in California ... Sir Wiggo comes alive

Despite not yet being two years removed from winning the Tour de France and an Olympic time-trial title, a lot of people have been quick to write off Sir Bradley Wiggins. His disappointing 2013 season -- highlighted by his withdrawal from the Giro and failure to make the Sky team (injured) for the Tour -- have been used as reasons for thinking his best has come and gone and that he's on the descent down into retirement. And there was also the thinking that he had enjoyed 2012 too much and was simply paying for it in 2013, that a year removed from that success might yet spark a fire within him to try and find that old form. Suddenly this week a few signs have emerged to suggest that it may well be returning.

Wiggins and reigning Team Sky Tour de France winner, Chris Froome have had a rocky relationship and last year we were getting set for an inter-team head-to-head across France only for Wiggins not to ride. After Froome's victory, Sky looked correct to have put their eggs in the Froome basket, and when word came out of camp that the two had reconciled it seemed Wiggins had accepted his new role on the team: Time-trial specialist who would become a super-domestique to Froome.

Now I don't know about you, but even after Wiggins came out admitting that Froome was the top-dog on the team and that he would indeed ride for him, I couldn't help but wonder whether someone with the ego of Wiggins would have it in him to put aside his past success in the Tour and simply ride for Froome, even in spite of Froome's 2013 season. Sometimes I cynically questioned whether Wiggins had merely buried the hatchet in order to win back a place on their Tour de France roster.

I've nothing of course to suggest that all is the case, and maybe it all is genuine, but the way Wiggins has been racing of late, I'm starting to really think that he has designs of his own come July's big race.

He came into the season looking a new man. A good winters training and a race program different from the past that would see him tackle -- and target -- the Paris-Roubaix first before thinking about Grand Tour racing. Had the man that had dominated the track before coming across to win the Tour de France before winning an Olympic time-trial title, now decided to add a Monument classic feather to his cap?

It looked that way and while he was probably a little disappointed inwardly to have finished 9th in Roubaix, there was no doubt that those who doubted his ability to adapt to one of the toughest and most rugged of spring classics were left amazed at his ability to hang in and mix it with the best in the classics business just as he had done when he integrated himself from a track rider to a full-time Grand Tour rider, winning the Tour in 2012.

But what next? Wiggins said he would be back for more in Roubaix in 2015 and no reason not to believe him anymore, but was his goal in the short term of this season now to shed a few pounds and make himself a respectable deputy for Froome by July? Well, the first test of how that was going is coming this weekend at the Tour of California. And it sure as heck looks to me as though he's gone further than any of us might have thought he would.

The old fire in him appears to be burning again.

On Monday's individual time-trial across 20.1 kilometres, Wiggins didn't just win, but shattered the opposition. He beat a very good time-trialist in Rohan Dennis by 44 seconds over that 20.1 km, and took 52 seconds out of American Taylor Phinney in third.

But can he climb again?

Well, speculation is that Wiggins has shed 5 kilograms since the Paris-Roubaix and to look at him he looks like a Grand Tour rider again as opposed to a more bulky classics man. The test of his climbing came yesterday, a day after the time-trial victory.

On the days final seven kilometre assent to the finish at Mount Diablo, that included gradients touching 17 percent, Wiggins led from the front. He went all Miguel Indurain and simply let the others ride on his wheel as he pounded his way towards the top shedding men as he went. An exercise in hard training within a race as much as a tactic to simply win the race, or so it seemed, Wiggins obliged those that could sit on his wheel by setting the tempo. Few could sit with him, though one who did was Dennis who finished second to him the day before, and in the final kilomtre he jumped clear to win the stage. Wiggins hit a wall, somewhat, and lost 20 seconds thus reducing his lead over Dennis in the GC to 24 seconds, but had laid down another marker as to his new found form.

You have to think Wiggins is only going to get stronger as the days tick down towards the Tour. No longer can his selection for Team Sky be in doubt. And what is Froome thinking? What is Wiggins now thinking? Will he take this form and suddenly think, what if? What if he can keep close to Froome in the mountains, maybe even steal some time. What if he's in contention come the Tours loan 54 kilometre time-trial? Could Wiggins shock his rivals -- if indeed a former Tour winner just two years removed from that win would be considered a shock?

I'd say the odds are still against him and a lot of this might be me hoping that he can get himself into the mix to really spice up what is looking like a very competitive Tour. Maybe this is simply all part of Wiggins effort to get ready to help Froome, maybe this is all part of Sky's big plan. After all, Froome was immense last July and is singularly targeting the Tour once more, Alberto Contador looks better than he's been for years and last years Giro winner, Vincenzo Nibali is coming back to France for another bite at the cherry. But the odds against Wiggins must be reducing by the week, like his weight, and in direct contrast to his form and confidence. And beware someone like Wiggins when he gains some confidence.

