Giro d'Italia (2011) Photos May 7 - 29

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Vincenzo Nibali, Alessandro Ballan, Michele Scarponi and Stefano Garzelli were in attendance. Freshly shorn Ballan looks like he was just released.	Scarponi and Garzelli looking stylish as the presentation is about to begin	First some 2010 highlights. Last year's winner, Ivan Basso was not at the 2011 rollout. He says he's focusing on the 2011 Tour de France instead next year. The 2011 route could prompt him to change his mind.
Master of ceremonies, RAI's Alessandra de Stefano and Andrea Monti, the head man at sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport	La Gazzetta dello Sport, being the owner of the Giro d'Italia, has a big say	Saying goodbye to three riders that left us in 2010
The scene inside Teatro Carignano in Torino	Past and present riders on stage
Race Director, Angelo Zomegnan (second from left), starts the rundown of the 2011 route starting with stage 1 which finishes in Torino where the presentation is taking place.	The riders watching as the stages get announced...	The riders look pretty excited about the 2011 route
And here it is. The 2011 route will cover a lot of ground with the aid of some long transfer days.	The race profile including eight mountain stages	Post event rider photo-op and fashion comparison. Michele Scarponi looks quite smart in that beige suit and suede shoes while Damiano Cunego gets failing marks for a poor tie selection.
Scarponi points out Mt. Etna on Sicily where stage 9 finishes...	It has been 10 years since fireworks last erupted on the slopes of Mt. Etna, Europe's most active volcano	Scarponi next points out where he was born in Jesi just west of the stage 11 finish in Castelfidardo
Italy's Minister of Interior, Michelino Davico, enjoying one of the perks of the job. The 2011 Giro will celebrate Italy's unification 150 years ago.	Androni Giocattoli sports director Marco Bellini, his best classic's rider, Francesco Ginanni, Michele Scarponi who will ride for Lampre next season and Androni Giocattoli team owner, Gianni Savio	Gazzetta dello Sport's Andrea Monti and Pier Bergonzi next to Andrea Bartali, son of the late Gino Bartali
Andrea Monti, the head man at sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport and master of ceremonies, RAI's Alessandra de Stefano	This year's rollout lacked some of the glamour of last year's event	Teams Presentation in the streets of Torino prior to the opening TTT: Paolo Bettini passing along his best wishes to Alberto Contador
The parade through the streets of Torino had an Olympic feel to it	Team Sky shows off their new Giro team kits	A big crowd showed up at Piazza Castello and Palazzo Madama estimated at 500,000 people
Frecce Tricolori air show		Saxo Bank looking relaxed before the TTT on Saturday
Everyone one will be gunning for HTC-Highroad, the TTT favorites tomorrow	This is how Katusha lined up	The Team Sky team bus got a new paint job just for the Giro
Bjarne Riis and Alberto Contador at the Saxo Bank press conference	Alberto Contador is in the awkward position of racing while waiting for the UCI doping appeal to be handled	Bjarne Riis has been here before
Richie Porte, 7th last year at the Giro as a first year pro, is committed to playing the domestique role for Alberto Contador this time	Earlier in the week, GEOX's Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov met the press. Sastre has committed to supporting the 2009 winner.	Katusha's Joaquin Rodriguez and Danilo di Luca meeting the press
Multiple winner (and doper) Danilo di Luca will be in the background this Giro with Joaquin Rodriguez being Katusha's main GC contender.

Stage 1:  Venaria Reale → Torino, 19.3 km (TTT)  Full Results and Report

The Northern Italy Hillbillies (aka the Alpini fans) have arrived. The Alpini are the elite mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army... on this day symbolic for marking the 150th anniversay Italy's unification	Alpini socializing with female crowd	Liquigas' Vicenzo Nibali, Enos Capecchi and others ready to hit the course for a warm-up
A big crowd assembling in Torino	Alpini twins eager for the start	Teams queuing up for the real thing
Unofficially, this was the first team on the course	Officially, Omega Pharma-Lotto was the first team down the ramp...	First on the course, Omega Pharma-Lotto set a time of 21:21 which held up for quite awhile. They settled for 3rd (+ 0:22)
Astana not looking like a team. They finished 17th (+ 0:50).	Start panoramic in Venaria Reale with Euskaltel-Euskadi on the ramp	Euskaltel-Euskadi needed all the crowd support they could get today...
Despite looking good, Euskaltel-Euskadi finished dead last out of 23 teams. The Basque mountain men were 1:13 off the winning time.	The Coppi e Bartali TTT winners put in a good show. 12th Androni-Giocattoli in 21:38 (+ 0:39)	Flashback to Torino 11 years ago: In 2000, the last stage started in Torino with Stefano Garzelli in Pink (and hair) receiving some pointers from teammate Marco Pantani...
... 11 years later in Torino and Stefano Garzelli at the front for Acqua&Sapone who finished second last in 22:06 (+ 1:07)	Team Sky finished 9th today in 21:36 (+ 0:37)	Saxo Bank on the road
HTC-Highroad looking good set the best mid-point time	HTC-Highroad with Italian TT Champ, Marco Pinotti, set a time that would not be beat: 19.3 km in 20:59 (55,186 km/h)	Lampre-ISD led by sprinter Alessandro Petacchi finished 6th in 21:23 (+ 0:24)
Liquigas is always a contender in a TTT especially on home soil as they were today	Despite having all nine riders together at the line, Saxo-Bank w/ Matteo Tosatto, Alberto Contador and Richie Porte leading the way could only manage 8th (+ 0:30)	Tiago Machado at the front looking good for RadioShack
Finish parnoramic: Liquigas rounding the final corner with 125m to go...	... Liquigas with Vincenzo Nibali crossing first wasn't quite good enough today. 4th + 0:22.	QuickStep about to finish 15th + 0:42
RadioShack led by Robbie McEwen, with many of their B-TTT squad riders, were the surprise of the day finishing 2nd + 0:10.	Movistar and in particular this dropped rider were the last to finish. 11th + 0:38.	Actress Cristiana Capotondi was an Alpini honoree today
Your Stage 1 TTT winners, HTC-Highroad	HTC-Highroad celebrates their dominating performance. They crossed 1st with the minimum five riders: Marco Pinotti (Ita), Lars Ytting Bak (Den), Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr), Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad and Craig Lewis (USA)	First HTC-Highroad man across the line was Marco Pinotti...
... so he gets the first Maglia Rosa	Pinotti, Chiamparino and Capotondi	Great to see a vehement anti-doper as the first race leader
	HTC-Highroad and their man in Pink	American Bjorn Selander riding for RadioShack is the Young Rider Leader after just his first stage of a Grand Tour
Alpino Pinotti	Pinotti will take the hat and pink jersey into Stage 2

