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43rd Tirreno-Adriatico - HC
Italy, March 12-18, 2008
Photography
Stage 7 - March 18: S.Benedetto del Tronto - S.Benedetto del Tronto, 176 km
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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Chicchi had the upper hand on a wet finale.
- Chicchi could sit back and relax gliding over the finish line ahead of Napolitano and Cavendish.
- Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) wins the final stage ahead of Danilo Napolitano (Lampre) (r).
- The sprint in full swing as the conditions were reasonably safe.
- Napolitano checks to see if he got second and he did, just ahead of Mark Cavendish (High Road)
- George Hincapie was one of the victims of a crash in a right hand turn, in the last lap of the circuit.
- Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) wins the overall and is stoked, as the Liquigas team behind celebrates the stage victory.
- Chicchi in the centre of attention of his team-mates Pozzato (l) and Fisher.
Stage 6 - March 17: Civitanova Marche - Castelfidardo, 196 km
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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) gets the better of Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas, green jersey) and Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes).
- The 4-kilometre climb took it out of the riders, as sprinters rarely cross the line in a tired pose like this.
- Freire made sure he stayed close to the front even if it meant using unusual means sometimes. This looked very similar to what riders did in Paris-Nice.
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) also opted for the little short cut as he is cheered on by a tifosi.
- Freire, Di Luca and Pozzato (l-r) created a little gap to the peloton with their fierce sprinting up the hill.
- Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) looks good in his blue jersey as his team-mate Andy Schleck looks on in admiration.
- Patrik Calcagni (Barloworld) during the stage.
- Cancellara on a downhill controlling his brakes with the touch of a finger.
- Di Luca on De Rosa and the Italian likes the feeling of being back on the bike.
- The break that didn't work as the main peloton caught them before the showdown.
- Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) on a descent on a day where finishing was all that counted for him. The next day would provide one final hurray for the sprinters.
- Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) checks on his team and sees that they are all there.
- Felipe Laverde in the green jersey of his team – staying true to his name.
- Spring is in the air and the Tirreno riders are happy they didn't have to deal with the conditions of the first few days in Paris-Nice.
- The peloton winds its way through the Italian country side.
- The break was a little ahead of the peloton.
- Renaud Dion gets a friendly push from Paolo Longo Borghini.
- German champion Fabian Wegmann rides along in the bunch.
- Frederik Willems en route to the finale.
- Cancellara smiles at the start and had more reasons to smile at the finish.
- Tom Boonen takes off on a sunny day.
- Bettini found a clever way to get up to the front of the peloton.
- Erik Zabel in his sprinting position but he didn't need that today.
- Pozzato with his colourful shoes
- CSC controlled the peloton as they had race leader Fabian Cancellara in the lineup.
- The peloton passing a scenic Italian village.
- A Rabobanker saw what Bettini did and figured he could follow suit.
- The impressive figure of Swede Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) rides by, just after the start.
- CSC in control.
- Cancellara near the front.
- The peloton waiting for the gun to blast.
- Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
- Ermanno Capelli (Saunier Duval-Scott) in the feed zone.
- Di Luca signals to his team car.
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) showing team-mates how to descend.
- Spanish champ Joaquím Rodriguez
- The peloton stretched out.
- Cancellara assists Pippo to read a statement about the inhumane treatment of Kevin Van Impe, who was subjected to a doping control while making arrangements for the funeral of his infant son.
- Pozzato explains that bike riders are also humans.
- Niklas Axelsson is still in the top 5 in GC.
- Tom Boonen powerful on his Specialized bike.
- LPR didn't have the brakes on as they were getting Di Luca in position.
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) in the centre.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) attentive in the end.
- The sprint for victory and Pozzato looks like he's got it, but over his right shoulder trouble is brewing.
- Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) in the leader's jersey.
- Oscar Freire Gomez (Rabobank) shows the strain after a hard fought win.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) shows the signs of a tough finish.
- Team CSC put the hammer down on the front of the peloton.
- Di Luca with his "killer" face on.
Stage 5 - March 16: Macerata - Recanati, 26 km
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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Linus Gerdemann (High Road) took a spill in the time trial.
- World TT Champion Fabian Cancellara proved his skills yet again to take the stage and overall lead in Tirreno-Adriatico.
- Cancellara hammers up the climb on his way to the stage win.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) sports the points jersey on his way to fifth on the stage.
- Gerdemann left the TT in an ambulance after going down hard.
- Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) the Spanish TT champion.
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas)
- David Zabriskie (Slipstream) had the fastest time until Cancellara knocked him out of the top spot.
Stage 4 - March 15: Porto Recanati - Civitanova Marche, 166 km
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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Team-mates Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step) (l-r) at the start.
- Franco Ballerini talks to Paolo Bettini (Quick Step).
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) signs.
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) with the fans.
- Gianni Savio with Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) and Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) (r-l) at the start.
- Meet-n-Greet at the start for Paolo Bettini (Quick Step).
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) overwhelmed by the fans.
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) rolls out with Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC).
- Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) looks at himself in yesterday's paper.
- Photographer Roberto Bettini has some fun.
- Roberto Bettini photographing the action.
- Mirror image.
- Oroz takes a descent at full speed.
- Oroz in the break with Krauss and Dion.
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) on the front.
- Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) punches the gas.
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) (centre) with past and current world champions Igor Astarloa (Team Milram), Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step) (l-r).
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) forms the escape group with Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) (r) and Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) (l).
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) in the finale with Igor Astarloa (Team Milram).
- Italian Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) fires.
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) watches Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) and Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) (l-r).
- 'Pippo' Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) on his own during the finale.
- A tight sprint: Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) (l) battled Oscar Freire (Rabobank) (r) to take stage four of the Tirreno-Adriatico.
- Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) tops Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) (l, 3rd) and Oscar Freire (Rabobank) (r, 2nd).
- Petacchi punches the air with delight after betting Oscar Freire (Rabobank).
- The sixth win of 2008: Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram), 34, celebrates after winning stage four of the 43rd Tirreno-Adriatico.
- Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) explains his win to the TV camera.
- Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) thanks the support crew.
- Right and left, 'Ale-Jet' Petacchi is kissed in recognition of his stage win.
Stage 3 - March 14: Gubbio - Montelupone, 195 km
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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) before his crash going into a right hand turn.
- Marco Bandiera (Lampre)
- Looking back on Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott).
- Smooth roads
- Barloworld and Quick Step lead.
- Rik Verbrugghe (Cofidis) rides with Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step) shines.
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step) looks for a flatter stage.
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step) blurred.
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
- Keeping an eye on the riders.
- Sun shines on CSF Group Navigare.
- Paolo Longo Borghini (Barloworld) leads.
- Loyd Mondory (Ag2r-La Mondiale) leads José Vicente Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne).
- Team Barloworld on the front.
- Montelupone welcomes the riders.
- José Vicente Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne) gets a hand.
- Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne)
- Feed zone for a Slipstream rider.
- Frank Hoj (Cofidis) gets his feed.
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) enjoys a snack.
- Maximiliano Richeze (CSF Group Navigare) takes his feed.
- The peloton rolls along.
- The road winds towards Montelupone.
- Crash involving Boonen, Freire and Riccò.
- Riders go down in a right-hander.
- The crash that involved Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott).
- CSF Group Navigare hammers leading to Montelupone.
- Patxi Vila (Lampre) keeps his bike going.
- Alessandro Bertolini (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) leads for his team-mate Niklas Axelsson.
- Racing along
- CSF Group Navigare leads for Emanuele Sella.
- Early escapee Loyd Mondory (Ag2r-La Mondiale) after being caught and dropped.
- José Serpa (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) leads Emanuele Sella (CSF Group Navigare).
- CSF Group Navigare leads through some green fields.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) gives it his all on the climb.
- Fast decent for the lead duo of Loyd Mondory (Ag2r-La Mondiale) (l) and José Vicente Garcia (Caisse d'Epargne).
- We are in Italy.
- New Race leader Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) had a good ride today.
- The peloton spreads across the road.
- Emanuele Sella (CSF Group Navigare) (2nd) being put into position for the finale.
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) cranks the pace.
- Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) in the points jersey (r).
- Daniele Pietropolli (LPR Brakes) suffers.
- Daniele Pietropolli (LPR Brakes) gives it his all.
- Spanish Champion Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne), 28, wins on top of Montelupone ahead of Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) and moves into third overall.
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) finishes second ahead of Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli), the new overall leader of the Tirreno-Adriatico.
- Eventual stage winner Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) sees red (he is the Spanish Champion).
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) struggles on the 20% gradients.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) climbs in the mountains jersey to finish third for the stage and is now first overall.
- The Killer Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) on his green machine climbs to second for the stage.
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) ahead of Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli), who took the race overall.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) lost the race leadership but rode well today.
- Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval-Scott) had a gear problem at the foot of the final climb that led to him finishing further back.
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) leads into the finish.
- Big Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) keeps on his pedals for the whole of the climb to finish 20th.
- Luca Mazzanti (Tinkoff Credit Systems) finished 11th.
- Swiss Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) finished well today, 10th.
- Emanuele Sella (CSF Group Navigare) made waves today and finished ninth.
- Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) climbs.
- German Champ Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner)
- Belgian Tom Boonen (Quick Step) looks cool no matter what he is doing.
- Timothy Duggan (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) shoulders his bike.
- Baden Cooke (Barloworld) faces a downed motorbike in the race finale.
- Downed television motorbike blocks Baden Cooke (Barloworld).
- Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) gets past the fallen motorbike.
- George Hincapie (High Road) is forced to put his foot down.
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) swerves to keep upright after giving his all for team-mate Di Luca.
- Sprinter Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) pushes it along.
- Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram) needs more than cheers for this climb.
- Luis Pasamontes (Caisse d'Epargne) has to dismount.
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) at the finish.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld)
- Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- A Slipstream rider powers along.
- Tadej Valjavec (Ag2r-La Mondiale)
- Linus Gerdemann (High Road)
- Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) finishes.
- Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
- Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre) pushes it.
- Igor Astarloa (Team Milram)
- Belgian Champ Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) on the final climb.
- Riders walk the climb.
- A LPR rider goes down on the Montelupone.
- Gustav Erik Larsson (Team CSC) down and out following the climb.
- Gustav Erik Larsson (Team CSC) recovers.
- Gustav Erik Larsson (Team CSC) tired at the finish.
- Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) at the finish.
- A scuffed Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) finishes.
- 'The Cobra' Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) finished 15 minutes down due to a crash.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) in pain.
- Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) awarded.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) awarded.
- Joaquím Rodríguez (Caisse d'Epargne) wins.
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) interviewed.
Stage 2 - March 13: Civitavecchia - Gubbio, 203 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- The nice surroundings in Italy.
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare) in the two-man move.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) in the overall leader's jersey.
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare) rides with Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff Credit Systems) in the early escape.
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare) grits
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare)
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare) sees it is TV time.
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare) is blurred.
- LPR charges
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare)
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) lost his lead to Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld).
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- Pietro Algeri services Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott).
- Wonderful views.
- Gubbio below
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare)
- Lucky Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare) rides
- Keeping time.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) early on in the stage.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) takes a deep breath.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) checks the damage done.
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) leads the bunch home.
- Great view of Gubbio on the decent.
- Daniele Pietropolli (LPR Brakes) attacks
- Team Manager Gianni Savio happy for Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare)
- Ermanno Capelli (Saunier Duval-Scott) made the winning move.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) grits.
- The gap is timed.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) does damage.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- Ermanno Capelli (Saunier Duval-Scott) rides along.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) happy for his team-mate's win.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
- Linus Gerdemann (High Road) made the winning six-man move.
- Mavic prepares for the day.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) at the start.
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) is back racing.
- Mavic neutral support.
- LPR Brakes at the start.
- Fabio Baldato (Lampre) smiles
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes)
- Emanuele Sella (CSF Group Navigare)
- Team CSC must be thinking about its title sponsor moving on.
- Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step) rides with Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott).
- Chipotle in the back pocket.
- Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) takes a nap before the start.
- Luis Felipe Laverde (CSF Group Navigare)
- Paolo Savoldelli (LPR Brakes) readies for the stage.
- The race crew
- Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) rides along.
- Caisse d'Epargne ride out of the start.
- Tree-lined roads
- Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) tosses a water bottle.
- Oscar Gatto (Gerolsteiner)
- Trees line the road.
- Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) in the Belgian Champ jersey.
- Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- Rabobank lead the way.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) looks back.
- The race rolls
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) was first in the chasing group.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) flings his bike after crossing the line because he was frustrated with a mechanical in the final metres.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) launches his bike.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) walks his bike.
- The bike is tossed.
- Riccò's bike is on its own after being launched.
- Riccò's bike flies on its own.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) unhappy at the finish.
- Italian Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) explains the situation to Alessandra Di Stefano of Rai.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) takes the overall lead.
- Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) take the win.
- Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) awarded on stage.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) in the mountains lead after the stage.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) finished second for the day but took the overall lead.
- Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) back on top after four years.
- Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott) took the young riders' classification even though missing out on the stage.
- Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) on stage.
- Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) takes his first win after four years of trying.
- Italian Raffaele Illiano (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) overjoyed with his victory.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) took the overall lead but had to be content with second on the stage.
Stage 1 - March 12: Civitavecchia - Civitavecchia, 160 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) realises he has won the first stage of the 2008 Tirreno-Adriatico.
- Freire celebrates his victory which was a hard-fought duel against Italian Alessandro Petacchi.
- The tiger jump of Petacchi was not enough to beat Freire.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) celebrates his victory with Rojas (behind on the right) in third.
- The Milram train was there but had a few gaps at the end, due to the nervous finale.
- Paolo Bettini had nothing to do with the outcome today and pedaled in behind the peloton.
- Freire showed just how good he can be anytime there is a sprint.
- Freire enjoys the kisses on the podium as he received the blue jersey.
- The Spaniard waves to the crowd as he steps onto the podium.
- A blue Freire is happy but his cap looks a little too large.
- McEwen couldn't quite pull off the stunt he did in 2007, taking off in the twisting finale. He finished eighth.
- Andy Schleck (CSC) is followed by Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (Quick Step).
- Baden Cooke looks like he just raced and he certainly did, finishing fifth.
- Danilo Di Luca made it to the start line in a last-ditch effort, with CONI still having some questions about his positive in last year's Giro.
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) explains how it just didn't work out against the pure sprinters today.
- Freire lifts his arms as he beat Petacchi and Rojas.
- George Hincapie (High Road) getting back to racing after taking a bit of a break.
- Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) was in the break but couldn't quite stay away.
- An angry tifosi wanted to take out the riders but a Carabinieri prevented it.
- Paolo Bettini and Raffaele Illiano ride tranquilo in the earlier part of the race
- The peloton passing Tarquinia.
- The peloton tries to fit through a hole in the wall.
- Caisse d'Epargne riders chatting.
- The peloton riding past the scenic piazza in Tarquinia.
- Milram put the hammer down.
- Petacchi couldn't prevent Freire from winning.
- Freire looks over to check on his rivals.
- The sprint in full swing.
- Gianni Bugno getting ready for a helicopter flight for Italian TV.
- Francesco Tomei (CSF Group Navigare) during the race.
- Ballan holds on to Bettini's bike and the World Champ pretends as he hadn't noticed.
- Freire (l) and Petacchi fight it out.
- Bugno in front of the RAI helicopter.
- George Hincapie (High Road) is back in the action and getting ready for the spring classics.
- Francesco Ginanni (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) hangs on for some advise.
- Oscar Gatto (Gerolsteiner) is concentrating in the bunch.
- Gerolsteiner is trying to set up a train but the German railway is on strike these days!
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) is using Tirreno to get in shape for the classics.
- Petacchi was at the front end towards the end but not quite at the very front, where he wanted to be.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld) rides along on stage 1.
- Murilo Fischer (Liquigas) found the temperatures OK despite knowing that it is warmer in his native Brazil right now.
- Gasparotto is drafting to save energy.
- Gerdemann and Hincapie (l)
- Ale-Jet was doing well but it was hard to get around a superb Freire.
- Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes) is back in the race action.
- The Italian will still have to have some meetings and some explaining to do with CONI and CAS.
- The Milram train in full swing.
- Petacchi knows how to place himself well in the bunch.
- Pozzato with trademark tattoo.
- Patrick Calcagni (Barloworld) rides along the final, twisty part.
- Marco Bandiera (Lampre) in the peloton.
- Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) also uses the race as preparation for the upcoming classics.
- Eros Capecchi (Saunier Duval-Scott)
- Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) looking good.
- Fortunato Baliani (CSF Group Navigare)
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) takes a left turn in the finale.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) safely in the pack.
- Pozzato surrounded by team-mates.
- Niklas Axelsson (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
- Axelsson and team-mates getting back into the peloton.
- Axelsson the Swede is gritting his teeth.
- Liquigas single-filed.
- Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas)in front.
- Pozzato at the scenic part of the route.
- Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) pedals near the gutter.
- Look ma, no hands!
- Tinkoff promised to try even harder than last year to get a stage win.
- Emanuele Sella (CSF Group Navigare)
- David Zabriskie (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) also races in Italy.
- Zabriskie will be looking to be more of a team leader as was the case with CSC.
- Markus Fothen (Gerolsteiner)
- Frederik Willems (Liquigas) is a valuable domestique, but can win races, too.