Kittel abandons Giro leaving other sprinters with a chance to win, and Bouhanni pounces

Marcel Kittel surprised his fellow sprinters with a gift this morning when he announced that due to a fever he would not be continuing in this years Giro d'Italia opening the door for everyone else to win a stage that comes down to a bunch sprint.

Kittel who had won both road race stages of this years Giro on the weekend in Belfast and Dublin had hoped to race the first two weeks of the Giro before pulling out and resting up for the Tour de France. As a result of his withdrawal, today's sprint stage was won by Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni of the FDJ.fr team, and in spectacular fashion at that.

The better part of the stage was 'neutralised' by the riders who felt the conditions were dangerous after rain had fallen making roads slippery, and the final lap on the finishing circuit in Bari was officially neutralised by race organiser RCS Sport and the UCI commissaires following discussions with riders on the road. The time towards the general classification was taken with one 8.3 km lap to go. That meant the sprinters could have their way on that last lap while the GC contenders didn't have to worry about risking an accident trying to keep in contact with the bunch. The move was proven wise on the final lap when the rain fell and the road took on the form of an ice rink as a number of riders fell at each corner in the run in to the finish.

By the start of the final sprint only a handful were left, and yet Bouhanni was one of them despite having punctured with about ten kilometres to go and spending several kilometres trying to chase back on before fighting his way through the bunch in time for that final race lap, not to mention the road conditions. He made contact in the final corners before making his move, pulling past Giacomo Nizzolo just before the line to win his first Grand Tour. Indeed, given the conditions, it's hard to argue that Bouhanni might not have won anyway even had Kittel been in attendance.

As a result of the neutralisation, there was no change in the GC, while Bouhanni took over the blue points jersey vacated by Kittel.

Result

1. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) in 2-22-06

2. Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) + s.t.

3. Tom Veelers (Giant-Shimano) + s.t.

4. Roberto Ferrari (Lampre-Merida) + s.t.

5. Elia Vivani (Cannondale) + s.t.

6. Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale) + s.t.

Kittel wins again as Giro departs pink Ireland

The Giro left Northern Ireland yesterday after two and a half days of rain and roads lined with thousands of spectators and crossed the border into the south for a few more hours racing before the predicted sprint finish in Dublin. Marcel Kittel won, of course, and did so on his birthday proving that after Svein Tuft on his birthday, Friday, that perhaps birthday boys in this Giro are in for some good fortune.

Not so much the Irishmen however, following Dan Martins disaster on Friday. And there was Nicolas Roche puncturing in the final ten kilometres of the run in to Dublin just as the bunch had caught the days break and were gearing up the sprint trains for the gallop. Roche could have been left behind to lose crucial time but managed to get back on. Perhaps after all the luck of the Irish is beginning to turn just as they get set to leave those shores for sunny Italy.

Yesterday's finish in Dublin was the first time a Grand Tour stage had finished there since 12 July 1998 when the first stage of that years Tour de France finished in Phoenix Park. The stage was won by Tom Steeles that day, following Chris Boardman's prologue time-trial victory the day before and a day later into Cork when Ján Svorada would win the final Grand Tour stage on the island before this weekends Giro. The result: Kittel (with two) has now won more Grand Tour stages on the island of Ireland than anyone else!

And what an effort he had to get that second win. He got caught up through the twisting corners in the final kilometre and looked to be too far back in the line and when Sky's Ben Swift burst past leadout man Edvald Boasson Hagen and past Italian sprinter Elia Viviani it looked like the Brits would trump the Irish with a win on their soil, but suddenly the big German closed a ten metre gap in the space of 100 metres, coming a fraction of a wheel past Swift right on the line. After 187 km of racing Kittel was at the front for a mere ten centimetres ... but it was the ten centimetres that mattered.

Tomorrow they will rest ... or better put, travel. While doing so they will try dry themselves out before resuming on Tuesday in the very southern part of Italy. The weather will be better then and the racing as intense, but the local Italian fans will have to go a long way to match the numbers, the atmosphere and the colour put out by the locals here this weekend in Northern and Southern Ireland.

Result

1. Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano), 187 km in 4-28-43

2. Ben Swift (Team Sky) + s.t.

3. Elia Viviani (Cannondale) + s.t.

4. Davide Appollonio (AG2R La Mondiale) + s.t.

5. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) + s.t.

6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) all at s.t.