Stage 2:  Alba → Parma, 244 km  Full Results and Report

44 year-old Mario Cipollini is still as popular as any active rider	The Alba sign-in	Alessandro Petacchi looking good pre-race. We'll see him again later.
Pretty in Pink	The Alba rollout for the longest stage of the race. Luckily, a beautiful day for racing.	Marco Pinotti enjoying his time in Pink
Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto attempted to solo the entire 244 km stage. He was pulled back near the end, but still finished 22nd (+ 0:22).	Mark Cavendish was expected to replace Marco Pinotti as HTC-Highroad's man in Pink after the sprint finish in Parma	Today's stage was a tip-toe through the tulips. (I know those aren't tulips)
The cat 4 climb with 35 km to go broke up the flat stage temporarily	The photo finish	After the longest stage of this year's Giro at 244 km, the sprint finish in Parma was decided by inches
1st Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre ISD) in 5:45:40, 2nd Mark Cavendish (HTC), 3rd Manuel Belleti (Colnago), 4th Roberto Ferrrari (Androni Giocatolli)	Alessandro Petacchi wins the 1st road stage of this year's Giro after veering in front of Mark Cavendish who mistimed his sprint. As Robbie Hunter tweeted post-race, "If Cav had of gone a bit earlier he would have won but he didn't & that's racing"	You don't get 22 career wins at the Giro by being tentative in sprint finishes
Petacchi not feeling the least bit guilty		Mark Cavendish was hoping the officials would award him the win, but he had to settle for being the new race leader
Cav gets some consolatory kisses.	Mark Cavendish at the post-stage press conference...	“In my eyes, he [Petacchi] turned left and he used tactics to block me, but in my life this has been sprinting. The tactics used in sprinting as well as the power used in sprinting is what sprinting is about.”

Stage 3:  Reggio Emilia → Rapallo, 173 km  Full Results and Report

Mark Cavendish signing in as the new race leader	Alberto Contador signing in at the start in Reggio Emilia	What started out as a pretty day soon turned tragic
Wouter Weylandt getting ready for today's start. (photo w/ permission by Simon MacMichael)	Start panoramic in Reggio Emilia	Reggio Emilia rollout
One of the last race photos of Wouter Weylandt (lower-left) as the peloton leaves Reggio Emilia	Race leader Mark Cavendish would only wear the Pink Jersey for one day. He was dropped on the Passo del Bocco climb	Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini) descending Passo del Bocco, the climb that claimed Wouter Weylandt's life
Alberto Contador and Michele Scarponi descending	Road cycling is a beautiful sport with serious risks we often forget about when watching the Pros descend at high speeds	With a break up the road and tragedy behind, an unwitting peloton led by Lampre for Alessandro Petacchi carries on
The final run into Rapallo on the Italian Riviera	The winning break: 1 Angel Vicioso (Androni), 2 David Millar (Garmin-Cervélo), 3 Luis Pasamontes (Movistar Team), 4 Dani Moreno (Katusha), 5 Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Cervélo)	There was nothing to celebrate today so the finish line party and podium ceremonies were cancelled
The post-stage press-conference with the race committee making statements about today's tragic crash	Angelo Zomegnan, Director of the Giro d’Italia:"First of all, we want to express condolences to Wouter’s family and to his wife Anne Sofie that we're going to receive at Malpensa Airport at 22.30. As Prof. Tredici explained, what happened was inevitable. The doctors have done everything they could but the situation was hopeless from the very first moments. We also thank them for their efforts and for the immediate intervention. We have received messages of condolence from the UCI President, Pat McQuaid, the president of Federciclismo, Renato Di Rocco, and the president of the professional riders, Gianni Bugno. We had already planned to remember the victims of Lamezia Terme in St. Eufemia, during the eighth stage from Sapri in Tropea. Unfortunately, will have one more to remember. I want to emphasize that we respect the choices of the Leopard Trek Team and those of other teams to decide what to do in the coming days. Before considering other details we would like to meet the family."	Giovanni Tredici, Chief Medical Officer of the Giro d’Italia: "Unfortunately, the situation was desperate. As the emergency intervention took place twenty/thirty seconds after the fall, we practiced forty-five minutes of resuscitation attempts. I was on the spot just after a few seconds. The mobile intensive care centre was there after a minute and a half but could not do anything else."
Michele Acquarone, Managing Director of RCS Sport: "Personally and on behalf of the company, I want to thank Angelo for cancelling the party after the race and the awards ceremony. I thank Prof. Tredici: I am sure that his staff has done everything possible. And finally, thank Rai for not showing the pictures and for managing this tragic situation at the best. I hope you will understand my request not to disclose images of the incident that could hurt the feelings of relatives and friends of Wouter Weylandt."	Wouter Weylandt was a 26 year-old Belgian who turned pro for QuickStep at just 19 years of age. He had over 10 wins to his credit including his biggest at last year's Giro d'Italia in Middleburg, NL.	It is sadly ironic that Wouter Weylandt won last year's stage 3 of the Giro
Best friend Tyler Farrar said 'Weylandt was another brother to me'	At the 2008 Vuelta a Espana, Wouter Weylandt won a close sprint finish on Stage 17 in Valladolid...	... it was his first ProTour win
R.I.P. Wouter Weylandt (1984 - 2011)