Overall as they leave Ireland

1. Michael Matthews (Orica Greenedge) in 10-06-37

2. Alessandro Petacchi (Omega Pharma QuickStep) + 8 sec

3. Daniel Oss (BMC) + 10 sec

4. Luke Durbridge (Orica Greenedge) + 14 sec

5. Ivan Santaromita (Orica Greenedge) + s.t.

6. Svein Tuft (Orica Greenedge) + s.t.

Northern Ireland turns pink and the rain deters nobody while Kittle dominates the bunch gallop as the leaders jersey changes hands

Poor old Svein Tuft. He's waited a life time to become a leader of a Grand Tour only for it to last one day and for that day to be so wet and cool that he had his Pink jersey covered by a rain mack throughout. At least it didn't get dirty and if he was going to lose it to anyone I suppose it might as well have been a team-mate, Michael Matthews. Matthews mixed it up in the inevitable bunch sprint, won inevitably by Marcel Kittel, and while he didn't finish in the top three to gain a time-bonus, the sprinters did split from the rest of the pack by three seconds, enough to put him into the race lead given he started the day on the same time as Tuft.

It was a nice moment for Matthews but a historic moment for Kittel as he became just the 84th rider to win a stage in all three Grand Tours with his first Giro win to go with four stage wins in the Tour de France and one in the Vuelta.

The conditions for the race reminded me a little of this years Milan-San Remo when the race turned onto the Ligurian Sea cost road and I know I wasn't the only one who looked at the riders grinding along and thought that this part of the world could stage a very good spring classic if they included some of the hills along that part of the country that the Giro felt the need to keep out this early in a Grand Tour.

Luckily for the locals who did stand out all day waiting for the race to whizz by, there was the obligatory all-day breakaway to watch first before seeing the peloton a few minutes later. Maarten Tjallingii, Jeffry Johan Romero Corredor, Sander Armee and Andrea Fedi were the four that decided to make a day of it off the front of the race and while it was always inevitable the bunch would being the race back together with expert timing, you couldn't help but hope that one or all of them could somehow manage to hang in.

Tjallingii came the closest. He left his three companions behind late, when the bunch were under a minute from the catch, and tried in vein to keep a gap, hoping that the large amount of street furniture on the run in back to Belfast might stem the chase. It didn't and he got swept up in time for the sprinters to sort out the spoils.

Tjallingii won't be too disappointed however. He collected maximum points on the two king of the mountains and will pull on the first blue jersey of the 2014 Giro. Like wise, Kittel is now in the red points leaders jersey thanks to his haul at the finishing line.

With the wet conditions there was always the potential for more chaos to go with what faced Garmin in yesterday's team-time-trial, but for the most part everyone stayed upright and all lived to fight another day. As a result the talking point was squarely on the fans that have made this opening weekend of the Giro such a success and for the country itself for turning from a nation of green to one of pink.

The support, the numbers, and the enthusiasm of the people watching has been huge and it has rewarded the organizers decision to bring the race out of congenital Europe for the first time and to a place many must have raised an eyebrow to when they first heard the decision.

Normally we're full of praise for these fine athletes who go out in all sorts of tough conditions and race, and this was no different as the rain fell throughout, but it was the fans who impressed me the most. They'd be forgiven for having gotten fed up with the rain and gone home, but nobody did. Every town the race went through the streets were lined with people in pink. At times the crowds were three and four deep and lasted from the entry point to the town to the exit and even in the countryside there were people standing on the grass at the side of the road, getting soaked but cheering the race through. It was mightily impressive given that many of those out watching were doing so to experience the sight of the Giro rather than as hardened cycling fans. I dare say however that cycling has received itself a few new hardened fans as a result of this weekend.

The rain may have spoilt the scenery, but only a little. It was still weather beaten Northern Ireland at its best. Lush green hillsides banking down into the cold Irish Sea and a road cut into those hills on which the Giro peloton travelled. Horses were dyed pink and ran along one beach as the race travelled on the road beside it. Even the electricity pylons were coloured pink. Paint sales in the colour must have gone through the roof in the past week. If this is the new standard by which other hosts for such an occasion must follow then they've got their work cut out for them.

And it continues again tomorrow as things move from Belfast to Armagh for the start and the race heads south and out of Northern Ireland for the ride down to Dublin. A bunch sprint will probably follow, but so will thousands of spectators.

Result

1. Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano), 219 km in 5-13-12

2. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr)

3. Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory)

4. Elia Vivani (Cannondale)

5. Roberto Ferrari (Lampre-Merida)

6. Manuel Belletti (Androni Giocattoli) all same time

How the time gaps affect the pre-race GC favourites

Birthday boy Sevin Tuft of Canada leads the Giro d'Italia tonight as a result of crossing the line at the front of the winning Orica GreenEdge team in todays team-time-trial in Belfast, but lets face it, Tuft is not going to be wearing that jersey in three weeks time when the race finally comes to a close. That honour will likely fall to one of the pre-race favourites and so GC eyes were on specific team times today as we looked to see who gained time and who lost time? Nobody won the Giro today, but a few now face an uphill battle to win back lost time on others after just 21.7 kilometres of racing.

Here is a look at the overall standings with regards to six names that coming into the race were picked out as being potential pre-race favourites.

1. Rigoberto Urán

2. Cadel Evans + 2 secs

3. Michele Scarponi + 33 secs

4. Nairo Quintana + 50 secs

5. Joaquim Rodriguez + 1-28

6. Ryder Hesjedal + 3-21

So as you can see, for Hesjedal it is essentially over. For Rodriguez he's already facing big gaps to overcome against riders he's likely to lose more time against in the individual time-trial later, while Uran and Evans look in great shape and can already afford to defend the time they now have in hand come the big mountains.

Thousands line the streets as Martin crashes out in dramatic opening team-time-trial in Belfast

You know that theory that you cannot win a Grand Tour on the opening days time-trial but you can lose it? Well, never before has that been so evident as it was today in Belfast for the team-time-trial to start this years Giro d'Italia. A dramatic day of edge-of-your-seat action surrounded by an amazing turn out of fans generating a 21.7 kilometre wall of noise despite the changeable conditions that seen the race play into the hands of some, already begin to slip away from others, and totally vanish for Dan Martin.

And it was those changeable conditions that played a big part in the script. Hot favourite for the event, Orica GreenEdge drew an early start and made the most of the dry course, avoiding the rain that only began to fall toward the back end of their run, to post a time that stood up for the rest of the day. As a result their first man across the line -- birthday boy, Svein Tuft of Canada -- pulled on the first Maglia Rosa jersey of this years Giro. A fantastic story, but one that was overshadowed by another event out on the circuit.

Just last night when putting tougher a last minute preview of the Giro -- and in particular the weekends racing in Northern Ireland -- I tipped Irishman, Dan Martin, as one of three to watch. My thinking was that maybe, just maybe, with the race starting on the island of Ireland the stars might align in his favour and that he would take the next big step in his career. Sadly though the 'luck of the Irish' that we all thought might come his way, did not. A massive crash that came about when Martin himself slipped on a wet manhole, brought down the majority of his team and ended his Giro dream with a broken collarbone barely before it had begun.

It was the only moment in which the onlooking crowd that happened to be in front of the big-screens were stunned into silence.

That was the most dramatic example of the weather playing its part and it brought back memories of a Tour de France prologue in 1995 when hot British favourite to win the day, Chris Boardman, crashed in the wet in Saint-Brieuc ending his participation in the race, though this might have been bigger still given the races location and Martin's GC aspirations over the three week tour.

Another victim of the crash -- in relation to the overall battle for Pink -- was Ryder Hesjedal the Canadian winner of the Giro in 2012. Hesjedal didn't come down, but because the teams time is taken on the fifth man across the line and because fewer than five of them were left standing, the team were forced to wait and in doing so finished well back on the winning time posted by Orica GreenEdge. Hesjedal's Giro GC aspirations are essentially over.

Another big loser on the day was Joaqium Rodriguez, who's Katusha team had a nightmare in the wet conditions and finished 1 minute 33 seconds behind the Orica GreenEdge time, but more importantly, 1 minute 26 seconds behind Cadel Evans's BMC team who came in third on the day behind the Omega Pharma QuickStep team who took advantage of a drying course late to run Orica GreenEdge closest. Rodriguez also lost 38 seconds to the man many consider to be his biggest rival to win this Giro, Nairo Quintana. His Movistar were expected to finish near the front but had to settle for eighth.

All Irish hopes are not quite lost however. Martin may be gone, but Nicolas Roche's Tinkoff-Saxo team came in fourth, 23 seconds down on the winning time. Those time gaps between Evans, Roche, Quintana and Rodriguez, while small enough over a three week race, could yet prove significant.

So all in all it was a day in which the weather changed the fortunes for many but none more so than that of the Irish and Canadian contingents of Martin and Hesjedal respectively (one gone and one essentially out of contention) versus Roche and Tuft, the later who has turned a Lanterne Rouge finish in last years Tour de France into a Grand Tour lead to start this years Giro.

Tomorrow they all go again and I get the feeling we might see more drama again with the weather playing its part. That is only my speculation but what I can guarantee is more big crowds generating an atmosphere unique to the people of Northern Ireland all along the 218 km route. The fans done themselves proud today and its clear in what you read and hear from riders and media a like, that this was one of the better openings to a Grand Tour outside the events main country that they can remember.