Stage 4:  Quarto dei Mille → Livorno, 216 km  Full Results and Report

The somber start to neutralized stage 4: race leader David Millar and race director Angelo Zomegnan	Wouter Weylandt's Leopard-Trek teammates	Leopard-Trek leading the peloton out of Quarto dei Mille
Under different circumstances this would have been a fine day for a bike ride	Teams took turns at the front while covering the 216 km stage	The Italian Riviera
Rabobank at the front	As usual, race leader David Millar has expressed his views eloquently	Many signs of support for Wouter Weylandt along the way
Leopard-Trek crossing the line together in Livorno	Leopard-Trek invited Tyler Farrar (3rd from right), Wouter Weylandt's best friend in the peloton, to join them
Leopard-Trek announced later in the day that they would be leaving the race	David Millar led the rest of the peloton across the line	Yesterday's tragedy was too much for best friend Tyler Farrar (Garmin) who will be leaving the race as well
Post-stage 4 tribute	Wouter Weylandt makes his final podium appearance	Leopard-Trek and the jersey leaders sharing the stage. Not surprisingly, Leopard-Trek exited the race after exiting the stage.

Stage 5:   Piombino → Orvieto, 191 km  Full Results and Report

The rollout from Piombino as the peloton heads inland across Tuscany	We were back to racing today...	Lampre's Diego Ulissa Under the Tuscan Sun
Off the front: BMC's Martin Kohler wanted some time to himself today. He left the pack at km 12.	Tuscany flat panoramic	Tuscany hills panoramic
and a wide angle view	Martin Kohler had a maximum advantage of 12’40”. By the Croce di Fighine, the cat 3 strade bianche climb with 40 km to go, his lead was about 4 minutes and dropping rapidly.	Unlike last year's Stage 7 mud wrestling match, there was no rain today
Giovanni Visconti and the peloton climbing Croce di Fighine	The dirt was flying by now in the peloton. Stefano Garzelli in front of...	... Alberto Contador and the other GC contenders
Not so pretty in Pink. Race leader David Millar tangled and went down with the stage 3 winner Angel Vicioso (Androni) while contesting an intermediate sprint	David Millar fighting to rejoin the peloton...	... High speed chase on Tuscan back roads
	There were numerous crashes on the loose strade bianche. Francesco Failli (Farnese Vini) fell and abandoned.	Martin Kohler's lead didn't hold up...
... he was chased down
Pieter Weening (Rabobank) caught and passed Martin Kohler with 10 km to go and soloed the final climb for a narrow 8s margin of victory over the GC contenders (rounding the corner in the background)	Pieter Weening looked sluggish and in trouble on the final climb, but his lead held up when the finish leveled out	Pieter Weening happy about his biggest win since winning a Tour de France stage six years ago
Your stage 5 winner: Peter Weening (Rabobank). Nice to see some smiles again.	Pieter Weening's margin of victory was enough to slip him into Pink, 2s ahead of Marco Pinotti	Pieter Weening visited the Duomo di Orvieto post race

Stage 6:  Orvieto → Fiuggi Terme, 216 km  Full Results and Report

Today started where we left off yesterday in front of Duomo di Orvieto	Alessandro Petacchi surrounded by his many fans	Men in white and pink. Rabobank had both the best young rider and race leader going into stage 6
Rabobank doing obligatory work at the front for their race leader while rolling thorugh Civita Castellana at km 65	Rabobank with race leader in Pieter Weening in Pink behind his men	This was a hard stage to call and as it turned out there was mix of climbers and sprinters at the top of the results
RadioShack's Yaroslav Popovych was the strongest rider in the small break, but they were caught around 7 km from the finish	The florescent yellow of Farnese Vini was at the front of the chase in the latter half of the stage. They had numerous riders suited for the power sprint finish.	After the main break was caught, local boy Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago) briefly rolled off the front
The race was back together in the final kms	Danilo Hondo leading Alessandro Petacchi followed by Francisco Ventoso (Movistar Team) who looks like he's in the hurt house which wasn't the case	The first rider across line in Fiuggi
From this angle it looks like Francisco Ventoso (Movistar Team) soloed across for the win...	The strung out, uphill finish in Fiuggi. Alessandro Petacchi (left) blew in the final 10m and coasted across for 2nd. Roberto Ferrari (Androni) was 3rd while Danilo di Luca (Katusha) was 4th after being the first to launch his sprint in the final km	An exhausted Francisco Ventoso (Movistar Team) took a moment to wind up his victory salute
Here comes his more emphatic salute	With Petacchi gulping in air, Ventoso punches the sky. Here's a great photo showing how exhuasted Petacchi was post-stage.	Now that's a victory salute
Your stage 6 winner Francisco Ventoso (Movistar Team)		The Spaniard is having a great year. This is his fifth win of 2011 after winning nine times in 2010
The race leader family portrait?	Pieter Weening celebrates a successful first day in Pink	Alessandro Petacchi strengthens his points lead with a stronger than expected finish today
Post-stage press conference. With the rash of pro bike thefts this Spring in Italy, Ventoso wasn't about to leave his winning ride unsupervised.	Francisco Ventoso off for a well deserved visit to the famous spa

Stage 7:  Maddaloni → Montevergine di Mercogliano, 110 km  Full Results and Report