I know as a Northern Irishman living abroad and watching a Grand Tour with Belfast as its back drop on my television, the surreal feeling quickly gave way to pride as the people, and the country, with assistance from the athletes themselves, of course, put on a fine show in front of a global audience.

Result

1. Orica Greenedge, 21.7 km in 24'45"

2. Omega Pharma QuickStep + 5 secs

3. BMC + 7 secs

4. Tinkoff-Saxo + 23 secs

5. Team Sky + 35 secs

6. Astana + 38 secs

Others

8. Movistar + 55 secs

19. Katusha + 1-33

22. Garmin-Sharp + 3-26

Giro d'Italia 2014 preview: The Giro starts in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Giro spectators in the Northern Ireland countryside

I've been a cycling fan for twenty-five years and in all of the past twenty-four I would never have believed that my wildest dreams of a Grand Tour starting in Belfast, Northern Ireland where I spent the first twenty-six years of my life, would actually come true. Yet here we are in 2014 and on the eve of the Giro d'Italia starting in that very city. It still seems surreal; I almost need to see it yet to believe it is actually happening. Northern Ireland will display itself in front -- and as the centre -- of the cycling world over the next few days as it kick starts this three week epic, and it makes me proud. I only wish I could have made a trip back to coincide with this historic moment.

Make no mistake, the Giro starting in Northern Ireland is the biggest sporting event to ever visit the country, at least that I am aware of. I'm not talking about numbers of athletes -- the annual Belfast marathon would have it beat every year in that category -- but in terms of the level of competition. The Giro d'Italia is the very sharp end of world cycling and the very best cyclists in the world will be competing. On top of that the race will go out to hundreds of countries on television screens watched by millions of viewers. It's a tourism coup for the provence and everything I've seen, heard and read so far about the planning and the build up suggests they're nailing it.

Tomorrow we'll see how it all comes together.

Belfast City hall in pink for the Giro

And how strange it will seem to turn on my television here in Canada to watch another big-time cycling race and to see the back drop of Belfast. To see the finest cyclists riding in Friday evenings team-time-trial through streets I know, past shops I've been in and, if the cameras focus in at the right moment, past people I recognise. Then on Saturday when the racing gets underway, to see the beautiful country side of the north-east coast of Northern Ireland as the race heads to Portrush, past the Giants causeway, down by the Antrim coastline and back into Belfast for what will likely be a bunch sprint. On Sunday they'll shift to Armagh to start the stage and head south over the border and down to Dublin, where likely we'll see another bunch sprint but certainly we'll see continued beautiful countryside.

The last time a Grand Tour visited Dublin was the 1998 Tour de France. That race was overshadowed by the Festina scandal, but I remember going to it and I remember the excitement around it as Chris Boardman won the opening prologue and Tom Steels won the bunch sprint into Phoenix Park. Giro organisers will be praying that it's not in the visiting of Dublin that invokes a massive scandal and that the racing is remembered for what happens on the road. I'm sure it will.

Belfast Telegraph front cover, 8 May, the day before the Giro begins

Of course, it's easy to get caught up in everything happening on the island of Ireland and forget that this is only the beginning of a three week journey. On Monday the riders will get a day off to head back to Italy. Typically these Grand Tours have two rest days, but they're getting three here because of the long journey, hence the Friday evening start. And that Monday can hardly be considered a rest day because of the trek they must make to Giovinazzo where Tuesday's stage will begin in the very southern part of Italy. If the riders are only beginning to adapt to the cool, wet weather of Ireland, then they'll get a rude awakening to the hot conditions that await them back in the races homeland.

And then the race will amble its way north and towards the high mountains along the very top part of the country where the race will truly be won and lost and the Giro in Ireland will be but a memory. Still I can only hope it is a memory that is recounted again and again and while it won't be a place that decides the winner on the road, it will be remembered as a place that lit up the event.

More previewed: The route ... three to watch ... prediction ... start list ... past winners...

Route

Three to watch...

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) The Spaniard is one of only two riders to have finished on the podium of all three Grand Tours but to have never actually won one, and at 34 years of age you have think his chances are running out. Last year he went to the Tour de France hoping to finally win there, but when it didn't happen and he seen the likes of Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and, reigning Giro champion but not entering this year, Vincenzo Nibali, targeting France, he turned his attention to and put all his eggs in the Giro basket. He stands a great chance and given his climbing ability, his entertaining style of racing and how close he has come in the past, not many would begrudge seeing him come good this year.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) At the other end of his career is 24 year old phenom, Nairo Quintana. The young Columbian burst onto the scene at last years Tour de France finishing second to Chris Froome and lighting up the mountain stages. Along the way he took one stage win, the mountain jersey and the white young riders jersey. Grand Tours are sure to come his way (though Rodriguez probably thought the same at a similar age) and his team have done well in putting him in here where he comes in as bookies favourite. Young legs are to his advantage here as the likes of Rodriguez and Cadel Evans will be there for the taking, especially into the third week, but whether he gained enough Grand Tour experience at last years Tour de France to win now remains to be seen. Along with Rodriguez though, they will be sure to put on a show.

Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) Martin may not even be the leader on his team -- that will likely fall to veteran Canadian and 2012 winner of the Giro, Ryder Hesjedal -- but the Irishman will want to impress more than ever given the race starts on his home island. Martin may seem like a surprise choice given he's never come that close to winning a Grand Tour before, but he has got the ability to climb with the best of them and if he can play it savvy he may find ways to take enough time out of the likes of Rodriguez and Quintana who are sure to gain some time on the highest of mountains. First though he needs to win the battle of his team leadership, but if Garmin play it right, they have two potential favourites who can work over the others and perhaps leave one or the other to climb onto the podium, at least. He's 27 and has proven himself in the one day classics and in the week long stage races and now needs to take the next step. Sean Kelly done that once (and at the same age took his first Grand Tour top 10 finish) and went on to win the 1988 Vuelta a'Espana. On top of that, Martin was the first Irishman since Kelly to win Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2013 ... something Kelly didn't win until he was a year older that Martin is now. Maybe it is a long shot, but given the races start, how can I not include him?

Notable others: Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), Cadel Evans (BMC), Rigoberto Urán (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Michele Scarponi (Astana), Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale).

Start list...

Astana Pro Team
1 Michele Scarponi (Ita)
2 Valerio Agnoli (Ita)
3 Fabio Aru (Ita)
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo)
5 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita)
6 Borut Bozic (Slo)
7 Mikel Landa Meana (Spa)
8 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita)
9 Andrey Zeits (Kaz)

AG2R La Mondiale
11 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita)
12 Davide Appollonio (Ita)
13 Julien Berard (Fra)
14 Maxime Bouet (Fra)
15 Axel Domont (Fra)
16 Hubert Dupont (Fra)
17 Patrick Gretsch (Ger)
18 Matteo Montaguti (Ita)
19 Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra)

Androni Giocattoli
21 Franco Pellizotti (Ita)
22 Manuel Belletti (Ita)
23 Marco Frapporti (Ita)
24 Yonder Godoy (Ven)
25 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned)
26 Marco Bandiera (Ita)
27 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven)
28 Diego Rosa (Ita)
29 Emanuele Sella (Ita)

Bardiani-CSF
31 Stefano Pirazzi (Ita)
32 Enrico Battaglin (Ita)
33 Nicola Boem (Ita)
34 Francesco Bongiorno (Ita)
35 Marco Canola (Ita)
36 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita)
37 Enrico Barbin (Ita)
38 Nicola Ruffoni (Ita)
39 Edoardo Zardini (Ita)

Belkin Pro Cycling Team
41 Wilco Kelderman (Ned)
42 Jetse Bol (Ned)
43 Rick Flens (Ned)
44 Marc Goos (Ned)
45 Martijn Keizer (Ned)
46 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned)
47 David Tanner (Aus)
48 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned)
49 Jos van Emden (Ned)

BMC Racing Team
51 Cadel Evans (Aus)
52 Brent Bookwalter (USA)
53 Yannick Eijssen (Bel)
54 Ben Hermans (Bel)
55 Steve Morabito (Swi)
56 Daniel Oss (Ita)
57 Manuel Quinziato (Ita)
58 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa)
59 Danilo Wyss (Swi)

Cannondale
61 Ivan Basso (Ita)
62 Oscar Gatto (Ita)
63 Michel Koch (Ger)
64 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita)
65 Alan Marangoni (Ita)
66 Moreno Moser (Ita)
67 Daniele Ratto (Ita)
68 Davide Villella (Ita)
69 Elia Viviani (Ita)

Colombia
71 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col)
72 Rodolfo Andres Torres Agudelo (Col)
73 Edwin Alcibiades Ávila Vanegas (Col)
74 Robinson Chalapud (Col)
75 Leonardo Duque (Col)
76 Jarlinson Pantano (Col)
77 Carlos Quintero (Col)
78 Jeffry Johan Romero Corredor (Col)
79 Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col)

FDJ.fr
81 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra)
82 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra)
83 Arnaud Courteille (Fra)
84 Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra)
85 Alexandre Geniez (Fra)
86 Johan Le Bon (Fra)
87 Francis Mourey (Fra)
88 Laurent Pichon (Fra)
89 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin)