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) and others relaxing before the stage 7 start in Maddaloni	The Basque mountain men should be more excited about the first mountain stage	Acqua&Sapone at the front of the chase on the first of two category 2 climbs, Serra della Strada. Post-race Stefano Garzelli said not enough teams were interested in winning today's stage
Caduta! Colnago - Csf Inox's Federico Canuti took this sharp bend to hot while descending Serra della Strada off the front. (Wearing gloves would have been a good idea today)	There were numerous photographers camped out on this corner in advance. Perhaps Canuti was nervous being in the spotlight and applied his front brakes.	Vacansoleil's Johnny Hoogerland spent more than his fair share of time in the wind today, to say the least, without looking around for help
The rest of the peloton took the sharp bend more gingerly	The panoramic view of the second cat 2 climb, the 17 km (5%) finishing climb to Montevergine di Mercogliano	The 14 switchbacks reduced the steepness out of the grade and the peloton was together until the end
Switchback panoramic	Neo-pro Bart De Clercq (Omega Pharma-Lotto) was on his own with 8 km to go	The peloton spread out all over the road, an indication the chase was lackluster
The white jersey (Steven Kruijswijk) at the front of the chase for the pink jersey (Pieter Weening)	Carlos José Ochoa (Ven) Androni Giocattoli jumped off the chase group with around 5 km to go. He ended up 47th (+ 0:33)	Bart De Clercq's lead up front was shrinking but he was still looking good because the chase was disorganized
In the final kms, Lampre took up the pace	Second rider, Michele Scarponi about to launch his sprint followed by Vicenzo Nibali, Stefano Garzalli, Roman Kreuziger and Alberto Contador	Alberto Contador was in spot of bother as the pace picked up on on the gradual slope in the final km
The chase has Bart De Clercq in their sight around the final corner...	but they left it too late
Much to the disgust of Michele Scarponi, Bart De Clercq just barely hangs on for the win	Michele Scarponi looks around to see who the neo-pro was who thwarted his win	The Belgian winner salutes his fallen countryman Wouter Weylandt on the winner's podium
An impressive win by 1st year pro Bart De Clercq who only took up bike race at age 22	Winning the first mountaintop finish does wonders for your KOM points tally and Bart De Clercq is now the KOM leader	Lots of glamour on the podium today. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) carries on as the points leader.
The contrast of slender, colorful Pieter Weening mingling with the monks at the finish was striking	The post-race press-conference	I started to attack at less than 8 km to go and I did not think I could win. I suffered the last two kilometers. As a first year professional, it is great to win a stage at Giro... I started racing bikes at 22 years old, so I went pro "late" only 25 years old, but I'm growing very fast I think.
The stage winner and race leader return to base camp via a cable car ride

Stage 8:  Sapri → Tropea, 217 km  Full Results and Report

Lampre's Simon Spilak doing his pre-race check	As Alberto Contador focuses his attention on a professional photographer, an amatuer runs and guns	Lampre's Michele Scarponi was popular pre-race too
Start line panoramic in Sapri	The day's main break started after just two kilometers. Leonardo Giordani (Farnese - Vini) and Mirko Selvaggi (Vacansoleil-DCM) were off the front for over 205 km today	While the peloton enjoyed a view of the Tyrrhenian Sea for practically the entire coastal route
		The break gained a maximum advantage of 11 minutes but were reeled with 7.5 km to go...
... by the peloton led by HTC-Highroad, but Mark Cavendish was MIA at the finish	Oscar Gatto prancing away from the field on the 700m 7.5% hill inside 2 km to go	A great perspective of the gap that opened up with 1.3 km to go
Alberto Contador also jumped off the front of the peloton	This wasn't expected	Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli) leading the chase with Alessandro Petacchi right behind him and the Pink Jersey a few riders back
Oscar Gatto bringing it home	Finish panoramic in Torpea. As the clock says, the 217 km stage finished in just under 5 hours.	Oscar Gatto celebrates his first Grand Tour win
A perspective on the margin of victory over Contador and the sprinters	"A victory in the Giro is great but to finish in front of Alberto Contador makes it even better." — Oscar Gatto	Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) won the sprint for third + 0:05
The winner hosing himself off as Colnago's Domenico Pozzovivo reaches in to congratulate him	Oscar Gatto looks stunned that he pulled off a Paolo Bettini type move
Your stage 8 winner Oscar Gatto (Farnese Vini)
Pieter Weening retains the Pink Jersey		Post stage press conference
"I felt good on the [final] climb and it was good having a teammate in the break for the day," he said. "A victory in the Giro is great but to finish in front of Alberto Contador makes it even better."

Stage 9:  Messina → Etna, 169 km  Full Results and Report

Vincenzo Nibali with his hometown fans at the start in Messina, Sicily	The start line panoramic on a beautiful day in Messina	Today's main break heading to Mount Etna in the distance
		Sprinter Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) played the role of domestique on this mountain stage...
... Michele Scarponi	Giovanni Visconti at the front of the break	A great shot Giovanni Visconti descending with Etna in the background
The main break getting urged on by a big Sicilian turnout	The break cresting Etna for the first of two ascents. Both climbs were roughly 20 km long with a 6% gradient	The break starting the final ascent
Etna Lava	The peloton and the biggest mountain in Italy south of the Alps	Omega Pharma-Lotto's Jan Bakelandts on his own
The chase with all the GC contenders lead by Przemyslaw Niemiec	Alberto Contador jumped from the chase group with about 7 km to go	No one could go with him
Alberto Contador caught José Rujano (Androni) who was able to hold onto Contador's wheel for awhile	Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) finished 4th (+ 0:50)	Contador put in a final dig with 1 km to go to drop Rujano
Contador gapping Rujano thanks to (or inspite of) the crowd		Contador dominates the finish on Etna with Rujano on the left about to cross 3s later
	Your stage 9 winner Alberto Contador	Alberto Contador's dominating performance moves him into Pink. He take a one minute lead into the first rest day
A fitting champagne eruption on Etna afterwards	Contador gives his teammate a taste of success...	Hosing down other riders as they cross the line
Later finishers with the angry beast in the background