Garmin Sharp
91 Ryder Hesjedal (Can)
92 Andre Fernando S Martins Cardoso (Por)
93 Thomas Dekker (Ned)
94 Tyler Farrar (USA)
95 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa)
96 Nathan Haas (Aus)
97 Daniel Martin (Irl)
98 Dylan Van Baarle (Ned)
99 Fabian Wegmann (Ger)

Lampre-Merida
100 Damiano Cunego (Ita)
101 Winner Anacona Gomez (Col)
102 Matteo Bono (Ita)
103 Mattia Cattaneo (Ita)
104 Roberto Ferrari (Ita)
105 Manuele Mori (Ita)
106 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol)
107 Jan Polanc (Slo)
109 Diego Ulissi (Ita)

Lotto Belisol
111 Maxime Monfort (Bel)
112 Lars Ytting Bak (Den)
113 Kenny Dehaes (Bel)
114 Gert Dockx (Bel)
115 Adam Hansen (Aus)
116 Sander Armee (Bel)
117 Tosh Van der Sande (Bel)
118 Tim Wellens (Bel)
119 Dennis Vanendert (Bel)

Movistar Team
121 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col)
122 Andrey Amador Bikkazakova (Crc)
123 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa)
124 Eros Capecchi (Ita)
125 Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa)
126 José Herrada Lopez (Spa)
127 Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa)
128 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa)
129 Adriano Malori (Ita)

Neri Sottoli - Yellow Fluo
131 Matteo Rabottini (Ita)
132 Giorgio Cecchinel (Ita)
133 Ramon Carretero (Pan)
134 Francesco Chicchi (Ita)
135 Daniele Colli (Ita)
136 Andrea Fedi (Ita)
137 Mauro Finetto (Ita)
138 Yonathan Monsalve (Ven)
139 Simone Ponzi (Ita)

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team
141 Rigoberto Uran (Col)
142 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita)
143 Thomas De Gendt (Bel)
144 Iljo Keisse (Bel)
145 Serge Pauwels (Bel)
146 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita)
147 Wout Poels (Ned)
148 Pieter Serry (Bel)
149 Julien Vermote (Bel)

Orica GreenEdge
151 Ivan Santaromita (Ita)
152 Luke Durbridge (Aus)
153 Michael Hepburn (Aus)
154 Brett Lancaster (Aus)
155 Michael Matthews (Aus)
156 Cameron Meyer (Aus)
157 Mitchell Docker (Aus)
158 Svein Tuft (Can)
159 Pieter Weening (Ned)

Team Europcar
161 Pierre Rolland (Fra)
162 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn)
163 Angelo Tulik (Fra)
164 Tony Hurel (Fra)
165 Davide Malacarne (Ita)
166 Maxime Méderel (Fra)
167 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra)
168 Romain Sicard (Fra)
169 Björn Thurau (Ger)

Team Giant-Shimano
171 Marcel Kittel (Ger)
172 Bert De Backer (Bel)
173 Simon Geschke (Ger)
174 Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe)
175 Luka Mezgec (Slo)
176 Georg Preidler (Aut)
177 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned)
178 Albert Timmer (Ned)
179 Tom Veelers (Ned)

Team Katusha
181 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa)
182 Maxim Belkov (Rus)
183 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita)
184 Vladimir Gusev (Rus)
185 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa)
186 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa)
187 Luca Paolini (Ita)
188 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa)
189 Eduard Vorganov (Rus)

Team Sky
191 Dario Cataldo (Ita)
192 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor)
193 Philip Deignan (Irl)
194 Bernhard Eisel (Aut)
195 Sebastian Henao Gomez (Col)
196 Christopher Sutton (Aus)
197 Salvatore Puccio (Ita)
198 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr)
199 Ben Swift (GBr)

Tinkoff-Saxo
201 Nicolas Roche (Irl)
202 Christopher Juul Jensen (Den)
203 Rafal Majka (Pol)
204 Evgeny Petrov (Rus)
205 Pawel Poljanski (Pol)
206 Ivan Rovny (Rus)
207 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den)
208 Jay McCarthy (Aus)
209 Michael Rogers (Aus)

Trek Factory Racing
211 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro)
212 Eugenio Alafaci (Ita)
213 Julian Arredondo (Col)
214 Fabio Felline (Ita)
215 Danilo Hondo (Ger)
216 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita)
217 Boy van Poppel (Ned)
218 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn)
219 Riccardo Zoidl (Aut)