Stage 10:  Termoli → Teramo, 159 km  Full Results and Report

Alberto Contador signing in this morning	Big crowds on an overcast day along the beach at today's start host Termoli	Best Young Rider, Roman Kreuziger (Astana), looks across at the jersey he really wants. Kreuziger said, it was impossible to match Contador on Etna‎ on the previous stage
Open the way to the expected sprint finish in Teramo	The sprint finish in Teramo with 150m to go with Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) at the front and Mark Cavendish on this wheel	Mark Cavendish coming around Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) as the sprint hits the 4% ramp with 100m to go
10m to go and Mark Cavendish in full command	1st Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad), 2nd Francisco Ventoso (Movistar Team) and 3rd Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD, obscured)
	Finish line panoramic	A well rested Mark Cavendish takes the win
		Your stage 10 winner, Mark Cavendish
An easy day for race leader Alberto Contador before tomorrow's tough stage 11
Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) regained the points lead from Alberto Contador	Eddy Merckx was a guest on the post-game show	Mark Cavendish under the microscope for vehement accusations made by 2nd place finisher Francisco Ventoso who claimed a team pulled Cavendish up the final ascent of Mt Etna on Stage 9 (video). “He should just be happy that he’s still in the race,” said Ventoso. “He should have been disqualified for holding on to his car up the climb of Etna. It’s a shame, because everyone is having a huge struggle to get up within the time limit, and then there’s someone who clings on to his team car without the judges doing anything about it.”

Stage 11:  Tortoreto Lido → Castelfidardo, 144 km  Full Results and Report

The start panoramic in Tortoreto Lido.	There is no mistakening that Alberto Contador has his eye on the winner's trophy but he would prefer to not have the leader's jersey at this time	Alberto Contador and Jose Rujano finally get around to congratulating each other on finishing 1-2 on Mont Etna before the rest day
A moment of silence for Woulter Weylandt who was buried today in Ghent, Belgium	Tortoreto Lido is a resort town needless to say. The neutralized rollout.	The best vantage point to watch the race
Nothing but up and down today	The main break with Christophe Le Mevel hoping to take over the leader's jersey	The main break
This guy likes Cavendish bananas or thinks Mark Cavendish is bananas.	We are not too far from Cesena, Marco Pantani's hometown	Alberto Contador getting an update on the gap
Saxo Bank was content to let the break stay away but the team of Androni Giocattoli wasn't	Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha Team rolled off of the main break near the end	Daniel Moreno on his own
Androni Giocattoli chasing him down as we get into Castelfidardo	Daniel Moreno was still in the lead with 250m to go, but he's about to be reeled in	John Gadret (Ag2R) jumped clear off the front of the peloton
The peloton		John Gadret (Ag2R) wins stage 11 ahead of Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) and Giovanni Visconti (head down)
	John Gadret celebrates the biggest win of his career	Pack finish for Contador
Your stage 11 winner John Gadret (Ag2R)		Contador still in Pink
He seems to be happy about it		Gadret dedicated his win to Wouter Weylandt. "I thought all day of Wouter's funeral."
"The stage was hard. We managed to catch the break with Le Mevel. Other teams were interested in working then" said Alberto Contador

Stage 12:  Castelfidardo → Ravenna, 184 km  Full Results and Report

One final flat day (along the Adriatic coast) before hitting some serious mountains.	The weather for this year's Giro has been outstanding	Finish line entertainment in Ravenna
The final km: HTC-Highroad at the front while a Androni-Giocattoli rider further back misjudges the corner	... causing a pile-up	A crash in the final turn of Stage 12 in Ravenna, eliminated many riders like RadioShack's Robbie Hunter from the final sprint finish of this year's Giro d'Italia
Hunter took out his frustration on Colnago's Sacha Modolo who wasn't the cause of the crash
		Meanwhile, we had a depleted sprint finish contested by only 10 riders
After a leadout by teammate Mark Renshaw, Mark Cavendish jumped into the lead with 125m to go	Alessandro Petacchi, the winner the last time the Giro visited Ravenna in 2005, giving it everything	An interesting vantage point on the sprint finish
	The riders caught behind the crash crossed in small groups	Mark Cavendish wins in Ravenna ahead of 2nd Davide Appollonio (Sky), 3rd Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) and 4th Roberto Ferrari (Androni)
Finish line panoramic	That's two wins this year for Cav who will now exit the race before the big upcoming mountain stages	Your stage 12 winner, Mark Cavendish
	Alberto Contador dons Pink for the fourth straight day
	This is a really bizarre photo caused by champagne drops. Look at the eyes of the podium girl on the left and the black-eye of the podium girl on the right	The post-stage press conference
"Back to England tomorrow. I've got things to do and I want to see my girlfriend."	Mario Cipollini says you're a little too fat, Mark. Reply: "Is it better to be skinny but second? I think not. I'm not superman, I will ride in all the major tours and even the world championship, I've trained since January and I can not always be on top form. I see the positive aspect of these statements of Mario: I can respond him with victories."

Stage 13:  Spilimbergo → Grossglockner (AT), 167 km  Full Results and Report

Another gorgeous day for bike racing. The Spilimbergo morning sign-in.	We are heading to the Eastern Italian Alps otherwise, very loosely known as the Dolomites although the Dolomites is a much smaller region than most people realize.	Wouldn't you like this as your first bike?
Alberto Contador starting his fourth day in Pink	The cat 2 Passo di Monte Croce Carnico climb in the first half of the stage
Saxo-Bank at the front leading Alberto Contador	This climb looks harder than it really is which is 4.9%. At the top, roughly the half way point of the stage, the peloton entered Austria	AS peloton rolled through Austria, the weather grew more omnious
50 km to go near Lienz with two climbs left	The final climb...	At 3,798m above sea level, The Grossglockner is Austria's highest mountain. The riders climbed to 2,137m.
	After the peloton caught the break with 10 km to go, José Rujano (Androni Giocattoli) was the first to attack	Like Stage 9 on Mount Etna, Michele Scarponi attempted to go with the key move but he was unsuccessful
Scarponi briefly caught Rujano	... but, when Rujano accelerated again only Alberto Contador was able to match him
The rain was really coming down on second-tier 4 km climb to the finish with Contador putting in a dig	José Rujano (Androni Giocattoli) wins stage 13 followed Alberto Contador who didn't contest the final several hundred meters	Folowing many disappointing years after breaking through in 2005, José Rujano (Androni Giocattoli) is back on top again
Bart De Clercq (Omega Pharma-Lotto) winner of this year's first mountain stage finished 36th today + 4:01		The enigmatic José Rujano is back in the spotlight again
The top half of your stage 13 winner, José Rujano (Androni Giocattoli)		Alberto Contador now likes the idea of keeping the Pink Jersey for the rest of the race
... He's now up by more than three minutes on Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD)	He's also the points leader and...	And he's the KOM leader. The only jersey he doesn't hold is that for the best young rider.
Here's what The Grossglockner looks like on a nice day from action at the Tour of Austria 10 years ago

Stage 14:   Lienz (AT) → Monte Zoncolan, 180 km  Full Results and Report

Ready for Zoncolan	Alberto Contador to Jose Rujano: "Remember, you're only borrowing my green jersey. Have it washed and back to me later this evening"	The peloton re-entered Italy at km 31 after starting in Lienz, Austria
		km 97: Saxo-Bank at the front of the chase on Passo della Mauria
		I believe this is the Cat 2 Passo della Mauria KOM
		Fans on Monte Zoncolan reading La Gazzetta or doing whatever while the sun was out
Fans already camped out at the 50m point	Every day fans still remember Wouter Weylandt	While there was lots of enthusiasm on Monte Zoncolan...
Up the road, fans were disappointed that riders forced the race organizers into abandoning the controversial Crostis section of the course. So, fans created their own protest by preventing the race from doing the Tualis climb before Zoncolan	So we arrived at Zoncolan earlier than expected. Igor Anton, with encouragment from the Basque fans, attacked near the base of the 10 km 12% climb.	Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador were next in line cutting through the narrow strip of road left by the fans
A panoramic from the top	Igor Anton in the final 150m
Alberto Contador dropped Nibali at the top	Michele Scarponi was 4th on the day	GEOX's Denis Menchov was 5th + 1:21
6th John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale + 1:38	Igor Anton punches the sky after achieving his biggest win to date	Igor Anton came to this Giro to win a stage and that's what he did... in fine style
Alberto Contador was second + 0:33		Vincenzo Nibali was 3rd + 0:40
Michele Scarponi after crossing the line for 4th + 1:11	Further down the hill, best young rider Roman Kreuziger (Astana) on this way to finishing 16th + 3:32	The rain really started to come down for the later riders. 21st Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack + 4:03
17th David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Movistar Team + 3:39	Danilo di Luca isn't the same rider. He finished 41st + 7:26.	An emphatic win by Igor Anton
	You can bet there will be more celebrating in the Basque country	Alberto Contador extended his tidy 3+ minute lead today
"During the climb I kept looking behind me, the most difficult point was at 5 km to the finish line. But I managed to stay focused more than ever."

Stage 15:  Conegliano → Gardeccia Val di Fassa, 229 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 15 was a long slog through the Dolomites featuring five big climbs
Climbing the Cima Coppi of this year's race (Passo Giau, 2236m)	The main break with Carlos Sastre (Geox-TMC) and Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi). Sastre finished 52nd + 21:02, but as you'll see Nieve faired much better.	When Stefano Garzelli went off the front of the break, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi) chased him for over 40 km
On the last three climbs, starting with Passo Giau, Alberto Contador put the screws to Vincenzo Nibali when ever he could	Jose Rujano leading the chase of Nieve and Garzelli. Rujano finished 6th + 2:35.	Every time Nibali was dropped by Alberto Contador on a climb, he used to his exceptional descending skills to catch back on
The gorge at the base of Passo Fedaia, the second last climb	Classic Dolomites rock formations
Stefano Garzelli was first to the top of Passo Fedaia (13 km of 8%), the second last climb on the day	but, Stefano Garzelli ran out of gas on the 6.2 km 10% Rifugio Gardeccia finishing climb to the Val di Fassa ski resort	Alberto Contador dropping his GC rivals (Scarponi and Nibali) on Rifugio Gardeccia, the finishing climb
Head of the race: Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi) caught and passed Stefano Garzelli on the final climb	Mikel Nieve pedaling squares over the longest km of his life	Contador closing in on the riders up the road
Michele Scarponi clawed his way back to finish within 8s of Alberto Contador	Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Katusha Team and Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale	Epic is an overused term in cycling, but not today; the feeble victory salute from exhausted winner, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel Euskadi). "The last kilometers were eternal. On the finish line, I did not have the strength to even lift my arms."
Check out the elapsed time. 229 km in 7 hours and 27 minutes... that's just 30 kmh	Stefano Garzelli finished 1:41 behind Nieve	Alberto Contador in the distance finished only 10 seconds behind Garzelli who had a 6 minute lead at the base of the 6 km finishing climb. Put differently, Garzelli lost a minute per km on the finishing climb.
Alberto Contador called this the "hardest day of racing in his life"	After Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre, John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale, José Rujano Guillen (Ven) Androni Giocattoli crossed 4th, 5th and 6th, Vincenzo Nibali and Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver crossed 7th and 8th + 3:34	Mikel Nieve celebrates a win he won't soon forget. It was the second win by an Euskaltel Euskadi rider in two days after Igor Anton won Monte Zoncolan yesterday. Previously, Euskaltel Euskadi hadn't won a stage in five Giro d'Italias spanning 17 years.
Alberto Contador showed a combination of relief and exhaustion at the end of the day.	Alberto Contador continued to extend his overall lead which is now 4:20 on Michele Scarponi
Alberto Contador's champagne celebration is always worth a shot...	or two	Stefano Garzelli was awarded the KOM Jersey for his long solo effort today that came up slightly short for the stage win.
My intentions in this Giro were to do my best to stay as close as possible to my captain Igor Anton. Yesterday, I went well and so at the meeting this morning we all agreed, including Anton, I'd try to escape.	"The night is not long enough for me to talk about today's stage. It’s been a long and very difficult stage, really incredible."