Past winners

1909 Luigi Gannaala
1910 Carlo Galettiala
1911 Carlo Galetti, Bianchi
1913 Carlo Oriani, Maino
1914 Alfonso Calzolari, Stucchi
1915 Race not held
1916 Race not held
1917 Race not held
1918 Race not held
1919 Costante Girardengo, Stucchi
1920 Gaetano Belloni, Bianchi
1921 Giovanni Brunero, Legnano
1922 Giovanni Brunero, Legnano
1923 Costante Girardengo, Maino
1924 Giuseppe Enrici,
1925 Alfredo Binda, Legnano
1926 Giovanni Brunero, Legnano
1927 Alfredo Binda, Legnano
1928 Alfredo Binda, Wolsit
1929 Alfredo Binda, Legnano
1930 Luigi Marchisio, Legnano
1931 Francesco Camusso, Gloria
1932 Antonio Pesenti, Wolsit
1933 Alfredo Binda, Legnano
1934 Learco Guerra, Maino
1935 Vasco Bergamaschi, Maino
1936 Gino Bartali, Legnano
1937 Gino Bartali, Legnano
1938 Giovanni Valetti, Frejus
1939 Giovanni Valetti, Frejus
1940 Fausto Coppi, Legnano
1941 Race not held
1942 Race not held
1943 Race not held
1944 Race not held
1945 Race not held
1946 Gino Bartali, Legnano
1947 Fausto Coppi, Bianchi
1948 Fiorenzo Magni, Willier Triestina
1949 Fausto Coppi, Bianchi
1950 Hugo Koblet, Guerra–svizzera
1951 Fiorenzo Magni, Ganna
1952 Fausto Coppi, Bianchi
1953 Fausto Coppi, Bianchi
1954 Carlo Clerici, Guerra–svizzera
1955 Fiorenzo Magni, Nivea–fuchs
1956 Charly Gaul, Guerra
1957 Gastone Nencini, Chlorodont
1958 Ercole Baldini, Legnano
1959 Charly Gaul, Emi–guerra
1960 Jacques Anquetil, Fynsec
1961 Arnaldo Pambianco, Fides
1962 Franco Balmamion, Carpano
1963 Franco Balmamion, Carpano
1964 Jacques Anquetil, St Raphael
1965 Vittorio Adorni, Salvarani
1966 Gianni Motta, Molteni
1967 Felice Gimondi, Salvarani
1968 Eddy Merckx, Faema
1969 Felice Gimondi, Salvarani
1970 Eddy Merckx, Faemino
1971 Gösta Pettersson, Ferretti
1972 Eddy Merckx, Molteni
1973 Eddy Merckx, Molteni
1974 Eddy Merckx, Molteni
1975 Fausto Bertoglio, Jollyceramica
1976 Felice Gimondi, Bianchi–campagnolo
1977 Michel Pollentier, Flandria
1978 Johan De Muynck, Bianchi–faema
1979 Giuseppe Saronni, Scic–bottecchia
1980 Bernard Hinault, Renault–gitane
1981 Giovanni Battaglin, Inoxpran
1982 Bernard Hinault, Renault-Elf-Gitane
1983 Giuseppe Saronni, Del Tongo–colnago
1984 Francesco Moser, Gis–tuc Lu
1985 Bernard Hinault, La Vie Claire–look
1986 Roberto Visentini, Carrera-Inoxpran
1987 Stephen Roche, Carrera Jeans-Vagabond
1988 Andy Hampsten, 7–Eleven Hoonved
1989 Laurent Fignon, Système U
1990 Gianni Bugno, Château D’ax
1991 Franco Chioccioli, Del Tongo Mg
1992 Miguel Indurain, Banesto
1993 Miguel Indurain, Banesto
1994 Evgeni Berzin#, Gewiss-Ballan
1995 Tony Rominger, Mapei–gb
1996 Pavel Tonkov, Panaria–vinavil
1997 Ivan Gotti, Saeco
1998 Marco Pantani, Mercatone Uno-Bianchi
1999 Ivan Gotti, Team Polti
2000 Stefano Garzelli, Mercatone Uno-Albacom
2001 Gilberto Simoni, Lampre-Daikin
2002 Paolo Savoldelli, Index–alexia
2003 Gilberto Simoni, Saeco Macchine Per Caffè
2004 Damiano Cunego, Saeco Macchine Per Caffè
2005 Paolo Savoldelli, Discovery Channel
2006 Ivan Basso, Team CSC
2007 Danilo Di Luca, Liquigas
2008 Alberto Contador, Astana
2009 Denis Menchov, Rabobank
2010 Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Doimo
2011 Michele Scarponi, Lampre-ISD
2012 Ryder Hesjedal, Garmin-Barracuda
2013 Vincenzo Nibali, Astana