Stage 16:  Belluno → Nevegal, 12.7 km  Full Results and Report

The start of today's ITT from Belluno was flat
Last year's uphill ITT winner, Stefano Garzelli getting ready to attempt a repeat	Garzelli set an early best time, but it didn't hold. He finished 5th + 0:46.	José Rujano Guillen (Androni Giocattoli) beat Garzelli's time and finished 4th + 0:36
With today's performance, José Rujano Guillen (Androni Giocattoli) moves up one spot to 5th overall	The best young rider leader, Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Team Astana laid down the 6th fastest time + 0:49	Denis Menchov (Rus/Geox-TMC) finshed 7th + 0:52 and is 7th overall
John Gadret (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale) could only manage 17th + 1:27, but he maintains 4th overall	Vincenzo Nibali now on the course	Nibali went deep today needless to say
Vincenzo Nibali set a new best time with two riders to go. He ended up second 2nd + 0:34.	Michele Scaponi thinking about what it will take to beat Alberto Contador	Michele Scarponi on his way
It's sometimes hard to judge Michele Scarponi's expression during a race	Michele Scarponi finished 3rd + 0:38 and maintains his 2nd overall position.	The race leader, Alberto Contador was last man down the ramp
Lots of anticipation in the first bend	Contador received a largely receptive applause	Alberto Contador honored the Pink Jersey today
Huge crowd as always along the course. Alberto Contador navigating through the narrow path left for the riders	An absolutely crushing performance. Alberto Contador (Spa/Saxo Bank Sungard) wins the 12.7 km uphill ITT in 28:55, 34s ahead of second place Vincenzo Nibali	Alberto Contador won this one for his friend and training partner, Xavier Tondo, who died on Monday in a "freak domestic accident"
This a been a roller coaster Giro d'Italia in more ways than one	Your stage 16 ITT winner, Alberto Contador	The oldest rider left in the race, Stefano Garzelli is the Mountains classification leader
Alberto Contador was content to extend his overall to almost five minutes today, but his thoughts were elsewhere	32 year-old Movistar rider Xavier Tondo died in a domestic accident on Monday. He was an excellent climber and very well liked in the peloton. His biggest wins were stage 6 at the 2010 Paris-Nice and early this year he captured the overall win at Vuelta Castilla y Leon	"I interpreted the climb in constant progression. The first kilometer was very hard, then I got the rhythm and I never dropped the intensity of effort. At first time check I had a few seconds of advantage on Nibali, then I increased the rhythm as I agreed with Riis and there was no story for my rivals. Of course, the dedication for this victory is to Xavier Tondo Volpini."

Stage 17:  Feltre → Tirano, 230 km  Full Results and Report

RadioShack's Philippe Deignan possibly reading up on news of his team director's (Johan Bruyneel) sudden departure from the Giro d'Italia the day the CBS' 60 Minutes episode with Tyler Hamilton aired on Sunday	Katusha is proud to have their nine man roster still intact	The race leader, Alberto Contador, keeping cool before the start in Feltre
Today's route crossed the entire Trento province with the Dolomites in the background	At km 55, a 15 man break got clear	Leonardo Giordani (Farnese Vini) in the break
The National Italian Champ, Giovanni Visconti, was among the 15 in the break as well. We'll see him again later.	Ag2r's Ben Gastauer and Hubert Dupont were active in the break	Alberto Contador nestled in the peloton
HTC's Kanstantin Siutsou made several attempts to break clear on the last climb (Aprica). He gained time on his GC rivals and moved up to 5th overall.	Liquigas at the front of the peloton	The final stretch with 350m to go and three riders about to contest the win
After Diego Ulissi (Lampre) led out the sprint with 300m to go on the left hand side of the road, Giovanni Visconti cut across the road to follow him and then attempted to pass in the narrow gap with the barriers	Visconti attempted to push Ulissi over so he could pass through...	Visconti said, post-stage, he was going "10x faster than Ullisi". If that's the case then why did he pick the narrow side of the road to pass him?
The second push by Visconti threw Ulissi off his sprint	Visconti gesticulating before the race has finished	This is how the race finished after Ulissi and Visconti resumed their sprint. Giovanni Visconti was initially awarded the win, but Pablo Lastras (Spa/Movistar) almost snuck in to beat both of them.
After crossing the finish line, Visconti continued gesticulating while Ulissi looked on a little dumbfounded	The GC contenders crossing the line	The provisional race winner off to the podium...
However, Visconti's win was rightfully overturned and 21 year-old Diego Ulissi (Lampre) was awarded the win		A relatively easy day for race leader Alberto Contador
	Another day, another champagne celebration for the man in Pink	Stefano Garzelli retains the mountains classification lead
And Alberto Contador is the points leader

Stage 18:  Morbegno → San Pellegrino Terme  Full Results and Report

Lots of former cyclists were at the start in Morbegno and finish. Here's retired cyclist, Óscar Pereiro, talking to his former teammates	Alberto Contador got a warm reception in Morbegno	Giovanni Visconti issued an apology this morning for his sprinting behavior yesterday. Nice to see the fans have forgiven him.
The peloton rode down the east side of Lake Como in the first half of the stage	The average speed was over 50 kmh for the first half of the stage as everyone was trying to get in the main break	Km 85 just past the half way point. The peloton climbing through the old part of Bergamo
A twenty man break got away, here led by Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step), on the slopes of the only categorized climb of the day, the cat 2 Passo di Ganda.	Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale) followed by Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step)	Followed by Marco Pinotti (HTC-Highroad) and Gianluca Brambilla (Colnago)
With 35 km to go and 3 km from the top of the cat 2 Passo di Ganda, the break was reduced to three riders	Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) fighting to join the three men up front	The GC contenders were content to let the break go
RAI bringing you the action at the front of the race Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale), Marco Pinotti (HTC-Highroad) and Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step	Eros Capecchi did more work then the other two	but, Marco Pinotti put in a few digs...
... the time-trialist was hoping it wouldn't come down to a sprint finish	The final of several sharp corners in San Pellegrino Terme with a packed grandstand looking on. Lots of bike racing fans in the Bergamo province.	Here's what the final 150m looked like
As Eurosport's Sean Kelly said, Marco Pinotti should have bombed the final corner. Instead, he took his chances in a slow-motion sprint finish...	Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale) easily won the three man sprint among three non-sprinters	Marco Pinotti (HTC-Highroad) was 2nd and Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick Step) was third
	The Liquigas domestique finally gets Liquigas in the win column at this year's Giro	It would have been more appropriate if he held up a bottle of San Pellegrino
Your stage 18 winner, Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale)	Only the second pro win for the 24 year-old, 6 year pro from Castiglione del Lago, Italy and the first win by Liquigas at this year's Giro
	Alberto Contador dons Pink again
Contador has got in the habit of dousing his late finishing teammates	Bike parking in San Pellegrino	So long from the stage 18 finish in San Pellegrino

Stage 19:   Bergamo → Macugnaga, 209 km  Full Results and Report

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Paulo Tiralongo gets by with a little help from a friend; Alberto Contador paced his former Astana domestique to rare win before stepping aside at the finish	322-_GM17775.jpg	323-BUD15994.jpg
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Stage 20:  Verbania → Sestrière, 242 km  Full Results and Report

This year's Giro has been blessed with great weather; the stage 20 start from Verbania on Lake Maggiore	There was 194 km of flat cycling before hitting the climbs near the end of the 242 km stage
The early break of 13 riders	The view from Colle delle Finestre (18.6 km of 9.1%) before the fans showed up	The fans lined up ready to greet the peloton on the 9 km unpaved section at the top
Vasili Kiryienka (Blr/Movistar Team) was the first rider to come into view	Vasili Kiryienka and the switchbacks down below
	Vasili Kiryienka rounding the tight bend 150m from the top of Colle delle Finestre with a 4+ minutes lead over the peloton	Second man to the top was José Rujano (Ven/Androni Giocattoli)
José Rujano 150m from the top of the unpaved Colle delle Finestre	Here come the main GC contenders...
Alberto Contador leading John Gadret and Michele Scarponi	More riders	Sestriere (10 km of 5.1%). While Vasili Kiryienka was well up the road, Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger rejoined the GC contenders after the descent of Colle delle Finestre
Vincenzo Nibali put in a dig in the final kms, but was caught and passed before the finish	Vasili Kiryienka (Blr/Movistar Team) soloed both the Finestre AND Sestriere for an epic win	Kiryienka salutes teammate Xavier Tondo who died in a "freak domestic accident" earlier in the week
Kiryienka won by 4:43 over second place Jose Rujano	Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa/Katusha Team) finished just behind Jose Rujano for 3rd, + 4:50	4th Carlos Alberto Betancourt (Col/Acqua & Sapone) + 5:31
Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre - ISD was 6th + 5:58 with Alberto Contador finishing in the same time	Your stage 20 winner, Vasili Kiryienka (Blr/Movistar Team). The 29 year-old Belarusian likes his solo wins	Vasili Kiryienka also popped the cork after stage 19 at the 2008 Giro d'Italia
Alberto Contador and his 12th straight Pink Jersey at this year's Giro d'Italia	Contador can visualize his win now with just one (ITT) stage remaining
Roman Kreuziger (Astana) is 7th on GC + 10:38 and will win the best young rider competition	"The dedication for my victory today is without doubt for my friend Tondo, I knew him very well in the races of the north, he was a good person who enjoyed cycling, liked life, he liked to suffer ... the best way to remember was to win and I'm really happy to be able to do so. After his death, we remained at Giro to honor his memory and his passion."

Stage 21:  Milano 26 km ITT  Full Results and Report

Actress Cristiana Capotondi admiring the cork-screw winner's trophy to be awarded after Sunday's final ITT stage in Milano	It is a pretty cool trophy	Race director Angelo Zomegnan brought in another actress, Martina Stella to perk up excitement for an anti-climatic final stage
Martina Stella and Valentina Colombo taking part in "Testimonial Fondazione Veronesi"	Another gorgeous day in Italy for the final stage ITT in Piazza Duomo, Milano	David Millar set a best time which held for the rest of the day. 26 km in 30:13
David Millar likes sticking out a Grand Tour when there's a final day ITT (with a depleted field)	Vincenzo Nibali placed 11th in 31:31 + 1:18	Vincenzo Nibali needed to do better to beat...
Michele Scarponi placed 17th + 1:28, good enough to easily keep 2nd overall	Italy would be celebrating Michele Scarponi's performance in a bigger way if not for...	Alberto Contador was exceptional all month
Despite sitting up to celebrate his overall win in the last 500m, Alberto Contador still managed 3rd in the ITT + 0:36	Alberto Contador rode all the way up to the podium	Alberto Contador saluting the crowd at Piazza Duomo
It was mostly a positive reception for Alberto Contador	Your stage 21 ITT David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo)	Why was David Millar later brought back in civies?
	The mountains classification winner, the second oldest rider (37) to finish the race, Stefano Garzelli (Acqua&Sapone)	The best young rider, Roman Kreuziger (Astana)
When you're the top Italian and the best rider after Alberto Contador, you've got something to celebrate; Michele Scarponi was brought out on the shoulders of his Lampre teammates	The top two Italians, Lampre's Michele Scarponi (2nd) and Liquigas' Vincenzo Nibali (3rd) congratulate one another	Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali
Michele Scarponi and Alberto Contador	Alberto Contador didn't seem to mind that the old Spanish national anthem was played by mistake (again)	After three weeks of racing, it's time to cut loose
Alberto Contador kisses the cork-screw winner's trophy and the names of past winners	Your 2011 Giro d'Italia podium: Michele Scarponi (Lampre) 2nd + 6:10, Alberto Contador 1st 84:05:14, Vincenzo Nibali 3rd + 6:56	Astana won the team classification by 10 minutes over Movistar. All nine of their riders completed the race.
Alberto Contador's Saxo Bank teammates joined him on stage at the end of the day	The post race press-conference